The Biodiversity Bikeride
KBAs visited:
What is the Biodiversity Bikeride?
The Biodiversity Bikeride is an attempt to push back against one of the most worrying environmental trends of our time: the loss of biodiversity.
Simply put, biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth, and it’s an important factor determining the health and resilience of the living world. The problem is, humans have played a major role in damaging the natural world and weakening this innate strength of our planet. From many angles, biodiversity is under threat.
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In 2016, a partnership was initiated amongst 13 nature conservation organizations to identify and document a list of key biodiversity areas, or KBAs. Candidate KBAs may be proposed by anyone at any time, but to become KBAs, they must meet a rigorous ​set of KBA criteria that make them scientifically defensible.
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Great news: the list of KBAs is always expanding as new ones are proposed and assessed. So far, there are 121 in Canada.
The primary objective of the Biodiversity Bikeride is to cycle to as many KBAs as I can feasibly reach by bike to raise awareness and funds for the conservation of these critically important lands and waters.
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Along the way, I will meet experts who understand the KBAs and conservation better than I do. I’ll learn some things, and I’ll share those things. And while the cause is serious, I’m not! I hope to bring some levity and fun to the table.
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I hope you’ll follow along!
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Let’s get to know each other.
Hey! I’m Kevin.
Full disclosure off the top: Sometimes I’m a little existential. When the lights go down at the end of the day, it’s very common for me to think about life, death, and all the big intense stuff. Well, when I’m living a life that feels connected to my inner compass, I feel a heck of a lot better about that intense stuff than when I’m not quite so aligned. So this begs the question: What does my compass tell me? Things change all the time, but here are a few common themes:
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First of all, something that’s always been non-negotiable for me is physical activity. I’m happiest when moving, and calmest in nature.
Mr. Compass also demands that I share my personality. I sometimes joke that I’m like one of those dogs that fails out of police dog school because they’re too silly. If there’s anything that rivals the satisfaction I get from exercise, it’s a little playful banter.
The last piece is more serious. When it’s all said and done, I want to look back and say I gave it a decent effort to make the world a tiny bit better.
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As I’ve learned these things about myself, I’ve continuously soul-searched to see if there might be a way to merge my values into a unified lifestyle. And that’s what led me to the Biodiversity Bikeride!
How I hope to make an impact:
-Put a spotlight on experts, sharing the depth of their knowledge and the significance of their work.
-Demystify complex topics with engaging, accessible, and relevant conversation.
-Contribute to the conservation of profoundly important natural spaces.
-Encourage others to repair and strengthen their relationship with the natural world.
-Entertain followers and inspire them to pursue adventure with purpose.
-Highlight ways everyone can make a positive difference.
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In addition to the advocacy of the Biodiversity Bikeride, I will also be practicing leave-no-trace principles, eating a strictly plant-based (vegan) diet, and committing to picking up a minimum of six pieces of garbage each day and disposing of them properly.
This isn’t about pointing fingers or telling others how to live. And it’s certainly not about acting like I have sustainability all figured out. I don’t.
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I just want to share that I’m trying, and that’s something I think everyone can agree is worthwhile.
Land
The Biodiversity Bikeride takes place on the historic lands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. As a settler living on these lands, I am cognizant of my role in the ongoing and harmful colonial history of Canada. My hope is to contribute to the continuous practice of reconciliation in part by bolstering public interest in the protection of Key Biodiversity Areas. Moreover, I hope my work will inspire a meaningful shift in our collective relationship with the land and all life on it.