Q. What does an Associate Director, Sustainability and Community Programs at the UBC Botanical Gardens do?
I am fortunate to have a great job where I get to use UBC Botanical Garden to engage people of all ages in learning about plants from around the world and biodiversity in the Pacific Northwest. This takes shape in a number of programs and events from school field trips, to water conservation workshops, to sustainability programs for local businesses. We just launched our 2016 Learn Series which includes workshops, tours and free public events with a wide range of topics aimed to engaging and inspiring life-long learners.
Q. Can you briefly describe your work as it relates to Earth Day and this year’s theme of Trees for the Earth?
UBC Botanical Garden and its staff have a long history with trees. From advocating to protecting local watersheds in the 1920’s to cataloguing and collecting native tree species of BC. In 2015 we launched the Vancouver Tree App which helps tree enthusiasts learn about local trees through pictures, maps and info.
We celebrate Earth Day with our Earth Day Tour exploring the past, present and future sustainability strategies for Gardens in the Pacific Northwest and are also hosting a Moss Gardening workshop. On April 23, our Artist in Residence will be performing in our Asian Garden where the Rhododendrons are in full bloom.
Q. What is the relationship between trees and climate change?
I like to think of trees as the lungs of our Planet. I also think they root us to the soil and to nature. There is quote by a First Nations Chief from Haida Gwaii that I think summarizes it best:
"People are like trees, and groups of people are like the forests.
While the forests are composed of many different kinds of trees, these trees intertwine their roots so strongly that it is impossible for the strongest winds which blow on our islands to uproot the forest, for each tree strengthens its neighbour, and their roots are inextricably intertwined.
In the same way the people of our Islands, composed of members of nations and races from all over the world, are beginning to intertwine their roots so strongly that no troubles will affect them.
Just as one tree standing alone would soon be destroyed by the first strong wind which came along, so it is impossible for any person, any family, or any community to stand alone against the troubles of this world".
Haida Gwaii, Chief Skidegate-Lewis Collinson 1966
Q4. How many varieties of trees are at the botanical gardens? Do you have a favourite?
UBC Botanical Garden safeguards about 7000 taxa of plants, of which about 500 are trees. My favourite? It is hard to say. Likely the Douglas fir or the Western Red Cedar both of which are champion trees of the Pacific Northwest.
Q5. What do you think the state of the natural environment is and what is one change that individuals can make to create a more sustainable future?
I think we take our natural environment for granted and I fear that this will have significant repercussions for future generations of people and other species. Biodiversity loss due to direct and indirect impact by humans means that 1 in 4 species are at risk.
I think individuals can and should take any and all action towards a sustainable future. Every individual has access to different spheres of influence whether its in the coffee we buy, to the land we manage, to cubicle we reside in, we can take small or large steps to make sustainable, attainable.