Wildlife Conservation Society Canada https://www.wcscanada.org RSS feeds for Wildlife Conservation Society Canada 60 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/22081/Wildlife-without-boundaries.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=22081 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=22081&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Wildlife without boundaries https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/22081/Wildlife-without-boundaries.aspx This op-ed appeared in the Hill Times. Songbirds from South America travel thousands of kilometres to nest in Canada’s boreal forests. Caribou herds traverse vast tundra distances to find safe areas to calve and then travel back with their young in tow. Whales transit from one ocean to another to reach feeding grounds. Bats make long and perilous journeys to southern forests in the United States to avoid our cold winters.  But where was Canada when it came to discussing the fate of migratory wildlife like these at the recent talks convened by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)?  Where was this country when other nations were working side-by-side to address the linkage between how to help migratory species and how to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) that Canada signed on to in December 2022? Not at the table. Canada has not signed this important global conservation treaty, which came into existence almost 45 years ago.  And that’s more than a shame because things have certainly not improved for these species over the past half century. In fact, according to the new State of the World’s Migratory Species report issued by CMS a few weeks ago, more than 40% of migratory species are in trouble, with half of that total sliding toward extinction. Canada does have a long-standing agreement in place with the United States, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, to help protect many bird species that transit our two countries. But as our work on unravelling the story of Blackpoll Warbler migration routes demonstrates, this convention is far too limited to address the full needs of many migratory species. These tiny birds make a nonstop, three-day, 3,000-kilometer transoceanic flight to South America every fall, starting from as far away as the Yukon.  It is the same story with many other migratory species: long journeys that take them over continents and oceans and that present a wide array of obstacles and threats along the way.  The sheer number of these challenges – from habitat loss and light pollution to house cats, declining food sources and growing ship traffic  –  are both why migratory species are in decline and why coordinated international action is needed. The KMGBF that Canada recently signed is groundbreaking in its recognition of the need for a wide-ranging suite of integrated actions to stop and reverse biodiversity loss. The framework explicitly requires countries to take action on multiple fronts simultaneously to address the cumulative impacts of human actions, including the additional pressures being put on species by climate change. Canada played a leadership role in shepherding the KMGBF agreement to a successful outcome a year ago in Montreal. Now it is working on a strategy for implementing the agreement on the ground here.  Increasing protected and conserved areas to 30% of our most important lands and waters by 2030 should be a central part of this effort.  We need to make sure that as part of this effort we protect key areas for migratory species, like places where species congregate before or during migration to rest, refuel, and reproduce. Identifying these critical migration stopovers is the focus for our work on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) here in Canada and global efforts map KBAs around the world. But taking better care of places that are critical to the survival of migratory species within Canada is obviously only one part of the solution to reversing the decline of these species. We need to coordinate action with other countries to address the numerous threats facing wildlife. And we need to recognize that it is not just species that transit in and out of Canada that are important to conserve – migration is a fascinating and important global ecological mechanism that helps shape the natural systems we all depend on.  It’s in our own interest to see migratory species everywhere make successful journeys. Migratory wildlife species are a shared heritage and a shared responsibility. We need to coordinate our actions with international partners to help species on the move. A good place to start would be by signing the CMS and then rolling up our sleeves to work out how we can save migratory species before it is too late – together. Dan Kraus is the director of national conservation at Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. He is a transdisciplinary conservation scientist with over 25 years of experience in biodiversity, endangered species, and landscape ecology. Dan has authored reports on topics ranging from Great Lakes islands to freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas to natural capital. Most recently he published papers on nationally endemic species, Canada’s “crisis” ecoregions, ecological corridors, and coastal conservation. Dan is member of Canada’s Nature Advisory Committee, researches and teaches about endangered species recovery at the University of Waterloo, and served on the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario for over a decade. His editorials on nature and conservation have appeared in media across Canada.      admin admin Fri, 01 Mar 2024 13:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:22081 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21979/Public-Policy-Developments-WCS-Canada-is-watching-in-2024.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21979 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21979&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Public Policy Developments WCS Canada is watching in 2024 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21979/Public-Policy-Developments-WCS-Canada-is-watching-in-2024.aspx In this rundown of upcoming initiatives, we look ahead at some of the big public policy decisions expected in 2024 and explain what outcomes we will be pressing for from each.  From the federal government’s efforts to draft a new National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan that can be a cornerstone for efforts to reverse the current decline of biodiversity across Canada to provincial efforts like the commitment by the British Columbia government, in collaboration with First Nations, to create a new comprehensive framework for better protecting nature, these policies, if done right, could be turning points in our efforts to protect nature and curb climate change.  Read: Tracking policy developments is just as important as tracking wildlife At the same time, we will be closely tracking policy changes that could worsen the current biodiversity and climate crisis, such as efforts to weaken the federal Impact Assessment Act or policies that spur mineral development in intact northern areas without putting in place safeguards for carbon-rich peatlands.  Dealing with the constant flow of new laws, policies and regulations from 10 provinces, three territories and the federal government means we have to focus on where we believe we can have the greatest impact and where our science will be the most useful in adding insight for decision makers.  It also means working hard to communicate new approaches and a new vision for how governments can make smarter decisions that will benefit people and nature today and tomorrow.  It is not glamorous work, but it is critical if we want to maintain and restore this country’s tremendous natural legacy. Doing a better job of avoiding and lessening impacts The policies and initiatives in this section represents opportunities to both improve our understanding of the real long-term impacts of development decisions and trends (increased demand for minerals or ship traffic) and ones that pose a potential threat of weakening or entrenching already inadequate mechanisms for ensuring we don’t further harm vital natural systems. AMENDMENTS TO CANADA’S IMPACT ASSESSMENT ACT What it’s about: In October, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) issued an opinion on the Impact Assessment Act (2019) (IAA), finding it to be unconstitutional in part because it infringed on areas of law that are under provincial control. The federal government has responded by saying it will address the issues highlighted by the SCC through amendments to the legislation in early 2024. What we are looking for: Any changes to the act should strictly address clarifying how the act applies to issues or projects that are within federal jurisdiction.  The government should resist pressure to weaken the act in the name of so-called “efficiency” or “streamlining” and instead recognize the urgent need for legislation that provides a modern approach to impact assessment, particularly given the weaknesses of many provincial assessment regimes. MINING LAWS AND POLICIES (INCLUDING CRITICAL MINERALS) What it’s about: The release of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy in late 2022 signaled Canada’s interest in positioning itself as a “global leader” in the production of critical minerals and the development of associated supply chains (e.g., smelting, manufacturing) to support the green energy transition. In 2024, we expect to see the introduction of policies that will enable implementation of the many commitments (including budgetary) included in the Strategy, including (but not limited to) updating the Critical Minerals list. We are also tracking emerging provincial and territorial critical minerals strategies, as well as efforts to reform century-old mining legislation in Yukon and changes to mining regulations in Ontario under its similarly antiquated legislation. What we are looking for: Our input on the Critical Minerals Strategy led to some improvements, most importantly an acknowledgement of the risks associated with mineral resource development in globally-significant peatlands. But the strategy is still too focused on short-term economic interests instead of creating a sustainable framework for Critical Minerals development. We will continue to call for increased attention to be paid to preventing mining development from exacerbating climate and biodiversity problems. In Yukon, a modernized mineral exploration and development approach must recognize and be compliant with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In keeping with the spirit and intent of the Umbrella Final Agreement (land claim settlement), resource development processes need to include Indigenous co-governance of all non-private lands in the territory. The new mining exploration regime must replace the badly outdated free-entry staking system with one that requires consent from Indigenous governments and full input from Yukon citizens. The new regime must also establish rigorous requirements for the use of environmental best practices at all mining stages and provide the financial and other means to enforce these. Recognition by the Ontario government that obtaining First Nations’ free prior and informed consent for proposed mineral development is vital and that the true barrier to mineral development in the province is a lack of good regional planning processes that can improve the efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of project planning and decision-making. OCEAN NOISE STRATEGY What it’s about:  With noise increasingly recognized as a key stressor for marine life, the federal government committed several years ago to develop an Ocean Noise Strategy. According to news reports, Fisheries and Oceans Canada says the long-delayed strategy will be published “before the end of the 2023-2024 fiscal year with an associated period of public engagement to immediately follow”. What we are looking for: Ensuring that the Ocean Noise Strategy includes measures tailored to the Canadian Arctic, with elements that reflect the unique conditions present in the Arctic marine environment (ice cover, etc.), while also addressing the impacts that underwater noise will have on Inuit subsistence and cultural activities. This work should include assessing vessel noise against current Arctic baseline noise levels, rather than against thresholds developed for other noisier marine environments, and a commitment to further research to better understand the effects of noise from different vessel classes on different species under different behavioural and ice conditions in the Arctic marine environments. WCS Canada’s research on underwater noise in the Arctic can inform this work. We have helped to identify current baseline noise levels and the impacts of underwater noise on marine mammals in the western Canadian Arctic, and are supporting work on developing local management strategies to reduce impacts on marine mammals and Inuit subsistence activities. PREVENTING FOREST DEGRADATION What it’s about: Canada is one of the world’s leading exporters of wood products, while insisting it is dedicated to the principles of sustainable forest management.  Concerns about the health of Canadian forest ecosystems and their ability to adapt to a rapidly changing climate are growing, however.  Fortunately, there are important opportunities on the horizon to enhance some provincial/territorial forest management policies (e.g., in Ontario and Yukon) that are up for review. At the same time, in response to a new EU regulation aimed at restricting the sale of products contributing to deforestation and degradation, Natural Resources Canada is coordinating the development of a domestic definition of “forest degradation,” promising to deliver a “robust, science-based, and transparent reporting framework”. What we are looking for: Any definition of forest degradation must focus on ecological and not economic indicators, using ecological integrity as the proper benchmark of forest degradation. It should reflect the commitments Canada has made through the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to address forest degradation and retain ecological integrity.  The definition should apply to all forests, not just those that are “managed” for forestry, which form just a part of Canada’s forest landbase. In fact, it should be designed to ensure the retention of large, undisturbed forests that are not currently part of the managed forest landbase while also preventing further degradation within logged forests. Yukon’s updated Forest Resources Act and its associated regulations need to include a new forestry licensing regime that recognizes that different planning and operational approaches are needed for harvest of live trees (greenwood) in old conifer forest areas and deadwood from recently burned forests.  It also should include regulatory tools and updates of existing standards and guidelines to incorporate new regional knowledge and adopt an ecosystem approach to managing forestry. Updated Resource Road Regulations in Yukon that mandate the phased decommissioning of resources roads, including forestry and mining roads, to limit human disturbance after operations are finished. Properly value nature and natural systems When only short-term economic interests are considered in decision making, the process ignores the tremendous costs of further compromising natural systems and climate stability. These policies represent opportunities to take a more holistic and informed approach that properly integrates an understanding of what is at stake in wild areas and the importance of reversing biodiversity loss. REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS UNDER THE FEDERAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ACT What it’s about: In 2020, the federal government committed to conduct a regional assessment for the Ring of Fire area in the far north of Ontario. This year, we expect to see the Terms of Reference for this important assessment, which will consider the issues at stake in an area with significant mineral potential but also massive peatlands and important headwaters.  The government has committed to “co-develop and co-lead” the development of the Terms of Reference with Indigenous leadership.  This initiative also dovetails with a process to develop an overarching policy framework for all regional assessments conducted under section 92 of the IAA, which is nearing completion and should be released in 2024. What we are looking for:  As one of the three parties that recommended a Regional Assessment for the Ring of Fire, we have long advocated for a regional-scale assessment prior to the start of significant mineral development in the area to properly safeguard its biodiversity and climate values (including the second largest peatland complex in the world) and manage cumulative impacts effectively. The assessment must truly focus on sustainability for both nature and the communities of the region and not just follow the usual pattern of looking for ways to mitigate impacts. We will be looking for meaningful co-leadership of the process by the First Nations, who represent the only communities located in the region.  We also hope that the Government of Ontario will see this as a valuable opportunity to meet its constitutional obligations related to respecting Indigenous rights and to recognize the value of proactive management of cumulative impacts. For the broader framework for regional assessments, we are seeking clear alignment with the purposes of the Impact Assessment Act, i.e., to foster sustainability; protect components of the environment within federal authority; ensure impact assessments strongly consider all effects based on science and traditional knowledge; respect Indigenous rights; and meaningful attention to cumulative effects. THE NATURE-CLIMATE AGENDA What it’s about: Canada is starting its final push to achieve its 2030 GHG emissions reduction target of reducing GHG emissions to 40% below 2005 levels and get on track for net-zero by 2050. In the past two years, starting with the release of its Emissions Reduction Plan in March 2022, the federal government has taken significant steps to enable nature-based climate solutions. Funding and resources are being provided for natural solutions to climate change, such as the protection of forests and wetlands. At the same time, the federal government is advancing various initiatives to encourage an energy transition in support of climate objectives. For example, it is expected to finalize the oil and gas sector emissions cap by mid-2024. For us, 2024 will be the year of assessing the performance of Canada’s recently implemented nature-based policies for climate and keeping an eye on further climate-relevant policies coming down the pipe. What we are looking for: As energy transition policies begin to take effect, it is critical that unintended and counterproductive climate policy outcomes are avoided or significantly mitigated, e.g., not undermining the carbon storage role of forests and peatlands via mineral development and reducing the impacts of renewable energy projects on species such as bats through careful siting, monitoring and management efforts. Making the protection of large, intact carbon-rich landscapes like peatlands a formally recognized priority and enabling Indigenous-led stewardship of these landscapes to help ensure any development does not lead to major sources of GHG emissions that undermine Canada’s ability to meet climate targets. For new provincial and territorial climate plans (e.g., Newfoundland and Labrador) to include robust actions and objectives that acknowledge the essential role of nature in addressing climate change. Improving regulations to address the impacts of wind power development on bats that address where projects can safely to be located and how they can be operated in a way that lessens their impact on bats, particularly already at-risk migratory species. PROTECTING SPECIES AT RISK What it’s about: As the 2023 Report on Species at Risk by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) pointed out, the federal government is not using its full authority to protect species at risk and their habitats under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA).  The commissioner called on Environment and Climate Change Canada to complete and implement policies on use of the safety net and emergency order tools found in SARA. These legislative powers can be used when provinces and territories fail to protect species at risk and their habitat. Unfortunately, these powers have rarely been used to benefit imperiled species. We anticipate that efforts will accelerate in 2024 to complete several key SARA policies, including “Assessing Imminent Threats” and “Critical Habitat Protection” on non-federal lands. What we are looking for: The addition of Eastern Red Bat, Hoary Bat, and Silver-haired Bat to the public registry of federal species at risk. These are all migratory species that have experienced significant impacts from wind power development and fast action is needed to address and reduce these harms. With wind power development on the cusp of huge expansion, more attention must be paid to issues such as siting and habitat destruction. A greater willingness from the federal government to provide meaningful leadership and use the tools at its disposal to track the extent to which provinces and territories are effectively protecting species at risk and their habitat.  The federal government can use its resources (including, but not limited to Nature Agreements) to spur effective collaboration with the provinces on species protection. Accelerate the process of acting on recommendations from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and end delays that can lead to species declining even more while lingering in listing limbo, thereby further delaying any meaningful recovery actions for years.  Address how changes to provincial and territorial resource policies, such as exemptions for forestry and proposed exemptions for mineral exploration in Ontario, could negatively affect species at risk, e.g., caribou and wolverine.  More broadly, governments must consider impacts more carefully on species at risk in all resource development decisions, whether that is new waterpower development (lake sturgeon) or wind power development (bats). Think Big – and Transformative To tackle something as big as the combined biodiversity-climate crisis, we require much more than tweaking business-as-usual approaches. It is well past time to adopt much more ambitious and farsighted approaches to ensuring we act now to reverse climate and ecosystem damage and put in place measures that create healthier future directions for nature and people. CANADA’S 2030 BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY What it’s about: Thanks to the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in Montreal last December, Canada is obliged to complete a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) by COP16 in late 2024. In late 2023, the federal government released what it calls a “Milestone Document” laying out how it intends to frame the 2030 Strategy in line with all four goals and 23 targets of the KMGBF. Following consultation (most importantly with provincial/territorial governments and Indigenous organizations) the finalized 2030 Strategy will serve as its NBSAP. While the full KMGBF is undeniably complex and the task of implementing it effectively is challenging to contemplate, the requirement to develop the NBSAP presents an opportunity for the federal government to display the leadership that is so necessary for addressing the biodiversity crisis in coordination with action on climate. What we are looking for: Actions that represent an integrated approach whereby policies and actions of one federal department do not undermine those of another and promote policy coherence rather than conflict. This will require formal coordination mechanisms that can help ensure that all provincial and territorial government departments and agencies are pulling in the same direction to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Full recognition (with robust funding commitments) of the critical role of Indigenous leadership in protection and monitoring of important areas throughout Canada. Transformative actions that collectively elevate biodiversity as a priority, including the deliberate consideration of co-benefits and trade-offs between biodiversity and climate actions and safeguarding of high-integrity, carbon-rich ecosystems in keeping with Canada’s global responsibility. A true “whole-of-government” approach that engages all federal ministries in the coordinated task of reversing biodiversity loss instead of the current siloed approach that puts the responsibility of addressing this “all-of-society" crisis on the shoulders of just one or two ministries. A strong role for Key Biodiversity Areas, which can help us reach targets for species recovery and ecosystem protection among other things, and an overall emphasis on ensuring that new protected and conserved areas are protecting the most important places for nature.   Long-needed improvements to the quality and availability of biodiversity information across the federation including clear and measurable objectives and indicators that can be used to track and report on progress on each CBD target and support the federal government’s proposed Nature Accountability Bill. LARGE-SCALE INDIGENOUS-LED CONSERVATION IN YUKON AND NORTHERN BC What it’s about: Thanks to land claim settlement agreements under the Yukon Umbrella Final Agreement, there are a number of land use planning initiatives underway in Yukon that are being led by self-governing First Nations. This presents an important opportunity to significantly increase areas protected from industrial disturbance in the territory. The Dawson regional plan encompasses 39,854 square km -- a large and diverse area that covers 10% of the Yukon territory. A land-use plan for the region has been under development for several years and a final plan is expected within the next year. WCS Canada staff are working intensively with the Tr’ondëk Hwëchìn (TH) First Nation Government in a partnership to improve conservation outcomes in the Recommended Plan. The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun  (FNNND) is also preparing for regional land use planning in their Northern Tutchone traditional territory, which is the next biggest planning region in the Yukon. Our staff are providing technical and scientific support to FNNND to promote and secure new protected areas as well as help finalize the Beaver River sub-regional plan. Meanwhile, the Kaska Nations of Yukon and northern BC have steadfastly declined to cede rights and title to their combined Traditional Territories and instead have proposed Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas covering over ~100,000 square kilometers of ecologically diverse and mostly intact landscapes. WCS Canada staff provided technical support and scientific expertise to the development of the IPCA proposals of Ross River Dena Council and the BC Kaska. What we are looking for: Protection for at least 50% of the landbase in both planning areas and more holistic management approaches for areas where industrial use will still be allowed.  These approaches should address conserving migratory and mountain caribou herds across their entire range; carefully limiting the development footprint so it is kept within ecological limits; removal of mineral tenures (claims) from all protected areas; and a focus on maintaining climate function and refugia within all areas. A commitment by territorial, provincial, and federal governments to work with the Kaska Nations on the implementation of their proposed Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. In all planning processes, integration of First Nations approaches to conservation and co-governance models for better implementation of land use plans as well as Indigenous rights being upheld through land agreements and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. LEGISLATION AND POLICY CHANGES TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA What it’s about: British Columbia has the greatest diversity of species at risk and globally threatened ecosystems and species in Canada. However, it also  lacks modernized legislation to protect these natural riches. Recently, the provincial government has begun to address this disconnect with a number of important policy initiatives, including the “collaborative development” with rights holders and stakeholders of a draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework (BEHF) in response to Recommendation 2 of the 2020 Old Growth Strategic Review. Indeed, the mandate letter for the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship issued in late 2022 includes explicit direction to “protect wildlife and species at risk…and….protect and enhance B.C.’s biodiversity” and implementation of the BEHF that "commits to the conservation and management of ecosystem health and biodiversity as an overarching priority…[to be formalized]…...through legislation and other enabling tools”. Moving in this direction will require, among other things, reform of existing provincial legislation (e.g., Wildlife Act and Forest & Range Practices Act), which we expect to start seeing progress on this in 2024. What we are looking for: These initiatives provide BC with an opportunity to address its weak and outdated legislative framework for safeguarding species and ecosystems and to begin to develop a proactive approach to conserving the province’s tremendous biodiversity and be a leader in Canada for transformative change.    A shift from a narrow focus on “habitat features” of individual species to incorporation of multi-species and large-scale habitat protections, including for old growth forests. We and our partners have identified numerous Key Biodiversity Areas throughout the province that can provide building blocks for ambitious protected area commitments. A FRESH START FOR MANITOBA BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE POLICIES What it’s about: Environmental concerns have received little attention in Manitoba in recent years, with key biodiversity and climate laws and regulations remaining unimplemented or unimagined. With a new government elected in late 2023, there is a fresh mandate for the new environment minister to take action. Priorities of particular relevance to WCS Canada include work with Indigenous communities to achieve the goal of protecting 30% of Manitoba’s diverse landscapes by 2030 and creating a “roadmap to meet net-zero targets by 2050”.  What we are looking for: We have identified numerous Key Biodiversity Areas in Manitoba, many of which are inadequately protected. This is an opportunity for Manitoba to address its protected areas goal in a scientific manner. Manitoba is the only province to have legislation to conserve and protect ecosystems through its Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act. This provides an opportunity to expand ecosystem-based approaches in Manitoba, which can serve as a model for other jurisdictions. Manitoba contains the third largest peatland area (and associated carbon storage) in Canada.  (Manitoba’s peatlands are exceeded in size and carbon content only by those in Ontario and the Northwest Territories.) As part of its roadmap for achieving net-zero targets, the province must address safeguarding these critical carbon storage areas. Many emerging Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in the province overlap with these carbon and biodiversity rich areas, making action on adopting IPCAs a potential win-win for the province.     admin admin Mon, 05 Feb 2024 23:15:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21979 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21978/Tracking-policy-developments-is-just-as-important-as-tracking-wildlife.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21978 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21978&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Tracking policy developments is just as important as tracking wildlife https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21978/Tracking-policy-developments-is-just-as-important-as-tracking-wildlife.aspx See also: Public Policy Developments WCS Canada is watching in 2024  Releasing a wolverine from a live trap can really get your heart pounding. Providing comments on a government policy, a lot less so.  But helping make government policies better for nature is a big and important part of the work we do here at WCS Canada. That’s because these official laws, policies and regulations (and their implementation) matter – a lot.  The right policy can make a major difference in reducing or reversing environmental harms, such as policies to ban the pesticide DDT that saved many bird species (including peregrine falcons and bald eagles) or policies to eliminate the use of ozone-depleting chemicals. On the other hand, weak or ineffective policies can entrench practices that promote continued environmental degradation.  Too often, current policies are the latter – fragmented, out-of-date, and narrowly focused laws and regulations that are not equal to the task of reversing the rapidly escalating biodiversity and climate crisis. If our societal approaches to decision making on everything from resource development to protected areas are not in step with an ongoing commitment to ending biodiversity loss and addressing the climate emergency, our scientific work at WCS Canada is going to continue to turn up evidence of the steady worsening of these combined crises.    The need for new approaches  If there is one theme that runs through our policy work on everything from reforming mining laws to developing a comprehensive national biodiversity strategy it is the need for a fundamental shift in current approaches. This means re-thinking business-as-usual approaches to decisions like where to build mines and the roads that service them or how to ensure that massive natural carbon storage areas are still able to provide their essential services for generations to come.    This transformation ultimately requires a shift away from piecemeal and short-sighted development processes that rely on reducing environmental and cultural impacts one project at time, and toward proactive planning at larger and more comprehensive scales with an eye to anticipating and managing cumulative effects. It also requires firm recognition of the need for resource development decisions to go beyond only assessing short-term economic return and to instead fully consider the sustainability of proposed projects for current and future generations. That includes ensuring that benefits are maximized for people, nature and the climate.  There are three major components to changing our current failing approaches that are steadily driving species and ecosystems into deeper and deeper trouble (trends we have started tracking through our Shape of Nature initiative).    Three steps to change  The first is to do away with the ill-informed but all too common assumption that all environmental harms can be mitigated or offset, or that they can be justified in the name of short-term economic gains. In particular, there is a need to change the overwhelming focus on “doing less harm” that is often central to  individual project planning and development processes. It is now widely accepted that the impacts of multiple small projects can combine to create overall ecological harm that tends to be greater than the collective sum of individual impacts. In fact, severe ecological damage rarely has a single cause, so striving to avoid impacts in the first place is key.   We often point out that cumulative impacts and broader sustainability considerations must be taken seriously at the outset of planning with full consideration of how individual projects add to existing and other potential impacts -- including the effects of climate change.  As scientists, we try to draw attention to the fact that human economic growth and development is constrained by natural limits and we need to plan accordingly.  The second step is to evaluate development plans over a timeframe of generations – not the life of the project or a government term in office. Adoption of a true multigenerational perspective requires appreciation of the full of value nature in decision making (and our society) and far better recognition of the benefits nature provides to people. Too much of the current focus is placed on short-term raw resource values (trees, minerals, water, fish), instead of on the irreplaceable life support and human health services provided by nature, whether that is filtering and storing water, capturing and storing carbon or providing sustenance for communities.   We know that high-integrity ecosystems, along with robust genetic and species diversity collectively strengthen human wellbeing, yet nature continues to be undervalued and weakened by short-sighted decision making. We are calling for a shift to approaches that properly assess and value natural services before considering what level of industrial disturbance is tolerable in order to protect ecosystem services that are fundamental to our economy, society and well-being.  The third is to think big – and be transformative. “Transformation” is first and foremost an acknowledgment that status quo approaches are failing to address continuing ecological degradation. It also means “doing things differently – not  just a little more or less of something we’re already doing.” Ambitious goals for retaining the globally important wild areas that Canada is still fortunate to contain are a good start.  Boldly integrating Indigenous-led conservation and worldviews that prioritize reciprocity and gratitude for nature into broader conservation efforts will pay significant dividends, both in terms of environmental outcomes and reconciliation. Similarly, policymakers must recognize the interconnectedness of the climate and biodiversity crises and the increased benefits that can be realized by developing transformative and fully integrated responses.  All of this will require a much stronger “whole of government” approach to replace current siloed decision making.  What’s in the policy pipeline  In a rundown of upcoming initiatives, we look ahead at some of the big public policy decisions expected in 2024 and explain what outcomes we will be pressing for from each.  From the federal government’s efforts to draft a new National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan that can be a cornerstone for efforts to reverse the current decline of biodiversity across Canada to provincial efforts like the commitment by the British Columbia government to create a new comprehensive framework for better protecting nature, these policies, if done right, could be turning points in our efforts to protect nature and curb climate change.    At the same time, we will be closely tracking policy changes that could worsen the current biodiversity and climate crisis, such as efforts to weaken the federal Impact Assessment Act or policies that spur mineral development in intact northern areas without putting in place safeguards for carbon-rich peatlands.    Dealing with the constant flow of new laws, policies and regulations from 10 provinces, three territories and the federal government means we have to focus on where we believe we can have the greatest impact and where our science will be the most useful in adding insight for decision makers.  It also means working hard to communicate new approaches and a new vision for how we can make smarter decisions that will benefit people and nature today and tomorrow.  It is not glamorous work, but it is critical if we want to maintain and restore this country’s tremendous natural legacy.  Click here for a summary of policies we are currently tracking and the outcomes we are seeking for each.  By WCS Canada Staff admin admin Mon, 05 Feb 2024 23:08:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21978 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21947/What-we-all-lose-as-more-of-Canadas-wildlife-disappears.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21947 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21947&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 What we all lose as more of Canada’s wildlife disappears https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21947/What-we-all-lose-as-more-of-Canadas-wildlife-disappears.aspx By Dan Kraus, Director of National Conservation Canada officially has less biodiversity than one year ago.  Without much fanfare, the meter that measures the number of extinct wild species in Canada ticked down. Twice.   You’ve probably never heard of the Enos Lake Stickleback pairs. Over the last few thousand years they evolved in an isolated lake on Vancouver Island north of Nanaimo BC. They were an example of evolution in action and were becoming two different species, each occupying a different part of the lake.  The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife (COSEWIC), the group that assesses extinction risk of Canada’s flora and fauna under the federal Species at Risk Act first designated the Enos Lake Stickleback pairs as threatened in 1988 and then endangered in 2002, warning of their increasing extinction risk. The tiny fishes were nationally endemic to Canada and occurred nowhere else on the planet. Their loss is not just a loss for Canada, but another chip that’s fallen from our planet’s collection of wild things.  Last year the number of species assessed as at risk by COSEWIC grew to 875. Last year, there were 869. Ten years ago, that number was 676. Since Canada’s Species at Risk Act was enacted over two decades ago, we’ve seen an annual increase of at-risk species of about 4%. We also know that the actual number of species in need of conservation action is much higher and one in five Canadian species is at some level of risk. While past threats to animals such as Humpback Whale, Plains Bison, and Trumpeter Swan was over-hunting, today wildlife are faced by a myriad of threats including habitat loss, invasive species, and increasingly, climate change.  Other species now assessed as at risk by COSEWIC in 2023 include four plants that are very rare in Canada. Ontario’s Cleland’s Evening-primrose, a prairie wildflower not seen since 2001, and California Sword Fern, with a Canadian population in BC that is down to 48 individuals. Plants and animals with small populations and few locations are vulnerable to extinction because one disturbance, either natural or from people, can quickly wipe them out.   But extinction is more than about rarity. Identifying species that are rapidly declining is critical to getting ahead of their extinction. As we’ve witnessed through the extinction of species like the Passenger Pigeon, Great Auk, and Rocky Mountain Grasshopper, human activities can make even once abundant wildlife disappear. Species that were once secure but are now disappearing were also assessed as at risk of extinction in 2023. These include the Mudpuppy (a completely aquatic salamander) and Horned Grebe (a diving bird that is closely related to flamingos). The last year also saw more bats added to Canada’s list of at-risk species. Eastern Red Bat, Hoary Bat, and Silver-haired Bat were all assessed as endangered because of rapid declines resulting from habitat loss and poorly sited wind turbines.  Tracking risk to species is not just about who’s been added to the list, but also how their status changes. In some ways this measure is more critical because it tracks extinction probability when we have full knowledge of risk. In 2023, two species that COSEWIC has previously assessed increased in extinction risk. The extinction risk of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster was nudged upward from special concern to endangered because of the increasing threat that rising sea levels and more frequent storm surges will wash it away along with its coastal habitat. Just as extinction of Enos Lake Sticklebacks showcases our willingness to be passive witnesses to extinction, the ‘uplisting’ of these species are another small failure of both Canada’s Species at Risk Act and our collective ability to act.  It’s too late to save the Enos Lake Stickleback, but there are hundreds of other species that this generation can stop from going extinct. Knowing which species need our attention is critical. Species assessed by COSEWIC and those protected under Canada’s Species at Risk Act are a good start but will always be incomplete. Across Canada, Key Biodiversity Areas are being identified and mapped for all globally and nationally threatened species that have small ranges or populations. For species such as the California Sword Fern, local ecosystem-based efforts to protect and steward habitats can quickly halt and reverse the threats and prevent extinctions. For wide-ranging species that are declining, such as bats, caribou, monarch, actions will require rethinking how we manage lands and water.  I don’t want my children to inherit a planet that only knows extinction. On a planet that only bleeds wildlife, we are also losing clean water, climate security, and our ancient connections to life around us. Recovering wildlife is more than just biodiversity. It’s building a secure foundation for our society and economy and rebuilding our relationship with nature. There is a world waiting for us where nature and people thrive.  Tue, 30 Jan 2024 15:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21947 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21889/We-can-be-the-generation-that-holds-on-tight-to-our-natural-wealth.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21889 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21889&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 We can be the generation that holds on tight to our natural wealth https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21889/We-can-be-the-generation-that-holds-on-tight-to-our-natural-wealth.aspx This article was published in the National Observer. We have literally been watching global temperatures climb to new heights this fall in chart after chart of global temperature trends.  It’s an easy way for us to grasp just how fast climate change is moving, but it also makes me wish we could present an equally clear and simple picture of biodiversity trends.  Looking back over the past few years in biodiversity, there is one measure that stands out: the decline and extinction of wild species.  Wildlife Conservation Society Canada’s 2023 annual evaluation of edge of extinction species found a 40% increase in the number of species in Canada at imminent risk of disappearing. This growing number is a combination of both more information on the actual risk facing some species and the growing concern for others we know are already at risk.   Edge of extinction species are found across Canada, with the highest numbers found in BC, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia. But perhaps more troubling than the number or location is the trend, which, just like global temperature averages, continues up, up, up.  We know our planet is becoming a lonelier place because of our displacement of diversity. Baring technological de-extinction, no human will ever again witness the Great Auk, Passenger Pigeon, Tasmanian Tiger or Stellar’s Sea Cow, and hundreds of other wild things. But despite this evidence of extinction, the risk of more wildlife disappearing has only accelerated with estimates that up to one million species could be at risk of extinction in the coming decades.  Preventing extinction is not just a task for tropical countries and it’s not just about pandas and polar bears. Every country has a role to play in stopping the loss of all life on Earth. Here in Canada, despite still holding some of the last big wild places left on the planet, one in five species is at some level of risk. Of these thousands of species of conservation concern, there is a group that is urgently important for conservation action. Those species that are teetering at the edge of global extinction.  Using data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and NatureServe, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada has identified 187 species found in Canada that are at imminent risk of disappearing forever. For species such as Whooping Crane and Sand-verbena Moth we share the conservation responsibility with other nations. Others including Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster and Vancouver Island Marmot are only found in Canada, and their extinction or recovery is entirely up to us.  Canada’s edge of extinction species face many threats that include invasive species, habitat loss, and climate change. For some of these species our actions have not been enough to stop their decline. For others, we don’t even have a plan to halt their extinction.  It’s too late to save Canada’s Labrador Duck or Dawson Caribou from extinction. But we can be the generation that holds on tighter to our collective natural wealth. There is evidence for hope. Conservation actions in the past have prevented the extinction of wildlife ranging from Pronghorn to Eastern Bluebird. But we need to amplify these actions and make wildlife conservation an integral part of our economy and society. From identifying and conserving Key Biodiversity Areas to businesses investing in nature-positive outcomes, many of the solutions to stop extinction and reverse the decline of wildlife are waiting for us to act. We all have a role to stop extinctions and reverse the decline of wildlife.  Dan Kraus is WCS Canada's Director of National Conservation. Fri, 05 Jan 2024 14:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21889 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21674/Singing-from-the-same-song-sheet-bringing-the-climate-and-biodiversity-agendas-together.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21674 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21674&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Singing from the same song sheet: bringing the climate and biodiversity agendas together https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21674/Singing-from-the-same-song-sheet-bringing-the-climate-and-biodiversity-agendas-together.aspx By Justina Ray, WCS Canada President and Senior Scientist Earlier this month in Dubai at the COP28 climate talks, the world’s countries finally agreed that addressing the climate crisis will require a “transition away” from fossil fuels. Many different interests have jumped on this declaration to call for countries to act quickly on the spirit rather than the somewhat vague language of the commitment.  A similar scene played out last December in Montreal for the COP15 talks when the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity agreed on a new Global Biodiversity Framework, with many quickly calling for strong action to make the agreement more than words on paper.    But, in truth, comparing the two events is like comparing a Taylor Swift concert to an appearance by your favourite indie band at the local club.  Even though the issue of saving our climate and reversing biodiversity loss are two sides of the same coin, there is no question that addressing our biodiversity crisis attracts fewer headlines and a lot less public attention.  Yet, both evidence and understanding are mounting that you cannot address one without tackling the other.   First, safeguarding nature will be an essential pillar of climate change mitigation, but one that cannot be taken for granted. Conservation of globally important natural areas in Canada will be a critical tool for preventing the worst impacts of climate change because high-integrity ecosystems like peatlands help cool the Earth’s climate through the accumulation of large quantities of soil carbon over thousands of years.  We can either undermine or enhance these natural climate regulation systems with the choices we make now.  On the flip side of the coin, increasingly rapid climate change is having profound impacts on and ecosystems. Over the course of only one decade, it has shifted from a potential future threat, to one that is actively reshaping the natural systems we depend on for clean air, water, food and cultural connections.    The intertwined nature of climate and biodiversity is something that is fundamental to our work at WCS Canada. We are strongly focused on addressing both sides of the coin: Understanding and preparing for the impacts of a changing climate on natural systems – whether it is an increasingly ice free Arctic Ocean and more fire-prone forests – while also working for effective policy and land use decisions that protect carbon-rich peatlands and forests, free flowing rivers and other intact ecosystems that will be vital for climate regulation and for giving wild species time and space to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.  This is complex and challenging work, but it is also necessary to ensuring the future health of not just wild areas, but of people and planetary life systems. The hallmark of global action on climate change has far too often been delay.  Our field staff see firsthand that climate change is already happening -- in many cases far faster than expected.  We cannot afford further delay -- in fact, we have to catch up with the profound shifts that are already underway.  And we must do so through a society-wide shift in how these issues are addressed through policies and decisions about land and sea use alike, something we highlighted in our input into the drafting of Canada’ s 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy. One way to close the action gap on climate and biodiversity is by working directly with those most affected by on-the-ground changes.  Indigenous peoples across Canada have been drawing urgent attention to how climate change is often the straw that breaks the back of natural systems already under pressure from resource development, roads and pollution.  These communities have deep cultural and sustenance ties to natural landscapes and we are working to support these visions through land use planning and wildlife research initiatives.  Really, the only way to address an issue this big and complex is through collaboration.  Or more simply, by making it a team effort.  That’s certainly our approach at WCS Canada, where our field science staff is supported by a vital behind-the-scenes team that provides everything from budgeting and financial management, mapping and data organization to raising funds to support crucial research, taking care of our workforce or communicating why acting to protect biodiversity matters. You don’t often read about the individuals who conduct this work in our newsletter or blogs because we are focused on telling you about our conservation successes – whether that is the designation of hundreds of new Key Biodiversity Areas or innovative wildlife conservation strategies devised by our scientists – but without them, we wouldn’t be able to continue to expand our work and our reach.  The need for the kind of science that WCS Canada produces is clearer than ever as the world continues to struggle with biodiversity loss and the climate emergency, and helps explain the growing success of this organization.  So does our reputation for turning that science into actionable ideas for how to keep the wild systems we all depend on healthy and intact.   We may not always be the headliners at global events, but we do play an important role in creating a steady drumbeat for climate and biodiversity action.  ____________________________________________________________________________________ P.S. Speaking of our vital staff, we are marking the departure of one of our longest serving hands, Director of Philanthropy, Biz Agnew, in a Muddy Boots blog.  Kristin Rodrigo Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21674 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21665/From-Milestones-to-Memories-Celebrating-the-Remarkable-Career-of-Biz-Agnew.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21665 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21665&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 From Milestones to Memories: Celebrating the Remarkable Career of Biz Agnew https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21665/From-Milestones-to-Memories-Celebrating-the-Remarkable-Career-of-Biz-Agnew.aspx By Brad Cundiff, Green Living Communications Apple had just unveiled its first iPhone when Elizabeth (Biz) Agnew heard about a conservation organization just getting its feet on the ground in Canada. Biz had never heard of Wildlife Conservation Society Canada and had never met its co-founder, Justina Ray.  But it didn’t take Justina long to convince Biz that working for WCS Canada was going to be the opportunity of a lifetime. With fewer than half a dozen staff and a modest annual budget, WCS Canada looked like the kind of place Biz could really sink her teeth into.  Not having any particular experience as a fundraiser didn’t stop her either: She knew her passion for the work WCS Canada was doing would more than make up for that.  Seventeen years later and Biz is finally bowing out of her role as our Director of Philanthropy.  WCS Canada now has more than 60 staff and a budget exceeding $10 Million.  But that growth didn’t happen by chance, Biz notes.  In fact she says it largely comes down to one word: “integrity.” WCS Canada made it a habit to not over promise while always delivering important conservation outcomes.  “We stuck to our knitting and that worked for us,” she says. The part about working with WCS Canada that sticks with Biz is that “the people are so bloody smart, but also so much fun.”  That made long hours slogging away on funding proposals worthwhile she notes, although she admits that she never hesitated to jump on any chance to get out of the office and join staff in the field. As someone who has always loved being in nature and is an avid birder, Biz found these field visits inspiring and energizing.  “Seeing the work up close allowed me to look funders in the eye and tell them how important it is,” she explains.  “It doesn’t matter if it is some place in the 416 or the tip of a glacier on Baffin Island, seeing it for yourself is essential to remind yourself what we could lose if we don’t act now,” Biz adds. What inspired Biz about the WCS Canada approach was that the organization never shied away from putting conservation objectives first.  It didn’t matter if a place or species was “sexy” from a fundraising perspective. What mattered was that it fit within the conservation action plan that the organization had used its scientific expertise to develop. “A lot of organizations will go for the low hanging fruit – the easy stuff to fund,” she points out. But WCS Canada turned that approach on its head by drawing funding to often overlooked – but highly critical – conservation priorities.  “We were determined to make this happen,” she says.  And determination is something Biz has in large quantities.  “My Scots-Irish rock breaking roots,” she laughs. Of course, not everything has been trending the right way for climate or biodiversity over the last 17 years and Biz admits that there were times when she would get discouraged.  To counter any sense of despair, she would try to focus on small victories: A recovering whale population or a new Indigenous protected area. Caribou were also a touchstone for Biz over her long career.  “I have seen caribou in a number of different places in Canada and they are so indicative of the places we work.  I always felt that if we could help them, that was saying a lot.” Retirement will definitely mean more trips to find birds, but Biz says she is also looking forward to changing the focus of her days. “I’m excited to see how that goes.” That said, she acknowledges that she will miss being part of “an amazing collection of people making a difference.”  Looking back at the difference she made for this organization will hopefully help with that. Kristin Rodrigo Tue, 19 Dec 2023 18:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21665 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21448/Scouting-for-Sound-in-the-Arctic-Depths.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21448 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21448&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Scouting for Sound in the Arctic Depths https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21448/Scouting-for-Sound-in-the-Arctic-Depths.aspx by Brad Cundiff, Communications Consultant, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada The Arctic Team scouting sites to test the Ocean Glider. Photo by WCS Canada. You may have taken a few spins around the lake tubing or waterskiing this summer.  Our Western Arctic team, on the other hand, took to a lake near Whitehorse, Yukon to track the performance of a new listening device – a “glider” that can roam beneath the water’s surface picking up sounds and other ocean state information. The OceanScout glider is shaped like a two-meter long torpedo but is a friendly low-noise device that can be programmed to navigate through the ocean for up to a month independently.  During that time, it will collect acoustic data through its onboard hydrophone while also collecting information on the chemical makeup and temperature of the waters it is moving through.  Dr. Tara Howatt with the glider, a mobile acoustic/oceanographic sampler. Photo by WCS Canada. While the team kept the glider on the equivalent of a rope leash for its lake trials, once it is on its real ocean mission it will swim free and only surface intermittently to communicate with satellites and report its position.  It can move up and down in the ocean depths by shifting its onboard ballast and can be given fresh instructions when it surfaces.  The whole device is battery powered.    Dr. Steve Insley and Dr. Tara Howatt ready to test the ocean glider. Photo by WCS Canada. Dr. William Halliday ready to launch the glider. Photo by WCS Canada. Arctic program scientist Dr. William (Bill) Halliday explains that the glider will be used to “detect vocal marine mammal species, such as bowhead whales and beluga whales, and also measure natural sound levels and noise from ship traffic.” The conductivity and temperature data the glider collects will allow the team to measure oceanographic conditions, “effectively letting us measure the ocean habitat where the marine mammals are present,” he adds.  This innovative piece of equipment has been built from the ground up for exactly the kind of scientific monitoring program our team has had underway in the Western Arctic for a number of years now. That program has helped to reveal a lot about how whales and seals react to ship noise, which is rapidly growing in the previously quiet Arctic Ocean thanks to retreating ice cover.  With more ships moving through Arctic waters every year, it is important to get a good picture of where ships and whales may come into conflict and understand how increased ship noise may interact with an increase in natural background noise caused by loss of ice cover and greater wave action or other climate change impacts.  Our team has already developed recommendations for slowing ship traffic to reduce noise and collision risk and avoiding sensitive areas frequented by whales based on its research to date.    But the Scout will really enhance our team’s ability to assess what is happening over a much broader area compared to the stationary acoustic recorders they have been using to this point.  It can be deployed from a small boat thanks it to light weight (22.5 kg) by one or two people, which also makes it easy to work with.  Stationary acoustic recorders, on the other hand, often have to be deployed from ships in areas far from shore that are out of reach for smaller craft.  The ocean glider will hopefully be deployed in the Beaufort Sea to listen for bowhead whales. Photo by WCS Canada. The test runs the team did with the glider in Little Atlin Lake southeast of Whitehorse went well, Bill reports.  A few more tests are planned for spring of 2024 before the team is ready to drop the glider into the ocean near Tuktoyaktuk and watch it sail away under its own command into the ocean depths.    Kristin Rodrigo Wed, 15 Nov 2023 16:22:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21448 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21409/Why-We-All-Need-a-New-Plan-For-Nature.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21409 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21409&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Why We All Need a New Plan For Nature https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21409/Why-We-All-Need-a-New-Plan-For-Nature.aspx by Dan Kraus, Director of National Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada A Northern Spotted Owl. Photo by mayoung01 via iNaturalist. Humans have been causing the loss of wildlife for about as long as there have been humans. From the extinctions of mega-fauna in North America and Australia as people colonized the Earth, to the imminent loss of Spotted Owls in Canada, the cumulative impacts of humanity have resulted in an impoverished natural world.   There have been benefits to the whole scale industrial exploitation of nature. Setting our sights on unbridled economic development has created access to things like vaccines and information and has generated wealth that has helped to improve the human condition for many. We have proven an ingenuity and imagination that no other animal brain has accomplished.   But we are now at a tipping point. The very pillars of ecology that support humanity are weakening as we chip away at the foundation of a healthy environment. Climate instability to the loss of prairie grasslands to wild west proposals to develop the intact forests and peatlands in Canada’s north all threatened not just nature, but our ability to promise the next generation a better future.  We’ve reached a point on this planet and at this time when the exploitation of nature will never benefit as many people as the conservation of nature.  Many groups and cultures have recognized the importance of protecting nature for a long time. It’s my immigrant grandmother telling me I shouldn’t waste water. It’s the efforts of the Wildlife Conservation Society over a century ago to stop the extinction of the Plains Bison. And it’s an inherent part of many Indigenous world views.   Our conservation challenge is not about lack of knowledge, but our ability to act in a modern world. While public support for nature is very high, and more corporations are integrating sustainability onto business, it hasn’t been enough to mainstream conservation. The good news is we are wired to respond to emergencies, and these are urgent times for life on Earth.   The next decade is our last best chance to save biodiversity. But to do so, we need a new plan for nature.  Over the past few months countries around the world have been working on their new plans for nature. The Global Biodiversity Framework is an international agreement that Canada along with almost 200 other countries signed in Montreal last year. It includes goals and targets that are all designed to halt and reverse the loss of nature in our lifetime. This is exciting stuff. Every person alive today has only lived on a planet that is bleeding biodiversity. The next decade is our opportunity to halt and reverse this loss. No future generation will regret our success.  The content and courage in Canada’s new national biodiversity strategy will set the tone for what we value and set a vision of what we all want the world to be. Our new plan for nature can’t be a bureaucratic brief and it can’t just be a government responsibility. Governments need a new plan for nature, but so do businesses, communities, and families. Degradation of nature is a shared risk for society. Restoration of nature is a shared responsibility and an opportunity for all of us to better life on Earth.  ________________________________________________________________________ Learn more here: WCS Canada Submission on Canada's 2030 Biodiversity Strategy Next Steps for Canada: Developing a plan to end biodiversity loss   Kristin Rodrigo Mon, 06 Nov 2023 21:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21409 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21314/Reflecting-on-Canadian-Mountain-Networks-Knowledge-Sharing-Summit-2023.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21314 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21314&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Reflecting on Canadian Mountain Network’s Knowledge Sharing Summit 2023 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21314/Reflecting-on-Canadian-Mountain-Networks-Knowledge-Sharing-Summit-2023.aspx by Cheyenne MacDonald, BSc, L'nua'tikete'w/Indigenous Relations Associate, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada  Smiling Faces of WCS Staff Cheyenne Macdonald and Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle at the CMN Knowledge Sharing Summit. Reflecting on September’s Canadian Mountain Network’s (3rd annual) Braiding Knowledge Sharing Summit in Parksville, BC, I was in awe of the inspiring leadership and conservation initiatives which I was able to learn about while listening to others from across the country. Out of the conservation leaders in which I had seen and met, some were familiar faces, but a lot were new ones.   One familiar face, Mathieya Alatini (from Kluane First Nation and served as Chief), presented on Bringing Research Home: Reclaiming Research to Tell the Story of Climate Change in the Kluane First Nation Traditional Territory. Mathieya started her presentation with an opening statement that “Reconciliation = Equality and Equality = Money”. I found this opening statement showcased the importance of Indigenous people’s inherent right to self-governance as well as ownership of funding for indigenous-led projects. During Mathieya’s presentation, Mathieya had mentioned in the Yukon Territory the word “bands” is not used as 11 of the 14 First Nations are self-governing. The term “bands” may not be appropriate when self-government agreements are in place. Although I still hear this term being used on the east coast, as the term bands are used to describe an elected council operating under the Indian Act (“Indian Act and Elected Chief and Band Council System,” 2015). This is a testimony to the uniqueness of Indigenous peoples, their landscapes, and agreements across the Country in which we work with and the need to be aware of these unique agreements. New faces for myself included CMN's Co-Research Directors, which are Dr. Murray Humphries (Professor, and Director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment at McGill University) & Dr. Paulina Johnson (Sîpihkokîsikowiskwew (Blue Sky Woman) Nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) and Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Alberta). A quote from Dr. Humphries (who also sits on our WCS Canada, Board of Directors) which has stuck with me was “If in our roles as scientists or Academics, all we do is support (Indigenous conservation and peoples), we’ve done our jobs”. I believe this speaks to the perspective on which to take when there is Indigenous-led and co-led conservation, as well as considering values of the 10 Calls to Action to Natural Scientists Working in Canada. Murray had also talked about the usage of the term "geobiocultural", which signifies biocultural but via acknowledging the land which is something I also believe will stick with me as acknowledging the biocultural aspects without acknowledging the land seems incomplete. Dr. Johnson had stated that all our work is rooted in ceremony, and we weren't just there for the conference but also there in ceremony together. I found this to be a good reminder of the sacredness in the work in which we conduct, and the importance it has on the people, the animals, the beings of the land and the land itself. As she had quoted “Shawn Wilson is Opaskwayak Cree from Northern Manitoba and in his book Research is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods, forwards that the Indigenous journey into research and academia is intrinsically tied to kihci-isîhcikêwin, ceremony, as we are forwarding knowledge obtained in ahyaminawin, prayer, and nacinekewin, protocol” (Johnson, 2017). She also spoke that with the work we do, we need to “be okay with getting it wrong, as this is a process of learning”, and expressed that as people are supposed to constantly grow, and without growth there is no learning. She too expressed uncomfortableness is showing growth. This made me think of WCS Canada’s core values of transparency and acknowledging when we have made a mistake or could have done something better or in a different way so we can learn from those mistakes. Paulina, just as Mathieya had discussed how important protocol is to communities and how they are different in each, indicating the importance of learning and listening from others when working together to build relationships and work towards a brighter future for us all. She reminded the crowd that as Indigenous peoples "We are not just the pain and trauma, we are the resilience, the resurgence."  I'd like to conclude with a quote from Dr. Johnson in which I believe will speak to all of us here at WCS Canada, as this is relative to the work that we are so passionate to be doing:"How do we heal a living being if the western world does not see it as alive? We protect it. We be accountable, its not just us at stake, it’s the interconnectedness, its those relationships that are vital." ________________________________________________________________________ I would like to thank Mathieya Alatini, Dr. Paulina Johnson and Dr. Murray Humphries for their review and permission to use their quotes for my own personal reflection of the CMN gathering. I would also like to thank Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle from WCS Canada and Sue Novotny who reviewed earlier drafts and provided generous feedback. ________________________________________________ References Indian Act and Elected Chief and Band Council System. (2015, June 25). Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. Retrieved October 20, 2023, from https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/indian-act-and-elected-chief-and-band-council-system Johnson, Paulina R., "E-kawôtiniket 1876: Reclaiming Nêhiyaw Governance in the Territory of Maskwacîs through Wâhkôtowin (Kinship)" (2017). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4492. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4492   Kristin Rodrigo Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:15:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21314 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21071/Connecting-with-Rivers-Reflections-from-Moose-Cree-Youth-Ocean-Skye-Phillips.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=21071 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=21071&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Connecting with Rivers: Reflections from Moose Cree Youth Ocean Skye Phillips https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/21071/Connecting-with-Rivers-Reflections-from-Moose-Cree-Youth-Ocean-Skye-Phillips.aspx Written by Ocean Skye Phillips, Moose Cree Youth. Ocean Skye Phillips in the field. Photo: WCS Canada  My name is Ocean Phillips. I’m a 20-year-old Moose Cree youth, living in Kapuskasing Ontario. In 2019, I had a chance to join Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCSC) scientists and staff from the Moose Cree First Nation Resource Protection Unit (MCFN) to study lake sturgeon in the Moose River watershed in the far north of Ontario.    But then COVID happened and that changed everything for me. During COVID I ended up developing severe anxiety and struggled with being around other people. COVID also meant we could not go back out on the river the following year and the river was a place I could relax and be happy.  Fortunately, the leaders of the Learning from Lake Sturgeon program from WCSC and MCFN worked hard to keep youth engaged in other ways during the field research shutdown.    Ocean Skye Phillips  on-site back in 2019 . Photo: WCS Canada  When I first joined the project, my friend Denika and I stayed out in the bush for two days with WCS staff. During those two days, we helped the team and learned how to use the equipment, such as temperature loggers that track the water temperature throughout the year. We also got to use a small remote-controlled submarine to try and find one of the underwater receivers that had been lost due to extreme water and sediment changes caused by hydroelectric development on the rivers.  Ocean and Justin netting in 2022 Photo: WCS Canada  The receivers collect signals from sturgeon that have been implanted with special tags so the scientists can track their movements. When I finally got back on the river with the team last spring, I got a chance to watch them implant a tracker into a fish, which I also got to release back into the water later that day with Dr. Connie O’Connor and Jacob Seguin from WCS. It started with me holding the sturgeon with some special gloves that send electricity through the fish and make it go to sleep. This does not hurt the fish in any way and is actually safer than using anesthetic. This was probably one of the coolest things I have ever done in my life!   (L-R) Jacob, Ocean and Justin preparing nets. Photo: WCS Canada  (L-R) Connie helping put e-gloves on Ocean. Photo: WCS Canada  I also got to set up nets with WCS scientist Claire Farrell and Justin Simard – another Moose Cree youth. Some of the nets ended up breaking so the team and I spent a good two hours tying knots to fix the nets so we could go back out on the river and set them again. That’s how it goes when you are working on nature’s rivers.  Nets that Ocean helped set up for field work. Photo: WCS Canada. It takes a lot for me to go away from home and do these trips to the bush to help with the project. But once I actually get out there, all my anxiety goes away and I just focus on the beautiful landscape of the southern part of the Moose River. The only thing that sort of clouds this experience is seeing the changes the hydroelectric generating stations are making to the environment around them. Often, we are working right below the Kipling hydro dam and it’s crazy to see how a dam can affect so many things around it. The one thing I noticed at Kipling is how fast the water level changes because of the station. The water levels get so low that you can walk across to an island that is in the middle of the river, and so high that you can’t even walk on the shore.  The Learning from Lake Sturgeon team in 2022. Photo: WCS Canada  Ocean and  Denika. Photo: WCS Canada  Ocean and  Jennifer, Moose Cree First Nation LFLS lead. Photo: WCS Canada  This project has also offered me some other great experiences, including going out with some other Moose Cree youth in the early spring on the Kapuskasing River to do some water quality testing. In August last year, I got to go on a trip to Sudbury and Oshawa with Claire Farrell and Annie-Marie LeBlanc and a group of five other youth. During this trip we went to Laurentian University in Sudbury to look at their environmental facilities and do some activities with insects that live in the water that you can’t really see unless you look closely. We also learned from some of the university students doing different types of research.   After that, we traveled down to Oshawa, where we got to meet some really incredible people: Keisha Deoraj and Nina Simmons from the Aquatic Omics Lab at Ontario Tech University. Keisha and Nina took us on a tour of the Ontario Tech University and Durham College. We got to sample mucus from small fish and used microscopes to look at fish eggs up close. After we did the science part of the trip, we headed to a bowling alley and huge arcade and spent time getting to know one another.   Ocean releasing a lake sturgeon. Photo: WCS Canada  Getting to do this type of work makes me feel so good and happy inside -- I have never felt so passionate about something. I love all the opportunities that the different experiences come with. I'm so grateful to Claire Farrell and Jennifer Simard for inviting me to be part of this project back in 2019. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would have found my life passion. I’m looking forward to doing more in the future and once I get my degree to be an environmental technician, I hope to come back to work for my band, hopefully WCS, and most importantly for these amazing rivers.  Ocean (third from the left) at water sampling youth program event. Photo: WCS Canada    Kristin Rodrigo Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:21071 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/20464/Making-a-Home-in-a-Disturbed-Landscape.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=20464 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=20464&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Making a Home in a Disturbed Landscape https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/20464/Making-a-Home-in-a-Disturbed-Landscape.aspx Written by Clara Reid, Avian Field Intern, and Chris Coxson, Avian Field Technician, both with the Northern Boreal Mountains Program based in Whitehorse, Yukon.  Yellow Warbler, found in shrubby habitats in unmined areas and revegetated placer mines. Photo: Chris Coxson  The word “mining” brings certain images to mind: noisy and large machinery, piles of rocks and overturned trees, and stripped away vegetation. These may seem like hostile conditions for wildlife such as nesting birds, but what happens after the mining stops and the dust settles? As vegetation regrows, some bird species may flourish in an old mine while others that were there before mining may not re-establish. Which species are winners or losers in this new environment, and how long does it take for them to return?  This summer, our field crew set out to answer this question in central Yukon near the communities of Dawson City and Mayo. We were looking specifically at placer gold mining, a practice that is common in the region and involves excavating creek valleys to retrieve gold from buried gravel layers. This project is being led by Morgan Brown, Breeding Bird Cumulative Effects Post-Doctoral Fellow, and Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle, Co-Director of WCS Canada’s Northern Boreal Mountains Program. The work is being carried out in collaboration with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Nacho Nyak Dun First Nations. Results from this research will inform regional land use planning, by helping to better understand the cumulative effects of disturbance on the landscape.   The study region is a landscape of hills blanketed by boreal spruce forest, with discontinuous permafrost beneath and wetlands dotting the lowlands. Placer mining leaves valleys looking very different from adjacent unmined riparian areas. Depending on mining and reclamation practices and the amount of time since a mine has been active, mined sites may be piles of bare rock, open shrubland, or thick deciduous vegetation interspersed with marshy settling ponds. In comparison, habitats near creeks that have not been mined encompass a diverse mix of carbon-rich wetlands, floodplains and forested hillsides. By comparing the habitat conditions and bird activity in mined sites of various ages to those at sites near unmined creeks, we hope to better understand how placer mining affects where birds make their homes.   Unmined landscape west of Dawson City. Photo: Chris Coxson  A mined landscape in Hunker Creek Valley, southeast of Dawson City. Photo: WCS Canada  Our field crew assessed bird communities across these habitats using sound recorders called ARU’s (autonomous recording units) and in-person point counts (standing in one spot while looking and listening for birds). Nothing can replace standing in the chilly early morning air with dew-soaked pants, intently focused on bird songs from all directions. However, ARU’s can be deployed for weeks at a time and thus enable us to collect more data and detect species we may otherwise have missed. Our crew placed ARU’s at dozens of sites across central Yukon, collecting hours of recordings which will be transcribed in the fall to produce bird diversity data.   Sound recorder (ARU) in a previously mined site near Mayo. Photo: WCS Canada  We visited many placer mines, navigating washed out roads and the boot-sucking mud of settling ponds. On mined sites revegetated in the last few years, grass and shrub habitats often hosted Savannah or Lincoln’s Sparrows singing atop low bushes. On older sites we pushed through dense tangles of willow and alder, home to sweetly singing Yellow Warblers. On some decades-old sites, young mixed forest produced a rich morning chorus including Fox Sparrows, Swainson’s Thrushes and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. Sometimes we would stumble upon ponds home to families of ducks, or shorebirds such as Spotted Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs very loudly advising us to leave the vicinity of their nests immediately.  Savannah Sparrow, found in open grassy habitats with low shrubs in recently revegetated mines. Photo by Chris Coxson  Swainson’s Thrush, found in mature coniferous forest and younger mixed-wood forest in sites mined decades ago. Photo by Chris Coxson  Spotted Sandpiper adult, found near open water.  Photo by Chris Coxson  Spotted Sandpiper nest in revegetated mine on Sulpher Creek. Photos by Chris Coxson  Unmined riparian sites were harder to get to. Though some were accessible by hiking from the road, our search led us to a highlight of the season – helicopter accessed sites. Being surrounded by large spruce and sphagnum-filled wetlands was quite pleasant, and it turns out that exiting a helicopter into knee-deep water is refreshing on a 30°C day! At our unmined sites we encountered many species familiar to us from mined sites, but also new ones such as Spruce Grouse, Townsend’s Warblers and Hammond’s Flycatchers. As we flew over the Dawson City area and observed extensive machinery trails crisscrossing the hills and mines in many creek valleys, we were reminded of the urgent need to understand how these disturbances are affecting ecosystems, and how we can act to reduce their negative impacts. Chris Coxson hard at work in an unmined riparian site. Photo: Morgan Brown  Helicopter coming to pick up field staff near a riparian site west of Dawson City. Photo: WCS Canada  This summer’s field season was not without challenges. On our first field day, flooding closed the road to the Dawson City area where most of our field sites were, separating crew members for almost a week. Those who could rerouted and headed to sites near Mayo instead. Later, we ran into challenges safely accessing mining claims, which are a mosaic of active and inactive mining operations run by many small companies. An intense windstorm also threw us for a loop when a tree fell on one of our work trucks. We relied on the flexibility of our team to keep going, and are thinking of better ways to approach things next year.   Our work truck had a tree fall on it in a campground during a storm. Photo: Clara Reid  This year’s birdsong chorus is now over, replaced by warning calls from parents as their fledglings find their wings. For our crew, soon it will be time to sit down and figure out which bird species ventured into mines of various ages to make their homes, and which ones preferred unmined habitats. When snow blankets the ground and the forest is quiet, staff will be cozy indoors listening to ARU recordings, relishing in cheerful spring birdsong.  Clara Reid (left), Morgan Brown (middle) and Chris Coxson (right) planning which sites to tackle the following day. Photo: Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle    Kristin Rodrigo Thu, 03 Aug 2023 20:49:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:20464 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/19406/Burning-trees-not-a-good-way-to-solve-the-climate-crisis.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=19406 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=19406&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Burning trees: not a good way to solve the climate crisis https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/19406/Burning-trees-not-a-good-way-to-solve-the-climate-crisis.aspx By Donald Reid and Hilary Cooke  For several years, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada scientists based in Yukon have been drawing attention to the ecological and climate impacts of the Yukon Government’s proposed expansion of using wood (aka biomass) to fuel boilers to heat large buildings in Whitehorse and other communities. In June 2023, we submitted the following Letter to Yukon News in response to Yukon economist’s Keith Halliday’s analysis of biomass impacts on Yukon’s economic and climate ledgers. We have modified the content slightly here.  A northern hawk owl. © Michael Quinn. Letter to Yukon News: re Biomass for Institutional Heating  The Yukon Government wants to expand the use of wood (aka biomass) to fuel boilers used to heat large buildings, a plan detailed in its strategy for dealing with energy and climate change called “Our Clean Future.” For the last four years, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada scientists have voiced concerns about plans to increase use of wood to meet Yukon’s energy needs, while drawing attention to major flaws in the argument that such increased burning would be an effective climate solution.  One major concern is the source of this wood. In “Our Clean Future”, the government envisages a Yukon-based industry supplying wood for the 20 boiler systems that it intends to install or subsidize. In recent decades, most commercially harvested firewood in Yukon has been salvaged from burns or areas with beetle-killed trees, and those would seem to be the most likely sources of wood for the new boiler systems.  Adult American three-toed woodpecker feeding juvenile in cavity in three-year old burn. © Trailcamera, WCS Canada. However, there are two big issues with this. First, fire- and beetle-killed trees are increasingly in short supply close to Whitehorse. We cannot “plan” a future supply of such deadwood within economically feasible transportation distances to the main markets (notably Whitehorse).  Second, standing or fallen fire- or beetle-killed trees are not waste wood. They are critical habitat for numerous boreal species that have evolved to depend on such disturbances. While the government has made a positive commitment in its review of the Forest Resources Act to manage harvest of dead wood differently from green wood, there is still a lot of work to be done on standards and regulations. To be ecologically sustainable, salvage logging must face constraints on what, how much, how, when, and where harvesting occurs.  As a result, we face a high risk that the government will permit green wood (standing live trees) harvesting to supply the biomass market it is trying to create. This controversial use of forests happens elsewhere, including in British Columbia and the U.S. In Yukon, new fire breaks will produce some green wood, but this could also supply existing residential heating demands and would not be sufficient to supply 20 new boiler installations over at least 20 years.   A young American three-toed woodpecker waiting to be fed. © Michael Quinn. More widespread harvesting of green wood just for space heating would be a travesty. It would reduce the number and extent of mature trees that are at optimal age for ongoing carbon absorption from the atmosphere and would transfer the carbon in those trees into the atmosphere. It would put mature forest habitats for numerous species (notably caribou) at risk. It would degrade natural viewscapes prized by the tourism industry.  The government argues that biomass energy produces lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels. It has told us that this assumption is justified because the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) considers wood to be a “renewable” energy source (in the same category as solar and wind). IPCC sets the rules by which nations have to report their carbon emissions and has declared that renewables, including biomass, do not produce reportable emissions. So, in its accounting of carbon emissions, the Yukon government gets to claim a reduction by replacing propane (fossil fuel) with wood (renewable), no matter what emissions come from burning wood.  The flaw in the IPCC rules has been repeatedly critiqued internationally by scientists, policy analysts, and some politicians, but continues to be a green-washing shield behind which many jurisdictions hide. Australia recently addressed the flaw by declaring that biomass would no longer be classified as “renewable.”  In the real world of atmospheric physics and chemistry, it takes many decades for young trees to absorb all the carbon lost by burning mature trees in any one winter, no matter the efficiency of the burning. On paper, the government can state that it has reduced emissions. In reality, those emissions will largely continue, at levels that depend on the quality of the wood and how the boiler systems are operated. Also, any harvesting of green wood would produce new carbon emissions that would negate some of the emissions reductions the government claims by replacing fossil fuels with biomass. In fact, the government would be obliged to report these new emissions from clearing forests in its annual accounting under the IPCC rules.   It's important to also note that the new boiler systems commit us to burning wood for at least two decades, thereby pushing the real carbon accounting (including new tree growth) far beyond 2050, by which point Yukon is supposed to be “zero-carbon.”   A three-toed woodpecker peeking out the tree cavity. © Kim Melton Overall, we are very skeptical that increasing the use of wood for institutional space heating will be of any significant or real benefit in mitigating climate change. Instead, the government needs to put more effort into truly low-carbon energy sources, such as wind, solar and micro-hydro that do not perpetually produce emissions. It also needs to encourage more energy efficient heating systems, such as air-source and ground-source heat pumps (which can cut emissions significantly even in Yukon’s cold climate).  Using biomass instead poses a serious threat to the conservation of Yukon’s ecosystems.  Combined with questions raised by others about the economics and simple feasibility of using biomass, we think the case for using wood-fired boilers is weak at best and a climate deception at worse. This letter was originally published in the Yukon News. See original copy below. Kristin Rodrigo Tue, 01 Aug 2023 16:34:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:19406 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/19128/Next-steps-for-Canada-Developing-a-plan-to-end-biodiversity-loss.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=19128 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=19128&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Next steps for Canada: Developing a plan to end biodiversity loss https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/19128/Next-steps-for-Canada-Developing-a-plan-to-end-biodiversity-loss.aspx By Justina Ray Bighorn sheep in the Canadian Rockies. Photo by Richard Paksi (Canva Pro). Helping steer 196 countries to arrive at a consensus agreement for “halting and reversing biodiversity loss” was no small accomplishment for Canadian representatives at the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) negotiations in Montreal this past December.  But now the even more challenging work of implementing the agreement has begun with the official launch on May 15th of Canada’s consultation on a 2030 Biodiversity Strategy for Canada. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) that was agreed to in Montreal replaces the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 (including Aichi Biodiversity Targets) adopted in 2010. The GBF is a new plan for achieving the CBD’s 2050 vision of “People Living in Harmony with Nature.” In a somewhat similar vein to the Paris Agreement for climate which seeks to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, the GBF has a mission to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. But the agreement also addresses sustainable use of biodiversity along with access and benefit sharing for genetic resources to round out the three objectives of the CBD agreed to in 1992. Given the level of ambition in the GBF and prevailing negative biodiversity trends, it is not surprising that it is a complex document with 23 inter-related targets meant to advance progress on achieving its four goals.  (We’ve put together an explainer piece that looks at some of the actions Canada should consider for addressing each goal and target). This complexity reflects the importance of addressing multiple direct threats to biodiversity while at the same time meeting the needs of people and strengthening the necessary tools and governance processes for effective implementation.  On implementation, the agreement has taken an important step in placing emphasis on concrete and measurable targets along with a monitoring framework that will hopefully result in much more meaningful progress than the largely underachieved Aichi Targets. The GBF also embraces the understanding that the climate and biodiversity crises are deeply conjoined while acknowledging that the health of wild species and ecosystems everywhere in the world is fundamental to human well-being.  Importantly, throughout the framework text there are multiple acknowledgements of the need to respect and protect the knowledge and rights of Indigenous peoples. Signatory countries are expected to immediately get to work on developing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans that will help determine how the agreement is acted on at national, regional and local levels.  Canada has a big job to do here. Our current biodiversity strategy is almost 30 years old and we still rely on a largely reactive and uncoordinated set of laws and policies more focused on things like resource management and hunting and fishing rules for most biodiversity protection efforts.  Faced with implementing such an ambitious and complex framework, an understandable reaction would be to select a subset of GBF targets on which to focus – perhaps, for example, those that are easiest to measure (like Target 3 aimed at achieving 30% protection of lands and waters) or those that are perceived to be most “achievable.” However, the GBF is structured around the idea that action is required on all targets collectively to reach its 2050 vision, and the targets themselves are intentionally entwined.  So instead of addressing targets one-by-one or cherry-picking certain targets, Canada needs to step back and consider how to bring about a transformative change in our approach and policies to nature that is holistic and coordinated. Developing a national strategy is an important opportunity for Canada, as well as the provinces and territories, to embrace a “whole of government” and “whole of society” approach to protecting and restoring biodiversity.  Right now, it is too often left to the single ministry responsible for environment in each jurisdiction to manage and advocate for nature while other more powerful agencies take actions that continue to perpetuate the loss of biodiversity.  The result is a highly fragmented and ineffective response to a growing crisis that is no match for the growing impacts of cumulative pressures on ecosystems – the combination of everything from climate change and industrial agriculture to urban sprawl and resource development. An effective national biodiversity strategy will require a much more coherent response where all ministries and agencies are “singing from the same song sheet” when it comes to achieving GBF targets .  It is good that the federal Environment and Climate Change Ministry (which is leading development of this strategy) has a mandate that directly aligns with the goal of the GBF -- halting and reversing biodiversity loss – but that objective is going to have to be much more widely embraced across both federal and provincial/territorial governments to ensure success. Also needed will be a much broader recognition across all governments and society of the value and importance of protecting biodiversity, whether it is protecting the genetic diversity of food sources or ensuring healthy ecosystems can contribute to climate resilience for the health of communities. Just as our efforts to address climate change have too often lost momentum after signing agreements, our efforts to address biodiversity loss have followed an ambling path while lacking any real sense of urgency. That, hopefully, has changed with a much greater sense of the scale of the problem and its implications gripping the talks in Montreal and leading to an ambitious and farsighted agreement.  Much greater recognition of the importance of equity and fairness in how global resources are used is also a stepping stone for more enduring progress on issues like addressing the continued degradation of the world’s wild places, as is much greater respect for the leadership of Indigenous communities in natural areas stewardship as a fundamental component of Reconciliation. WCS Canada has been busy laying the groundwork for action on achieving the CBD’s vision through efforts like our Key Biodiversity Areas program and our work to draw attention to the critical natural values of places like the globally-significant Hudson Bay Lowland in Ontario and the boreal mountain environment of northern BC and Yukon.  We have also dived deep into what it will take to better protect species like wolverines, caribou, migratory birds, lake sturgeon and whales, while working directly with Indigenous governments and organizations  to advance Indigenous-led conservation and Guardians. Halting and reversing biodiversity loss is not going to be an easy or straightforward task.  But just as with climate, it is vital that we reset our relationship with the natural world before it is too late. Kristin Rodrigo Wed, 31 May 2023 13:22:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:19128 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/19033/Big-Boots-to-Fill-The-remarkable-WCS-Canada-career-of-Dr-Don-Reid.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=19033 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=19033&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Big Boots to Fill: The remarkable WCS Canada career of Dr. Don Reid https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/19033/Big-Boots-to-Fill-The-remarkable-WCS-Canada-career-of-Dr-Don-Reid.aspx By Hilary Cooke, Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle and Justina Ray Don Reid in the field trapping an Arctic lemming. Photo: WCS Canada. When Dr. Don Reid set up shop in Whitehorse, Yukon in 2004 as the founding member of what would grow to become WCS Canada’s Northern Boreal Mountains team, this versatile -- and well-versed -- scientist also brought an expert knowledge of the wildlife and wild places of one of Canada’s most globally important areas – the wild region spanning Central B.C. and southern Yukon.  In the almost two decades since arriving at his northern post, Don has touched on so many different aspects of this amazing area that it is hard to remember what his scientific efforts have not touched in some fashion. There’s his work on the ecology of river otters and their interactions with beavers; the effect of different landscape scales of forest harvesting on the population dynamics of snowshoe hare and lynx; the importance of open water to wildlife in winter; the cumulative effects of landscape change on northern mountain caribou; and how beneficial agricultural practices can improve habitat for bird and bat Species at Risk. His interests and commitment to conservation also led him to explore diverse topics, ranging from the potential for air ships to avoid new mining roads in remote areas; methods for quantifying the amount of carbon in the region’s soils and plants; emerging risk of disease in Arctic and subarctic wildlife associated with climate and other anthropogenic change, and potential spillover to humans; and, modernizing the legislation regulating Yukon’s antiquated mining regime. He testified to the Yukon legislature on the impacts of fracking and changed the public discourse on development of new hydro projects through a careful analysis of impacts to fish and aquatic ecosystems. He undoubtedly influenced the outcome of both issues: a fracking moratorium and no new hydro dams. "An Otter's Point of View". A short film part of Don's work on the natural history of river otters in a boreal forest region. Footage taken mainly with Bushnell remote cameras in a study area in south Yukon. One of Don’s most important accomplishments is his work on stickhandling the conservation assessment for the pristine Peel Watershed in a ground-breaking land-use planning process, setting the stage for bold recommendations to protect 80% of the watershed.  The scientific rigour of the assessment helped to ensure that despite changing governments, court challenges and heavy industry pushback, the final Peel plan calls for 55% of the watershed to be immediately protected and another 28% to be put under interim protection. Don’s work has never shied away from calling for big paradigm shifts in keeping with the scope of the wild landscape he was working within. He understood both the facts on the ground and the big picture, and did a brilliant job of bringing them together in commentary on government policies, news pieces and reports. Don at an otter latrine -- counting and collecting scat is one of  his many field talents! Photo by Kim Melton. Don was no desk jockey.  Even with a growing team in Whitehorse, he made it a point to get out in the field and get his boots muddy.  He brought back insights from mountain valleys, lakeshores and the high alpine to help frame WCS Canada’s vision of how to maintain an intact wild landscape in one of the few places on the planet where that is still possible. But once back at his desk, he also steadily churned out well-received papers on multiple issues -- something like more than 50 academic papers, along with major conservation reports and easy to understand media pieces. Don also made time to support and mentor the next generation of conservation scientists -- facilitating discussions, inspiring ideas, and drawing on the breadth and depth of his knowledge to provide insightful and detailed advice to many Northern Boreal Mountain Weston Fellows since 2009 and over 10 Whitehorse based staff.  On top of all that, from 2006-2010, Don coordinated an International Polar Year project assessing the effects of a changing climate on the Arctic tundra food web in north Yukon. The work focused on lemming winter ecology, the competitive interactions of Arctic and red foxes, the timing of nesting in birds, and the population biology of raptors.  It all went into The Arctic Biodiversity Assessment published in 2013, under the auspices of Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) -- the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council. Don setting up a camera trap. Photo by WCS Canada. Don was also the lead author of the ‘Mammals chapter’ of the Assessment, which detailed what was known about significant changes in the distribution and abundance of Arctic mammals over the past 50 years. And he co-led, and co-wrote, a synthesis of Drivers of Landscape Change in the Northwest Boreal Region of Yukon, NWT, B.C. and Alaska. So it seems like Don has earned his retirement, but he will be leaving big boots to fill.  The biggest legacy he leaves as he steps out the door one last time is his drive and vision for a place he loves and his relentless pursuit of better conservation outcomes for this special place. But we know our Yukon team will work hard to fill those big boots every day, inspired by Don’s example.   Kristin Rodrigo Mon, 01 May 2023 16:35:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:19033 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18883/Worth-the-wait-Encountering-bowhead-whales-in-Canadas-Arctic.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=18883 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=18883&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Worth the wait: Encountering bowhead whales in Canada’s Arctic https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18883/Worth-the-wait-Encountering-bowhead-whales-in-Canadas-Arctic.aspx By Morgan J. Martin,  WCS Canada postdoc at the University of Victoria in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada working on behavioral responses of bowhead whales to shipping noise. The pandemic kept me grounded for two years, the research conditions were challenging, but when I finally did make it to Igloolik in Nunavut, it was an experience I will never forget. When I started a three-year postdoctoral researcher position at WCS Canada in June 2020, I was supposed to hit the ground running and immediately begin my postdoc with a summer Arctic field season attempting to tag bowhead whales. But the world was a bit upside-down at that time and the local Inuit communities had closed their doors to any outside visitors. This continued through 2021 as the pandemic unfolded, so I missed a second summer Arctic fieldwork season and I began to wonder if I would ever get to visit the Arctic communities. That’s why I was very excited to learn that my summer 2022 Arctic fieldwork season was going to happen. On June 18, 2022, I traveled to the community of Igloolik, located on Igloolik Island in Nunavut, joining a fieldwork team with three scientists from the federal Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s Arctic program. We arrived in Igloolik hoping to find community members with boats to hire to take us out to find bowhead whales. On our second night in town, we met with the Igloolik Hunters and Trappers Association (HTA) who are responsible for approving any research proposals in the area. Our meeting with the HTA lasted three hours with the HTA members asking lots of good questions about our research plans. That’s not surprising because the Arctic is changing rapidly thanks to climate change and the people living in Igloolik have experienced these changes firsthand. They are therefore keen to closely monitor how climate change stands to further impact their community.   The members of the HTA approved our research and kindly offered for us to stay in their hunting shelters located near the ice floe edge. The purpose of our fieldwork was to tag bowhead whales with satellite tags as well as with non-invasive suction cup tags that contain hydrophones (underwater acoustic recorders) that can record the whales’ movements in three dimensions underwater. Our aim was to collect bowhead whale behavior data in a pristine Arctic region where vessel traffic has increased and is anticipated to continue to increase primarily due to mining on Baffin Island (a proposal to expand the Baffin Island iron ore mine was recently denied due to its environmental impacts, but the company has now revived a different proposal for shipping more ore from the mine). We need a better understanding of how bowhead whales react to vessels and underwater vessel noise to understand the impacts of this growing ship traffic. Three experienced hunters from Igloolik joined our team with two small, motorized boats as we set out to try to find and tag bowhead whales. Tagging the whales with the suction cup tags proved to be difficult due to the ice conditions and the whales’ behavior. The whales were spending most of their time hanging out in the pack ice, where we were unable to drive the boat to get close enough to them to apply the suction cup tags. We resorted to standing on the edge of the ice floe and waiting for the bowheads to travel in and out of the pack ice to reach them. Next summer, we are going to take a bit of a different approach by using a second type of tag that does not need to be retrieved once it falls off the whale and can be deployed from slightly farther away, which we hope will help increase the number of whales we can tag. We also plan to play back underwater recordings of vessel noise to the tagged bowhead whales in order to measure how they respond to noise underwater. This will give us the ability to assess how the whales’ behavior changes in response to vessel noise and to try to determine what noise level causes the whales to react. Arctic fieldwork is not glamorous. It is cold and exhausting and unbelievably beautiful at the same time. We spent 12 consecutive nights in the shelters provided by the HTA. There was no indoor plumbing, no bathroom and no one showered during that time. We collected snow every day to melt for our drinking water. We left our campsite around 8 a.m. each morning to launch the boats at the edge of the ever-changing floe edge and we were usually not back in our camp until around 10 p.m. each night. I ate a lot of pop-tarts, and ramen noodles were an absolute staple for everyone during the day. We ate dinner together around midnight, and then we all crashed because we had to repeat everything the following morning. The sun never set and just circled around us overhead. It was mentally and physically one of the more challenging things I have done. Todd, Levi and Travis, the Igloolik community members who were working with us to find the bowhead whales, worked non-stop and they kept things moving smoothly. We shared many laughs on the boat and around the dinner table at night. Our research would not have been possible without them because they knew the local waters and navigated around sea ice with ease.  My experience in Igloolik shaped me in ways that I was not expecting. I came home with an extreme sense of gratitude for everyday luxuries like running water and fresh produce. I am no stranger to living in remote places. However, the Arctic climate is harsh and I have a newfound respect for the people who call it home. The opportunity to see bowhead whales up close is something I will never forget. These are the second largest creatures by mass that live on planet Earth. After two years of studying about bowheads, finally seeing them in person truly was a life highlight. They made me feel small, mortal, and left me revering at the same time. I am proud to have been part of a research team at WCS Canada working to protect these animals from the impacts of shipping in the Arctic. Check out a Story Map about our work with Bowhead whales. Lynsey Grosfield Mon, 20 Mar 2023 23:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:18883 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18884/A-Bake-Sale-for-Wildlife.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=18884 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=18884&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 A Bake Sale for Wildlife! https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18884/A-Bake-Sale-for-Wildlife.aspx On a late summer afternoon in Whitehorse, Hilary Cooke was sorting through the mail not really looking for anything in particular, when she came across an interesting hand written letter. It isn’t too often that we receive hand written letters, and almost never coming from a community school. She opened it diligently, and inside to her surprise she found a hand written cheque addressed to the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada for $450 addressed by St. Elias Community School in Haines Junction. With some digging around, the Whitehorse-based field office discovered that students from grade 8 had organized a bake sale to raise funds for wildlife research and the conservation and preservation of Yukon’s wild spaces. St. Elias Community School is a small northern community school within the Yukon First Nations School Board with approximately 142 students from Kindergarten to grade 12.   Down the hall – St. Elias Community School We were so thrilled that these students wanted the proceeds to go to wildlife conservation, that we started conversations with the teacher for an opportunity to visit the class. With students on summer break, teachers changing classes, and navigating our own field seasons and other commitments, our opportunity didn’t come until this February, but nevertheless, our excitement was still HIGH!  The day finally arrived, and a few members of the Northern Boreal Mountains (NBM) and Western Arctic team were ready to make the close to two-hour drive from Whitehorse to Haines Junction. Luckily, the roads were clear after a heavy snowfall, and even a couple of coyotes made a quick appearance along the way. Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle, Conservation Planning Biologist and Co-Director of the NBM program, and Maya Chartier, Arctic Wildlife Technician for the Western Arctic program planned a presentation for the students of the class. Chrystal showcased the NBM Canary in a Gold Mine field video and highlighted a Weston Family Boreal Research student’s contributions on the Yukon River Chinook Salmon. There even were some videos of bears doing their best back scratch and booty bear shake that was captured by trail cameras in the field as part of a research study on the impacts of human development on species at risk. Maya played some marine mammal audio clips from hydrophones in the Arctic, and showed a few videos of field work tagging ringed seals in the Arctic and drone footage from the Arctic team field site. At the end of the presentations, students were given an opportunity to ask some questions. One of the students really wanted to know what classes they needed to take in order to be a Marine Biologist and if we needed any volunteers!   The drive to Haines Junction, Yukon At the end of the presentation, students were given some WCS Canada swag and left with a better understanding about the work that we do and an impression that they truly did make a difference with their kindness and warm gesture. And just by chance, some maybe were left with a spark that may bring them one day into the incredible work that we do for wildlife research and conservation. The next generation of conservations scientists, Ella and June (middle) were the organizers of the bake sale, with their teacher, Albert Surroca (far right). From WCS Canada, Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle (and her two kids, Aurora and River who came along for the ride), and Maya Chartier. The two students that arranged the bake sale were asked why wildlife and conservation are important to them. “[Wildlife and Conservation] is important to me because I spend a lot of my time outdoors and with wildlife and I feel it’s really important for ecosystems, because we learn a lot of that in school, and if we don’t have wild places, the world wouldn’t be a beautiful or happy place.” - Ella “Wildlife and Conservation[ is important because if there are animals that disappear, the whole ecosystem becomes out of balance.” - June ] Lynsey Grosfield Wed, 08 Mar 2023 23:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:18884 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18177/A-powerful-new-approach-to-nature-conservation-in-Canada.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=18177 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=18177&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 A powerful new approach to nature conservation in Canada https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18177/A-powerful-new-approach-to-nature-conservation-in-Canada.aspx by Lina Cordero, Conservation Communications Intern, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada Canada is a big place. There are tens of thousands of lakes in this country, including some of the largest in the world. It is home to forests with a combined area larger than India and has the world’s longest coastline at more than 200,000 kilometres, including along the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. This much space means Canada is blessed with a huge abundance and richness of nature and human cultures. Canada’s landscapes can be divided into ecozones that are shaped by climatic and landform differences that lead to often quite different characteristics.  It is no wonder, then, that Canada is home to more than 80,000 species of plants and animals. The country’s varied landscapes are also the homelands of Indigenous Peoples, with many different languages, traditions, and a deep history of interacting with nature that has helped shape the landscapes and ecosystems we see today. The sheer size of Canada alone makes it very important to the planet’s biodiversity and climate regulation. For example, boreal forests and peatlands in Canada are among the world’s largest intact (roadless) ecosystems and are one of the world’s most important carbon storage areas. But while conserving Canadian nature is important to the entire world, it is very challenging to decide where action is most needed within the 10 million square kilometres of Canada’s lands and inland waters. A global partnership of scientists, governments, and conservation organizations has come up with a global standard for identifying the most critical places for the retention and safeguarding of nature. The Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) standard helps us zero in on places that are of high importance to maintaining biodiversity and often at risk of disappearing. KBAs can vary in size from small patches of undeveloped land in some of our largest urban areas, which may represent the best remaining habitats for highly endangered species, including lichens or insects, to huge expanses of northern land that are vital for enormous bird aggregations and for species such as caribou and polar bears. They are a way of steering conservation attention to areas where impact will be greatest thanks to a scientifically rigorous assessment process. The KBA Canada Coalition, a collaboration involving many organizations and sectors, is proud to have developed one of the world’s first comprehensive national programs to identify KBAs. Canada is the first country in the world to adapt the global KBA standard to a national level to identify sites of both global and national significance, leading the way for many other countries. Here is just a glimpse of some of the 73 approved KBAs in Canada so far (with more than 900 other sites still being assessed), and some interesting facts about them. Read the rest of the story here. Lynsey Grosfield Mon, 03 Oct 2022 21:57:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:18177 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18072/WCS-Canada-comments-on-Canadas-Critical-Minerals-Strategy-to-Natural-Resources-Canada.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=18072 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=18072&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 WCS Canada comments on Canada's Critical Minerals Strategy, to Natural Resources Canada https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18072/WCS-Canada-comments-on-Canadas-Critical-Minerals-Strategy-to-Natural-Resources-Canada.aspx By Justina Ray, President and Senior Scientist at WCS Canada The federal government’s draft Critical Minerals Strategy is structured around colonial ‘new frontiers’ mindset that leads to a focus on expediting extraction instead of understanding the real consequences of opening up some of the world’s last remaining ecologically intact areas and carbon-rich stores to industrial development. Map from Canada’s critical minerals strategy: Discussion paper Our comments on the draft strategy point to the need for a more holistic approach to determining when and where mining for these minerals may be appropriate and how Canada can ensure greater long-term benefits for local communities – particularly the Indigenous communities whose homelands will be most affected -- and society at large. Perpetuating current approaches and proceeding with an “extraction first” mentality is going to have massive climate consequences as many of the most promising mineral deposits are located in areas that are also hugely rich in stored carbon.  If mineral development results in the release of far more stored carbon than it saves through the creation of things like EV batteries or solar panels, then we will be racing backwards on climate action instead of forward.  However, the federal strategy does not even address this massive climate risk and has little to say about how to also ensure globally important intact ecosystems are not deeply damaged by new resource projects. We believe the Strategy needs to be redrafted to better reflect the trade offs inherent in opening up globally important remote areas to mining.  Current planning and assessment systems are inadequate to deal with the cumulative ecological and climate consequences of a new mining rush in these areas.  We see little effort, for example, to address the critical need to protect the massive amount of carbon stored in many areas being targeted for mining or even to properly account for this impact.  Even a rough calculation shows that the end results of mining, particularly in peatlands, will result in increased land emissions in the name of advancing “green” solutions that could undermine the achievement of Canada’s emission reductions targets. There is certainly a need to advance things like electric vehicles, renewable energy generation and energy storage, but a truly sustainable approach (unlike what it is in the draft strategy), would adopt a clear hierarchy of reducing demand and massively increasing reuse (e.g., recovery of minerals from waste tailings) and recycling (e.g., of consumer electronics) before embarking on ecologically and climatically high-risk new mining ventures.  Canada has a long history of focus on the exploitation of critical natural resources in the name of economic development.  We should learn from our own history that the boom-and-bust cycle of poorly planned resource extraction is highly damaging to communities – human and natural.  A better strategy would be to recognize and integrate the broad spectrum of globally important resources that exist in Indigenous homelands within the northern reaches of Canada into resource extraction planning. These include, but are not limited to, massive stores of carbon, critical habitat for biodiversity, cultural keystone species, copious freshwater and world-class wetlands. Lynsey Grosfield Fri, 23 Sep 2022 05:08:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:18072 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18178/Learning-from-the-biggest-and-smallest-animals-in-the-river.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=18178 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=18178&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Learning from the biggest and smallest animals in the river https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/18178/Learning-from-the-biggest-and-smallest-animals-in-the-river.aspx Most of our research is on the biggest animals in the river — the lake sturgeon — because they are important to Moose Cree, and because they can teach us a lot about the health of the river. Lake sturgeon are big, long-lived, and migratory, and so they need intact rivers to thrive. Seeing healthy populations of giant lake sturgeon tells us that the overall river is also healthy. However some of the smallest animals in the river can also tell us a lot about the health of the river. There are a lot of small bugs, and other little creatures like clams, that live in the rocks and silt at the bottom of the river. Some of these creatures can only survive in clean and unpolluted waters. However, other types of creatures are tough, and can live in almost any water. By counting the number and type of these bugs and other creatures — called “benthic invertebrates” by scientists — we can learn about how how healthy and clean the water is. We can also measure levels of contaminants in these small creatures, which can tell us even more about how much pollution is in the river. This past week, our research team travelled to the North French River, and to the nearby James Bay estuary, and collected many samples of these benthic invertebrates. Next step is to take them back to the lab, and see what they can tell us about the health of the river, and the overall ecosystem! Read the rest on the Learning from Lake Sturgeon website. Lynsey Grosfield Thu, 18 Aug 2022 23:56:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:18178 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17563/22-reasons-why-conservation-in-Canada-matters-to-the-planet.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=17563 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=17563&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 22 reasons why conservation in Canada matters to the planet https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17563/22-reasons-why-conservation-in-Canada-matters-to-the-planet.aspx By Dan Kraus, Director of National Conservation at Wildlife Conservations Society Canada I have a confession. When I was first learning about conservation biology and global environmental issues, I didn’t think Canada mattered that much. We didn’t have the tropical rainforests of Brazil, there weren’t any lions, tigers or gorillas, and no global biodiversity hotspots. From the perspective of the planet, Oh Canada seemed like a bland spot on the conservation map.   It wasn’t until later in my conservation career that I came to realize that the nature we have in Canada is important, and that both what we conserve and how we conserve it matters to the planet. While there are myriad actions that need to be taken to help conserve biodiversity in Canada, one simple action we can all take today is to learn a little more about nature where we live. Biodiversity Day is held annually on May 22 to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Learning about nature is critical for conservation. The knowledge we gain can help to inform issues and debates and awareness can spark wonder and passion for protecting the natural world. Canada has been both a global leader and laggard when it comes to nature. We continue to be a conservation innovator, but we are continuing to lose nature. The wild species and spaces that we celebrate as part of our Canadian identity are increasingly at risk as we continue to push development into these last wild areas.   Here are 22 reasons why conservation in Canada matters for the future of this country, and our planet:    Longest marine coastline. At almost 250,000 km, the three coastlines in Canada are than twice as long than the coasts of the US, Russia and China combined.  North America’s songbird nursey. Each fall 3-5 billion birds migrate from the boreal forests in northern Canada to the lower US, Mexico and Central and South America.   One-quarter of the world’s wetlands. Canada has about 1.29 million km2 of wetlands, mostly in the north. This is about one-quarter of the wetlands left on Earth.  Peatlands. Peatlands store more carbon in their soils than any other type of ecosystem. Canada is responsible for 25% of the planet’s share of these carbon-rich wetland habitats.  Freshwater lakes. Approximately 60% of the freshwater lakes found on Earth are in Canada -- more than all other countries combined.  Intact forests. the northern forests in Canada are the largest region of intact forests left on Earth.  Endemic species. There are over 300 plants and animals that occur in Canada and no other country.  Alvars. Alvars are globally rare habitats that occur on limestone plains. They are mostly found in Ontario, but have also recently been found in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  Islands. Officially, Canada may rank behind Scandinavian countries, but many of the northern islands in this country have not been counted. The Great Lakes have more freshwater islands than anywhere else on Earth.  Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Indigenous-led conservation, such as in the Fawn River Watershed in Ontario, is rapidly becoming one of the most important ways to protect nature in Canada.  Last free-flowing rivers. Only one-third of the planet’s longest rivers are not dammed. Of those in North America, 73% are in Canada including the Ekwan River in Ontario.  Temperate rainforests. British Columbia is home to about one-quarter of the remaining temperate rainforests left on Earth.  Rivers of birds. There are still places in Canada, like the Fraser Delta, where you can see hundreds of thousands of birds in a single day during migration.  Deltas and estuaries. The meeting place of rivers with lakes and oceans are biologically rich. Both the largest freshwater delta (Lake St. Clair) and estuary (St. Lawrence River) in the world are in Canada.  Wood Buffalo National Park. Canada’s largest national park and adjacent conserved areas are the largest protected boreal forest in the world. Unfortunately, it remains threatened from upstream industrial development and climate change.  Polar bears, narwhal and beluga. More polar bears, narwhal and beluga and other iconic Arctic mammals are found in Canada than any other country.  More endangered than pandas. There are over 70 species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species that are found in Canada assessed at a higher extinction risk than the giant panda.  Last great land animal migrations. Land animals ranging from caribou to pronghorn to wolves still migrate thousands of kilometres each year in some parts of Canada.  Key Biodiversity Areas. Canada is leading the world in identifying Key Biodiversity Areas to help ensure we conserve the most important places for nature.  High ambition for protected areas. Canada has committed to protected 30% of our lands by 2030. This is an area more than four times the size of Texas.   Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary. Established in 1887 it was the first bird sanctuary in North America, and the first protected area established solely to protect wildlife.  Urban National Parks. Over 80% of Canadians now live in cities. Canada’s new initiative to create urban national parks has great promise for fostering a love and appreciation of nature.  Sun, 22 May 2022 03:41:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:17563 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17513/Ontario-wants-to-develop-the-RingOfFire-a-WCS-Canada-thread-for-WorldWaterDay.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=17513 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=17513&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 Ontario wants to develop the #RingOfFire: a WCS Canada thread for #WorldWaterDay https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17513/Ontario-wants-to-develop-the-RingOfFire-a-WCS-Canada-thread-for-WorldWaterDay.aspx Ontario wants to develop the #RingOfFire. What is WCS Canada's response? Read our Twitter thread posted on World Water Day 2022! Fri, 06 May 2022 14:27:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:17513 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17287/PEATLANDS-Massive--but-often-overlooked--wetlands.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=17287 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=17287&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 PEATLANDS: Massive -- but often overlooked -- wetlands https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17287/PEATLANDS-Massive--but-often-overlooked--wetlands.aspx For  World Wetland Day 2022, we created a three-part thread on why #Peatlands are hugely important for both wildlife & climate, and why they need our immediate attention. Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:14:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:17287 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17279/A-Pandemic-of-Virtual-Conferences.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=17279 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=17279&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 A Pandemic of Virtual Conferences https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17279/A-Pandemic-of-Virtual-Conferences.aspx Keeping up with the WCS Canada Western Arctic Team! Niki Diogou gives a summary of the Western Arctic team's current research (presented at the 2021 ArticNet meeting) and shares her experience with virtual scientific conferences, the norm during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:26:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:17279 https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17116/This-is-our-decision-decade.aspx#Comments 0 https://www.wcscanada.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=20118&ModuleID=41427&ArticleID=17116 https://www.wcscanada.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=17116&PortalID=96&TabID=20118 This is our decision decade https://www.wcscanada.org/Muddy-Boots/ID/17116/This-is-our-decision-decade.aspx The next 10 years will be our decision decade for nature and our relationship with the planet. From peatlands to One Health to Key Biodiversity Areas, Dan Kraus, Director of National Conservation, is inspired by what WCS Canada does and is going to accomplish in 2022!  Fri, 14 Jan 2022 06:28:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:17116