BC Nature eNews August 2015

As we leave August, there are currently nurmerous fires alight in British Columbia. BC has not experienced a drought this severe since 2003. There are numberous water retrictions in place! Canadians use an average of 350 litres of water a day, while British Columbians use a full 426 litres per day [2]. Meanwhile, the average European who uses about 150 litres[1]. This is a very powerful indicator of how we overuse a precious resource. Metro Vancouver has now implemented Stage 3 water restrictions which you can find in this link. Consider how much water you use in everyday tasks, as every drop of water matters. Challenge yourself to reduce your water usage as the impact increases with every drop you save.

Daily tips to reduce water: Challenge Yourself!

Furthermore, a report was just released by the British Columbia Government and Services Employee’s Union that shows that the number of Conservation Officers has dwindled from 2001. This has led to an increase in patrolling area size and a significant decrease in wildlife emergency response to poaching and pollution calls.

For further reading, please follow link Link.

The Atlas has greatly increased the information base for well over 60% of bird species breeding in the province, and is already making an impact on conservation efforts. Information is being applied to recovery planning and action for Species at Risk, such as critical habitat identification for Lewis’s Woodpecker and conservation easements for new locations of Western Screech-Owls. Expect designations of several at-risk provincial species to change as a result of the new information generated. The Atlas dataset is among the most comprehensive in western Canada, informing species assessments by COSEWIC, the national body that determines Species at Risk status. We process approximately 100 requests a year for Atlas data, some for research into issues including climate change, and many to inform federal and provincial environmental impact assessments, and assist risk management under regulatory frameworks. With over 16,500 records of rare or sensitive species, the Atlas is a mu! st-acquire database! Thank you to our partners: Bird Studies Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, B.C. Field Ornithologists, The Pacific WildLife Foundation and Louisiana-Pacific Ltd. Canada as well as 1300 citizen scientist volunteers for their contributions in making this project possible!

Take a moment or two to explore the website at www.birdatlas.bc.ca.

Here is the Bird Song of the month from John Neville/Neville Recording . Please feel free to share it

Ocean Exposures Photo Contest Living Oceans Society is running our sixth annual Ocean Exposures photo contest in an effort to raise interest in ocean conservation and showcase the beauty of the ocean. Living Oceans a non-profit organization that’s been working for healthy oceans and healthy communities since we formed in 1998. Closes Sept. 30/15

Dear National Energy Board (Page 3)A Commenter’s letter on the Trans Mountain Expansion Link

Salmon in the Canyon Community Celebration – FRASER FEST Sunday September 13 – Lillooet 3:00pm to 8:00pm Cayoosh Creek Campground

Games and activities, Children’s Play Area – Environmental information booths Cultural information booths – Farmers Market, Local Arts and Crafts – Salmon barbecue featuring local harvested foods and salmon from the Fraser River. prepared by Sekw’el’was community.-Live Music with the Up Your Watershed elementary school choir and local musicians. for details

World Rivers Day – September 27th, 2015

World Rivers Day is set for September 27th this year (as always, falling on the last Sunday in September) and, while the event is still a little over 2 months away, it will be here before we know it. Consequently, we’re hoping that river advocates from around the globe will start planning events as part of this year’s World Rivers Day celebration!

As examples of what is already being planned, there will be events across Canada, starting in British Columbia with its massive 35th anniversary of BC Rivers Day (which inspired World Rivers Day). Riverside celebrations and activities there will occur in many cities and towns ranging from Burnaby, New Westminster and Langley to Chilliwack, Campbell River and Victoria to name just a few. Other festivities across the country are being planned in provinces ranging from Saskatchewan to Ontario to Newfoundland. www.worldriversday.com

TreeFest

The Treefest Planning Committee would like to extend an invitation to your organization to participate in the 22nd annual Treefest. The festival is an opportunity to celebrate trees and heritage with an emphasis on the fine collection of trees on the Riverview lands. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, September 19th, from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Riverview Hospital Grounds located at 2601 Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam. If you would like to participate please email by August 14th for a registration form.

BC Coastal Waterbird Survey Workshop

If you enjoy birds and walking your local beaches, come learn how you can help conserve birds and reduce disturbance by becoming a Volunteer Citizen Scientist! What: Free workshop and guided walk to learn about BC waterbirds and how to conduct Coastal Waterbird Surveys and Beached Bird Surveys. We will also outline our new Shorebird Disturbance protocol. Suitable for new and current volunteers. When: Sunday, August 30th – 3-5pm (rain or shine!) Where: Cammidge House, 498 Boundary Bay Rd, Delta, BC

Silva

This fall Nanaimo Art Gallery presents Silva, a contemporary art project that follows a thematic path from the microcosms of the forest floor, to the quantifying and processing of lumber, to the global distribution of forestry products. Silva consists of two exhibitions (O Horizon and Booming Grounds), a publication, (The Mill), and a series of public events including artist talks, tours, readings, and performances. Silva: O Horizon | September 4 to October 31, 2015 Duane Linklater, Gareth Moore, Kika Thorne, and Elias Wakan

Fresh Water Fish Identification Workshop

This Free for members program is being offered by BC Nature Club – WildResearch – Sept. 13 – for registration details – please see this link

South Coast Conservation Program is 10 Years Old The South Coast Conservation Program is celebrating its tenth birthday at this year’s annual SCCP Connects session. September 2, 2015 – Burnaby, BC at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts on beautiful Deer Lake. We hope you can join us!

Special guests this year are Dan Greenberg from Simon Fraser University to talk about amphibian conservation and research, Dr. Sara Dubois, biologist and Chief Science Officer for the BC SPCA’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre who also works with the Animal Welfare Program at University of BC to talk about “Compassionate Conservation” and Christine Terpsma Program Coordinator for the Delta Farmland Wildlife Trust to talk about learning outcomes of their conservation work. Plus updates, conservation speed dating and knowledge café networking!

Registration is required so don’t miss out – register early! Register here

August and September are great months to host a shoreline cleanup at your local shoreline. Together, we can leave our shorelines cleaner than they were at the start of summer. Join us today!

A comment form and directions for providing comments on the 2nd Policy IP are also posted at the above listed website.

Comments on the 2nd Policy Intentions Paper should be submitted by August 31, 2015, and may be submitted by

E-mail to: , or Mail: PO Box 28159 Westshore RPO, Victoria, BC V9B 6K8.

All comments received through this consultation process will be carefully considered by ministry staff in preparing the drafting instructions for government staff to complete legal drafting of the proposed revisions to the regulation. A summary of public comment will also be prepared and posted on the consultation web page. Comments received after the submission deadline date will still be reviewed by the ministry, but may not be included in the consultation summary report.

If you are an “association”, please forward this correspondence and web page address to your members. You are also encouraged to forward this information to any others who you feel may wish to comment on this policy intentions paper.

Comments received and the identity of those providing comments will be treated as confidential by ministry staff and contractors. However, please note that any comments you provide and information that identifies you as the source of those comments may be publicly available if a request is made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act [link to Act].