Ask PhD candidate Ambika Tenneti about access to urban forests and canopies, and she will be quick to let you know it’s more than just a physical issue.
“Access is not just about proximity,” says Tenneti, an environmental science graduate from India who is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at U of T’s Daniels Forestry.
People may live near a ravine, but if there’s no entrance near where they live and they have to walk, bike or take the public transit before getting into it, then it’s not accessible. That also costs time and money, which recent immigrants often lack when they first arrive.
Likewise, there are some psychological barriers that prevent people from enjoying the ravines and other natural areas in the city. This is where Tenneti’s research comes into play. As a recent immigrant to Canada, she investigates community engagement in the city’s urban forests, looking specifically at factors that lead to inclusion or exclusion, with a focus on the experience of new immigrants.
Her research suggests that immigrant communities are interested and do enjoy urban nature, but they prefer parks over wilderness areas. She says in general, people feel comfortable going to well-maintained, multi-use green areas where children have access to playing fields and other amenities such as seating, equipment, trees and gardens. Access to washrooms and drinking water are also important for planning family outings.
She points to Morningside Park in Scarborough, which is a popular destination for nearby residents, especially during the annual salmon festival or other summer events.
“It is a beautiful park with a lot of amenities, but it’s also not easily accessible,” says Tenneti, whose PhD supervisor is UTSC associate professor Nicole Klenk, who is an expert on environmental science in society. She says the park is only accessible by car or bus, and once people arrive at the nearest bus stop, they still need to walk about 200 meters down a steep incline into the valley – a major challenge for children, older family members or those using a wheelchair or other mobility devices.
Access is not just about proximity.
Wilderness areas such as ravines are also largely unknown to recent immigrant communities. These are often described as ‘hidden gems’ or ‘secret spaces’ by long-time residents of the city, the majority of them being white, affluent and who live in close proximity.
“These remain a secret by lack of access, and a lack of knowledge and awareness among ethnically diverse immigrant communities. Ravines are meant as throughways for walking, hiking or biking, but often these community members don’t see themselves engaging in these activities and this makes them hesitant to use ravines,” she says.
One misconception is that immigrant communities fear wilderness areas because of bears. “That’s not so,” says Tenneti. “The immigrants I have spoken to know there are no bears in Toronto. Their fear stems from other factors such as getting lost or not finding the exits, especially in trails and woods.”
She says fear of getting robbed or attacked, off-leash dogs, coming across people indulging in inappropriate behaviour or activities are also a concern. There is also fear stemming from a lack of ecological knowledge about nature in the GTA. They may hear about ticks, coyotes, giant hogweed and poison ivy, but many of them don’t know how to recognise these or what to do if they come in contact with them. Tenneti says they are open to learning and identifying plants that they need to be wary of and even those they need to protect, but those resources often don’t exist.
“One fear that surprised me was ‘the gaze’ or ‘the look.’ This was shared by Muslim and Black youth who said they were comfortable going to parks and ravines in their neighbourhoods, but not in white-dominant areas. Despite no one saying anything, they felt othered and uncomfortable.”
Another issue is that education organisations tend to focus on engaging children and youth, and not necessarily the adults who often decide where kids and other family members will go for a walk or outdoor recreation.
For the city’s urban forests and canopies to thrive and be representative of its diverse population, Tenneti says it is important to bring proper investments into these places in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods. In addition to having proper signage, trails, garbage bins, public washrooms and seating, the city should also engage people in stewardship activities, organize outdoor education workshops and leaning activities, and actively promote participation. Those programs should also be shared through local community centres, settlement agencies and ethnic media organizations.
“Ultimately, without social justice you cannot have environmental justice,” she says.