Press Release
Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists
Submitted by Tine Kuiper, Program Chair, MVFN
Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2004
New Field Naturalists Theme: Gaining a Better Understanding of Biodiversity
Biodiversity will be the theme of the upcoming Fall and Winter program of the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists (MVFN). Biodiversity is a relatively new term, which refers to the variability among living organisms from all sources, including land based and aquatic ecosystems, and the ecosystems or communities in which they occur.
The concept of biodiversity represents the ways that life is organized and interacts on our planet. These interactions can take place on scales ranging from the smallest, at the level of genes, to organisms, ecosystems, and even to entire landscapes. Biodiversity is the key to ensuring the continuance of life on earth. It is also a fundamental requirement for adaptation and survival and continued evolution of species. As each of us gain a better understanding of biodiversity, we will be able to make better decisions, starting in our own backyards.
The first speaker in the series, on September 16, 2004, is Dr Charles M. Francis, Chief Migratory Birds, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada. In his talk “Biodiversity and Conservation”, Dr Francis will introduce the topic of biodiversity, considering its meaning and patterns at all scales, from local to global, from individuals within species to populations. He will then explore the implications of biodiversity from a conservation perspective, as well as the challenges related to protecting biodiversity in a world of increasing human populations and human activities. The talk will focus particularly on the speaker’s experience in working with birds in Canada and throughout the world, as well as with mammals in south-east Asia. The talk will be liberally illustrated with photographs, many drawn from the speaker’s own field work in Canada and south-east Asia.
Later in the series, on October 21, Mike Yee of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority will speak on Biodiversity of the Mississippi Watershed., and on November 18, Dr Brian Naylor, Ministery of Natural Resources, will talk about the Biodiversity of the Ontario Forest. The topic of biodiversity will be further explored in the new year, where we hope to discuss the role of factors, such as climate change, that may have an impact on biodiversity. Andrea Howard, of the Eastern Ontario Museum of Biodiversity will speak on Communicating the Issues of Biodiversity, and Dr. Bruce Falls, University of Toronto, will speak on Bird Song and Biodiversity. The last speaker in the series, Linda Pim of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, will speak on Planning for Biodiversity.
Mark your calendars for the third Thursday of each month, except December. If you are not yet a member of the MVFN, this may be a good time to join. Meetings take place at the Almonte United Church, at 7:30 pm. Non-members’ will be charged a $5.00 fee. For further information, please contact Cliff Bennett at 256-5013, or consult our web site: mvfn.ca
