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... Read more
Skaana Podcast: David Suzuki on Our Past, Present & Future
Dr. David Suzuki (@DavidSuzuki) is Canada’s most iconic environmentalist and even in his eighties, he’s still fighting for our future. Skaana celebrates the end of the decade by recycling our premiere episode where we talked about fake facts, toxic whales and taking... Read more
Birds Need Trees
When I first moved to James Bay, I often awoke to the sound of robins warbling in the trees, the chatter of sparrows and the sight of swallows elegantly swooping in between buildings. Sadly, this is no more. There is a strange silence in my neighbourhood. The reason?... Read more
First They Came for the Whales…
While there has been an increasing public focus on climate change in the past few years, and a slow awakening to the threat it poses, we have yet to wake up fully to an even bigger problem. I noted in a September column that we face not only a climate emergency but an extinction emergency.
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Oppose Military Exercises in Washington State Parks
Tell the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to not renew the military’s permit to access our public parks! In 2015 the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission issued a 5-year permit allowing the U.S. Navy to occupy five Washington State... Read more
Save Craigflower Creek
The BC government wants to turn an existing park into a bus depot, despite the presence of a salmon spawning creek and many trees. The details are on the website: https://www.savecraigflowercreek.org and we have a petition started here:... Read more
Wet’Suwet’en Overview
On December 31, 2019, BC Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church extended Coastal GasLink’s injunction order from an interim injunction to an interlocutory injunction. Members of the Wet’suwet’en nation have been stewarding and protecting their traditional territories... Read more
Indigenous Rights Trampled by Rule of Law
On Wet’suwet’en Territory, The Hereditary chiefs and matriarchs were holding a ceremony to honour the memories of the missing and murdered indigenous women when they were arrested on February 10, 2020. The hanging of red dresses along fences posts and trees has been a... Read more
Recognizing the Spiritual Value of Nature
The Midwinter Solstice is nearly upon us, and it is a powerful time of the year. For our ancestors, the shortening days and the growing cold must have been a source of concern every year; would the sun come back, would winter end?
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Current List of Companies Planning 5G Satellites
This 5G technology will be another layer of microwave radiation blanketing the environment with no way of escaping the proven health effects from this technology.
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Animal Rights Lawyer, Camille Labchuk, on Canada’s Laws to Finish Shark-Finning and Cetacean Captivity and Animal Rights and Wrongs
Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, talks with Mark Leiren-Young about Canada’s new laws to finish shark-finning & cancel cetacean captivity and fighting for legal rights for animals and vegans.
Read moreSupport Needed to Stop Strip Mine in the Highlands
The Highlands District Community Association (HDCA) announced this week that it has petitioned the BC Government to reject the 2017 Application by OK Industries (OKI) for a strip mine. The petition, conducted over the summer, was tabled today in the BC Legislature by... Read more
City of Victoria Strengthens Tree Protection Bylaws
Thank you to everyone who wrote emails and letters, and spoke to council on behalf on Victoria’s trees — we were successful! Mayor and council have just approved a significantly stronger tree protection bylaw.
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Council Protects Urban Forest
Council has adopted amendments to the Tree Preservation Bylaw aimed at protecting the urban forest, while the City focuses on planting more trees. As part of the City’s Urban Forest Master Plan, the City is reviewing and renewing our Tree Preservation Bylaw to ensure... Read more
Langford Developer Increases Greenspace
Firstly, a huge pat-on-the-back is in order for all of us: all of your letters to council, phone calls and actions back in July made a difference! Because of you, the city and developer increased the required greenspace in the development proposal from 25% to 40%. As... Read moreFor Love of The Forest – Yellow Point Ecological Society
The Yellow Point Ecological Society (YES) created this short video, narrated by Guy Dauncey, highlighting ways we can protect the forest. For more details, please visit the YES... Read more
How To Plant Trees If You Don’t Own Land
Fall is a great time to start trees from seeds or nuts. Plant them in pots you can keep in a cool place indoors. (Research the type of trees you want to start on the internet first – the methods are different for many species.
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The Urban Forest Master Plan
Interested in knowing more about trees and how best to protect and preserve them? The City of Victoria Urban Forest Master Plan (2013) is a wonderful document brimming with useful and relevant information about trees. It is not only a fascinating read, but an easy... Read more
Esquimalt Park To Receive 450 New Trees & Shrubs
These native plants will add to the biodiversity in the park, as well as increase tree coverage in the region. There will be 23 species planted in total, including Garry oaks, Douglas fir…
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Rare Bird Sighting in Panama Flats
On Saturday, October 19, Geoffrey was on the 5 p.m. edition of the local Live CHEK NEWS with a rare bird sighting in the Panama Flats. The bird is a Yellow-browed Warbler from Siberia. Geoffrey Newell is the leader of our monthly Bird Walks in Uplands Park. He is one... Read more
Takaya, The Lone Wolf
I watched this beautiful documentary about the lone wolf on Discovery Island, off Oak Bay shoreline. The film is made by local wildlife photographer Cheryl Alexander. It’s on CBC, The Nature of Things: Takaya, Lone Wolf and will be repeated on TV, on the CBCNN... Read more
New Forest Management Policy
Great news! North Cowichan Councillor Rob Douglas, has just let us know Resolution B 156 Regional Management of Forests, was passed this morning at the UBCM Convention in Vancouver. This resolution is copied below. Maybe now BC forestry will be above politics and... Read more
Victoria, BC Climate Strike
Estimates are that about 20,000 people attended today’s climate action strike and march with parts of Government, Belleville, Douglas and Fort Street closed off to traffic as the group moved from the lawns of the Legislature up Douglas to Fort Street. People of... Read more
Climate Action Teach In and Rally
Despite heavy rain, about 300 people, mostly teachers, parents and youth, turned out Monday for the Climate Action Teach In and Rally at the Legislature. There was a definite buzz of energy with connections and conversations made and visits to a variety of exhibitors,... Read more
How To Plant Trees
Fall is a great time to plant trees! In the Pacific Northwest, fall may be the best time to plant trees. They have time to develop roots before it gets cold. They also benefit from developing yet more roots in spring — before they have to start using some of... Read more
City of Victoria Announces Participation in UN’s Trees for Cities Challenge
At a time when urban forests are rapidly diminishing, the City of Victoria this year made a commitment to expanding and protecting ours, by adding $1 million to the Parks budget. It also committed $850,000 annually going forward.
Read more“This is Not a Drill” Cideo From Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot
Environmental activists Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot have helped produce a short film highlighting the need to protect, restore and use nature to tackle the climate crisis. Living ecosystems like forests, mangroves, swamps and seabeds can pull enormous quantities... Read more
Six Green New Deals: How Do They Compare?
I spent this week digging into six different Green New Deals, to see how they compare, policy-by-policy. Five American, one European. The Canadian versions are seemingly not ready yet. Here’s my results. I hope you find them helpful! Read more
Free Trees! Garry Oaks, Bigleaf Maples & More
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago…The next best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb Fall is a great time to collect seeds and nuts that will grow into free trees. Even those of us who don’t own property can enjoy starting seedlings for others to plant in... Read more
Trees (and Shrubs) For Free!
Why not try your hand at propagating some trees and/or shrubs? Not all species are easy to grow from cuttings, but many will respond to your care and effort. When the saplings or plants are established, you can plant them in your own yard, or ask friends and family... Read moreWorld Ocean’s Day
World Oceans Day 2019 was a great success and we have had very positive feedback, so we will likely have the same layout next year as well. We raised $2,071.35, which puts us at a grand total of $4,783.94 (from 2017-2019) towards the purchase of a Seabin for... Read more
It’s Time We Stopped Treating Soil Like Dirt – Video
This is a fantastic, lively and very informative short video on the vital importance of dirt. Basically, soil keeps us all alive, because it grows the food we eat. It can also be an important carbon sink. “Soil provides 95% of our food, helps regulate the... Read more
Free Boulevard Tree Planting in Saanich & Oak Bay
If you live in Saanich, you can get a free tree planted on your boulevard! Check out this link for more info. (If you live in Oak Bay, they have a similar program! It is not posted, but for more info on Oak Bay’s boulevard tree program, call... Read more
One Planet Saanich – Thinking Globally, Acting Locally
Based on Bioregional’s 10 “One Planet” principles, the initiative addresses the “usual suspects” of sustainability — energy, transportation, food, materials and waste, water, green space and so on. But Bioregional begins with three principles about people and community: Health and happiness, equity and the local economy, and culture and community.
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‘One planet’ Communities Look Forward
On July 29 we reached Earth Overshoot Day — the day when humanity’s overall Ecological Footprint (EF) exceeded the Earth’s ability to replenish sufficient biocapacity to meet our demands.
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Care about the Colquitz? Elk/Beaver Lake are the head waters of the Colquitz
This event will provide an opportunity to learn more about water quality issues at Elk/Beaver Lake and how you can support the development of a watershed management plan. Tasty, light refreshments will be provided! Join the CRD and the community on Wednesday, July 31... Read moreWelcome to the Anthropocene – Dr. Trevor Hancock Presentation
The Creatively United for the Planet Society is honoured to have Dr. Trevor Hancock on our board of directors. His columns appear weekly in the Times Colonist, and he is an in-demand speaker world-wide. This video was captured at one of our recent events on Creating... Read more
Presenting the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society
The Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society (GOMPS) was formed in 1992. Local citizens were concerned that native Garry oak woodlands and meadows were rapidly disappearing in the Capital Regional District. Development and human actions have caused and continue to be the... Read more
Residents’ Group Fights for a New Park in Langford
(200 residents attended a rezoning meeting recently to request some of this property be left as parkland. Please read on for an update.) On July 8, 2019 the City of Langford Planning, Zoning and Affordable Housing Committee moved to proceed with comprehensive... Read more
Skaana Podcast: Lummi & Orcas
The latest on the Lummi Nation’s fight to free Lolita (Tokitae), ceremonial feedings of the southern resident orcas, rights, responsibilities and reunification from Kurt Russo of the Lummi Nation Sovereignty and Treaty Protection Office. Stories of inspiring actions to save the orcas for Orca Action Month.
Read moreHighlands Strip Mine Not in Public Interest
Please take a moment and let Premier John Horgan know that you object to a proposed strip mine in the South Highlands. Now, more than ever, we need leadership on climate change. Turning 43 acres of hills, forest and wetlands into a deep and barren crater is not in the... Read moreConservation of Resilience, Renewal and Complexity in B.C.’s Forests
Here is my input to Minister Doug Donaldson’s invitation to comment on the “Forest and Range Practices Act’ Improvement Initiative: Renewal and Resilience.” Click here to read my full report, “Conservation of Resilience, Renewal and Complexity in B.C.’s... Read more
Tree planting ‘has mind-blowing potential’ to tackle climate crisis
Planting billions of trees across the world (and preventing more deforestation) is by far the biggest and cheapest way to tackle the climate crisis, according to scientists.
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Mudflats in the Colquitz River Estuary & Cuthbert Holmes Park
Barn Swallows, feeding at the tributary in the Colquitz River estuary. Globally listed under SARA as Threatened, and BC Blue listed status. How fortunate we are to have these visitors stop by on this flyway. We must protect these mud flats from disturbances by... Read more
The Need For Change Can Provide Opportunities
A few years ago, Naomi Klein wrote a book about climate change titled This Changes Everything. Her point was climate change is a crisis of capitalism and we need to radically rethink our society and economy, if we are to deal with it. But she was only discussing... Read more
Move From Denial, to Protests, to Building Better Mousetraps
Courtesy of the Times Colonist “Stop denying our Earth is dying,” read a poster held by a young woman taking part in a protest by the Extinction Rebellion group outside the BBC headquarters in London recently. Young people can see what is coming, and they are... Read more
Urban Forests Benefit Us All
Thank you to the more than 100 people who attended Community Trees Matter Network’s April 17th discussion with Dr. Cecil Konijnendijk. His inspiring presentation clearly illustrated the true value of trees from a public health and wellness perspective and why we... Read moreHelp Us Save The 6
The 6 acres, located beside Wildwood, were once part of Wildwood and despite several changes in ownership have remained intact. Merv did some selective harvesting in line with his ecoforestry principles and practices, but the property hasn’t been touched for decades.... Read more
Earth Day In The Gardens Community Event
Meet and interact with earth-minded community groups, nonprofit organizations, green businesses and more at this, “enviro expo for all things eco!” Admission is free and includes access to our nine acres of demonstration gardens to inspire you, as well as interactive children’s activities to engage the next generation of environmental stewards.
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