What Governments, Groups and Individuals Can Do

 Let’s start big picture: what can governments and groups do?

 Example: Lake Erie  In the 1970s, Lake Erie was full of sewage, farm chemicals and industrial chemicals  This pollution caused huge algal blooms = large growths of algae  Algal blooms caused other organisms in Lake Erie’s ecosystem to die  It was called “Dead Lake”

 1978: U.S. and Canada signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement  The governments created management plans to clean up the Great Lakes and to restore the ecosystems  The amount of pollution entering the lake was monitored and controlled  As a result, Lake Erie made a great “comeback”

 Algal blooms continue to plague Lake Erie because of run-off from fertilizers  This is an example of non-point source pollution  The overuse of fertilizers is an unsustainable practice  Also, sewage is overflowing from overburdened sewage plants in busy cities

 Conservation biologists work to find ways we can understand and protect biodiversity  Remember: strong biodiversity is key to keeping ecosystems intact  There are currently over 200 species at risk of extinction in Ontario  There are two main ways governments and groups are trying to protect biodiversity…

 1) Protecting Species in Human-Made Habitats ◦ Example: Metro Toronto Zoo ◦ This strategy is used when the species’ habitat is threatened or no longer exists, or if the remaining population is extremely small ◦ Example: the black-footed ferret is part of the zoo’s captive breeding program

 2) Protecting Species in their Native Habitat ◦ The main strategy is to protect a species’ habitat ◦ Example: the loggerhead shrike is an endangered bird ◦ Its habitat is short grasslands with trees, shrubs and hedgerows ◦ Much of this habitat has been changed by farmers who have removed hedgerows to grow crops ◦ Conservation biologists have worked with farmers to help maintain the hedgerows to help the shrike population survive

 In 2007, Ontario passed the Endangered Species Act ◦ Prohibits killing, capturing, possessing, selling or trading species endangered in Ontario ◦ It also makes it illegal to damage or destroy ecosystems on which these species depend ◦ E.g. the badger has protected status

 National and provincial parks  Wildlife reserves  Marine sanctuaries  Protected areas help keep ecosystems intact by leaving them relatively undisturbed  Conservation biologists have identified some “biodiversity hotspots” that have many unique ecosystems and whose biodiversity is threatened  these hotspots need protected areas  Parks also allow humans to enjoy ecosystems, but it can be challenging to balance human and ecosystem needs

BOO!  Example: the Asian long- horned beetle is an invasive species that may have arrived in wooden packing crates used to deliver goods from Asia  It is a threat to hardwood tree species in Ontario  Toronto has by-laws against moving wood that may contain the beetle  Agriculture Canada has strict laws about citizens or visitors bringing any foreign food, animals or plants into the country  This is to prevent accidental introduction of other invasive species

 Being an environmental steward means taking care of our natural resources in a sustainable way that will ensure they will be around for future generations

 Notes on video:

 Reduce emissions (ride your bike, take public transit, use fuel-efficient vehicles)  Save energy (use less heat and AC, unplug small appliances, use energy-efficient lights)  Eat locally produced food (reduces pollution from transport and pesticides)  Plant wisely (native species, drought-tolerant plants)  Buy wisely…and less  Get involved