BC Nature AGM 2016 News Archives - Comox Valley Nature

Link to: Slideshow – Wetland Conservation and Resilience with Dan Buffett

Botany — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 03:00:45 +0000

Wetland Conservation and Resilience with Dan Buffett

The presentation will highlight some of the protected and restored wetlands on Vancouver Island and introduce the topic of ‘resilience’, which provides a different lens to look at how we conserve wetlands that we know provide a range of ecosystem goods and services for communities, including clean water, wildlife habitat, and flood control.

This Slide Show was presented at the BCN Conference in Courtenay, on May 13th 2016.

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Link to: Slideshow – Limits to Growth by Neil Dawe May 2016

Botany — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 21:55:26 +0000

Ever since the publication of “Limits to Growth” in 1972 it has been obvious to practicing scientists that environmental conservation was unsustainable if the problems posed by classical economics of endless growth was not simultaneously addressed. Limits to Growth advocated that the world should shift to the steady state economic economic model proposed by World Bank economist, Herman Daly. 45 years of experience have confirmed the robustness of “Limits to Growth” “forecasts.” The 45-year data show that we have adopted the “Business-as-usual” (do nothing) scenario. Nevertheless, conservation-oriented organizations have been reticent to adopt resolutions to question endless growth economics and advocate for a shift. Over the past 20 years Neil Dawe and The Qualicum Institute, have been in the forefront of this advocacy. This excellent lecture reviews the principles of steady state economics and its importance for environmental conservation, and the 20 year experience.
Notes on the slideshow start at page 97.

Loys Maingon

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Link to: Slideshow – Tree Diseases in Gardens and Parks with Duncan Morrison

Botany — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 03:23:16 +0000

Tree Diseases in Gardens and Parks with Duncan Morrison
Diseases are normal components of ecosystems and will be illustrated with examples of diseases of foliage, stems, and roots from local broadleaf and conifer species. In his presentation, Duncan will define biotic and abiotic diseases, and the parasite/ saprophyte relationships. Topics include the effects of disease on survival of trees, monitoring of disease incidence, and tree disease in a changing climate.

This Slide Show was presented at the BCN Conference in Courtenay, on May 13, 2016.

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Botany Outing Report: News of things Botanical on the BC Nature Field Trips, May 12-15. 2016

Botany — Mon, 23 May 2016 22:07:16 +0000

Greetings all,
There was no monthly gathering in the second week in May because of the BC Nature AGM being held here May 12-15^th.
The weather could not have been better for the Field Trips and here are some comments on things botanical from four of the sites : Mitlenatch, Tree Island, Kin Beach & the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve.

On Mitlenatch the Camassia (camas) had already set seed, the widespread Lomatium nudicaule (Indian Consumption Plant) was in both bloom and seed, the Allium acuminatum (Hookers onion) and Lilium columbianum (tiger lily) were just coming out.

The wardens for the week (Peggy and Dave) pointed out how the Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon) seems to becoming the dominant shrub and the Sedum divergens (spreading stonecrop) has been taking over the rocky crevices where the Opuntia fragilis (prickly pear cactus) grows.

From Tree Island, Jocie has sent photos of two items of special note: the red listed Abronia latifolia (yellow sand-verbena), blooming splendidly (as is also on the DND site on the Spit), and the unusually shaped Amsinckia spectabilis (seaside fiddle-neck) .

On the Kin Beach outing, Helen reported : “the highlight for me was having Terry Taylor (formerly of Vancouver, but now living in Qualicum Beach) along as a guest. (He always writes an interesting article in each BC Nature magazine, and has done so for years). He identified about 7 grasses; and close to the Suksdorf’s mugwort by the beach parking area, spotted a little brown area in the hard-packed gravel, got down with his hand lens, and identified Crassula tillaea, mossy stonecrop, an introduced species, and he said it was in bloom! I went down yesterday, and got a sample to look at under the microscope. The plant is so dried out, and so tiny, but I could make out the features. In that location it would be quite impossible to photograph. He said that he will come up next year and help us identify other grasses in the Comox Valley.”

At the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve, where everything is already parched, Helen noted as outstanding all the non- chlorophyll plants visible : gnome-plant, pinesap, candystick, western coralroot, spotted coralroot, Indian-pipe (just emerging), Vancouver groundcone, and California broomrape. Below is a photo of Corallorhiza maculata ssp maculata (spotted coralroot) from the forest area of the Eco-Reserve.

There was certainly an impressive show for our visitors.
Alison

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Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program Recognizes CVNS

Jim Boulter — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:13:33 +0000

The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program officially recognized Comox Valley Naturalist Society in March with a Community Engagement Grant of $500. The grant was awarded in conjunction with the upcoming BC Nature Conference and AGM, May 12 to May 15.

A partnership between BC Hydro, the Provincial Government, and Fish and Oceans Canada, the Program is designed to support efforts to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife stocks adversely affected by the construction of BC Hydro Dams. The Program is a voluntary initiative of BC Hydro in the Coastal Region, which includes Vancouver Island.

In the grant submission, Loys Maingon stressed our Society’s commitment to Wetland Restoration, and the many educational and informative Field Trips planned during the 4-day Conference. Trips include visits to Morrison Creek Watershed, Towhee Creek, Comox Estuary, and the Comox Lake watershed, as well as workshops and speakers dedicated to similar topics. The Conference will be used as a focal point to start our Society’s campaign to save Morrison Creek Headwaters as an important and productive salmon habitat.

In his cover letter to the Society, Trevor Oussoren Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program Manager for the Coastal region, wrote “Good luck with the work and thank you for providing the FWCP with the opportunity to support your efforts to benefit local fish and wildlife.”

Maingon officially presented the $500 Cheque to the Conference Organization Committee at the regular monthly meeting of the Comox Valley Naturalist Society on March 20.

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Innisfree Farm

Jim Boulter — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 17:48:53 +0000

Chanchal Cabrera Of Innisfree Farm Presents at CVN Regular Meeting

The members who attended the regular monthly CVN meeting had a real treat in store. Chanchal Cabera of Innisfree Farm gave a wonderful talk and slide show on Botanical Gardens around the world. Innisfree Farm is one of only seven registered Botanical Gardens in British Columbia. Chanchal a Master Gardener and Horticulture Therapist.

There are still spots available in the two trips to Innisfree Farm, complete with a guided tour by Chanchal, but they are likely to go fast.

For further information on the Field trip visit:

http://comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Innisfree-Farm-Botanic-Garden-2.pdf

For more on Chanchal’s presentation, check out the Featured Post at left.

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Presentation on Toad People, an inspiring new documentary film by Gwen Barlee

Jim Boulter — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 21:38:16 +0000

Congratulations Gwen Barlee! Gwen is one of the Presenters at the 2016 BC Nature Conference, and has been nominated for by the YWCA for the Women of Distinction Awards in Environmental Sustainability.

Gwen will give a presentation on Toad People, an inspiring new documentary film project produced by the Wilderness Committee. BC has no endangered species legislation, even though the province has over 1900 species at risk. More than a film maker, Gwen’s passions include environmental and social advocacy. and freedom of information.

For full details on Gwen’s nomination, visit: http://ywcavan.org/blog/2016/03/introducing-2016-ywca-women-distinction-awards-nominees-environmental-sustainability

For details on Gwen’s work visit: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/who_we_are/staff_board%20

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