We profile local community leaders and book reviews on a weekly basis on social media. Once a month we repost them on our website for those of you who may not be active on social media.

Community Leaders

Saskatchewan - Notice Nature SK encourages kids to get outside, have fun, and learn about nature. Illustrated guidebooks help to identify common species, while the passport is full of nature-based activities. The content for many of the guidebooks is from EcoFriendly West’s Nature Companion website/app.

Alberta - Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition advocates for the conservation and restoration of the North Saskatchewan River valley and ravines, working with other groups on issues such as ensuring trails and pesticide use are environmentally friendly.

Manitoba - Blue Green Planet Project, Nekoté LP, and Summit Reforestation are planting jack pine and black spruce on the traditional territories of the Swampy Cree First Nations in an area of the Manitoban boreal forest that was devastated by wildfires in 2021. [Tree Canada]

British Columbia - The Gorge Waterway Action Society in Victoria is restoring the waterway and creating a habitat rich in birds, fish, and native plants in a salt marsh once occupied by a salt water swimming pool and a volleyball court. [Times Colonist]

Books

Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin with photographs by David Moskowitz and essays by Eileen Delehanty Pearkes showcases the Columbia River’s geology, ecology, and culture as it crosses a border, sharing water between two nations.

Douglas-fir is an enigma: world class in height, geographic distribution, and wood quality, it acquires nitrogen in novel ways and at times even irrigates itself. Find out more in Douglas-Fir: The Story of the West's Most Remarkable Tree by Stephen F. Arno and Carl E. Fiedler.

With large photographs and easy-to-understand explanations, The Secret World of Lichens: A Young Naturalist’s Guide by Troy McMullin is an excellent resource for young people and adults and will whet your appetite for learning more about these fascinating species. The author shared additional information about Canada’s lichens in an EcoFriendly West interview.

Protecting the Prairies: Lorne Scott and the Politics of Conservation by Andrea Olive: “This is a book about wildlife and nature. It is about birds and conservation. But it is also about getting involved and standing up for things you believe in.” [Prairie Books Now]

Delight in National Geographic images and stories about the intelligent, playful, shape-shifting, and inquisitive octopus in Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/11673738296

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.