The Regional District of Nanaimo is starting off the spring season by celebrating Water to Earth Month.
In a press release last week, the RDN noted that it will be working with regional partners to observe the month, starting on World Water Day on March 22 and continuing until Earth Day, April 22.
The themes of this year’s Water to Earth Month are groundwater and climate change. Extreme heat, wildfires and floods in B.C. have brought more awareness to the topic of climate change and the impacts we are seeing in our own backyards, noted the RDN in the release.
“Water to Earth Month is a fun, hands-on way for residents of all ages to learn more about the environment and how we can all help to protect it through simple changes and small actions,” said Tyler Brown, RDN chairperson, in the release.
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Residents are encouraged to participate by registering for one of the scheduled events, visiting the RDN Team WaterSmart Get Involved page for online activities and following the RDN on social media for fun contests. Activities throughout the month include:
- Workshops on water-smart gardening, rainwater management and natural landscaping for climate change resilience;
- An educational walk with a local biologist and water expert along the Nanaimo River discussing water protection and streamside stewardship;
- A ‘Bio-Blitz’ in which residents will be asked to track plants and animals in their own backyard;
- A hosted invasive plant pull and litter clean-up party, or residents are encouraged to organize their own;.
- Online contests where residents can share how they are making a difference to conserve water or reduce the impacts of climate change on the RDN’s social media channels for a chance to win prizes.
The RDN thanks its regional partners including the City of Nanaimo, the Nanaimo Area Land Trust, Vancouver Island University, Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute and Mosaic Forest Management for their involvement and support.
For a full list of events and activities, registration links and WaterSmart information, visit http://getinvolved.rdn.ca/team-watersmart.
— NEWS Staff