Re-Imagining Bragg Creek; Past – Present – Future: A presentation by Dr. Brad Stelfox
The full video presentation is available on Bragg Creek Wild’s YouTube channel.
Please visit our Website – braggcreekwild.ca for the link to the video or visit: youtu.be/V6D68Yi5COA?si=rBcVtsxf ROY9_AN9
On May 22, 2024 Brad Stelfox enlightened a captive audience with his presentation Bragg Creek – Past Present Future. He told a tale of the eastern slopes, how meltwaters of retreating glaciers shaped the landscape and how it adapted and evolved through successive periods of natural disturbances, relying on interconnected functions of ecosystem resilience.
We now live in an incredibly diverse, rich environment, subject to the pressures of land development, resource extraction, floods, fires, drought, and tourism. As these activities increase in their intensity and reach, we recognize detrimental impacts to our natural assets happening concurrently, and at an alarmingly growing rate. These natural disturbances have always been there, just not at the magnitude we experience today…and not witnessed by such a caring, compassionate and intelligent community who only wants to protect it.
Brad stressed that all land use and human activities need to be considered as a whole system, part of a bigger picture. We need to change our mindset from the reactivity that depletes our energy, time and spirit, and towards strategic thinking and informed actions. By looking at the root cause of environmental degradation and natural change, this balanced perspective can help us prepare for the significant, long term consequences of future population growth, densification, and the demand for recreation and resources in our area.
We must first identify, understand, prioritize, and protect our natural assets – the ecological goods and services like water quality, biodiversity, and wetlands – as economic, social, and environmental generators of value. This change and adoption of best management practices can happen at home – by decreasing use of natural resources and pesticides, and reducing waste; at the community level by repairing native habitat and educating people; and regionally by meaningfully engaging with the government to build natural capital into all economic decisions.
As Brad noted: “Land use without exception creates benefit, but land use without moderation creates detriment.” Bragg Creek has the Power of Place. Let’s use that power wisely.
A video recording of Brad’s presentation is now available on our YouTube channel. We invite you to take the time to watch the presentation that kept our audience of 130 people spell-bound and left them inspired to better protect our local environment.
