President’s Dialogue Series hears climate change impacts on peatlands

Mon, Dec 9, 2024
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Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) recently hosted environmental expert Dr. Maria Strack as part of the President’s Dialogue Series. 

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Dr. Maria Strack speaking with Dr. Brett Favaro at the President's Dialogue
Dr. Maria Strack speaking with Dr. Brett Favaro during The President's Dialogue

Strack, a University of Waterloo professor and Canada Research Chair in Ecosystems and Climate, sat down with Dr. Brett Favaro, Climate Strategy Lead at KPU, at the Melville Centre for Dialogue at KPU Richmond to discuss natural climate solutions.

“I’ve been thinking about the climate regulation function of peatlands for decades but now people are calling it nature-based solutions,” says Strack.

Strack talked about the potential impact of climate change on peatlands. She explained she works on several peatland restoration projects across Canada.  

“My team and I are doing innovative natural science research into the interactions between water, vegetation and microbial communities in these wetland ecosystems and we want to translate that understanding into policy-relevant knowledge that can be used to protect and enhance Canada’s wetland resource,” says Strack.  

The President’s Dialogue Series is an initiative started by KPU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Alan Davis. This ongoing series welcomes speakers to KPU who are leaders in the private and public sectors, both locally and globally.