How did the information presented in the talks affect how you think about nature? What aspects of nature and biodiversity do you feel are most important to protect? How can we take action to protect this aspect?

This image illustrates the forest ecosystems in Canada

Sustainable Forest Management in Canada (n.d.). Canada's Forests. Retrieved from http://www.sfmcanada.org/en/canada-s-forests

After watching How Trees Talk to Each Other, a Ted Talk by Suzanne Simard, I have more interest in trees, specifically in Canada. It was very disturbing to learn that "in the last decade[Canada] has had the highest forest disturbance rate of any country worldwide" (Simard, 2016). This fact alone made me more interested in studying and understanding the importance of forest ecosystems in Canada. I was also very intrigued by the research that Suzanne Simard had done on Birch and Fir trees. She had discovered how certain trees are able to "talk" to each other and share resources. These findings of Suzanne Simard cause me to reflect that trees are living just like humans and can communicate with each other. I think sometimes we forget that trees are living and should be treated just like any other living being.

After watching Why I Love Vultures, a Ted Talk by Munir Virani, I was reminded that all individual organisms are important. Vultures are not an animal that I readily encounter, but it was interesting to learn just how important they are to the ecosystems of the countries in which they inhabit. I was disgusted to learn that, just because some people do not find vultures attractive, they attempt to poison and kill them. This video strengthens my ecocentric views and demonstrated the effects that vulture extinction would have on an entire country and its ecosystems.

I believe that the most important aspects of nature and biodiversity are forest ecosystems. Forest ecosystems provide shelter and food for other organisms, store carbon, store water and also produce oxygen. To help protect forest ecosystems in Canada, it is important to educate people regarding the benefits of forests. Individuals may also write letters to governments and to logging companies, advocating to end clear cutting in forests. People also must respect and be aware of the impacts of their individual actions. For example, individuals must respect forest by not indiscriminately cutting trees or using harmful chemicals in or around sensitive forest ecosystems

Simard, S. (June, 2016). How Trees Talk to Each Other. Live performance in TedTalk Summit.

Varani, M. (May, 2012). Why I Love Vultures. Live performance in Ted@Nairobi.