At the UN Biodiversity Convention, COP15, Dr. John Gunn and Laurentian University student leaders Avery Morin and Anastacia Chartrand presented Sudbury’s regreening story, a much-needed story of hope, where severe environmental damage is being reversed through collective effort.
Unavoidably, there is a poignancy to this story. Many of the people celebrated are no longer at Laurentian. The programs with regreening expertise no longer exist at our university. Students can no longer study Environmental Science or forest ecology here where the celebrated ‘regreening recipe’ was created.
Laurentian University has now exited from the CCAA. We must hope that the rebuilding of LU will include the restoration of these programs and others.The LU greenspace is an important site in Sudbury’s regreening story. An origin site of much of the science of the ‘regreening recipe.’ A site of learning for students. A place of community effort and wellness for regreening, trails and activities. And the first site where regreening efforts will be deemed complete.