For over 50 years, people have been celebrating Earth Day.
Now recognized as the largest secular holiday, Earth Day was first envisioned as an opportunity to teach college and university students about environmental issues in the United States. An estimated six million Canadians participate in various activities to promote environmental protection and sustainability each year.
The day is marked by a range of initiatives, such as tree planting, recycling drives, community clean-ups, and educational programs.
The Earth Day 2025 campaign is called Open Your Eyes To Protect Biodiversity. Nearly three-quarters of the Canadian population cannot define biodiversity or understand how to act to preserve it. However, a large majority wants to receive information to better understand the issues and get involved.
The goal is to encourage as many citizens, municipalities, and organizations as possible to reconnect with nature and and better understand the importance of preserving biodiversity for ecosystem balance, food security, and resilience to climate change.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area—the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life. Biodiversity supports everything in nature that we need to survive: food, clean water, medicine, and shelter.
According to the 2024 Living Planet Report , the average size of wildlife populations has fallen by a shocking 73% between 1970 and 2020. This is largely due to habitat loss. More than a third of the world's land surface and nearly 75% of freshwater resources are now devoted to crop or livestock production. Climate change worsens the impact of other stressors on nature and our well-being.
This impact is felt from the most remote places to our own backyards.
Here in the Bow Valley many species like bears and wolves, require large, continuous habitat to thrive. As these animals are essential for ecosystem health and biodiversity, it is critical we do our best to protect their habitat. This includes leaving space for them and respecting wildlife corridors , keeping wildlife out of our neighborhoods by removing fruit trees and using the bearproof waste bins, and supporting pollinators by planting non-fruit bearing, native flowers.
Biodiversity's resilience is truly remarkable—it's a testament to the strength and interconnectedness of natural systems. It's heartening to know that with mindful stewardship and a bit of patience, ecosystems can rebound and thrive.
Get Involved and Make a Difference! Hope thrives in action. Here are some inspiring ways to engage in Earth Day 2025 and contribute to protecting biodiversity:
Participate in a Bioblitz: Dive into citizen science! Using the iNaturalist app, you can identify and document local wildlife alongside your coworkers or community members. It's a fun and educational way to understand and connect with the biodiversity around you.
Join a Biodiversity Collage: A creative way to celebrate Earth Day while learning about species and ecosystems. Collages can be shared within your community to spark conversations about biodiversity.
Support Non-Profits: Organizations like Yellowstone to Yukon are champions of biodiversity conservation. Volunteering or donating to groups like these directly helps protect vital habitats.
Take Action for Nature: Whether it's planting native flora, creating habitats for pollinators, or conserving water resources, personal actions add up to big impacts.
No Mow May Challenge: Allow lawns to flourish naturally for the month of May. It's simple, yet incredibly effective for supporting pollinator populations like bees and butterflies.
This Earth Day, let’s come together to cherish and protect biodiversity—not just for the planet but for ourselves. Every act, big or small, contributes to building a more resilient world where people and nature thrive. Let’s open our eyes to the beauty, importance, and resilience of biodiversity.
The Biosphere has partnered with several organizations across the month of April to host a number of Earth Day-related events; read on to find out more!
Mark your Calendars!
We have a LOT of upcoming events, see below for more details!
April 8 - The State of the Earth; The State of the World: An Indigenous Intercultural Talking Circle. Healing Ourselves & Our Community
April 10 - Queering Nature: Exploring 2SLGBTQIA+ Perspectives in Ecology and Environmentalism
April 12 - Bear Day: Welcome bears back to the landscape and learn how to stay safe!
April 14 - Earth Talks: FireSmarting the Peaks of Grassi: a Community-Based Approach to Mitigating Wildfire Risks
April 22 - Earth Day Networking Event
April 27 - Pancake Breakfast and Volunteer Fair
April 27 - Strides 8th Annual Plogging Event
April 27 - The Power of Pollinators: Canmore Rotary Earth Day Event
May 3 - Not the End of the World
May 3 - Bow Valley Climate Action Highway Clean-up
May 9 - Canmore Share and Repair Fair
May 31 - 2025 Green Buildings Open House
May 31 - Jam for Jasper