Community Stories
The Garry Oak in Autumn: Foliage, Acorns, and Conservation
Recognized as the only oak species native to British Columbia, the Garry oak is soon to make its mark on the beauty of autumn.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Nature
There’s something quite satisfying about restoring nature and making a very tiny part of the world better. I suppose I’ve always known that, but it really struck home when we purchased the place we were going to retire to 15-years ago. We were still working fulltime,…
Learn About People’s Action for US Issues
The news is heavy, and that’s intentional. The US regime is trying to inundate us with chaos so we become overwhelmed, tune out, and stop paying attention. Instead of turning away, we’re turning to each other. The People’s Tea , a biweekly, hour-long, virtual…
Share what’s meaningful to you and your community
Petition for 100% Electrification of Victoria Regional Transit System Vehicles
This petition seeks a rapid 100% transition of Victoria Regional Transit System vehicles to clean electric power. The petition is launched by the View Royal Climate Coalition and supported by the South Island Climate Action Network.
Local ‘Seeds’ of a One Planet Region
This week, I begin to highlight some of our local “seeds” — groups and organizations that are working to create a One Planet Region. This is our local version of a good Anthropocene where we use only our fair share of the Earth’s resources while improving health and well-being in a way that is socially just.
The Hope of a Good Anthropocene
Sadly, there is not much good news about the state of the Earth these days. Climate change becomes more real as it starts to bite — just ask the Australians — and there is growing awareness of and concern about the extinction crisis we are triggering. We do have positive options, good choices and many opportunities.
Small is Beautiful — and Essential
Some readers will doubtless recognize the reference to E.F. Schumacher’s classic 1973 book Small is Beautiful, in which he introduced the world to the concept of “Buddhist economics.” The book’s sub-title was “Economics as if people mattered,” which today we might amend to read “Economics as if people and the planet mattered.”
Trees Matter Free Toolkit
Trees matter! For this reason, we have compiled a variety of information, resources, ideas and wisdom to help protect and preserve more trees. Check it out!
Old Growth Strategy Review
An effective old growth strategy is one important part of a long-term forest asset stewardship plan to ensure nature’s endowment of forests best serve the public’s interests in changing times. Effective old growth forest conservation, protection and management will be…
Urban Forest Master Plan report to Victoria Council, Dec. 12
For City Hall watchers who missed this, staff provided a detailed report on how they plan to implement the Urban Forest Master Plan. The city posted the highlights here: https://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/parks/urban-forest.html The reports Council received are…
City of Victoria Tree Planting Challenge, Mapping Tool and Workshops
Victoria is the first city in Canada to join the UN’s Trees in Cities Challenge. The City will work with the community to meet its goal of planting 5,000 trees on public and private land by the end of 2020. Residents and groups can join in the Trees in Cities…
Mature Trees Best at Absorbing Carbon
Anyone interested in the importance and value of old trees, should find this interesting. For years foresters have assumed that old trees have stopped growing and in many cases are decadent. Good we have forest researchers to do this important research. From The…
New City of Victoria Urban Forest Manager, Brooke Stark
The City of Victoria has finally filled the newly funded position of Urban Forest Manager. We look forward to working with Brooke Stark, former manager of Parks Operations, in her new role. She will now be responsible for long-term planning, the city’s natural area…
UBC Survey for EV Owners
EV owners, please consider taking this quick (5 minute) survey from UBC students on EV charging.
Key Public Health Issues for the 2020s
I was prompted to write this column by an article in The Tyee (a Vancouver-based online news service) about public health issues in 2020. It’s not often people write about public health, as opposed to health care, so the attention is welcome. However, I found the…
