CAMBRIDGE, ON, January 11 – The rare Charitable Research Reserve has received support from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation to fund a community research initiative for students and community members. The funding will launch a project enabling students and parents around Cambridge to explore and collect data on insect and plant biodiversity. This initiative will not only provide key data on the health of local ecosystems, but also build an understanding and appreciation of our natural spaces, and their importance to the community’s health and well-being.
“Participants in this project will be guided on the scientific protocols used to collect information on building an insect and plant collection,” says Aleksandra Dolezal, Conservation Scientist – Research Priorities, Partnerships & Monitoring at rare. “Insect and plant herbarium collections are important research tools, with specimens in good condition, properly mounted and accurately labelled. Community members will learn important research skills in collecting, preserving and archiving, as well as report writing and analysis. Undergraduate and graduate students will especially benefit from learning these skills.”
“As a conservation organization, we are dedicated to protecting the land,” says James Bow, Communications Officer at rare. “Key to that is building an understanding about the importance of that land to the surrounding community. At rare, we have a long tradition of fostering the next generation of conservationists, through our education and outreach programs. We have many young alumni who became environmental scientists or chose a related career path after attending ECO Camps at rare and participating in community science events. We want to spark a sense of wonder in nature, and this is a perfect opportunity to show them that nature.”
Funding from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation will help purchase the necessary equipment and supplies needed to create these insect and plant collections at rare, promote the initiative through social media and other communications channels, and provide educational materials to rare’s university partners. The initiative will also enhance the educational curriculum of rare’s youth and teen ECO Camps and school programs.
The funds will be put to good use soon. “We’ll be launching three BioBlitzes in 2024,” says Dolezal. “These events will enable community members and students to explore rare’s sites, collect data and create a biodiversity collection, all while learning what it’s like to be a conservation scientist! This research will directly benefit our university partners, including the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo.”
“We are ever so grateful for the support of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation,” says Stephanie Sobek-Swant, Executive Director at rare. “Their support will help build understanding within the community about biodiversity, and how important it is to protect it. With understanding comes support for the environment that we all share, and which is so important to everyone’s health and well-being.”
The rare Charitable Research Reserve is an urban land trust and environmental institute protecting over 1,200 acres of environmentally sensitive lands in Waterloo Region and Wellington County while engaging the community to build support for understanding and protecting these lands. The organization maintains over 12 kilometres of trails and runs research and education programs to build an appreciation of these lands and their importance to the health and well-being of the surrounding community and generations to follow.
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Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:
James Bow, Communications Officer
rare Charitable Research Reserve
(519) 590-9640
james.bow@raresites.org
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