notions of sustainable development do not include promoting understanding.
Because unless we realize why our environment is important, we can't appreciate
how our own activities may threaten its most precious
and delicate aspects.
Alvars are one of Earth's rarest ecosystems, found only in Sweden, Estonia and the Great Lakes Basin. Most of North America's alvar habitats are found in Ontario. Everywhere, they are vulnerable to human interference and destruction. Some of the world's best remaining examples are on the Bruce Peninsula.
Fortunately there are government ministries more committed to education, and websites more informative, than Parks Canada, which apparently wants to get people's tourism dollars without encouraging them to think. But I'll save the links for next week's article about alvars, nature's rock gardens. Don't miss it.