In this issue — Biodiversity: From RBG to the Amazon
Nature in the News and Feature Articles
1. Biodiversity: Variety is the Spice of Life
2. Royal Botanical Gardens' Natural Lands: Canada's Botanical Hot Spot

Classroom Activities and Resources
1. Do the Blitz — the BioBlitz
2. Cootes to Escarpment Park System
3. RBG Staff Picks — recommended websites

Ask the Naturalist (send your questions to nature@rbg.ca)
I read in the news a while back that bananas could disappear from our grocery stores. How likely is this to happen?

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2010 is International Year for Biodiversity — an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the rich diversity of life that surrounds and sustains us, and a time to focus on how we will protect it in a world where the rate of change seems to be increasing exponentially. This global initiative is a great way to coordinate a focus on how our planet's life support systems are under threat, but when it comes to action, things need to happen at the local level and step #1 is getting to know the species in your neighbourhood.

While children today are said to be able to recognize close to 1000 corporate logos, or pretty much any Pokemon character, most cannot even begin to identify even 10 local plant or animal species. A recent study from Britain found that fewer than half of 9 to 11 year-old children there recognized a harvestman — the daddy longlegs that most of us can remember spending time with when we were children. Commenting on this, famed naturalist David Attenborough said: "The wild world is becoming so remote to children that they miss out — and an interest in the natural world doesn’t grow as it should. Nobody is going to protect the natural world unless they understand it." We all need to know and cherish our own local biodiversity.

The weather is slowly turning towards spring and nature's New Year is almost upon us. How's about a Nature New Year's resolution to get your students outdoors this spring? Take them to your school yard or a local park, or bring them on a field trip, but just get them outdoors and help them learn more about their community — their natural community.

If you're looking for teaching ideas close to school, consider participating in one of our Sharing Nature with Children workshops and see how it's done, or participate in International Day for Biodiversity on May 21 or 22. We'll be offering public activities focusing on IDB, as well as special BioBlitz programs for schools in late May and early June, but there is another initiative that any school can be part of. You can join the Green Wave as it sweeps around the world by planting a tree and watering it at a particular time. Upload your activity and watch online as the Green Wave rolls through each country.

Have a safe and enjoyable March Break and a happy Nature's New Year!
The RBG Education Team

Nature in the News and Feature Articles
1. Biodiversity: Variety is the Spice of Life
Dr. David Galbraith, Head of Science, Royal Botanical Gardens

It’s 2010, the United Nations’ International Year of Biodiversity. “So what?” some people may say— what’s biodiversity anyway except an overused buzzword? It’s a lot, actually, and it’s what RBG is all about.

Without commissioning a poll, it’s hard to know the percentage of Canadians that understand what the word biodiversity really means. It’s dangerous territory because it’s a complex topic, even for people who work with it every day. I also don’t think us “biology types” have really done a good job connecting people to biodiversity, or at least explaining why it’s so important. More ...

2. Royal Botanical Gardens’ Natural Lands: Canada’s Botanical Hot Spot
Dr. David Galbraith, Head of Science, Royal Botanical Gardens

Natural areas where many species are found — areas of high biological diversity — are called “hot spots.” These areas typically feature many endangered species, as well as species that are not at risk. Conservation organizations often focus attention on hot spots as effective ways to promote the efficient protection of as many species as possible. More ...