Click on the underlined Titles to access the Slide Show / pdf.
Guest Speaker: Pearl McKenzie, ‘Mars is spreading its Wings’, Sun. Nov. 20, 2016
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 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 slide show start at page 97. This slide show was presented at the BC Nature Conference on May 13th 2016.
Tree Diseases in Gardens and Parks by 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.
Wetland Conservation & Resilience by Dan Buffet
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.
