Improving City of Saint John\'s_

Improving City of Saint John's_

VI .Conclusion

Allocation of land for building nature or wildlife reserves in cities that are still developing gives children in such neighborhoods an opportunity to become more conscious about their environment. They in the process appreciate the need for environmental conservation. Nature and wildlife reserves have both social and economic benefits to the residents of such cities. The benefits can be varied and does include creation of employment opportunities and source of revenue for city authorities to mention but a few. This paper seeks to illuminate the benefits the City of St. John's Newfoundland, Canada is likely to accrue when it puts in place nature and wildlife reserves.

Bolduc, M., Guha, M., Laurendeau, E., & Satienpoch, M. (2003). WPI -- London Borough of Merton Local Nature Reserves: An Interactive Qualifying Project Report. Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

This report by Bolduc, Guha, Laurendeau & Satienpoch (2003) was about local nature reserves found within London Borough of Merton. It was an interactive qualifying project report. This section covers utmost two pages. It outlines the benefit of having wildlife and nature reserves within the city of St. John's.

Eggleston, W. (1961). The Queen's Choice. Ottawa, Ontario: The National Capital Commission.

Eggleston (1961) uses the Greenbelt found within Ottawa, Toronto to list the benefits that a city can accrue from installing wildlife and nature reserves within its environs.

Gubbay, S. (1995). Marine Protected Areas-past, present and future. Conservation Biology Series, 5, 1-14.

The study by Gubbay (1995) that capture marine life within mangroves is used to show cities, especially City of St. John's, can benefit from nature and wildlife reserves.

Maller, C., Townsend, M., Pryor, a., Brown, P., & St. Ledger, L. (2006). Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. Health Promotion International, 21 (1), 45-54.

Maller, Townsend, Pryor, Brown, & St. Ledger (2006) illuminate the role nature plays in people's health. Maller et al. (2006) underscore social and economic benefits of wildlife and nature reserves to the lives of city residents.

Pearce, D.W. & Turner, R.K., (1990). Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. London: Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Pearce & Turner (1990) delve into how natural resources impact the environment. Their input is used to show how residents of city of St. John's, Newfoundland Canada can benefit both socially and economically from nature and wildlife reserves.

Mbaiwa, J.E. (2005). Wildlife resource utilization at Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai community area in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Journal of Environmental Management, 77(2), 144-156.

Mbaiwa (2005) shows how overlooking the local community's input in wildlife conservation can lead to human wildlife conflict. The study shows how involvement of the local community can make a nature reserve realize its full economic potential. The study is used to show how the residents of City of St. John can benefit both socially and economically from the nature and wildlife reserves.

Collier, a., & Brocx, B. (2004). Tourism Industry Management. Auckland: Pearson Educational

Collier & Brocx (2004) duel on how population data impact tourism. Their study is used to show it would not be economically viable to set up a wildlife reserve in a place that is cold and has a population of less than 200, 000 people.

Introduction

Katcher & Beck (1987) contend that there has been some remarkable disengagement of humans from their natural environment. This has been occasioned by an enormous shift of people from rural areas to the cities. This has made urban environment spontaneous, changeable, and historically unfamiliar. The consequences of human beings staying in close proximity with the animals and plants have not been documented. Studies point out that too much artificial stimulation and animal existence in human environment is likely to cause exhaustion and produce a loss of vitality and health. Modern society insulates people from outdoor environmental stimuli and regular contact with nature. Some studies have pointed out that human beings may not be fully adapted to urban existence. Majority of urban dwelling folks who might have since forgotten their connection with nature only connect to nature when they visit parks and public nature reserves. Therefore, the availability of nature reserves can be beneficial and counterproductive at the same time. Parks and nature reserves are used for different purposes. They can be used for conservation, recreation, and education (Katcher & Beck, 1987). This paper seeks to look into ways of improving the City of Saint John's, Newfoundland Canada. The improvement strategies will come from academic sources and studies done on different cities around the world that proved beneficial. The paper will specifically bring into perspective one city in Canada, one city in Europe, and a city in Japan. The type of improvement will be how St. John's Newfoundland Canada will benefit from having a nature reserve or wildlife reserve within its environs. The paper will also discuss other studies for other cities that have benefited by putting in place a nature reserve within the city's environs. The benefits will capture the social and financial aspects from tourism and such. The paper will finally discuss the difficulties and challenges of having a nature reserve in a city that has less than 200000 populations and a cold climate.

Bolduc, M., Guha, M., Laurendeau, E., & Satienpoch, M. (2003). WPI -- London Borough of Merton Local Nature Reserves: An Interactive Qualifying Project Report. Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

The City of St. John's Newfoundland, Canada stands to benefit a lot from its nature and wildlife reserves. According to Census statistics that were conducted in 2001, the population of Merton is approximately 187,908 people. Out of these, 49% are male and 51% female. The population of this town nearly equals that of City of Saint Johns Newfoundland Canada. Evidence available shows that the young tend to be less concerned when it comes to environmental issues as opposed to middle aged people especially those in their 40s and 50s. Bolduc, Guha, Laurendeau & Satienpoch (2003) assert that such individuals are more likely to sign a petition on environmental issues. Just like London Borough of Merton, City of Saint Johns Newfoundland stands to benefit a lot when they consider installing a nature reserve within the city vicinity. When the city puts in place a nature reserve, young city residents are more likely to become more concerned about the environment. This will increase their awareness about the natural world. Children who are taught about environmental conservation at an early age become more conscious about what they have learnt. When the city's school curriculum is promoted and enriched with opportunities to learn about environmental sciences, children are more likely to become aware of nature. This awareness can remain part of them up to the time they are older. When the city children engage in active learning and outdoor adventures they get introduced to environment. In the process, they get to understand, appreciate, awe, wonder, and respect it. This fosters sensitivity to the environment. The young city residents get to look at themselves in the global context. They become citizens who appreciate the need for nature conservation and sustainable development (Bolduc et al., 2003).

Nature reserves can be very beneficial to the city of Saint Johns Newfoundland because they help enhance the learning and teaching experience for students and teachers alike. Fieldtrips to nature reserves by students who study environmental education makes the learning experience more interactive. Through outdoor education, students get introduced to different methods of learning by moving away from traditional classroom-based setting to an open environment in the nature reserves. Such experiences make students more enthusiastic. They also gain hands-on experience that makes them learn better. Outdoor learning broaden students' perceptions and allow them to have an overall better understanding of concepts because of practical as opposed to theory-based teaching. Environmental education helps in developing a relationship between environmental perception and behavior. Through environmental education, the children residing within the City of Saint Johns become apt on environmental issues. This consequently makes them investigate their personal interests. The outdoor experience allows students to observe, understand, and experience their environment. By asking questions and digging into their curiosity the students become more independent learners (Bolduc et al., 2003).

Awareness on environmental issues helps in bettering the community and the Earth in general. Environmental awareness among the young and the old residents of the City improves the residents' quality of life and also improve the sense of community in Saint John's Newfoundland. Biodiversity is an important feature of a community. Different species of wildlife hold their special place within the ecosystem. However, man's obsession with building and developing the city poses a threat to the balance that normally exists within the ecosystem. Species who have power over others like man has to preserve nature at all costs because a detriment to nature is a detriment to man. Environmental sustainability is the lifeline of the future generations including Saint Johns. Having a nature reserve within this city offers a rare opportunity for the city residents to interact with nature especially those who do not have the regular chance to access open natural space (Bolduc et al., 2003).

Eggleston, W. (1961). The Queen's Choice. Ottawa, Ontario: The National Capital Commission.

The city of St. John's can also borrow a leaf from the City of Ottawa's Greenbelt that was put in place to avoid urban sprawl and provide open space for future development of natural areas. According to Eggleston (1961), the Greenbelt currently covers forests, wetland, and fields used for recreation conservation, farming, research, and forestry. The greenbelt has a variety of wildlife that fall under the category of mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. Wildlife is a source of revenue especially when tourists come to watch them. The revenue earned from such activities can be used in bettering service delivery to the city residents. This is an economic benefit that the authorities of the City of St. John's stand to benefit from if they put in place nature and wildlife reserves within the city's vicinity. The Greenbelt boasts Green's Creek Conservation area which is a nature reserve of a small tributary of the Ottawa River, Mer Bleue Conservation area, pine groove forest, and Ottawa Municipal Campground (Eggleston, 1961). The City of St. John's Newfoundland can also consider investing in such areas.

Gubbay, S. (1995). Marine Protected Areas-past, present and future. Conservation Biology Series, 5, 1-14.

Samoa and Japan have raised concerns over mangrove development. This according to Gubbay (1995) underscores the importance of protecting marine life. All conservation activities are nowadays done in the marine protected areas. In fact, marine wildlife and habitat are taken care of in marine protected areas. Marine wildlife and habitats can be a source of revenue to both the residents and the authorities of the St. John's City especially when tourists come to visit such sites. Earnings gotten from occupying beds pace in tourist resorts built by the locals can be used in bettering their lives (Gubbay, 1995). The revenue the authorities can be used to erect social amenities and building road networks. The locals can also be employed in the tourism sector and ease dependency in the population. However, these cannot be achieved when environmental sustainability is not given the first priority. Marine protected areas have to be built to act as a reservoir for species.

Maller, C., Townsend, M., Pryor, a., Brown, P., & St. Ledger, L. (2006). Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. Health Promotion International, 21 (1), 45-54.

City of St. John's can benefit socially and economically from putting in place nature and wildlife reserves. When city residents access natural setting within their vicinity they get some level of satisfaction. Maller, Townsend, Pryor, Brown & Ledger (2006) are certain that natural reserves serve as recreational centers. They therefore help in reducing crime, social unrests, and disease incidence. Individuals who go to nature reserve get to view natural scenes as well as getting chance to be in natural environment. By seeing nature one gets to relieve stress. This generally improves their well-being. This is extremely important to patients who studies show that recover faster when granted an opportunity to view natural environment (Maller, et al., 2006). Being in natural environment restores the harmony to the functions of the brain. In fact, being in natural environment fosters recovery from mental fatigue. Nature parks that have community gardens offer rare opportunity for socialization among city residents. This enhances community cohesion, reduces violence, and increases positive attitudes among city residents. This leads to personal and neighborhood transformation. For migrants, visiting the nature reserve increases their sense of identity and ownership of the city they live in, a sense of integration rather than isolation, and sense of re-union with nature. They also get to participate in caring for the environment.

Pearce, D.W. & Turner, R.K., (1990). Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. London: Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Research shows that nature improves ones moods and outlook. Without necessarily visiting wild places urban residents can go to a nature park. Trees reduce stress and skin cancer as well as reducing patient recovery time. This is a social and an economic benefit. According to Pearce & Turner (1990), natural environments are primary tourism destinations. Tourists get to watch the wildlife in such places. This is very important because tourism is a major revenue earner for different cities and towns across the universe. It is imperative that the resource that the nature provides for tourism is used sustainably by such cities. In the United Kingdom tourisms visits involve trips to environmental attractions. Natural nature reserves can be used for walks, school outings, settings for sculptures, photography, painting classes among other activities. Royal Society for Protection of Birds received 11,802,000 pounds in revenue in the 1997/1998 financial year (Pearce & Turner, 1990). This revenue was earned from tourists who visited Titchwell, Norfolk, Leighton Moss, Lancashire, Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire, the Lodge, Bedfordshire, and Radipole Lake, Dorset. Particular landscapes, habitats, and species found in natural reserves have huge significance in people. This can be attributed to cultural or personal association bearing in mind that nature has spiritual significance to many people.

Mbaiwa, J.E. (2005). Wildlife resource utilization at Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai community area in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Journal of Environmental Management, 77(2), 144-156.

As evidenced by Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana, the City of St. John's stands to gain enormously when it considers having a wildlife reserve within its vicinity. It is evident that at formative stages of the reserve, which is located in the Okavango Delta in Botswana among the Khwai community, there were problems that were occasioned by displacement of the local community from their land (Mbaiwa, 2005). This community solely relied on hunting for their livelihood. Obviously there were resource conflicts between the local community and the wildlife managers. However, with the institution of Community-Based Natural Resource Management program, local participation in natural resource management was enhanced. Just like the Khwai community the residents and administrative authorities of St. John's both stand to benefit from putting in place a wildlife reserve. Such facility can generate revenue for the authorities. It can also be a source of income for local residents who can take up different responsibilities. The wildlife reserve can tap into the human resource that is locally available especially if the city residents are conversant with matters pertaining to wildlife conservancy. The locals can also be involved in wildlife management. They will therefore have positive attitude towards environmental conservation and tourism development. This can help minimize human-wildlife conflict and promote sustainable wildlife use.