Welcome to EcoWest News, a weekly round-up of news and resources that you can put to use in addressing environmental issues and protecting the wild in your community.
Across the West
The emerald ash borer has arrived in BC. To protect the province’s ash trees, learn to identify and report infested trees and don’t transport firewood from one location to another. [The Conversation]
Reclaiming part of Sumas Lake near Abbotsford would be much cheaper than additional built infrastructure (i.e. pumps), especially in light of the possibility of continued flooding in the area. Asking people to give up their homes and their livelihoods is hard but would demonstrate a renewed respect for living and working with nature. [The Narwhal]
Over the course of 10 days, every single western sandpiper in the world stops to feed on the life-giving diatoms in the mudflats at Roberts Bank. Building an additional container port on the site would jeopardize seabirds, orcas, and salmon. [Seattle Times]
The City of Victoria’s Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator Pilot Program offers a municipal property tax exemption covering up to 100% of the costs to upgrade the building to an electric air or water heating system. [City of Victoria]
Golden beans, also known as buffalo beans, flower across the southern Prairies from mid-to-late May to mid-June. They provide nectar and/or pollen for bees and butterflies. They partner with fungi and bacteria in the soil: the fungus provides minerals, and the bacteria take nitrogen from the air and enrich the soil. [PlantWatch Alberta]
Climate Change Connection Manitoba’s website offers classroom resource materials to help connect students to climate change. [Climate Change Connection]
Across Canada
Sea Change: Charting a Sustainable Future for Oceans in Canada edited by Ussif Rashid Sumaila, Derek Armitage, Megan Bailey, and William W.L. Cheung outlines what is known about Canada’s three oceans and some of the pressing issues confronting coastal communities. [UWaterloo]
A guidebook for local governments provides directions for inventorying, assessing, and establishing replacement costs for a community’s natural assets. [Natural Assets Initiative]
Around the World
As the climate changes, species hover on the brink of extinction. Do we respond through assisted migration? Are we prepared to accept significant ecosystem changes when “so much of the fear or perception of loss relates to our own expectations”? [Grist]
Widespread use of rodenticides to control urban rat populations is having a devastating effect on urban raptors. Some municipalities are testing new ways to control rats that don’t harm other wildlife. [Audubon]
Nature’s Wonders
Performing magic tricks is helping researchers learn about animal minds by studying what does and doesn’t fool them. [Knowable Magazine]
Elephants call each other by name and respond when they hear others call their name. [Yale Environment 360]
EcoFriendly West is taking a short break. EcoWest News will be back online on July 2, 2024.
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/7229618352
EcoFriendly West informs and encourages initiatives that support Western Canada’s natural environment through its online publication and the Nature Companion website/app. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Mastodon, or subscribe by email.