From the Tropical Forests of Brazil to the Prairies of Canada
Priscila Napoli, Guest Blogger
The adventures of a ‘migratory conservationist’ discovering Canada’s nature.
This blog is written by guest blogger Priscila Napoli.
When you are deeply connected to nature, it becomes an important aspect of all the decisions you make. Being passionate about wildlife conservation, nature was among the key factors that my husband and I took into consideration when we decided to move from Brazil to Canada four years ago. We knew we would find beautiful places and incredible wildlife in Canada, but nothing really prepared us for what was coming on our way.
Living in Calgary, Alberta, we are surrounded by an impressive variety of landscapes. Located in a transition zone between the Canadian Rockies foothills and the Canadian Prairies, we have at one side golden grasslands and numerous wetlands, and at the other crystalline emerald and blue lakes, surrounded by dense coniferous forests and alpine meadows. In this breathtaking setting I saw for the first time in my life some of the most iconic mammals of Canada, including Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, Moose and Elks.
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Waterton Lakes National Park by Elver Silva
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Alberta Wetlands by Elver Silva
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Not far from here, to the north, lies the beautiful Boreal Forest that extends from the Yukon and northern British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador. And by travelling a few kilometres to the southeast, we find the extraordinary badlands, nested within the prairies and grasslands of Alberta.
An Atlantic Puffin at the Witless Bay in Newfoundland by Elver Silva.
Amazed by the magnificent and diverse nature of Alberta, I wondered what the other provinces would have to store and decided to start a discovery journey across Canada. I’ve only visited two provinces so far, but it has been an unforgettable experience packed with first encounters like watching Killer Whales in British Columbia or observing a colony of Atlantic Puffins at Witless Bay in Newfoundland.
As someone who was born and raised in a tropical country like Brazil, what amazes me the most in Canada is to find such diversity of habitats and wildlife in a country that faces for so many months of very cold temperatures. I am also impressed by the fact that nature in Canada is still present within and around large urban areas, like Calgary or Vancouver.
Nature depends on conservation and conservation depends on people. Most of my memorable nature-related experiences, both in Brazil and in Canada, happened in protected areas, which only reinforces the importance of conservation for people and nature. Organizations like Nature Canada that work to protect and conserve wildlife and habitats by engaging people and advocating on behalf of nature are vital to ensure wilderness protection while connecting people to nature.
Nature is prolific and shows us that, no matter where we go, its splendor will be there, present, accessible, available, as long we protect, conserve and respect it.
