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 Wetland Atlas of Alberta displays the provincial distribution of different kinds of wetlands, the human footprint around the wetlands, as well as regional patterns of aquatic invertebrate biodiversity. [Wetland Atlas of Alberta]
Citizen scientists are encouraged to contribute to the BC Big Tree Project Map in the hope of securing stronger protections for big and mature trees across the province. [Raincoast Conservation Foundation]
A pilot project in Richmond, BC, will add sediment to hopefully restore Sturgeon Bank’s receding tidal marsh. Restoring the marsh will benefit salmon and migratory birds and reduce local flooding. [Richmond Sentinel]
The BC government and the BC-First Nations Water Table will co-manage a $100 million watershed security fund. Focus areas will include the availability of safe drinking water, healthy ecosystems, ensuring a sufficient supply of water to support food security, as well as reducing risks from hazards like flooding and drought. [CBC News]
A federal-provincial agreement to monitor Manitoba’s woodland caribou and protect their habitat is long overdue and needs to be followed up by aggressive action plans. [The Narwhal]
Mining critical minerals could boost Manitoba’s economy, but the impact on the land and wildlife could be massive. [The Narwhal]
Crayons that might have ended up in the garbage are now being repurposed and redistributed by students at the University of Saskatchewan, keeping plastic waste out of landfills. [University of Saskatchewan]
Across Canada
Biologists at the University of Waterloo are using moths to control the growth of invasive common reed in Canada’s wetlands. The results are promising. [University of Waterloo]
Around the World
Increasing numbers of aging solar panels represent an opportunity for recycling companies that recover and sell panel components. [Yale Environment 360]
Agriculture
A look at fertilizer emissions from production to run-off shows that they could be cut by over 80% by increasing fertilizer efficiency on field and using more sustainable sources of energy in the production stage. [Anthropocene]
When the chemicals you use to protect crops harm their pollinators, are you really any further ahead? [University of British Columbia]
Learning Opportunities
Wolf School 2 – 6 webinars on wolf ecology, biology, and the issues wolves face for their survival [Raincoast Conservation Foundation]
Restoring Prairie Habitat: An introductory, 3-webinar course on planting native species for the Canadian Prairies [Skinner Native Seeds]
Solid biofuels and agricultural biomass – March 9 [National Farmers Union]
On the Bookshelf
Not all climate science fiction is grim. Here are a few authors who write climate fiction infused with hope. [Yes Magazine]
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/42315625454
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 subscribe by email.