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
In Manitoba, Fibreshed supports local farmers, dyers, spinners, and designers to produce more local textiles and Winnipeg Sews encourages home sewing, making fashion more sustainable.
Private land conservation in Alberta is increasing. [Private Land Conservation]
Miistakis Institute will be sampling water in the Calgary area for eDNA that will indicate the presence of amphibians. The data will be used to determine amphibian core habitat and connections, leading to the development of a regional ecological network. [Miistakis]
Introducing the peat plateaus, bogs, and fens of the Taiga Plains ecozone in northern BC, AB, SK, Yukon, and NWT, Canada’s second-highest density peatland region after the Hudson Bay Lowlands. [CPAWS Northern Alberta]
Lummi Nation in Washington state is seeking to block construction of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 as the Nation wasn’t consulted, despite holding transboundary rights. [The Guardian]
Washington state has tripled the distance that recreational boaters must stay away from Southern Resident killer whales. Let’s hope Canada follows suit – soon. [KIRO 7]
A voluntary program on the West Coast is encouraging cargo ships to slow down to protect marine mammals and reduce air pollution. [Earth Island]
Across Canada
FedEx cargo bikes are outperforming expectations and spreading across Canada. [Pembina]
Fresh water may be Canada’s most valuable resource, but we need a national strategy to avoid conflicts and plan wisely. [Western Producer]
Around the World
Seniors are an increasingly important part of the climate movement. [CBC]
The concept of the ‘wood wide web’ is a good one, but it may not work the way it was originally proposed to work. [The Tyee]
“The ocean has acted like the planet’s air conditioner, relentlessly absorbing extra heat … but adding that heat has come with ocean acidification, rising sea levels and changes in the frequency of extreme weather.” [Mother Jones]
Greener fertilizer involves changing production methods and types of fertilizer, using less, and switching to crops that don’t need it. [Anthropocene]
Planting trees isn’t a silver bullet. Protecting existing forests is crucial. [The Revelator]
Public transit has the potential to significantly reduce emissions through greater usage and zero-emission fleets. [440 Megatonnes]
DIY
We can help wild bees to survive and thrive in dense urban areas by creating bee connectors with green spaces, shrubs, and scrub. [York University]
Nature’s Wonders
Slime Stars, also known as Cushion Stars due to their puffy bodies, release thick, transparent goo from their upper surface to deter predators, and the tips of their arms curl upwards to hold the mucus on their upper surface. [The Marine Detective]
Canada’s snakes are typically shy and non-aggressive. Here are the 7 species found in BC. The most common are spotted gopher and rattlesnake. [CBC]
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/36084014702
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.