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.
“To keep hope for the future alive we have to consider it as still uncertain, have to believe that concerted, collective human action might yet avert disaster … Speculative futures harnesses imagination to translate fantasy into reality.” [Long Now]
Across the West
Snow absorbs pollutants from car exhaust pipes. When it melts, those pollutants enter our water, affecting the health of all living creatures. [The Conversation]
In Saskatchewan, Boreal Bio-logue is bridging Indigenous and Western knowledge and involving the local community in tours and discussions on boreal forest regeneration following fire. [CPAWS-SK]
A Community Gathering for Sustainability on Oct. 30 is an opportunity for local residents to meet and greet grassroots activists to find out what is happening in Regina to reach net-zero and what people can do to support this goal. [Enviro Collective Discussion Forum]
Alberta communities are taking advantage of grants from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre to purchase battery-powered ice resurfacers with the added bonus of improving air quality inside the arena. [CBC Alberta]
Protecting boreal caribou habitat can help conserve biodiversity and safeguard large quantities of soil carbon in Canada. [Scientific Reports]
A large number of trees in Vancouver’s Stanley Park appear to be dead or dying due to leaf-eating grubs and an exceptionally long dry spell. [CBC British Columbia]
Across Canada
Nearly any level of human activity in a protected area can alter wildlife behaviour. “Our findings lend support to concentrating human activities in some areas, because if you’re going to go above zero human activity and it’s going to have an impact, you might as well go way above zero in some areas and then have other areas where you have almost no human activity.” [Futurity]
Passive House Canada supports the federal government’s Green Buildings Strategy and has made a number of recommendations. [Passive House Canada]
“Prefab is an ideal way to build to Passive House standards and make Passive House buildings feasible for everyone.” [Daily Commercial News]
Nature Has No Borders
Flood water doesn’t halt at the US-Canada border. Neither does pollution. Sending excess water from the Nooksack River north stops it from flooding US communities, so Americans aren’t eager to build dikes or use other tools to prevent flooding in Canada. [Fraser Valley Current]
BC mines are connected to waterways into Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Montana, but their downstream impacts aren’t considered when the government issues a mine permit. [The Narwhal]
Around the World
Cities need lots and lots more native bees – here’s why and how to make our gardens more welcoming to native bees. [Wired]
A neighbourhood in Freiburg, Germany, showcases what the future could look and sound like – a walkable/cyclable community with trams every 5 minutes, fruit and shade trees, birdsong and children playing, affordable and high-energy efficiency housing. [Transition Network]
Tik Tok, Art, Theatre & Music
Ross Reid, aka Nerdy About Nature is using his podcast, Instagram, and TikTok accounts to educate people about nature on the West Coast. [Capital Daily]
We Are All Electric Beings, an exhibition by 4 Western artists exploring the interconnectedness of humans and plants, is on display at the Art Gallery of Regina until Jan. 30. [CTV News Regina]
Emily Thoroski uses music to inspire people to get involved in environmental education. [Manitoba Music]
Green Kids Inc. hosted a 100% carbon-neutral theatre production this summer. Here’s how. [Green Kids Inc.]
Nature’s Wonders
Belugas are the most talkative whale species. Chirps appear to indicate sexual and social behaviour while stereotyped whistles are used during directional swimming. Jaw claps indicate aggression. [Raincoast Conservation Foundation]
Photo credit: Anna's Hummingbird https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/52416107007/
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.