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
Modern Goose, filmed in and around Winnipeg, invites viewers to think a little differently about the ways we share space with Canada Geese. [CBC]
BC residents are invited to participate in climate-friendly home tours in 7 different communities on Oct. 14. [Climate-Friendly House Tour]
Researchers at the University of Manitoba are trying to identify and sustainably grow bacteria that will increase crop nutrient use efficiency to reduce our reliance on synthetic fertilizers. [UM News]
Regina’s Cathedral Village residents plan to plant a 1.7 hectare community forest on the banks of Wascana Creek in Les Sherman Park. Donations are welcomed. [Cathedral Village Online]
Take a birds and bees tour of Calgary, from planters and rain gardens to a mini forest and Nose Hill Park. [Canadian Geographic]
Around the World
Renewable energy cooperatives, “if enabled to scale up, could play a pivotal role in ensuring that the nation's energy transition is not just effective—but also fair and inclusive.” [Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy]
Scientists working with and for the community can have a great impact on regulatory processes by ensuring scientific evidence and expertise aren’t lost. [The Equation]
New research suggests that national parks enhance bird diversity inside their borders while large parks also support a higher diversity of both birds and mammals in nearby unprotected areas. [Science Daily]
The aviation industry is fiercely opposing a proposed cut to the number of flights at Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport, designed to reduce CO2 emissions and noise pollution for nearby residents. Environmental groups say the era of unbridled growth is over. [Euro News]
Sports Goes Green
Seattle’s new downtown arena hopes to achieve net zero carbon certification. The hockey ice will be made from captured rainwater, the arena will be zero waste, and the original roof is being restored rather than replaced. [ESPN, Talking Climate]
The UK’s Forest Green Rovers is the world’s first UN certified carbon-neutral football club. They’re vegan, use 100% green energy, play on an organic pitch, and use a solar-powered robot lawn mower. [The Guardian, Talking Climate]
Conservation Gardening
Homegrown National Park calls on property owners to join their grassroots conservation movement: “In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be pretty. Now they have to support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators and manage water.” [Homegrown National Park]
Native plants and caterpillars in your garden are important as 75% of the land in the United States is privately owned. Caterpillars help fuel the entire food chain and 90% of insects rely on specific native plants for their survival. [Smithsonian Magazine]
Backyards, balconies, parks, schools, and community gardens could contribute to the survival of endangered native plants. [Anthropocene]
DIY
15 tips for using less water in the kitchen, the bathroom, and the garden. [The Guardian]
Help protect migrating birds by turning off all non-essential nighttime lighting on structures from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. each night. [BirdCast]
Oxfam has launched Secondhand September, encouraging people to “dress for the world you want” by reducing waste and taking a stand against climate change. [Oxfam]
Some useful tips for attracting and feeding hummingbirds in your backyard. [Rocky Point Bird Observatory]
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/48848453366
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.