BC Nature FGM (Fall General Meeting) & Conference – come join us in Beautiful Salmon Arm for great speakers, presentations and outings! Its the 4th year Cycle for the Sockeye at Adams River, a spectacle not to be missed! Information in your Summer Magazine or registration link here Hosted by Shuswap Naturalists
Deadline for Club Applications for “Club Support” Grants – January 31, 2015
BC Nature to Challenge Cabinet Decision Approving Northern Gateway
PRESS RELEASE June 13, 2014 (North Vancouver, BC) — The Federation of BC Naturalists (BC Nature) today announced it will file a lawsuit challenging the decision by the federal Cabinet to approve the Northern Gateway project. The planned lawsuit will ask the Federal Court of Appeal to set aside this Cabinet decision on a variety of grounds. These include serious deficiencies and flaws in the December 19, 2013 Joint Review Panel report upon which the Cabinet decision is based. Legal counsel for BC Nature is the Environmental Law Centre (ELC) at the University of Victoria. “Filing this lawsuit will ensure that the Federal Court of Appeal is able to hear and consider arguments relating to all of the various flaws and deficiencies associated with Northern Gateway approval process,” says Chris Tollefson, ELC Executive Director and BC Nature’s lawyer. For Complete Press release Please Link Here
Issue 43
Date June 2014
FGM 2015 and AGM 2016
BC Nature is actively looking for one of our clubs to host FGM 2015 – Late September 2015 and AGM 2016 – early May 2016. Please email if your club has any interest and we can supply all the information you need to present to your board.
Notice of Bylaw Change
At the FGM in Salmon Arm a Bylaw change will be presented to the members present. Complete details are available at this link and the detailed changes will be sent to your individuals clubs BC Nature Director. This will be voted on September 27, 2014 @ FGM – Salmon Arm
Kinder Morgan
Possible to drill through Burnaby Mountain? Link HereBurnaby Mayor not budging Link Here
Recovery plan for Pacific Water Shrew open comment June 9th and August 8th Comment Here
About Town
July 19 2014 – BC Parks Day June 21 2014 – Earth Wind and Fire Fundraising Event for The Nature Trust of BC Celebrate the summer solstice with local chefs and members of Culinary Team Canada who will pair excellent local food with exceptional local wine and other beverages. Details Here
Volunteers Needed
The Western Painted Turtle Project Team is looking for volunteers to assist with raising babies turtles and looking after the adult turtles. We are looking for someone who could commit to 1 – 3 days a week to help feed the turtles and clean the tanks in North Vancouver. Time commitment should be less than 2 hours/day depending on how many turtles we have in. Please send an email if you are interested in helping out.June 13th-20th Volunteers Needed – Ancient Murrelet Chick Collection, Laskeek Bay – email or by phone 250-559-2345
RiverBlue – The Story about Fashion Destroying the Rivers of the World
Mark Angelo, a passionate storyteller and river advocate, has possibly paddled more rivers in his lifetime than anyone else on this planet. Having paddled globally for over 40 years, he has sadly watched the decline of the rivers he loves. Journeying through some of the most pristine to most devastated rivers, Mark discovers and unveils the source of much destruction of these waters; Jeans manufacturing.Through harsh chemical manufacturing processes and the irresponsible disposal of toxic chemical waste, one of our favorite iconic products has destroyed the rivers and changed the lives of people who count on these waterways for their survival. This single industry will serve as the worst case scenario, showing how mankind has, at times, shown little regard for what nature has given us. RiverBlue will not only bring awareness to the destruction of a some of the world’s vital rivers through the manufacturing of Jeans, but will also act as a rally cry to demand significant change in the textile industry from the top fashion brands that can make a difference.
Help propel positive change and keep our world’s rivers clean. For a complete backgrounder follow this link
When is a Twitter not a Bird Sound
BC Nature is now in a “Twitter” – if you have a twitter account, please follow us @BCNature. We will be “Tweeting” as news becomes available on events that are occurring and news that we need to get to you.
We have updated our Facebook account as well. “Like” us and “Share” our news on Facebook by looking up BC Nature.
BCnature Magazine – Summer
The BCnature magazine has been printed and should be winging its way into your mailboxes. If you are a member of one of our 51 Clubs or a Direct Member, you will be receiving your magazine very soon. If you do not see it by the end of next week, please feel free to drop us a line and we will investigate why you have not received it! BCnature Magazine is part of your membership entitlement with the dues you pay to your club. If you are not interested in receiving the “paper copy”, we are now able to send you the link of when its posted to our website. Remember that the number on your label, along with the way your name is spelt on the mailing label,that this is your access to the “Members Only” area of our website.
Request from BC Nature
After a successful AGM in Victoria (Hosted by Rocky Point Bird Observatory and Victoria Natural History Society) – we are left with a couple of vacancies on our Executive. We are actively looking to have a volunteer member of any of our clubs step up to the Vice President position and we will soon be without a secretary. No experience necessary! Please contact with any queries or expressions of interest!
The City of Courtenay is developing a long-term vision for Bill Moore Park and Dogwood Park to guide future improvements. To help guide these decisions, three initial concepts have been developed, and there is an opportunity for you to offer your input.The latest survey on the City website engagecomoxvalley.ca/bill-moore-and-dogwood-park asks for feedback on three concept plans and specifically which concept you prefer. The three concepts present a range of recreation possibilities and there is room on the survey for your comments.Dogwood Park is a 2.32‑hectare nature park featuring mature forested areas, natural habitat and a small wetland. Only Concept A will maintain the intact forest areas in Dogwood Park. Concepts B and C propose increased recreation in the park including an off leash dog park, disc golf course, pump track (a purpose built track for children’s cycling) and nature play areas. While the planners may say that no trees or few trees will be taken down to accommodate this, the under-story will not survive this level of trampling and fragmentation. The trees as well as all the wildlife who now call that area home will disappear over time. For those of us who value this forest, Concept A is the only option that makes sense.Dogwood Park is one of the few islands of green for many, many blocks. It provides habitat for wildlife, shade, retains water and acts as a carbon sink. On the architect's base plan of current conditions it is now characterized as an "underutilized space". The City has heard from sports enthusiasts but not nature lovers. Let them know why you value an intact forest and your connection to it. The survey is open until Sept 15. ...
The Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR) wants the federal government to establish a regulatory body for the horticultural industry and create a national database identifying invasive plants and their risks in different regions. "Even if we don't prohibit them, we need to let the public know when there is potential harm," said CCIPR co-founder Cathy Kavassalis. "We do this on other products, and we should do it on plants too. It's just common sense."In July, Nanaimo council passed a motion to pursue a bylaw amendment restricting the sale of plants on a list maintained by the Invasive Species Council of B.C. A week later, Surrey moved to ban sales by businesses including nurseries, large retail chains and florists. Kavassalis said a problem that could be addressed at higher levels of government is being pushed down to municipalities."These are all patchwork solutions that, in some ways, just waste a lot of resources," she said. The CCIPR says a national database could give provinces, territories, retailers and gardeners a shared source of information about which plants pose risks in different regions. Kavassalis also wants invasive plants removed from shelves or clearly labelled.For more on this story visit www.cbc.ca/news/science/invasive-plants-sale-federal-regulation-9.7312362 or see our link in bio ...
The Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR) wants the federal government to establish a regulatory body for the horticultural industry and create a national database identifying invasive plants and their risks in different regions. "Even if we don't prohibit them, we need to let the public know when there is potential harm," said CCIPR co-founder Cathy Kavassalis. "We do this on other products, and we should do it on plants too. It's just common sense."In July, Nanaimo council passed a motion to pursue a bylaw amendment restricting the sale of plants on a list maintained by the Invasive Species Council of B.C. A week later, Surrey moved to ban sales by businesses including nurseries, large retail chains and florists. Kavassalis said a problem that could be addressed at higher levels of government is being pushed down to municipalities. "These are all patchwork solutions that, in some ways, just waste a lot of resources," she said. The CCIPR says a national database could give provinces, territories, retailers and gardeners a shared source of information about which plants pose risks in different regions. Kavassalis also wants invasive plants removed from shelves or clearly labelled.For more on this story visit www.cbc.ca/news/science/invasive-plants-sale-federal-regulation-9.7312362...
The City of Courtenay is developing a long-term vision for Bill Moore Park and Dogwood Park to guide future improvements. To help guide these decisions, three initial concepts have been developed, and there is an opportunity for you to offer your input.The latest survey on the City website engagecomoxvalley.ca/bill-moore-and-dogwood-park asks for feedback on three concept plans and specifically which concept you prefer. The three concepts present a range of recreation possibilities and there is room on the survey for your comments.Dogwood Park is a 2.32‑hectare nature park featuring mature forested areas, natural habitat and a small wetland. Only Concept A will maintain the intact forest areas in Dogwood Park. Concepts B and C propose increased recreation in the park including an off leash dog park, disc golf course, pump track (a purpose built track for children’s cycling) and nature play areas. While the planners may say that no trees or few trees will be taken down to accommodate this, the under-story will not survive this level of trampling and fragmentation. The trees as well as all the wildlife who now call that area home will disappear over time. For those of us who value this forest, Concept A is the only option that makes sense.Dogwood Park is one of the few islands of green for many, many blocks. It provides habitat for wildlife, shade, retains water and acts as a carbon sink. On the architect's base plan of current conditions it is now characterized as an "underutilized space". The City has heard from sports enthusiasts but not nature lovers. Let them know why you value an intact forest and your connection to it. The survey is open until Sept 15.