EcoWest News, November 26, 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
There are “very high chances” that flaring from Woodfibre LNG in Squamish, BC, will affect the air quality and health of local residents. [The Narwhal]
Misinformation, political clout, and unchecked drainage threaten Saskatchewan’s wetlands. [Water Canada]
An archaeological site “provides the first look at a coastal habitat in Saskatchewan, showing how large terrestrial dinosaurs like centrosaurus shared space with marine animals.” [CBC]
Clearings as wide as 50 highway lanes cross boreal forest, muskeg, and wetlands, carrying power lines from hydro-electric dams in northern Manitoba to urban centres in the south. [The Narwhal]
Across Canada
Quebec plans to phase out fossil fuels for heating buildings by 2040. There will also be tougher restrictions on the use of renewable natural gas. [The Energy Mix]
Around the World
Migrating monarchs prefer over-wintering sites on private land, particularly if there is access to water and plants, underlining the importance of “incentivizing private landowners to manage their land for other species’ benefit.” [High Country News]
Fish farms consume large quantities of wild-caught fish and can be linked to deforestation and destruction of wildlife habitat while only benefiting a limited number of people who can afford to buy farmed fish. [DeSmog]
The Sufficiency and the Built Environment report urges the building sector to recognize the importance of sufficiency – reducing demand for energy, materials, land, and water “while ensuring human well-being within the Earth’s ecological limits.” [Lloyd Alter]
Roadside vegetation provides important floral and nesting resources for bees, but the benefits are offset by the number of bees killed by cars. [Taylor & Francis Online]
Data centers could help cut emissions and lower energy costs by reducing energy consumption during periods of high demand, ramping up usage during renewable energy surpluses, and storing excess electricity to feed back into the grid. [The Energy Mix]
Clothing
The sheer volume of used clothing being donated is forcing charities to send it to landfill or ship it overseas. [The Conversation]
Extended producer responsibility programs would encourage textile manufacturers to make clothes that last longer, can be repaired, or recycled. [CBC]
Forests
BC’s forestry policy of maximum use with extensive logging and replanting has failed. A 3-zone system with protected areas, restored areas, and areas of active logging might save thousands of species from extinction. [The Tyee]
Indigenous-led reforestation reduces the risk of future forest fires by prioritizing plant diversity in place of commercial monocultures. [WWF-Canada]
CPAWS Northern Alberta has published a new webpage on Alberta’s forests and forestry practices. [CPAWS Northern Alberta]
Making a Difference
Conservationists and outdoor recreation enthusiasts are collaborating to protect public lands in Colorado. [Inside Climate News]
DIY
A Green Gift Guide includes activities, things to make and do, and low-waste gifts. [Environment Lethbridge]
Albertans are invited to complete a survey regarding the provincial government’s 10-year review of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. The Alberta Wilderness Association has prepared a detailed guide to help inform responses. [AWA]
Nature’s Wonders
There are more than 7,000 species of frogs worldwide, each with a unique call, from squeaking like a dog toy to hammering, revving like a motorcycle, and bleating like sheep. [Smithsonian]
15 photographs celebrate the connection between native birds and plants, including a chickadee coated in pollen and a red-winged blackbird snacking on a caterpillar. [Audubon]
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/44070672724
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.