Solution-Focused: Part 3

As much as humans have attempted to master nature and overcome the basic truth that we are as much a part of the natural world as any other species. We happen to be just the best at manipulating our surroundings. But let's get curious and wonder for a moment if we work with nature instead of against it? How might we be able to improve the health of our families and the health of the ecosystems we belong to?

Our society and community depend on natural resources and the earth for literally every need we have for survival. Even more, our ability to create healthy communities relies on our ability to create a mutually beneficial relationship with the world around us. We can agree the would like clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. We need sustainably managed food systems to grow healthy food to support the health of our families. Without pollinator species, we would lose approximately 35% of our food crops (Protecting Pollinators Critical to Food Production | NIFA.) So what can we do about these issues? My answer to this is to invest time and resources into renewable energy and increasing environmental sustainability practices across our community.

“Natural capital is the value of environmental goods and services that our natural resources provide,” says Karen Clarke-Whistler, chief environment officer at TD. “For example, trees are not only a source of lumber, but they also help filter the air that we breathe, absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, and help with flood mitigation— services that would otherwise need to be engineered. When you consider the financial value of these benefits to society, the link between a healthy environment and prosperous, low-carbon economy is clear.” (The ROI of environmental sustainability)

Programs to incentivize and increase:

• Increase Planting Prairie Flowers (Pollinator and Natural Resources Initiatives)

  • Increase carbon capture of 2 - 5 tons per acre

  • Decreased flooding risk

  • Increased habitat for pollinators and other sensitive species (supports bee populations, supporting food production).

  • Improved air quality and decrease in sound pollution

  • Community Beautification

• Increased access to Solar and wind energy (Solar Energy)

  • Decreased energy costs

  • Decreased carbon production

  • Decreased dependence on the energy grid

A pink coneflower with a fuzzy bumble bee on it!