Concern over the state of the environment is growing, but many people feel helpless to do anything about it. We think it’s important that communities as a whole take responsibility for their environment, and that means taking responsibility for the well being of everyone living in that community. Community Engagement and Environmental Restoration go hand-in-hand, for us. It’s possible to engage the community and improve the environment at the same time, and we think it’s the best way.

We suggest you take a look at the two introductory resources below before you dive into the larger collection. When you’re ready, simply click on the more in-depth sections listed on the left. Enjoy exploring these resources, and if you know of something that we could include here in future revisions, please let us know by emailing us at: tamarack@tamarackcommunity.ca.

Environmental Restoration - Signature Documents

Smart Growth BC: Smart Growth Primer - This primer, published by the environmental organization Smart Growth BC, is an excellent introduction to the concept of smart growth, and includes many real-life examples of ways that British Columbia Communities are embracing smart growth principles. The Smart Growth BC website (www.smartgrowth.bc.ca) features many other useful resources, including publications, presentations the group has made, and a listserve so you can keep up to date. This Smart Growth Primer shows how the environment and communities are being brought together in Canada.

Community-Based Environmental Protection Framework - We found the EPA’s Framework one of the most helpful resources on the web. It lays out everything you need to know: core principles, philosophies, and strategies to bring the community together. And the EPA website has much more to offer, although not all of it is available online. This is one of the best documents we can recommend to introduce you to the subject of Community Environmental Restoration.

Useful Definitions

Community Engagement - People working collaboratively, through inspired action and learning, to create and realize bold visions for their common future.

Community Environmental Restoration - The process of lessening human impact on the environment by fostering strong, responsible communities which live in harmony with nature.

Sustainable Community - A community which can exist indefinitely because of its strong sense of community and its environmental responsibility.

Smart Growth - Urban Planning which promotes environmental health, economic improvement, and social equity. Communities making use of Smart Growth principles often use the term “Livable Communities” as well.

Have we missed something? Know a great resource we should include here? Email us at tamarack@tamarackcommunity.ca