New action team offering webinar on urban trees
Every Kamloopsian has experienced a hot day, likely in July or August (but increasingly in June and September) where you walk on the side of the road that offers any small slice of shade, hoping the temperature will be lower by even half a degree. Or when you park near some trees in the hope your car might not be quite as hot when you return….
In some ways, these challenges are the reality of living in a semi-arid region, but they are also made worse by rising global temperatures due to climate change, and by our built environment – massive swaths of heat-absorbing concrete and asphalt, without a lot of natural cooling elements like covered seating areas, pocket parks, water features, and especially, trees.
Urban trees in Kamloops are especially challenged due to lack of consistent annual precipitation, sometimes requiring that trees be irrigated to ensure their survival and growth. These and other factors have led to fewer trees being planted and replaced. But there are ways to protect and increase the urban tree canopy, such as preservation policies, development requirements, and resources to support City residents.
So, Transition Kamloops is supporting a new urban tree canopy action team! The aim of this action team is to increase, preserve, and promote urban tree canopy coverage. It aligns with our values and goals to protect the natural environment, build a climate-resilient community, and increase public access to (and understanding of) a variety of urban ecosystems.
Join us for the urban tree canopy campaign’s introductory webinar – next Tuesday, June 23rd from 7:00-8:00 pm on Zoom. It will describe the goals and advocacy opportunities and features a Q & A session with Dr. Darryl Carlyle-Moses MSc, PhD. Dr. Carlyle-Moses is an expert on local micro-climates, with specific expertise in climatology, meteorology, and urban biophysical environments.
If you are interested in (or passionate about!) trees, biodiversity, or revitalized public spaces – or if you would just like to have a cooler city to enjoy in the summer – that is a reason to learn more!
We hope you will join us for this webinar – pre-register here.
Transition Kamloops
Transition Kamloops is a volunteer-driven, registered not-for-profit society focused on increasing local resilience and self-sufficiency in food, water, energy, culture and wellness. We emphasize a local economy, healthy ecosystems, and grassroots community building, while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. We believe in a better way: a community that sustains life in all its diversity, strives for equality and justice and invests in the future.
Transition Kamloops recognizes that we are living on Secwépemcul’ecw—land that was never ceded to settlers, and continues to be home to vibrant Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions. We acknowledge the impact of colonization, forced displacement, and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous peoples. We commit to listening, learning, and building positive relationships with Indigenous communities as we work towards reconciliation.
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