Nature & Conservation Archives - Page 16 of 17

“For more than a decade, the biggest progressive ideas about curbing climate change have relied on technical or narrow market mechanisms. They have required regulators to make emitting carbon dioxide costly. By prescribing industrial policy, the Green New Deal goes in a different direction: It throws all of American government and industry behind an attempt to make renewable energy cheap.”

Improvements to Saanich Tree Protection Bylaw

Article, Community Trees, Nature & Conservation, Transportation

Some good news. According to the Saanich News on-line (Wolfgang Depner), there’ll be a debate about this Notice of Motion regarding improvements to Saanich’s tree protection bylaw next Monday 11th March, at Saanich Municipal Hall. Meeting starts 7 PM.... Read more

Sooke Hills Wilderness Park Highway Proposal Update

Thank you to everyone who has written letters and showed up at CRD meetings to speak against the province’s desire to see a highway pushed through our precious watershed in the Sooke Hills Wilderness Park. The insanity of this proposal shows that the Ministry of... Read more

Together Trees Stand, Divided They Fall

It was such a disappointment to see the media slant a celebratory good news story into a negative piece of journalism by sensationalizing one council member’s comments. As community members and volunteers, we can honestly say we are very pleased at how receptive... Read more

Urban Forest Master Plan To Be Implemented

Thank you to Victoria Council (technically the Committee of the Whole) for approving $1.26 million in new funding for our urban forest, in addition to the $110K already approved to update the 2005 Tree Protection Bylaw. Finally, the Urban Forest Master Plan adopted in... Read more

Re: Generation – Why older people must stand in solidarity with the youth climate strikes

“But those of us who have long been engaged in this struggle will not abandon you. You have issued a challenge to which we must rise, and we will stand in solidarity with you. Though we are old and you are young, we will be led by you. We owe you that, at least.”

Healing the Pain of Climate Despair

The problems facing the world right now, the litany of environmental and social problems, are hard to bear. We feel despair, anger, and apathy. It hurts to engage deeply again and again with this very heavy material. And so it should. Use that pain, as it is fuel.

Why we still need to love this planet

The proximity of Valentine’s Day and the plan by a University of Victoria student, Antonia Paquin, to create love letters for the Earth for Valentine’s Day, put me in mind of the work of Dr. Helen Caldicott, an internationally renowned Australian physician and anti-nuclear activist.

Youth Rising For Climate Justice Rally

Kudos to Antonia Paquin and all the students and youth who came out this morning to the Youth Rising for Climate Justice rally at the Victoria Legislature where songs and many wise words were shared. A few of the many notable quotes: “We’re the first generation to be... Read more

National Geographic Video: Forest Garden With 500 Edible Plants Could Lead to a Sustainable Future

This is brilliant! It clearly shows how nature has set us up to thrive pre colonization…when people were free to live in harmony with the land. If we truly want to address climate change and food security, let this serve as a simple example of what is possible... Read more

Historical Garry Oak Ecosystems of Greater Victoria and Saanich Peninsula

This map, shared by landscape architect and planner Moira Wilson, offers helpful information and a challenge to regenerate and expand what remnants remain of this precious ecosystem in our region under pressures of population growth. Read more

Protect Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park

Creatively United will be standing up for the East Sooke Regional Park on February 20th at the CRD headquarters, 625 Fisgard in the 6th-floor boardroom on the importance of protecting and preserving East Sooke Regional Park. Please join us! Read more for more information.

The Importance of Trees in an Urban Setting

Last year there was quite a bit of talk about the heat in Montreal and the fact that so many people were dying during one of their heat waves. That was directly attributed to the lack of trees and their ability to significantly lower temperature. Read more

Honouring the Trees

On Sunday, Jan. 20th, a group of neighbours and citizens gathered in front of the gate at 1201 Fort Street. They offered their thanks and goodbyes to the 29 beautiful trees expected to soon be removed. The developer has sent notices of blasting work to begin in early... Read more

Solutions to the EDPA

Insuring gaps in protection and proactive conservation seen in the light of a climate change emergency is logical, insulates from us the impacts of climate change and saves money.

Beautiful Tree in Downtown Victoria Slated For Removal

This beautiful and established tree at the corner of Humboldt and Government Street by the Visitor Information Centre adds beauty, character, charm and works 24/7 for no pay cleaning the air, absorbing excess water and providing habitat for birds, yet, like the stump... Read more

Skaana Podcast: Sea Shepard Captain Paul Watson

Captain Paul Watson (@CaptPaulWatson) founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (@SeaShepherdSSCS) on the Sea Shepherd’s journey from outlaws to law enforcement and his battles to save the fish, the whales and the oceans.

Grizzly Bear Hunting Banned

Thanks to Barb Murray and the Bears Matter team for their years of hard work to ban the Grizzly Beat hunt. More than 300 grizzlies were saved this year and hundreds more will be spared each year the ban is in place. Charlie Russell was instrumental for changing how... Read more

Planting Our Future – A Tree Toolkit for Communities

Although this document was created in 2008, the information remains relevant and provides useful planning tools and strategies that can be used to help communities to enhance the value of their urban forest. The benefits of trees are clearly listed, issues and... Read more

Solstice a timely reminder of our place in the universe

I have never lost the sense of awe I experienced one night as a teenager as I lay down in a dark spot and really looked at the Milky Way. It was overwhelming and humbling to realize what a small part of the galaxy our own seemingly vast solar system is, and what a tiny part of all that I am.

The Value of City Trees

Some cities really understand the value of trees. Melbourne is planning on doubling its canopy by 2050. Athens wants to plant more trees to help it deal with urban heat islands, and flash floods. Seoul recently planted more than 2000 groves and gardens.

Increasing Benefits of Trees

According to i-Tree, this Western Red Cedar recently cut down at 600 Foul Bay Road in Victoria, measured five feet in diameter, would have provided the following benefits this year (and each year this tree survived the benefits would have increased):

A Plan to Keep Trees Standing and Speaking for the Sequoia

Council already understands the many reasons to increase the urban forest in Victoria. City staff are already protecting public trees as well as they can with the budget they have. My focus is on protecting trees on private land. So far, my family and friends in... Read more

Hardest Working Community Members

At the last council meeting I brought my shovel. Tonight I have my bell, to sound the alarm. We are in a climate crisis! And yet engineers and planners working for the city continue to destroy and remove trees to make sidewalks, sewer pipe lines, roads and other infrastructure. Why is so little value put on trees, our hardest working community members?

Habitat and Housing in Harmony

I recently stood before the Victoria City council and mayor to urge them to implement the Recommended Actions of the URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN of 2013 and that leaders of the local Indigenous Nations of Esquimalt and Songhees be invited to participate in this work. Affordable HOUSING a green and livable HABITAT must be part of Victoria’s Strategic Plan.

The Environment Should Be Front Page News

‘Good evening. And now, here is the environment news.” Well, that is a daily news segment we won’t be coming across soon — although we should. But we do hear or see the business news on a daily basis, in fact many times a day.

The Human Benefit of Trees

Kudos to Michael Meagher for this Letter to the Editor in the Nov. 22nd Times Colonist. “Anyone for a tax reduction on properties that contain trees?”

Let’s Make It A Great Day Again

Article, Arts, Community, & Inclusivity, Community Trees, Nature & Conservation

It was a great day when the council and mayor the City of Victoria approved the Urban Forest Master Plan in 2013. It is comprehensive, sustainable, and inspiring. The trouble is – it hasn’t been implemented. This plan recognizes the disconnect between what has... Read more

An Antidote to Despair

We are in a climate crisis. Daily we witness or hear about climate disasters all over the world. A recent windstorm in Italy wiped out over a million trees that were 200 years old. Currently in California drought conditions have caused horrific wildfires resulting in a loss of lives, of homes, of trees, plants and wildlife.

Suggestions For Tree Health and Preservation

Trees perform important eco-services, such as creating oxygen, cooling the air during our increasingly long, hot summers, reducing storm water, and most importantly, they store carbon. Big trees store a lot more carbon than saplings do. Big trees do more of everything on that list than saplings do.

Development With Vision

Victoria’s lush natural environment is what the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral is to Paris, a crowning jewel. No one would suggest taking the Notre Dame apart stone by stone to the ground and selling it off, however, that is exactly what we are doing to our... Read more

Healthy Saplings Lead to Healthy Ecosystems

The first three years, especially the first, are the most critical to tree saplings as they don’t have a developed root system to gather water, ward off pests, avoid being trampled or damaged. We lose the benefits mature trees provide when we replace them with... Read more

Losing trees in Victoria: one mature tree equals 269 saplings

We should all be concerned about global warming. We can see the changes happening now; our summers are longer and a lot drier. But I wonder if the City cares. Because I don’t see much evidence they’re trying to save our mature trees, one of the few factors that reduce... Read more

Why Trees Matter, A Lot!

Article, Arts, Community, & Inclusivity, Nature & Conservation

Mankind has embarked on a huge, uncontrolled experiment – we have destroyed about 80 per cent of the world’s forests. More are destroyed every minute. How long can we last without them? Instead of waiting to find out, many people are planting thousands, even millions of trees.

Proportional Representation: Getting More of What We Want

Would you like to live in a fairer, more compassionate world where community issues are are given consideration and you are inspired to have someone and something to vote for? This fall we will have a historic, once in a generation opportunity to say goodbye to First... Read more

Community Trees: Questions for Candidates

Article, Arts, Community, & Inclusivity, Nature & Conservation

Thank you to the candidates who responded to our tree preservation questionnaire and put themselves forward to run in the 2018 municipal elections. Congratulations to all! Updated October 19th with new responses Dr. Jennie Moore of BCIT recently estimated the... Read more

One-Planet Questions For Candidates

As the Oct. 20 municipal elections loom, I suggest we should be asking all candidates about a very serious issue — in fact, in my view, the most serious challenge we face in the 21st century, both globally and locally: How do we make the changes that move us toward being a One-Planet Region?

Skaana Podcast: Saving Scarlet, surrendering on Scoter, grieving with Tahlequah and praying for pregnant orcas. A news update on the southern residents

Listen to the podcast here! Saving Scarlet, surrendering on Scoter, grieving with Tahlequah and praying for pregnant orcas. A news update on the southern residents with Skaana host: Mark Leiren-Young (@leirenyoung). Read more

All Things Trees: A Collection of Articles Worth Reading

From climate change to local developments, these links contain lots of great information about trees and keeping our forest communities green.

Skaana Podcast: Orca author and alt-right expert David Neiwert talks about why fighting for orcas still matters in the age of Trump

Listen to the podcast here! David Neiwert (@DavidNeiwert) – an expert on orcas and America’s Alt-Right – talks orcas, empathy and why fighting for whales still matters in the Age of Trump. Neiwert is the author of Of Orcas and Men: What Killer Whales Can Teach Us... Read more

Nature Doesn’t Negotiate

Article, Food & Health, Nature & Conservation

There are some things that we just have to accept. Basic fundamental truths of math, physics, chemistry, and biology are simply not up for negotiation. As humans we have shown that we get these natural laws, or we wouldn’t have been able to create human flight,... Read more

A Victory To Celebrate

Victories are being won that bring power back to the people and help protect our planet and democracy from abuse. This story is one to celebrate. It’s a victory for all of us. — Dear Avaazers, Our hearing just ended, and the judge absolutely DESTROYED... Read more

Skaana Podcast: Saving Salmon in Washington

On our latest Skaana podcast Kelly Iriye, project coordinator for Damsense (@DAMSNSE) on how breaching the Snake River dams could help save the endangered southern resident orcas and why the arguments against damsense are nonsense. #FreeTheSnake

BC’s Climate Intentions Papers: A Timid Response – and the Twelve Solutions We Really Need

Article, Arts, Community, & Inclusivity, Community Creativity, Energy, Housing, & Buildings, Food & Health, Nature & Conservation, Transportation, Video, Zero Waste & Circular Economy

I wish I didn’t have to write this. I count myself a friend of the NDP/Green Alliance, and I had high hopes for the government’s new climate action plans. BC’s Ministry of Environment has published a series of Clean Growth Intentions Papers, with a deadline for public feedback of August 24th, in the heart of this fire and smoke-filled summer.

Watch Now: Creating a One Planet Community Event

Everyone wondered how we could possibly feature more than 20 presentations in less than two hours, but we did it! Inspiring stories of innovation, collaboration, community and creativity were shared with both a live and livestream audience worldwide around the theme... Read more

Book Review: The Man Who Planted Trees: Lost Groves, Champion Trees, and an Urgent Plan to Save the Planet

Article, Nature & Conservation, Review

Jim Robbins was incredulous when David Milarch first told him he was cloning ‘champion trees’ because angels had told him to during a near-death experience. “I thought he was joking or spinning a yarn, but he said it all with a straight face,” Robbins said.

Film Review of Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees

Article, Nature & Conservation, Review

Call of the Forest is all about the incredible and vital importance of trees. If you want to get motivated to plant trees, this is the film to watch! “For every breath you take, thank a tree,” says Diana Beresford-Kroeger, the Canadian botanist, author and medical... Read more

Informative Tree Links

List updated August 13th, 2019 Urban Forests: A Climate Adaptation Guide Planting Our Future: A Tree Toolkit For Communities Citizen’s Coolkit on Climate Change & Urban Forestry Tree Canada Resource List Read more

Special Skaana Episode: Updates on Scarlet & Tahlequah