Asian American Pacific Islander

RobinJune Hood is a cultural geographer, educator and filmmaker originallyfrom Montreal. Robin has lived most of her adult life in Latin America and British Columbia. She worked in Central America supporting vulnerable populations in war-affected regions during the tumultuous 1980s. Upon her return to Canada she has operated a consulting business focused ontransformational education, community development and international development.As a peace activist and documentary filmmaker Robin combines media skills with research affiliations to create support forcommunity transformation and social movements. A pioneer of creative participatory methodologies, Robin has facilitated community developmentprocesses in Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala and BC for the past decade. Robinhas worked extensively in war zones with indigenous peoples and completed herdoctorate on revitalizing traditional ecological knowledge with working children in Guatemala. Robin was part of the Rainforest Solutions team that negotiated the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest, a vast wilderness areaon BC’s Central Coast. Robin also worked for the Canadian Red Cross during theSE Asia Tsunami response and coordinated a global conference on creatingresilient communities in 2005-2006. Robin is an adjunct professor at RoyalRoads University and a regional council member for the BC Coastal Region of theCanadian Red Cross, she resides on Gabriola Island with her partner JohnShields, her daughter Nikki and various four leggeds. 

For the Love ofNature is the fifth titleproposed to showcase solutions that can protect the world’s biodiversity.  Guy Dauncey has asked Briony Penn andRobin J. Hood to research and write the book while retaining his role in the structure,ideas and development of the book.

The destruction ofnature is the biggest challenge facing the Earth and humans today. The assaultis coming from all sectors and at every level of society, whether throughclimate change, deforestation, urbanization or pollution. The creative solutionsto heal

the Earth must comefrom the same sources. Just as banks, governments and corporations have rippedapart the fabric of the Earth in a relentless quest for resources, so too dothey have the power to heal. Even more inspiring are the solutions beingdeveloped and achieved by action groups, non-profits, religious organizationsand indigenous communities, ranging from the creation of land trusts torestoring ‘creation’ in the grounds of religious institutions. 

 Table of Contents For the Love of Nature

The 101 Solutions 

10 SOLUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS

01             GetReal: Get Outside

            Examplesof individuals becoming experts in their local plants and animals andimplications

02            BackyardBiodiversity: Reserve and Restore

Examples of people protecting existing natural areas;the use of native plants for restoring native habitat; lawns for living things;greening their workplace

03            BatHouses to Bee Condos

            Examplesof people creating special habitats for local species around their houses tocondos 

04            Advocatesand Activists for Wildlife and Habitat

Examples of advocates for wildlife; frontline activismto protect ecosystems 

05            Livingfor Health and Nature

            Examplesof daily living habits that are friendly to nature and your health

06              RoadKind not Road Kill           

            Examplesof people protecting wildlife typically killed during migration

07             Conservingwith Covenants

Examples of protecting land with covenants; workingwith land trusts

08             EatingFor, Not Against, Wildlife           

            Examplesof people choosing foods that minimize impacts to nature

09             Offsettingyour Carbon for Ecosystem Protection

            Examplesof people preventing deforestation through personal carbon offsets

10            Investingin Habitat Protection

Individuals investing in Socially ResponsibleInvestments that protect biodiversity; putting forward shareholder resolutions;

10 SOLUTIONS FOR ACTION GROUPS

11             Createa Local Club with Nature as a Focus                                   

            Examplesof  local clubs where the love ofnature and enjoyment of nature is part of the focus   

12        Mapping Special Places

 Examplesof community mapping to protect biodiversity

13             Connectwith Community                                               

Examples where groups integrate nature into local issues, holidays,arts, community activities

14             MentoringYouth in Nature                                                   

Examples of groups working with youth organization innature for healthy minds, bodies, relationships, careers

15             RestoringNature, Body and Mind                                                           

            Examplesof health organizations working in nature to restore healthy minds and bodies 

16             RediscoveringCreation                                                                       

Examples of religious groups reconnecting with naturearound churches, temples & synagogues 

17             Educatethe Legislators                                                                                 

Examples of groups introducing politicians to theirlocal flora and fauna in a positive way

18             Educatethe Educators                                                                                

Examples of groups raising awareness of the importanceof nature in children’s education

19             CreateCommunity Events around Nature Events

Bringing people together around migrations, wildlifeevents and other natural themes; adapting traditional holidays to yourbioregion

20             UsingElectronic Media Expediently           

Examples of groups using electronic media to raiseawareness of local biodiversity and group activities then get people outsideconnected to nature

5 SOLUTIONS FOR ARTISTS

21             WhereArt Meets Nature           

Artist who have used natural themes into art to raiseawareness in the arts community

22             WhereMusic Meets Nature           

Musicians who have conveyed  awareness and love of nature in their music and influencedothers

23            WhereTheatre  Meets Nature           

Playwrights, actors who have created plays set inlocal natural settings with nature themes    integrated 

24             WhereLiterature Meets Nature

Writers who have used natural settings and nature inplots to raise awareness of place

25             WhereFilm Meets Nature               

Filmmakers using film and video to capture beauty,importance of the local in stories and documentaries

5 SOLUTIONS FOR EDUCATORS

26             PracticingWhat You Preach                                      

Biodiversity Strategies on Campus with Protected Areasand habitat restoration; living schoolyards

27             WeaveBiodiversity into the Curriculum             

Examples of educators using local curriculum withemphasis on local ecosystems and biodiversity; integrated with all othersubjects, eg , music, math, social studies, etc 

28             OfferOutdoor Classrooms                                     

Examples of outdoor kindergartens; wilderness schools;field studies; regular outdoor classes; campus walks

29             SustainabilityPlans Linked to Biodiversity                                      

Examples of environmental policy on transportation,purchasing, paper, housing, landscaping, etc that is both energy and biodiversityfriendly 

30             Natureas an Integrating Inter-disciplinary Subject

Examples of broadening nature from science to a broadunifying theme; conservation biologists; art, participatory/communityresearch;  endowed chairs on thetask of protecting biodiversity; think tanks on biodiversity 

20 SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS SECTORS

31             Solutionsfor Forestry              

32            Solutionsfor Chemical Industry           

33            Solutionsfor Land Developers                                          

34             Solutionsfor Marine Fishing                         

35             Solutionsfor Freshwater Fishing                                                

36             Solutionsfor Mining                                     

37             Solutionsfor Power  Companies                                              

38             Solutionsfor Oil and Gas                                             

39             Solutionsfor Tourism and Ecotourism                                                    

40             Solutionsfor Transportation Companies                          

41             Solutionsfor the Funeral Business                                          

42             Solutionsfor Investors, Banks, Financial Institutions                     

43             Solutionsfor Cultural Industries                                        

44            Solutionsfor Crop, Fruit and Vegetable Farming                    

45             Solutionsfor Animal Farming and Ranching         

47            Solutionsfor Restaurants and Food Industry                            

48            Solutionsfor Recreation Industry

49            Solutionsfor Marine Industry             

50            Solutionsfor All Businesses               

10 SOLUTIONS FOR CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

51             Planningfor Biodiversity in Official Community Plans                       

Examples of leading edge community plans and EBMecosystem-based management plans; protected area plans; Natural Step policies

52             ProtectingGreenspace through Smart Growth         

Examples of successful urban containment zoning thatincorporates biodiversity as well as agricultural objectives; other SmartGrowth Tools like Development Permit Areas 

53             Inspiring/Educatingthe Public                        

Examples of public education in municipalities andregions improving biodiversity and health of people, including Green CommunityMapping 

54             DaylightingStreams and Street Calming             

Examples of stream daylighting creating riparianwildlife zones again in cities; also street calming to create terrestrialcorridors

55             CreatingLEED Neighbourhoods                 

            LEEDSstandards at neighbourhood levels provide comprehensive approach 

56             RestoringWetlands and Living Machines               

            Examplesof different wetlands created to mitigate storm flooding, sewage treatmentetc 

57             HiringPlanners and Engineers with Ecological Training       

            Examplesof impacts of enthusiastic and knowledgeable civil servants 

58             TacklingInvasives and Planting Natives           

Examples of managing public transit and utilitycorridors and other public as wildlife refuges by  tackling invasives 

59             ProtectingUrban Wildlife                   

Examples of species-specific case studies whereendangered species are protected through municipal bylaws, eg , Coopers hawk,great blue heron, bats etc 

60             Createand Enforce Pesticide Bans             

Examples of pesticide free communities and healthbenefits for both humans and wildlife

5 SOLUTIONS FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

61             FormingConservation Partnerships to Secure Tenures         

            Purchasingof resource tenures and ensuring legal access to land and natural resource

62             CreateIndigenous Land Trusts             

            Examplesof native lands administered under land trusts to protect againstalienation 

63             ProtectingHabitat through Treaty Rights           

            Useof recent court decisions to protect forests and culture

64            Worktowards Preservation of Endangered Wildlife and Habitat      

            Examplesof best solutions to protecting wildlife over long term; tribal sanctuaries

65             SupportMovers and Shakers of Sustainability             

5 SOLUTIONS FOR DEVELOPING  COMMUNITIES

66             UsingCarbon Trading to Prevent Deforestation          

            Examplesof international biofunds from carbon trading assisting communities to protectforests

67             IntegratingHabitat Protection into Community Economic Development     

Examples of small scale projects, and lines of creditthat are conditional on creating employment and the security of the ecosystem;examples of supporting technology  for small cooking stoves instead of wood stoves

68             ProtectEndangered Species from International Trade                 

Examples of alternatives to international trade inwildlife, etc

69             EnsureSocial and Gender Equity           

            Examplesof cases where gender and social equity led to preservation of biodiversity

70            DevelopSustainable Eco-Tourism and Cultural Tourism             

Best case examples of ecotourism controlled by localcommunities; taxing tourism for wildlife protection

20 SOLUTIONS FOR GOVERNMENTS

71             SetEcological Literacy as Central Curriculum Objective      

            Examplesof provincia/state curriculum with nature as learning objective; make itmandatory

72             Makeand Enforce Legislation Protecting Biodiversity       

            Bestpractices of jurisdictions enforcing existing legislation

73             OutlawDestruction of Habitat of Endangered Species           

            Bestpractices of endangered species and endangered ecosystem  legislation

74             EstablishNational/State Policy Directives for Biodiversity Protection    

Best examples of national policy, including:purchasing policy, lands managed by government for biodiversity, conditionalityclauses for protecting biodiversity in all contracts, tenures, transferpayments;

75             Developand Support Bans on Pesticides and other Toxic Chemicals   

            Bestpractices of pesticide bans and IPM

76             RestoreHabitat for Endangered Wildlife                

                   Includerestoration of habitat as part of overall objectives

77             HireStaff with Ecological Training Across Disciplines                

            Examplesof where training leads to positive results

78             TaxShift off Activities and Businesses that Protect Biodiversity

Examples of countries that have shifted taxes offsustainable activities as incentives, e g  , Forest   Stewardship Certification 

79             CreateProtected Area Plan With Ecological Targets             

Examples of countries that have exceeded the 12%targets originally set by the Brundtland Commission but are ecologically notsufficient 

80             FundInterdisciplinary Research and Development into Sustainability in allInstitutions

            Examplesof R & D initiatives that have produced results down the line in protectingbiodiversity

81             SupportLines of Credit/Funding to Community Economic Development with BiodiversityObjectives               

            Examplesof best practices where biodiversity objectives are met in community projects

82             CreateTax Breaks for Forestry and Farming Set Asides and Restoration   

Examples of initiatives where set asides and restorationhave reversed trends of declining biodiversity while maintaining rurallivelihoods, increasing IPM etc 

83             PreventAgencies Becoming Captive by Special Interest Groups

Examples of legislative reform that preventsgovernment agencies becoming’ captured’ by special interest groups   

84             SupportMarketing for Communities Providing Sustainable Products

Examples of government marketing campaigns that assistcommunities to reach consumer markets for sustainable products 

85             Placeholder for government solution                                   

86             TaxShifting off the Nature-friendly Businesses       

87              Encourage  Ecologically Responsible Investments         

88            CreateEnvironmental Bill of Rights                      

            Examplesof environmental bill of rights and examples of Environmental Ombudsmanetc  

89             [Placeholder  for Government Solution]          

90             ReformBanks and Financial Institutions           

10 GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

91             Listento the Council of Elders                        

 92            Supportthe Rio Convention with Teeth                   

            Bestexamples of international cooperation to protect endangered species and habitat

93             Supportthe Kyoto Protocol                               

            Bestexamples of international cooperation on climate change

94             Redefinethe Role the United Nations plays in Biodiversity                     

Best examples of possible roles of UN including resolvingNorth/South inequities, gender inequities; world consumption patterns and worldpopulation

95             RestructureCITES to Ensure the Protection of all Wildlife          

            Alook at CITES and opportunities to improve it

96             WorkTogether to End World Bank Projects that Threaten Biodiversity       

            Examplesof best projects of World Bank in protecting biodiversity while supporting CED;           

            Examplesof taxation that will assist the transfer of technologies to developingcountries

97             WorkTogether for Peace                   

             Examples of nations that are opting outof war; role of militarized zones for biodiversity

98            CreateMicro- Funding Mechanisms Available World Wide for Sustainable Business 

            Examplesof international supported micro-funding that assists CED and biodiversity

99            Integratethe Messages of International Social Movements

Examplesof government and social movement collaboration, e g , World Social Forum tobring about better social, gender and environmental equity 

100             Uniteto Preserve our Oceans            

            Examplesof international cooperation on ocean preservation; coastal zonemanagement