The Role of Ravines in Flood Protection, Wildlife, Challenges and How Toronto Field Naturalists Help

Bio:  Ellen Schwartzel is President of the Toronto Field Naturalists. Ellen's career in environmental policy included 23 years with the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, and she was Ontario's Deputy Environmental Commissioner from 2014 until retiring in 2018.  Ellen received her BSc and MSc in Botany at the University of Toronto.

Topic:

Ellen Schwartzel, the president of the Toronto Field Naturalists, will introduce Toronto’s ravine landscapes - nature at our doorsteps. Her talk features ravine wildlife, the role of ravines in flood protection, and how these lands have changed over thousands of years. She will also sketch out the 21st century challenges facing the ravines and their biodiversity, and the ways Toronto Field Naturalists are lending a hand. Photos and art by TFN members bring the ravines to life in a Zoom format. The presentation is about 30 minutes, followed by Q’s and A’s.

About the Organization:

Toronto Field Naturalists connects people with nature in the Toronto area. We help people understand, enjoy, and protect Toronto’s green spaces and the species that inhabit them.  We have been offering guided walks, lectures, stewardship and citizen science initiatives since 1923.  We also own and manage several nature reserves.