On Friday, November 15th, a beautiful sunny day, the Squamish Environment Society (SES) had the privilege of attending the Howe Sound Conservation Network event at Capilano University’s Squamish Campus. Hosted by the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society and Capilano University’s Earthworks program, the event brought together stewards of the land and sea from across Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound.
The day was an incredible opportunity for connection, learning, and collaboration. Attendees, including students, faculty, and community groups from Squamish, Bowen Island, Vancouver, and beyond, gathered to share projects, exchange knowledge, and build capacity for biodiversity conservation. At our display table, we were highlighting two of our key initiatives: the Wildlife Connectivity Project and the Biodiversity Squamish Project. Together with our partners, these projects aim to create a more sustainable approach to land-use planning and to help preserve the rich biodiversity of our region.
The event gave us a unique glimpse into the global stage, as Stephanie Hewson of West Coast Environmental Law and Dr. David Zandvliet, UNESCO Chair for Biocultural Education, shared insider perspectives from their experience at COP16, the world conference on Biological Diversity. Murray Journeay, one of our directors and the project lead of the Wildlife Connectivity Project, also spoke on how his project aligns with Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy, and how the community can contribute to the project through local iNaturalist observations.
We were inspired by the Youth Climate Corps’ presentation on fostering climate resiliency through youth leadership within Squamish this year, and by the perspectives of the youth participating in the roundtable discussions.
The day was filled with passionate people, exciting ideas, and meaningful connections, and we were honoured to be a part of it. We look forward to continuing the important work of biodiversity conservation in Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound and beyond!
