Shape the future of our watersheds: Register for the sixth Muskoka Summit on the Environment
By Peter Sale.
Take a moment to imagine what you want the Muskoka landscape to look like in forty years — what do you see? For most of us who love this place, we imagine something much like what we see around us every day — vibrant communities and happy, healthy people, all nestled into a rich natural environment of rocks, trees and water.
With the increase in development and expansion of our footprint, and with new stresses such as climate change, we now have to ask ourselves if this vision for Muskoka’s future is possible. As an environmental scientist who understands some of the complexities involved, I firmly believe that it is, but I say this with a note of caution. This vision will only be realized if we, as a community, transform the way in which we support our beloved watershed. Otherwise, the many forms of environmental deterioration that we are experiencing now will only continue.
On October 4th, Muskoka Watershed Council is hosting the sixth biennial Muskoka Summit on the Environment in the Leon’s Auditorium in Bracebridge’s brand-new Muskoka Lumber Community Centre. This all-day event gives community members the opportunity to participate in a journey of discovery led by environmental experts from across Canada. Through this journey, you will learn more about Muskoka’s watersheds, how to reduce our impact and how we can help build resilience, both in ourselves and in our watershed.
Our watersheds are more than just a place where we swim in the summer and skate in the winter. They are a complex, multidimensional, living, socio-ecological system that includes our community and our economy. If we want to keep enjoying them the way that we have for generations, we have a responsibility to support them and find collaborative, dynamic solutions to prevent and mitigate the stresses we cause.
If we can work together to strengthen the resilience of our watersheds, we have a good chance of preserving the things we value about our home and its future.
So come along with us as we spend a day listening and learning. Listen as local high school students share their concerns for the future; learn from Dr. Shaun Watmough as he shares his detailed understanding of how our forests interact with our waterbodies; gain wisdom from Dr. Deborah McGregor, Anishnaabe scholar and environmental scientist, a woman who understands Indigenous stories as well as she does the stories told by science; and discover ways to protect against the increasing risk of flood and wildfire as climate change continues from Dr. Blair Feltmate.
Enjoy a day of discovery with others who seek to learn and understand. Register now because space is filling fast! Find more information on the summit and how to register at muskokasummit.org and join the team working to bring enhanced management to this region.