Connor McCaskill and Carolina Engering are senior undergrad students in Michael Classens’ ERST 4810- Ecological Design course. As their final project, they have chosen to undertake the task of bettering the Trent Lands Plan, specifically proposing an alternative to Cleantech’s ‘Street B’ that will bisect the Trent Vegetable Garden.

Francene Francis interviews local biologist and naturalist, Basil Conlin. Basil has spent countless hours on Trent land researching plants, mammals and bugs (moths especially). His discovery that there are about 800 moth species just on Trent lands, led him to wonder, if the Trent environment can provide for 800 species of moths, imagine what else it can provide for! After all, a moth isn’t just a bug, an Aspen isn’t just a tree, and a Bobolink isn’t just a bird. They’re stories. They’re life histories of different ecosystems and environments that had to come together just right for life to thrive. But with the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan unfolding, will this thriving be able to continue?

The Trent Board of Governors approved the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan at their February meeting. Three community members spoke to challenge the approval, grad student Matt Dutry, the TCSA’s Jocelyn Whalen, and Elder Dorothy Taylor. The speakers argued that the Plan should not be approved, citing issues during the consultation process, and students feeling confused and uninformed. Elder Taylor, a member of Curve Lake First Nation explicitly asked the Board not to approve, “The land has said “do not allow anymore, do not allow this project to go forward.” Because this land is sacred.”