EcoWest News, August 26, 2025

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

Residents in Winnipeg’s Wolseley neighbourhood have raised $25,000 to inoculate 53 elm trees against Dutch Elm disease. They hope to raise $100,000. [CBC]

Manitoba/North Dakota residents are concerned about pollution from proposed dairy farms in North Dakota. Manitoba will raise concerns about the potential impact on Lake Winnipeg at the upcoming meeting of the International Red River Watershed Board. [Grand Forks Herald]

USask researchers have found that adding biochar to cement yields concrete that's stronger and more environmentally friendly. [USask]

A new 1 MW solar farm at the Saskatoon airport will power 20% of the terminal building. [YXE]

The City of Regina has delayed its decision to purchase diesel buses after learning it’s not on track to meet its climate goals. [CBC]

There are 7 main barriers to building retrofits in Alberta: complex permitting/regulatory delays, financing and utility cost gaps, market perception of risk, fragmented incentives, workforce capacity, and limited delivery pathways. [Pembina Institute]

Cargo e-bikes haven’t been widely adopted in Calgary but could reduce emissions and traffic congestion while freeing up parking spaces. To be successful, they require supportive policies, infrastructure, and business models. [Pembina Institute]

Albertans have until Sept. 16 to share feedback on draft terms of reference for a new management plan for Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. [Discover Airdrie]

The Alberta Groundwater Program aims to build a community-based monitoring network to strengthen groundwater management and support sustainable water use. [Environment Journal]

An open-pit magnesium mine near Rossland, BC, will go ahead without an environmental review despite opposition concerns about the loss of an endangered plant, air and water pollution, and the mine’s plans to expand. [CBC]

A deep retrofit of Science World in Vancouver completely reimagines the facility to result in an 80% reduction in emissions and a 40% energy reduction. [The Tyee]

Around the World

The infrastructure from a coal-burning power station is now being used by the largest battery storage system in the UK. [Earthbound Report]

Installing heat pumps in factories would have massive health benefits. [Mother Jones]

Making a Difference

Collie, Western Australia, is setting an example of how to phase out coal without abandoning workers or communities. [Katharine Hayhoe]

“A true sustainable community is not a money-making machine; it is a collection of people living and working together within a specific ecosystem for maximal well-being of all people and the environment.” [National Association for Environmental Education]

Biodiversity

Birds are starting to sing earlier in the morning and continuing to sing longer in the evening in bright landscapes such as cities because of light pollution. [Gizmodo]

Research can help city planners choose trees that not only thrive in the city but also help support other living creatures, such as butterflies. [UBC]

Nature’s Wonders

Birds appear to use prairie dog colonies as their very own home-alert security systems by listening in to prairie dog alarm calls. [Cool Green Science]

Award-winning nature photographs in the 2025 Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year competition. [Canadian Geographic]

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/48303845032

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 BlueSky, X, and Mastodon, or subscribe by email.