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The “Breathing Lands” is the term used by the Omushkegowuk Cree, whose homeland is the Hudson Bay lowlands, in reference to the vital importance of that ecosystem to planetary health and wellbeing - and therefore to the health and wellbeing of all life.
Our first Community Town Hall Meeting (CTHM) focused on the Problem and Promise of Peat. The event featured a screening of the 2023 film The Breathing Lands and two short videos exploring the global significance of peatlands as a carbon sink, sustaining a rich and unique range of habitats and species across the world.
Globally, despite only covering around 3-4% of the planet's land surface, peatlands contain up to one-third of the world's soil carbon, which is twice the amount of carbon as found in the world's forests. Canada is home to 25% of global peatlands, which cover 12% of our land area, and are one of the planet’s largest carbon stores, sequestering 150 billion tonnes of carbon. Ontario’s Hudson Bay Lowland is the second largest peatlands complex in the world, covering over 300,000 sq. km. Aside from carbon storage, peat has been referred to as the kidneys of the planet, filtering vast amounts of water and is vitally important for migratory bird breeding
Our peatlands are threatened by mining, development, and agriculture, as well as the extraction of peat for garden potting soil. Without knowing it, gardeners may be contributing to the loss of these critically important ecosystems.
The Problem and Promise of Peat event created an opportunity for gardeners, landscapers, outdoor enthusiasts, and individuals looking to make a difference in the climate crisis to learn more about our precious peatlands. It included engaging group discussions and a panel of expert speakers who shared information on alternatives to peat in gardening, as well as solutions and actions people can take to protect peatlands.
During the event our speakers engaged in a stimulating conversation with the participants, expertly facilitated by Duncan Holmes. The first event, held on 22 March was successful and well attended despite the winter’s only real snowstorm. This was repeated 27 June with another, equally successful, although less well attended, presentation and dynamic discussion.
Anna is Conservation Director for Wildlands League. For two decades, Anna has worked with Indigenous leaders, governments, industry and communities to protect Canada’s incredible ecosystems and to co-create solutions for people and the planet.
Anna is a graduate of York University’s Master in Environmental Studies Program. She also holds a Hon. B.Sc. in Biology from McMaster University. Her passion for conservation was sparked at a national park in Georgian Bay where she studied spotted turtles and reptiles.
Anna is currently working on two Indigenous Protected Areas in northern Ontario (the North French Watershed with Moose Cree First Nation and in Fawn River Watershed with Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninwug). She’s helping to safeguard the Hudson Bay Lowland, one of the world’s most important terrestrial carbon stores and is also leading new exciting work in Hudson Bay to establish national marine conservation areas in the world’s largest inland sea.
Jonas reimagined the landscaping business when he founded Ecoman with the goal of prioritizing climate change in the context of people’s outdoor spaces. He taps into nature’s potential to help people realize their design dreams while expressing their ecological values.
Ecoman offers a wide variety of landscaping services for personal properties, commercial, and public projects, working with nature to enhance habitat for wildlife and improve the value of land.
Jonas also established the Toronto Plant Market to help homeowners access quality local plants, as well as the Toronto Seed Orchard to make native plant species more accessible to landscape professionals in the Toronto area.
Jocelyn is passionate about finding and implementing solutions to the planet’s most pressing environmental issues. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Environmental Science and Management, and has more than a decade of experience in waste management, sustainability, and regenerative growing.
Jocelyn is the founder of Wastenot Farms, which creates high value soil additives from waste. She provides Canadians with regenerative growing tools that nurture healthy, thriving plants while reducing waste to landfill, sequestering carbon in soil, and growing Canada's circular economy.
Jocelyn’s Soil Booster products supply natural microbes that kickstart the soil’s living ecosystem, delivering on-demand nutrients to ensure plants flourish and thrive all season long.
READ more about Peatlands.
