As the program officer within the Secretariat of the Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS), each year, I receive an annual report for each heritage river. As I read the 2022 annual reports, a pattern emerged. Flooding, droughts, fires… Many river managers were raising a flag, alarming the Secretariat of the deep impacts of climate change on the places we love and steward.
When experiencing the impacts of droughts, floods, or fire on a river we care for, we may feel despair, sadness, or anxiety. It can be difficult to work every day to protect a river, only to see it degrade under the influence of a changing climate. We may feel discouraged or powerless, among other things. These feelings are normal. This is called ecological grief.
In 2018, Cunsolo and Ellis defined ecological grief as the emotions that we feel in response to the loss of landscapes, ecosystems, and species due to climate change. It is important to note that although it is a new concept in academia, many Indigenous Peoples have been feeling the burden of ecological grief for generations, as ecological destruction impacts their livelihoods and cultural practices in diverse ways across territories and communities.
Ecological grief can be overwhelming. It is easy to fall into despair (It’s not worth taking action, we’re doomed) or overachievement (I need to do everything to save the planet, even if it means I burn out). At both ends of the spectrum, our mental health is at risk and our ability to act is greatly reduced. So, what can we do to navigate these difficult eco-emotions more smoothly?
We can connect with nature:
- Spending time outdoors has been shown to improve physical and mental health. Go for a walk, find nature in the city, or spend time caring for a plant.
- Did you know that your doctor may be able to prescribe time in nature? Check out Park Prescription for more information.
We can connect with our peers:
- Build your support network. This could be friends and family, people in your organization or community, or other heritage river managers.
- Find people you can discuss these emotions with. They may feel the same way!
- Act as a community. You will feel more supported, and your impact will be greater. As river stewards, this can mean collaborating with other organizations in your area to advance common goals.
By building stronger relationships with nature and our community, we can build our resiliency. It then becomes a little easier to go through the (normal and very valid) roller coaster of emotions that comes with climate catastrophes. We protect our health and our ability to act. We are then able to have a greater impact, together.
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