United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Current. SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life below water, SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production. Future. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy.


We believe that the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
can focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by
thinking globally and acting locally.




CURRENT INITIATIVES


  • GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. By promoting the afforestation areas as valued urban regional park green spaces, our city is better prepared for the wetter, wilder and warmer weather anticipated with climate change. The Friends education campaign brings people out into nature for health and well being activities. Shady outdoor back-to-nature programming in the forest help children experience healthy outdoor activity during hotter climate change events when daily temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius or more. Senior citizens and those at increase risk of heart attack, heat stroke, and heart disease can enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle along safe shady forest trails as the temperature rises. "Over the last quarter century, case studies have documented the advantages of biophilic experiences, including improved stress recovery rates, lower blood pressure, improved cognitive functions, enhanced mental stamina and focus, decreased violence and criminal activity, elevated moods and increased learning rates," according to Terrapin Bright Green. The 2020 Green Vision will increase active transportation. When motorized vehicles are halted in their egress into the afforestation areas, then people must get out of their cars, and engage in cross country skiing, bicycle riding, walking, running, hiking, and skating active lifestyle choices. The numbers of active transportation users therefore increase exponentially in the greenspace and illegal motorized vehicle trespass declines. The Friends concur that the CoS "needs transportation and land use patterns that protect the environment." (CoS Environmental Policy C02-036) Vehicle barriers to prevent motorized traffic into the afforestation areas will, for sure, protect the environment. This policy also seeks to maintain "the capacity of the environment to sustain living conditions for people and other species." Barriers to vehicle traffic in the woodlands, wetlands and grasslands surely do protect the semi-wilderness habitat for many species, and make a safe environment for people to enjoy nature.


  • CLIMATE ACTION. In this era of climate change, and the value and importance of trees as espoused by St. Barbe Baker are a tangible link between the present and the history of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas and Saskatoon's pioneering efforts in this afforestation project - a true role model in nature-based solutions for climate action. Conservation, and preservation education regarding the afforestation areas are actions compliant with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change featuring closed forest formations of various storeys and undergrowth.
    The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. have proposed that possible means to restore degraded areas may be to plant xeriscaped pollinator native flower ribbons or to start permaculture three sister's vegetable gardens with stone mulching to prepare the soil for a native plant food forest. The newly planted saplings, with their growth are measurable indicators in taking action on climate change. "Planting and growing increasing quantities of trees is the scientific solution to Earth's environmental dilemma." Richard St. Barbe Baker


  • LIFE BELOW WATER. The Friends are proposing to accomplish water depth and water quality sampling as part of upcoming youth and green group engagement projects. This pioneering health indicator measurement is an innovative tool and the connections between the ecosystem and how to help policy-makers manage the wetlands. A healthy habitat is provided for and restores and maintains oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, aquatic plants, wildlife and waterfowl including the federally listed species, the Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus).


  • LIFE ON LAND. We have established the iNaturalist Baker Area Eco-Quest to develop a data inventory of plants and animals in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. Similarly the Genereux Park Eco-Quest collects information on the flora and fauna of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park.
    The endangered species recorded to date on iNaturalist or on the eBird Chappell Marsh hot spot include Horned and Western Grebes, Bobolink, Bank Swallow, Red-necked Phalarope, Baird's and Grasshopper Sparrow, Barred Tiger Salamander, Northern Yellow Lady's Slipper, Red-berried Elder and nearby there has been spotted the Whooping Crane.
    "We need nature to survive, to ensure that future generations have a thriving planet to live on. In order to do this, we must eradicate apathy, and replace it with empathy and activation to revolutionize the way we approach political, social and environmental divisions." Conservationist Shailene Woodley


  • SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES. Our 2020 Green vision creates sustainable cities and communities with safety for human and wildlife ensured via the installation of boundary definition and vehicle barriers, park signs, and interpretive signage. The city and Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) have long range plans for every land space around Saskatoon including around the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park. These two large green spaces named as urban regional parks will no longer be on the peri-urban area in the city, but enmeshed within the grey-scape of the city and the surrounding metropolis area. The creation of safe green spaces enables place-based learning experiences which are so necessary in this digital age, especially for youth.


  • RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION. In the past few years, the Friends have organized community volunteer clean-ups that have removed OVER 38,300 kg (11,700 pounds) of illegally dumped materials from the two afforestation areas. Alongside our volunteer community campaigns, attention is brought forward to the general public about ways to recycle their clothing, children's toys, and shoes at goodwill re-sell stores. Encouragement is brought to the forefront about the dangers of discarded tires in the environment, and public awareness campaigns are initiated about proper disposal of unwanted tires. The general public is encouraged to recycle building materials. Further to this, we advocate the waste management hierarchy promoting the prevention of waste by responsible consumption patterns. The Friends are advocates of the 5 R's towards zeo waste.
    1. Refuse
    2. Reduce
    3. Reuse
    4. Recycle
    5. Rot


MOVING FORWARD FOR THE FUTURE.


  • CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION. Motorized vehicle barriers protect the wetlands and our water, precious, limited resource -Barriers to motorized vehicle traffic deter illegal trash dumping to secure and guarantee that the South Saskatchewan water shed where the West Swale is located provides a clean flow of water so that the City of Saskatoon [CoS] and wildlife drinking water is safe. This has a ripple effect because of the interconnectivity of water in the North American water system. Oceans, watersheds and the associated aquatic ecosystems all benefit. A healthy habitat is provided for and restores and maintains oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, aquatic plants, wildlife and waterfowl including the federally listed species, the Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus). The West Swale wetlands feed directly into the South Saskatchewan River, supplying the drinking water for the City of Saskatoon.

  • ZERO HUNGER. The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. have proposed that a means to restore degraded areas may be to plant xeriscaped pollinator native flower ribbons along the Sask Power transmission line right of ways and the Trans Gas Natural Gas pipeline right of ways, to start permaculture three sisters vegetable gardens with stone mulching to prepare the soil for a native plant food for agroforestry food forests. In this way we would be working towards one of the United Nation's sustainable development goals dealing with zero hunger, by increasing food security, improved nutrition and sustainable agriculture. During this era of the Coronavirus, food security may indeed be a necessary planning principle moving forward.
    "We need nature to remind us where we came from and what we are a part of, to feel pleasure in its beauty and to challenge us with its extremes ??? in short, to give us life." Pepi Ross


  • QUALITY EDUCATION. "Today it is the duty of every thinking being to live and to serve not only his own day and generation, but also generations unborn, by helping to restore and maintain the green glory of the forests of the earth. "~Richard St. Barbe Baker As the areas become fully protected from trespass so that safe use is possible, they provide an excellent space for observation and education around ecological succession and regeneration, land use, and environmental stewardship programming.


  • AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY. Since the SaskPower transmission line and the TransGas right of way are both prominent features of the area there is a unique opportunity for turning this into a best practice multi-use transmission corridor where preservation of natural habitat, recreation and education can be combined. In terms of the latter, besides general public use, there is an opportunity for school groups to take part both in the enhancement of the site and use it for ongoing outdoor education with these uses, especially by school groups, we see an opportunity for education on affordable and clean energy that:
    1. Educates about electrical transmission, natural gas and right of way multi-use corridors
    2. Provides awareness regarding electrical and natural gas safety,
    3. Highlights key elements of the generation and transmission of electricity and natural gas,
    4. Encourages both energy conservation and protection of the environment,
    5. Brings forward related occupations in the energy sector, and opportunities they provide for youth careers.
    This approach would turn the transmission line and the natural gas right of way, a taken-for-granted landscape necessity, into foreground elements that have their own story but one that can be integrated with the natural landscape.
Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,
"In that vast evergreen forest Nature works in perfect rhythm; roots digging deep or exploring nearer the surface for food and moisture. Imperceptibly Nature builds those mighty pillars with aisles innumerable, arches multiplex, in the cathedral of the forest." Richard St. Barbe Baker
Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action,United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Current. SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life below water, SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 11 Sustable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production. Future. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 7 AFfordable and Clean EnergyUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals Current. SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life below water, SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 11 Sustable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production. Future. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 7 AFfordable and Clean EnergyUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals Current. SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life below water, SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 11 Sustable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production. Future. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 7 AFfordable and Clean Energy
Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, nited Nations Sustainable Development Goals Current. SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life below water, SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production. Future. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energynited Nations Sustainable Development Goals Current. SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life below water, SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production. Future. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energynited Nations Sustainable Development Goals Current. SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life below water, SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production. Future. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy