The Sustainable Communities Field School (Field School) aims to advance sustainability, climate action and education across diverse groups and communities.
The Field School has been in existence since 2015, and has positioned UBC Botanical Garden (UBCBG) as a leader in sustainability education, research and engagement. Our team aligns educational programs to the UN Sustainability Development Goals (UN-SDGs) and delivers team building experiences to organizations and youth.
In 2021, the Field School launched a Climate Change Adaptation project with the aim of accelerating climate action by engaging local and global garden networks to build inclusive and resilient communities. By increasing capacity to understand and adapt to climate change, we aim to improve the resilience of our landscapes in the Pacific Northwest and nurture plants and biodiversity for future generations.
Our three main goals to advance adaptation at various scales, from local to global, are:
1. Adaptation Planning
Collaborating with established and emerging networks (gardens, universities and local governments), the Garden is developing community-driven solutions for adapting plants and landscapes through:
(1) a regional adaptation plan for the Pacific Northwest; and,
(2) plant- specific case studies for valuable collections such as maples, crop wild relatives, alpine plants, and native plants. Climate and conservation planning will enable networks to understand future climate risks, prioritize adaptation options and build on collective strengths to drive climate action and plant conservation.
2. Action for Adaptation Biodiversity Atlas and Policy Tools
The UBCBG is developing an online biodiversity atlas for southwest BC, collaborating with the Coastal Douglas-fir Conservation Partnership and the UBC Okanagan Earth Observation and Spatial Ecology lab.
We are developing decision and policy support tools for local governments and First Nations on BC’s southwest coast to support actions for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation. (www.actionforadaptation.ca)
Southwest British Columbia’s (BC) lowlands host over 75% of BC’s population. The area includes the Coastal Douglas-fir zone (CDFmm), home to the largest number of species and ecosystems at risk in BC.
Our purpose is to provide local governments and First Nations with key environmental spatial layers for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation in one location that can be downloaded or viewed online.
3. Climate Education
Our team engages businesses, organizations and youth in nature-based education at the Garden. We are constantly updating our tours with new information about SDGs, biodiversity and climate action to reflect emerging local and global priorities. To book a tour please visit our Group Experiences and Tours page.
For more info: garden.fieldshool@ubc.ca