Description

GOAL A: BY 2020, CANADA’S LANDS AND WATERS ARE PLANNED AND MANAGED USING AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION OUTCOMES AT LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SCALES

RELATED TARGETS:

Target 4: By 2020, biodiversity considerations are integrated into municipal planning and activities of major municipalities across Canada.

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Task

Letter Campaign: 

1. Contact local government (provincial and/or municipal) offices, natural history museum in your area, and/or environmental organizations to see how your region is or is not putting this Goal & Target into action
2. If there is an example of this in practice - write a blog to describe what is going in your region - Think about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges associated with the project.
3. If there is no example of this in practice - write a letter to your regional or provincial government expressing how you think practices should adapt to meet this Goal & Target. See resource on letter writing below.
4. Post your letter as a Blog HERE

Writing Letters

One of the simplest ways to influence government decisions is to write a letter to your MLA and explain what is happening around the issue you are concerned about.

Writing Effective Letters

• Be brief and to the point. Letters should be no longer than 1 page (3 paragraphs).
• Check your spelling and punctuation. In particular, ensure that you have correctly spelled the name of the individual you are writing to.
• Address your letter properly.
• Focus the letter on only one issue (two at the most). 
  • Add any additional information as an attachment or enclosure.
• Identify the issues clearly as well as your concern and your recommended course of action.
• Write the letter in your own words and personalize it with local facts.
• Personalize, if possible, the relationship with the individual to whom you are writing.
• Request a response to your letter.
• Call or write to follow up if you do not receive a response within three weeks.
• Ask specific questions in the letter to discourage a response by form letter.
• Type the letter, if possible; if handwritten, ensure that it is easy to read.
• Include contact information such as return address, e-mail address and telephone number.
• Send copies of the letter to environmental organizations, school administrators, or local media. However, whenever possible send personalized letters to the other interested parties.
• Keep a copy of the letter.

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Continue to 5. Promoting Goal D in Your School or Community (Nov 4 - Nov 18) »