EcoWest News, February 6, 2024

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

Manitoba Eco-Network is hosting a webinar on Navigating the Law: What’s Next for Manitoba: Mining & Critical Minerals on Feb. 20. [Manitoba Eco-Network]

Prairie potholes, the small wetlands spread across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, could be climate solutions. [The Narwhal]

The Tobacco Plains Indian Band in southeast BC is trying to protect a herd of bighorn sheep by restoring their habitat. [The Narwhal]

Canmore town council and conservationists tried to prevent a large housing development but failed. Conservationists are now calling on the provincial government to buy some of the land to widen a vital wildlife corridor. [Rocky Mountain Outlook]

Across Canada

Heavy industry may be slow to decarbonize because it relies on emergent technologies, the initial higher cost of decarbonized production, international competition, and long-lived, capital-intensive facilities. [440 Megatonnes]

Around the World

Artificial lights at night may actually scramble flying insects' innate navigational systems, causing them to flutter in confusion around porch lamps, street lights and other artificial beacons.” [Euro News]

The Climate Readiness Framework for Coastal Cities contains 70 recommendations covering 5 areas (coastal ecosystems, offshore renewable energy, infrastructure, community resilience, and climate-driven relocation) to help coastal communities address climate impacts. [Urban Ocean Lab]

BirdCast uses machine learning to help scientists predict how birds migrate by differentiating between meteorological events (rainfall) and flocks of birds as they appear on weather radar. [The Markup]

Enjoy the prize-winning entries in Grist’s short story competition, Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors. [Grist]

Making a Difference

Informed of a centuries-old sharp-tailed grouse lek site, Dean Mamer, SK Forest Service Renewal Program, took special care to restore the site and protect it from future threats. [Prince Albert Herald]

Shoes are hard to recycle because they contain various materials that are difficult to separate. A handful of companies are trying to do it differently. [Earthbound Report]

A Texas dairy farmer is turning manure into water and fertilizer. [Modern Farmer]

Tidal parks, water squares, and blue/green roofs are making room for water in Rotterdam. [The Guardian]

DIY

During recent extremely cold weather, Albertans were asked to turn off unnecessary electricity, and they responded within minutes. People will change behaviours when asked. The challenge is now to make reduced consumption the new normal. [The Conversation]

Hoverflies are an often-neglected pollinator. A hoverfly lagoon is a great way to add more wildlife to your garden and involve your kids in a science project. [The Buzz Club explanation & instructions]

Nature’s Wonders

Unusual sleep habits: African elephants sleep less than any other land mammal. Female killer whales can go without sleep for 1-2 months while protecting their young. [Cool Green Science]

Celebrate winter in the wild with 15 photos of animals enjoying the snow. [Smithsonian Magazine]

Some parrots can use their beaks as a third limb to swing their way along a thin branch like a monkey. [Smithsonian Magazine]

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/27765866432

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.