By Marc Fawcett-Atkinson, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Forget lions, tigers and bears: For Claire Kremen, conserving insects is more important. Around the world, forests, meadows and wild spaces are being rapidly transformed into farmland, pushing wildlife into steep decline and threatening our food security.
Continue reading key to sustainability: pollinators like bees and fliesCanada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Every autumn, B.C.’s Cortes Island rolls out a critical road safety campaign to protect some of the smallest and most vulnerable members of the community — rough-skinned newts.
Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI), a local conservation group, established the Newt X-ing Action Project to protect the little creatures, which face hazardous trips across roadways when they leave their wetland habitats and head into nearby forests to hibernate at the start of the rainy season.
Continue reading Cortes Island’s Newt-X-ingBy Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Tofino, BC – Under dark, stormy skies, dozens of boaters and kayakers gathered in the Tofino Inlet this past Saturday for a wild salmon flotilla in protest of the surrounding fish farms.
Continue reading wild salmon flotilla Protests surrounding fish farmsA new UBC study suggests that Global warming could significantly reduce the extent that salmon can be farmed off the West Coast of British Columbia. The study’s lead author, Muhammed Oyinlola said that up to 84% of the area currently suitable for fish farming could be lost. We need to act now: either move fish farms on land or further out to sea. Cermaq Canada responds to this and some related issues.
Continue reading Cermaq Canada responds to study about climate change threat to salmon farmsCanada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Every child who has ever explored a West Coast shore relishes the discovery of a sea star, with its bumpy skin, jumble of arms and striking colours.
But the once common treasure of the tidal pool is at risk of being eradicated along the Pacific coastline from a deadly combination of disease and warming oceans caused by climate change, said biologist Alyssa Gehman.
Continue reading Sea Star On Brink of Extinction
