Please write in support for the Improve Old Growth Ecosystem Conservation Resolution to your Municipal Government reps. SILGA votes on this resolution end April 2026 and if passed, the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) vote Sept 2026. Thank you.
“No great fortunes can be accumulated out of wartime profits.” — J.L. Ilsley, Canada’s Second World War finance minister As in the past, this illegal war appears to be lasting considerably longer than its US protagonists initially claimed. And even if this ostensible... Read more
Thirty-nine years ago, Gro Harlem Brundtland, prime minister of Norway and chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development, presented its report to the United Nations. That report, Our Common Future — widely referred to as the Brundtland Report — proposed the concept of sustainable development…
Pacific Wild is backing local heroes defending the biodiverse lands surrounding Cable Bay Trail near Nanaimo – home to wildflower meadows, old-growth forests, and shoreline habitats adjacent to Dodd’s Narrows, an important feeding ground for sea lions, whales and... Read more
Cutblock TA1375, identified as a Priority Oldgrowth Deferral Area, was auctioned off this March by BC Timber Sales to West Coast Log Salvage, Corp., despite outcry from scientists, forest professionals, and the public. While logging has not yet begun, the window to... Read more
Fisheries laws and management plans may be public, but they are often buried in dense, technical language that makes it difficult for the public to understand and hold decision-makers accountable. This glossary of 28 key fisheries terms is designed to change that. By... Read more
As rivers across Western North America face climate change-driven record-breaking temperatures, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, in partnership with the Scw’exmx Tribal Council and nłeʔképmx Guardians from Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly, have released a groundbreaking... Read more
I have begun to think of Café Books as more of an apothecary than a bookstore. You can send them a prescription for almost any kind of moral dilemma, philosophical contradiction, scientific ambiguity, urgent mental uplifting or any other ailment of spirit that you... Read more
For the first time in Canadian history, a nation has won full Aboriginal title over its claim. In 2024, the BC Supreme Court granted the Nuchatlaht First Nation rights over an 11-kilometre sliver of land on the island north of Tofino. But in a landmark decision, a... Read more
Canadians largely buy into the fact that we need to get our energy from clean sources. At the same time, support can drop when specific projects are proposed near where people live. It’s easy to assume that this is just a classic “Not in My Backyard” reaction. Yet a... Read more
The Federal Government is exploring National Urban Park status for Fort Rodd Hill and area. What seemingly appears like a great news story on the surface may result in the destruction of the surrounding natural habitat of Fort Rodd Hill and area:... Read more
The Government of Canada is seeking public feedback on proposed amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations that would strengthen protections for endangered Southern Resident killer whales. To address the underwater noise and disturbance from boats, the federal... Read more
In a recent interview marking his approaching 90th birthday, David Suzuki said: “We’ve lost, environmentalists have lost, big time.” But what does it mean that environmentalists have lost? Who is we? What have we lost? And if we have lost, who has won, and what does winning mean?
If you love East Sooke Park, please take a look at this application for a commercial venture and submit a comment expressing your opposition to the proposed plan. The proposed plan indicates intention to build a multi-use site revolving around outdoor education,... Read more
It appears that due to approved development, the Township of Esquimalt and the Department of National Defence continue to add to the senseless destruction of natural habitat for birds, pollinators, urban wildlife and humans to enjoy. Numerous healthy, mature trees... Read more
Support preserving as much of a rare patch of Garry oak and Douglas-fir ecosystem on an Esquimalt private property earmarked for development as possible, whilst still allowing appropriate development of the site.
In spring 2025, a piece of land in Saanich, BC—two acres of former hobby farm at 4015 Braefoot Rd.—became the flashpoint for a wider conflict. It supports a functioning Garry oak meadow and woodland, including approximately 120 mature Garry oak trees.
The results have major consequences. The CRD’s Regional Heat Map shows a stark difference in temperature between natural and built environments. A closer look: The first thing that becomes very apparent is high density in terms of built environment and low nature, not... Read more
In response to extended pollination seasons driven by climate change, researchers from the United States and France have developed an advanced computational model to examine how tree geometry influences the dispersion of airborne pollen grains.
Government in order to sell the idea, typically euphemizes “infill” as “gentle density”, but when applied as it is without protections for the natural environment and habitat, it is nothing other than another manifestation of the ‘Shock... Read more
In February, the New Westminster City Council became the 12th BC community to support a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking to recover a share of climate-related costs from global fossil fuel companies. Local residents and young people played a pivotal role in... Read more
“The world is caught again in the bloody tangle of war, fossil fuels and climate change,” writes Chris Hatch in a recommended piece this week in Canada’s National Observer. The unintended dominoes are falling. As in the past, it appears this war will last much longer... Read more
Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS) is campaigning in support of three proposed parks for the Inland Temperate Rainforest—the result of 25 years of research: the Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness, the Selkirk Mountains Ancient Forest and Quesnel Lake Wilderness. The aim is to... Read more
New Video from Jennifer Houghton Jennifer’s videos are always worth the watch. She simplifies, clarifies and takes a scalpel to the policies and words of the Ministry of “Forests and Corporate Logging”. In this latest 12-minute video she cuts to the chase:... Read more
It’s been an ongoing theme on CRD Watch, and in my writings that Post-Secondary Institutions on Southern Vancouver Island, shackled to the unsustainability of ecology destroying growth-based capitalism and a government also under its shackles, in particular to the... Read more
Last week, I discussed a couple of recent global-level reports that identify serious problems with our current economic system. In particular, the UN Environment Programme, in its 2026 report…
Environment groups comprising the Clayoquot Sound Conservation Alliance (CSCA) condemn the recent permits issued by the BC NDP provincial government to clear forest and build exploratory drill pads…
METCHOSIN, BC (Mar 3, 2026) – Along the Pacific Flyway, where millions of birds travel north and south each year, a 21-hectare property in Metchosin has now been permanently protected by BC Parks Foundation. The acquisition was made possible by support from the Wilson... Read more
In a recent article in the Hill Times, I noted that while Prime Minister Mark Carney was right to identify a rupture in the world in his Davos speech, he focused on the wrong rupture. The rupture he focused on — the geopolitical state of the world — is a minor inconvenience compared to the drastic impact…
Thanks to the efforts of the Peninsula Biosolids Coalition, a non-profit citizen’s group, plus numerous individuals, businesses and other proponents for integrated resource management (including Creatively United for the Planet Society), the CRD is now... Read more
The University of Sussex, UK has created a comprehensive guide to delivering rights-based protection for trees, woodlands and forests. Read more here Read more
The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), Surfrider South Vancouver Island’s volunteer-run water testing education and advocacy program, aims to promote environmental stewardship and ensure safe and healthy access to coastal habitats. We sample water from more than 15... Read more
Last year, Surfrider SVI identified PVC pollution near Victoria beaches and storm drains caused by the outdoor dry cutting of PVC pipes during construction. PVC is one of the most toxic forms of plastics, comprising up to 60% known carcinogens and endocrine... Read more
If you are passionate about wild animals and their welfare, want to invest 2-4 hours a week from April to September, and don’t mind cleaning up the odd animal mess, you may be exactly what the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) in Metchosin, BC... Read more
The majestic Garry oaks at 4015 Braefoot Rd. in Saanich, British Columbia, are at critical risk. Over 100 of these magnificent trees, stand on the property; many have done so for centuries These trees are not just flora; they are vital keystone components of the... Read more
The majestic Garry oaks at 4015 Braefoot Rd. in Saanich, British Columbia, are at critical risk. Over 100 of these magnificent trees, stand on the property; many have done so for centuries. These trees are not just flora, they are vital keystone components of the... Read more
In the morning hours of Feb 19, 2026, tree cutting trucks towing wood chippers behind them made their way into the vicinity of Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park, which is managed by the CRD. In the evening, I approached what looked like a funeral.... Read more
Dear Premier Eby, Ordinarily I would be classified as a natural strong supporter of an NDP government, given the claim of the party to represent the interests of the working classes and those disadvantaged by the prevailing economic system and cultural biases. I had a... Read more
The Tongass National Forest in Alaska is the largest National Forest in North America. It covers nearly 17 million acres and makes up a significant part of the world’s temperate forests. I’m reaching out to share a documentary project that needs support. The... Read more
Teal Cedar is seeking approval for Cut Block 56684 8027 in Pacheedaht territory, an old growth clearcut just 30 metres from the Fairy Creek ridgeline, along with the construction of a new logging road into ancient forests. This proposal threatens to log millennia-old... Read more
A big shout out to Carl Olsen and all the people who have come out in support of protecting and preserving Goldstream Park and for the Vic News for sharing this “good news” story. Read more
Secret #1: Humans are a cooperative species Secret #2: Self-Importance is the Enemy of Kindness Secret #3: We are a Part of Nature Every breath we take, every thing we feel, Every hope we hold, every wound that heals. Every birth that starts, every death that ends, We... Read more
It may still be chilly outside, but February is heating up with several opportunities to voice your support for wild lives and wild places. Below, we list 7 ways you can take action: from submitting public comments on wolf, bear, and caribou hunting, to signing... Read more
Compiled by Guy Dauncey, author of The Economics of Kindness: The End of Capitalism, the Birth of a New Ecological Civilization Palgrave/Macmillan, Spring 2026 This list illustrates the deep, persistent desire by so many people to create a new kind of economy, one in... Read more
As readers of this column know, I often refer to a piece of wisdom put forth by the World Wide Fund for Nature in 2014: “Ecosystems sustain societies that create economies. It does not work any other way round.”
Your voice is a key part of making water rates fair and protecting BC’s watersheds. Tell decision-makers that British Columbians care about clean water and strong, sustainable funding for our watersheds. Budget day is Feb. 17th. Talking points appear after you click... Read more
“SAFT is group of leading forest ecologists/forest practitioners advocating for both legislative/policy and forest practices changes in B.C. The forest industry to date has largely been one of unsustainable resource extraction and conversion of primary forests... Read more
Robert Reich is right. In a recent Substack post he laid out how tariffs, monopolies, and corporate power are driving up the cost of living for ordinary people. Much of what we call “inflation” is not an economic inevitability, but the result of policy choices that... Read more
Water is life and we desperately need to keep land for nature reserves. Please lend your support for Hamilton Marsh, the largest wetland between Nanaimo, Cumberland, and Port Alberni – located just minutes from the Town of Qualicum Beach by donating or writing a... Read more
Largely lost in the flurry of pre-Christmas distractions was a Dec. 10 announcement from the Greater Victoria Naturehood that the Capital Regional District board had approved a staff recommendation to prepare nomination documents designating Greater Victoria a UNESCO urban biosphere region.
