Fundy Biosphere Reserve localizing climate change
The Fundy Biosphere Reserve is introducing local climate change education to New Brunswick schools.
"A lot of the content that is prepared for teachers comes from Brazilian rainforest or coral reefs in Australia. We have some truly spectacular examples, in a scary sort of way, right here in our own backyard," said Megan de Graaf, executive director of the Reserve.
The Reserve spoke with over 100 farmers, snow plow drivers, First Nations elders, farmers, academics and researchers to collect information about local climate change patterns.
"We began collecting what we considered disappearing information from people who had a lifetime of experience outside in the weather," she said.
They've put together a series of seven videos, including a documentation from the Whitneys, who are a family of farmers and retired teachers who kept a journal for nearly 40 years.
"That video explores the journals they kept … observations in their own backyard," said de Graaf.
Once the videos were complete, the Biosphere hired a teacher and worked with faculty at the University of New Brunswick and the Department of Education as well as staff and curriculum development officers in the Department of Education.
"We made a series of educational materials, lesson plans, that are already prepared side by side with these videos."
de Graff said that they are working with teachers in schools in southeastern New Brunswick, but hope to receive funding to distribute their work to other Atlantic provinces.
"I hope for one that everybody who has access to this material starts to understand that climate change is already happening in our region," she said. "It isn't something nebulous. It is actively happening and we can see it."
