Tag Archives: Vancouver Island

Rivers & Oceans

Drift logs are scouring marine life from BC’s rocky shores

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

Surging numbers of free-floating logs are scouring BC’s coast, threatening marine creatures from barnacles to seabirds, a new University of Victoria study shows.

Barnacle populations, which play a critical role in ocean ecosystems, suffer declines of up 80 per cent in key rocky areas pounded by drift logs mostly from forestry operations, compared to colonies tucked in crevices protected from wood debris, the research suggests.

It’s a worrisome finding, said UVic biologist Tom Reimchen, one of the study’s authors, stressing that barnacles may be small, but their loss has a big ripple effect. 

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Cost of Climate Change

Scotch broom increases wildfire risk. What can we do about it?

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By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse,  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In 1850, Scottish Army Capt. Walter Colquhoun Grant planted a European perennial shrub on his farm on T’Sou-ke Nation’s traditional territory (Sooke). He thought the shrub — Cytisus scorparius in Latin — would bring back nostalgia of his Scottish homeland, covered with hills of yellow flowers.

One-hundred and seventy-five years later, this shrub is now one of the most notorious invasive species on Vancouver Island known colloquially as Scotch broom. Vast areas of the Island are covered in this plant, exhibiting what a changed landscape can look like if invasive plants are allowed to spread and take over. It competes with native plants, disrupts streams and has no known natural predators. It can also live up to 25 years and produces seeds that can survive in the soil for 30 years. 

Scotch broom is also extremely flammable, leading to growing concern as the climate changes and Earth warms. 

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Animals

Signals in the dark: How Comox Valley volunteers monitor bats against a devastating disease

By David Flawse, The Discourse, , Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In a flurry of wings, six mother bats drop from their roost and take to the half-lit sky. 

“Wow!” says Heather Thomson. “They’re early tonight.” 

Thomson, program manager for the Cumberland Community Forest Society, sits with five other citizen scientists in folding camping chairs near a rural Comox Valley home on June 18. 

It’s a clear, still night, and they’re tucked into sweaters while positioned under three bat boxes.

The six bat enthusiasts are here for the B.C. Annual Bat Count, an initiative launched in 2012 for researchers to monitor bat health across the province. 

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Indigenous Nations

With land transfer deal, once-displaced Lyackson First Nation prepares to return home

By  Julie Chadwick, IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After fighting to reestablish its main village site for more than four generations, the Lyackson First Nation is mapping out a new and hopeful future.

The “Vancouver Island” community of roughly 230 people has regained ownership of a 312-hectare land parcel alongside Cowichan Tribes — building on decades of advocacy and work to regain what was lost during colonization.

“This village site will forever change the trajectory of the Leey’qsun Mustimuhw for our community today and future generations,” said Lyackson Chief Laxele’wuts’aat Chief Shana Thomas on May 22.

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Politics

Campaign Stories From North Island Powell River

All of the recent polls report the Liberals ahead in this election. If the election were held today, 338Canada  and CBC’s Poll tracker are projecting a landslide victory, with between 193 and 202 seats going to Mark Carney’s Liberal Party. It’s a bit more difficult when it comes to calculating the outcome in individual ridings. According to 338Canada’s projections, North Island-Powell River is the bluest of the four northern Vancouver Island ridings. Aaron Gunn is expected to receive about 47% of the popular vote, but projections rely on algorithms and past voting history, and there are some things that can sneak under the radar. 

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