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.
Winnipeg’s Trees
The City of Winnipeg loses twice as many trees as it plants. Residents are spending their own time and money to address the imbalance as well as lobbying the municipal government to classify trees as natural infrastructure and dedicate more money to maintaining and replacing them. [The Narwhal]
Trees Please Winnipeg is urging municipal candidates to sign a pledge to protect and grow the city’s urban canopy. [Trees Please Winnipeg]
CPAWS Manitoba is encouraging municipal candidates to support Assiniboine Forest in Winnipeg becoming an urban national park to protect it from development. [CPAWS MB]
See Also: Western Canada’s Urban Forests (EcoFriendly West)
Across the West
Plans are underway in Vancouver for a rainway that will replace concrete with a series of gardens, streambeds, and small ponds that will not only slowly absorb rainfall that normally rushes downhill but will also filter out pollutants. [The Narwhal]
WCS Canada urges the federal government to ensure its Critical Minerals Strategy aligns with its action on climate change as so many mineral-rich areas are also important ecological areas. [WCS Canada]
Online shopping is generating a growing demand for warehouse space and has increased freight traffic emissions in centrally located Calgary. Two new Amazon distribution centres will cover 3.8 million square feet. [Sprawl Calgary]
Farmers introduced boars on the Prairies, but now they’re eating the crops and could soon be found in our cities. [Nature Alberta]
Stephen Srayko, Troutreach Saskatchewan, has successfully defended his thesis on the seasonal migration of water boatmen as a wetland-river ecosystem linkage. He demonstrates that the number of insects moving between wetlands and rivers rivals the scale of other mass migrations around the world and highlights the importance of linkages between ecosystems and wetland conservation. [Troutreach Saskatchewan]
Reporting Back
Damage Control: Reducing the Costs of Climate Impacts in Canada outlines how climate change is putting people’s lives, well-being, and prosperity at risk. Proactive measures could reduce these risks by three-quarters. [Canadian Climate Institute]
Reconciliation Through Research: Braiding Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems for the Wellbeing of Mountain People, Places, and Beyond shares the Canadian Mountain Network’s research approach through information gathered from researchers and knowledge-holders who worked on CMN-funded initiatives. [Canadian Mountain Network]
Transportation
Charging EVs during the day could cut costs, maximize use of solar energy, and help the grid. [Anthropocene]
Denver and Los Angeles have decided against highway expansions due to concerns about air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. [Governing]
“Planting vegetation between school playgrounds and roads can go a long way to protecting students from traffic-related air pollution.” [Next City]
Sustainable aviation fuel can play an important role in reducing the environmental cost of air travel, but it requires supportive policies and infrastructure. [Earth.org]
An electric passenger ferry will soon link two cities in Northern Ireland. It will “fly” above the water to reduce the strength of waves that can damage the shoreline and to cut drag, reducing fuel costs by 85%. [EuroNews]
Around the World
Researchers are recommending a more holistic approach when considering the impact of non-native species. In some cases, there are benefits; in others, problems. [Undark]
Nature’s Wonders
Chimps and gorillas form lasting social relationships, eating and playing together. [Futurity]
Peregrine falcons are the fastest flying animals reaching speeds of up to 200 mph in a dive. [Live Science]
Island of the Sea Wolves, showcasing the wildlife of Vancouver Island, will be available October 11 on Netflix. [CTV News]
Éco Dans les Prairies
We’re talking about nature and the environment in Western Canada on Pour Faire un Monde, Radio-Canada Saskatchewan, every 2 weeks - you can catch the first episode here. On parle de la nature et de l’environnement du Canada de l’Ouest sur Pour Faire un Monde, Radio-Canada Saskatchewan, toutes les deux semaines – voici la première chronique.
Photo credit: Northern Pacific Tree Frog https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/52396913302/
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.