Farm to Globe: Transforming Our Food Systems presents:

How Nature Based Solutions Restore Balance

Let’s talk about the climate crisis. The first episode in our two part mini series on climate change will explore nature based solutions – what even are they and what are we doing to try to implement them around the world? These natural climate solutions involve restoring and better managing ecosystems, from switching to restorative agriculture to cultivating mangrove forest regrowth, and many of them were founded in indigenous knowledge systems. Join our panelists Drew Bondar, Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, Professor Terry Sunderland, UBC Faculty of Forestry, and Larry McDermott, Plenty Canada, as they discuss their own approaches and research on restoring the balance mankind has disrupted.

About the Presenters

Drew Bondar – Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust

Drew Bondar is passionate about food systems — from the biodiversity in soil to the networks we use to distribute food. As the Executive Director for an NGO that works with farmers to enhance farmland for soil health and wildlife habitat, and the Founder of a small business that rescues and delivers off-grade produce, Drew has experience working across the food supply chain. With dual degrees in agroecology and civil engineering, Drew’s educational background has provided training in a wide range of disciplines from project management to soil biology. Society is facing unprecedented challenges when it comes to climate change and biodiversity loss. Drew is committed to finding solutions to these challenges at the local level that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

Professor Terry Sunderland – UBC Faculty of Forestry

Terry Sunderland is currently a Professor at the Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Canada focusing on the biological and human dimensions of the sustainable management and utilization of tropical forests. He was previously a Senior/Principal Scientist at the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Indonesia, where he coordinated CIFOR’s work on forests and food security, biodiversity conservation and integrated landscape management. Prior to joining CIFOR in early 2006, Terry was based in West Africa for over fifteen years and worked on numerous conservation and livelihood-focused projects. Having both a field practitioner and academic background gives him a wide perspective on conservation, livelihoods and related issues. Terry has a Masters degree in Forestry from the University of Oxford and a PhD from the University of London. He has published more than 240 research papers, book chapters and books. Terry is an active blogger and engages regularly with the media on disseminating research for policy influence and outreach.

Larry McDermott – Plenty Canada

Larry McDermott is Algonquin from Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, and is the Executive Director of Plenty Canada. Larry is currently a member of numerous organizations including the International Indigenous Forum for Biodiversity the Canadian Environmental Network, UNESCO, and the Ontario Recovery Strategy for the American Eel. A former three-time Mayor and long-time council member of Lanark Highlands, was the first Chair of the Rural Forum of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, was a Commissioner for the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and was on the Ontario Species at Risk Public Advisory Committee. Larry also served as a comprehensive claim representative for Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, is a certified tree marker and butternut assessor, and holds other environmental certifications. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Guelph. Larry was a humble student for many years of the late Algonquin Elder, Grandfather William Commanda, who created the Circle of All Nations organization. Larry lives in a 170-year-old log home on 500 acres of biologically diverse Algonquin land along the Mississippi River with his wife Nancy.

Jordan Kersey – Moderator

Jordan Kersey received her B.Sc. in Environmental Science and Biology at Iowa State University, USA. Throughout her undergrad, she worked in a soil chemistry lab which allowed her to discover her love for research and all things soil nitrogen related. After taking a year off, Jordy completed her M.Sc. in soil science at Oregon State University. Her master’s thesis focused on soil health in managed forest systems. Currently, Jordy is working on her PhD with Dr. Sean Smukler. Her project will be focused on soil health dynamics and climate change resiliency in agricultural fields of the Alaksen National Wildlife Area.

The Farm to Globe: Transforming Our Food Systems series is brought to you by the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS), the BC Food Web, the Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS), and the Royal Bank of Canada. This webinar series focuses on what needs fixing in our food systems and the innovative solutions which could affect change for the better.