The Gulf Oil Spill is a Disaster that Can't be Repeated

On April 20, the world awoke to a developing tragedy triggered by an explosion on BP's Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Recent estimates put the total amount of the spill between 160 million and 320 million litres so far, more than four times the amount of the Exxon Valdez spill. We still don't know when the flow of oil into the Gulf will stop.

Oil has already reached a dozen Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The oil has damaged coastal grasses and sea grass beds that are vital nursery grounds for fish and shrimp and provide habitat for numerous other animals and plants. The loss of these critical sources of food could have devastating consequences for many bird species that depend on the Gulf coast region.

You can get up to date information on the oil spill's path on the National Audubon Society's website, as well as first-hand accounts of clean-up efforts underway.

In just a few short weeks, the first migratory birds will begin their journey south from Canada to their wintering grounds in South and Central America. Many of them rely on the impacted region to gather and feed during their journey.

As birds arrive in the disaster zone, the oil spill will affect them in a number of ways:

• An inability to fly due to oiled feathers
• Hypothermia induced by oil on their feathers
• Poisoning from ingesting oil while preening
• Poisoning from eating other contaminated wildlife
• Disturbances during rescue efforts

It will be months, if not years, before the full impacts of this oil spill are known. In some cases, we may never know the extent of the effects on particular species.

What lessons can Canada learn from this disaster?

The tragedy unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico is a reminder that offshore oil drilling is never safe for the environment or for the communities along our coasts. Oil in the water is dangerous for fisheries, wildlife and ecosystems no matter where it happens.

Perhaps the greatest danger lies in drilling in the Arctic region. A spill in the Arctic would have devastating consequences for the region's fragile wildlife and ecosystems, and no technology exists that could clean up a spill in so inhospitable an area. The techniques deployed in the Gulf – even there not nearly successful – would be useless in the Arctic.

Just weeks before the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster, BP was actively lobbying the Canadian government to ease some of the planned rules for Arctic Ocean oil and gas exploration, and had already acquired three offshore exploration licenses for the Canadian Beaufort Sea.

Unlike the United States, Norway and Britain, Canada lacks a regulatory process governing whether or where oil and gas development can happen in the Arctic. Licenses are granted, and contracts signed with oil and gas companies before any environmental assessment takes place. The result: exploratory licenses exist in environmentally sensitive areas like the Beaufort Sea, where a blowout would have immediate negative effects on the delicate ecosystems there.

The disaster in the Gulf is a wake-up call. It is time to place a moratorium on new offshore drilling, including the Arctic, and to end our reliance on dirty, polluting fossil fuels in favour of responsible development of clean, renewable energy.

In the near term, no new exploratory licenses should be granted and no applications approved until the National Energy Board completes its review of Arctic safety and environmental offshore drilling requirements. A moratorium should also be in place until an independent commissioner is appointed to hold a review of offshore drilling on all of Canada's coasts.

And of course, a permanent ban should be in place prohibiting any oil and gas drilling inside a recognized protected area, and that prohibits any future exploration licenses from being granted within protected areas.

What has happened in Gulf is truly tragic; the Canadian government and industry should do all it can to put the environment and worker safety first so that a similar disaster doesn't happen off Canada's shores.

Syncrude – Guilty for the Deaths of Over 1,600 Ducks!

Photo: David Dodge

Last Friday, June 25, 2010, Syncrude Canada was found guilty for the death of over 1,600 ducks that dove into the tar sands giant 12 km² tailings pond north of Fort McMurray in Alberta. The company was charged under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act for failing to avoid dumping hazardous waste in wildlife’s way and under the Migratory Birds Convention Act for allowing hazardous waste to be deposited in areas visited by migratory birds.

Syncrude has requested a hearing, saying that both charges are unfair. The hearing is scheduled for August 20, 2010. Upon completion of the hearing, a sentence will be given for one or both charges. Potential fines could be in the amount of $500,000 to the provincial and $300,000 to the federal government.

Syncrude claims the weather conditions at the time would not have permitted them to place the right deterrents although several of its employees stated that the company was not adequately equipped and was understaffed when it came to bird deterrent activities. Judge Ken Tjosvold also stated that Syncrude could have prepared their bird deterrent in advance and that "it was reasonable to take those precautions and Syncrude did not."

Help us make sure tragedies like this one don't happen again. Sign Nature Canada's petition to stop the tar sands!

The case began as a private case that was initially filed by a Sierra Club member and later taken over by the provincial government.

Global Moratorium on Commercial Whaling Upheld

On June 18, my colleague and fellow conservationist, Ahmed Zedan sent me an email urging me to sign a petition that called on the International Whaling Commission “to retain the international ban on commercial whaling.”

Well, to my absolute delight I received an email this afternoon from Avaaz, the advocacy group that spearheaded the 1.2 million signature petition and counting, that the proposal to legalize whale killing was rejected!

I am even overjoyed by the fact that I, and 1.2 million others played a part in upholding the ban — we made a difference. I think Ricken Patel (Co-Founder and Executive Director of Avaaz) said it best when he stated: “this is an important victory for whales — and for global people power — together we demonstrated that international decisions can be shifted by a little bit of well-placed effort from a lot of people everywhere.”

If you're thinking about making a difference in the world, why wait? Sign one of Nature Canada's petitions or send a letter today that will protect nature from coast to coast to coast.

Nature Art, Photography and Writing Contest Winner

As some of you may already know, the winners of the 2010 Robert Bateman Get to Know Canadian Art, Writing and Photography Contest were announced last World Ocean’s day at a special event in British Columbia. Amongst the many talented youths is Nicole Schmidt, currently in grade 5 from Calgary, Alberta.

Nicole loves being outside. Her backyard, the Rocky Mountains, or a sandy beach are her favourite places to be. She enjoys illustrating and photographing deer, rabbits, and birds. She has entered the Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest for several years but this was her first writing entry.

Here is an excerpt from her writing entry.

Mystery (Backyard Species)
By Nicole Schmidt, age 10, from Alberta

Twittering sparrow,
Croaking frog,
Something sitting on that log.

Vibrating moth,
Twitching gnat,
Something resting on the mat.

Scurrying mouse,
Buzzing bee,
Flying close, right next to me.

For a complete list of all winners please follow this link.

IBAs Used as Indicator in the 2010 Millennium Development Goals Report

Whooping Crane flock, USFWS, Dave Menke

Important Bird Areas (IBAs), one of BirdLife International’s major Global Programmes, have been used as a key indicator to assess Goal 7, ensuring environmental sustainability, in the 2010 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) report. Given that IBAs are discrete sites that support specific groups of birds: threatened birds, large concentrations of birds, and birds restricted by range or by habitat, they serve as good indicators demonstrating the progress towards the protection of threatened species habitat.

The report recognizes the important contribution IBAs make to conserving biodiversity and achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). "The UN report recognizes the critical role that BirdLife’s data can play in focusing action and tracking progress towards environmental sustainability", said Dr Stuart Butchart, BirdLife's Global Research and Indicators Coordinator. "It is a tribute to the dedicated efforts of the BirdLife Partnership and others in gathering and analyzing information on the world’s birds and the key sites for their conservation."

According to the report more than two thirds of IBAs are not protected or only partially protected; the rate of biodiversity loss is not slowing down; mammals are more threatened than birds; and both mammals and birds in the developing world are more threatened than those found in the developed world.

Canada's IBA program started in 1996 with a five-year effort that focused on site identification and designation. There are currently approximately 600 IBAs across all Canadian provinces.

Mystery Cats in Ontario

Although rumours of sightings have abounded for years, they had never been confirmed. Until now. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) recently completed a four year study that has led it to conclude that eastern cougars do exist in Ontario. The findings were based on evidence ranging from DNA, to track photos and samples of scat.

Motion sensor cameras were set up in 30 different locations throughout the province, with six cameras in Peterborough as a result of frequent sightings. The latest sightings, between March and September 2009, were near Kenora, Sault Ste. Marie and Lindsay. Despite the many efforts to capture photos of cougars, so far none have been successful. This may be due to the large distances that a cougar travels – up to 50 km a night in search of prey – and their territories that expand between 500-1000 km². “The odds of getting a cougar photo is very slim, because they travel so much,” said Rick Rosatte, a senior research scientist with MNR in Peterborough.

Stuart Ken, president of the Ontario Puma Foundation, believes 95% of reported sightings are misidentifications as people mistake house cats, dogs, coyotes, wolves and even squirrels (hmmm) for cougars – what he calls ‘puma mania’, which is triggered by some individuals who believe they saw a cougar.

Although it is confirmed that cougars exist in Ontario, their exact numbers are still unknown. However, the Ontario Puma Foundation estimates that there are about 550 cougars. According to Rosatte, the cougars may be the remains of a native cougar population that was in Ontario, cougars coming from the west, those that have escaped or were released from captivity or a blend of all of the above.

One of Many Robert Bateman Art Contest Winners

This week's Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest winner profile is on Quinn Dalgarno from Ontario. For a complete list of all winners please follow the link.

Most of us have always had a deep appreciation for the rain. Such fondness lies with falling asleep to the gentle sound of the rain pounding against the ground or the exuberating feeling of letting go and dancing freely in the rain. But let’s be honest, we do not always appreciate the aftermath of a storm. So thank you to Quinn who has managed to capture the beauty and essence of after a rainfall.

Here is a little bit more about Quinn Dalgarno…

Quinn Dalgarno – Grade 10 – Ontario

Quinn loves to hike and ride his bike every chance he gets, stopping to sketch, paint, or photograph things he notices along the way. Quinn is an active birder and is able to recognize any bird by sound, flight pattern, or appearance anywhere in North America.

Say No to Commercial Whaling!

The post below was distributed by Avaaz, a global online advocay community that brings people-powered politics to global decision-making.

Nature Canada strongly supports the opposition against commercial whaling - this industry poses severe threats to biodiversity and the health of ecosystems.

------- ------- ------- ------- -------

The international vote that could legalize commercial whale hunting is just days away. Over 800,000 of us have signed the petition to protect whales, and an Avaaz team is on the ground to make sure we're heard -- let's super-charge this campaign by hitting 1 million signatures! Add your name and then forward this message:

Sign the petition!

In one week, the International Whaling Commission will hold its final vote on a proposal to legalize commercial whale hunting for the first time in a generation.

The outcome rests on whose voices are heard most clearly in the final hours: the pro-whaling lobby -- or the world's people?

More than 800,000 of us have signed the petition to protect whales -- it's time to reach 1 million! At the whale summit in Morocco, an Avaaz team is setting up billboards, front-page newspaper ads, and a giant, constantly-updating petition counter -- all to ensure that delegates, from the moment they step off the plane until they cast their votes, will see from our explosive numbers that the world will not accept legal whale slaughter. Click to sign, and forward this email to everyone:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/whales_last_push/?vl

Thanks to the worldwide outcry, many governments have already pledged to oppose the proposal. Each time the Avaaz whale petition added 100,000 signatures, it was sent again to the IWC and key governments -- some, like New Zealand, thanked all of us who had signed on.

But pressure from the other side has been relentless. Now other governments, especially in Europe and Latin America, may abstain... or even support the proposal. The vote could go either way.

Citizen pressure is our best hope. After all, it was an explosive worldwide social movement in the 1980s that led to the commercial whaling ban we're now trying to protect. As the International Whaling Commission meets in Morocco -- starting this Thursday, the 17th, with the crucial vote less than a week away -- let's make sure the world's voices are there to greet them:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/whales_last_push/?vl

After the global ban was first implemented on commercial whaling, the number of whales killed each year plummeted from 38,000 per year to just a couple of thousand. It's a testament to the power of humanity to move forward. As we move to confront the other crises of the modern age, let's cherish this legacy of progress -- by joining together now to protect our majestic and intelligent neighbors on this fragile planet.

With hope,

Ben, Ben M, Maria Paz, Ricken, Benjamin, David, Graziela, Luis, and the whole Avaaz team

P.S.: Despite the ban, Japan, Norway, and Iceland have continued whaling -- and are now pushing to make the IWC proposal as lenient as possible. Expecting permission to catch more whales than ever, Japan is reportedly planning to buy its largest whaling ship yet. Click here to sign the petition against commercial whaling!

Seismic survey in proposed Lancaster Sound NMCA approved by Nunavut Impact Review Board

On December 18, 2009 the Geological Survey of Canada submitted a proposal to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) for their “Eastern Canadian Arctic Seismic Experiment (ECASE)”; a joint Canadian-German (the Alfred Wegener Institute for polar and marine research is the German partner) project that is aimed at collecting data regarding the evolution of the sedimentary basins in this region and tectonic plate motion between Canada and Greenland.

The experiment is set to take place in Jones Sound, Baffin Island and Lancaster Sound – a proposed National Marine Conservation Area. On May 21, 2010 the NIRB approved the project under the condition that the Geological Survey of Canada follows a set of recommendations, including those for waste management, wildlife and public consultations. NIRB also suggested that any seismic results for Lancaster Sound be submitted to Parks Canada and other agencies to assist them in identifying the existence of non-renewable resources – to be later used for the development of a mineral and energy resources assessment (this assessment plays a significant role in determining the boundaries of most parks). It is important to note that the data collected will inevitably provide information on the existence of oil and gas deposits in the region, thus increasing the interest in Arctic oil & gas exploration and production.

There has been opposition against the seismic survey by High Arctic communities and Oceans North Canada as they fear the potential impacts the seismic survey may have on the areas wildlife, of which some communities depend on for sustenance. The Qikiqtani Inuit Association and Parks Canada have also opposed the proceeding of any tests in Lancaster Sound as feasibility studies for an NMCA designation currently take place.

Lancaster Sound is located between Devon Island and Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada and is home to a large variety of wildlife such as belugas, bowhead whales and harp seals. The region around Lancaster Sound includes bays, inlets and ice fields surrounded by high cliffs and spectacular fjords that stretch from Ellesmere Island to the Gulf of Boothia in the south to the waters surrounding Cornwallis Island to the west in Nunavut, Canada. This area has one of the highest concentrations of polar bears in the Canadian Arctic. Twenty Important Bird Areas are found inside or adjacent to the proposed protected area, providing essential habitat for large colonies of snow geese, ivory gulls, arctic terns and thick-billed murres. Protected areas like the one proposed at Lancaster Sound conserve some of our most important natural spaces, providing Canada and the world with clean air and water, abundant wildlife populations, and healthy communities and ecosystems.

Nature Canada fully supports and looks forward to the establishment of the Lancaster Sound NMCA.

The Results are in!

The winners of the 2010 Get to Know Canadian Art, Writing and Photography Contest were announced on World Ocean’s day at a special event held at Summerhill Pyramid Winery in British Columbia. This year, there were 37 winners chosen from over 7000 entries in art, writing and photography categories; 13 winners for art and 12 for the writing and photography categories. The winners range in age from 4 to 17, and come from all across Canada. Each week we will feature different contest winner. This week’s profile is on Hillary Le from Toronto, Ontario. For a complete list of all winners please follow the link.

Hillary Le – Grade 6 – Toronto
Hillary Le has been doing watercolour for five years and loves painting landscapes. Although she loves watercolours, she also wants to learn how to paint with acrylics and oil paints. She enjoys school and a variety of after-school activities such as gymnastics, piano, and guitar.

Winners of the 2010 Get to Know Contest will be awarded various prizes, including Panasonic digital cameras; prize packages from Opus Art and Framing Supplies and Scholastic Canada; and the publication of winning art and writing pieces in the 2011 Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest Calendar. In addition, for the first time this year, all winners over the age of 12 will be invited to the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, where they will be joined by the winners of the US Get to Know Contest, for a week of outdoor activities and events hosted by Parks Canada.

Is a Rio 2012 Summit the Answer?

International cooperation over the last 40 years has not quite solved the long list of global environmental problems or made them any less urgent. To put it mildly.

Could going back to Rio for another Earth Summit make a difference?

Maurice Strong and Felix Dodds think so. Find out why.

And what do you think?Share your views with us bellow or at csbert@naturecanada.ca

So that's how federal protected areas designations work... Update on Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve

I published a post a couple of days ago suggesting that the formal designation of the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) Reserve in Haida Gwaii was a fait accompli. Well, that's not exactly how these sorts of things work.

My earlier Gwaii Haanas post mentioned that in order to make the NMCA Reserve designation official, Environment Minister Jim Prentice had to table an amendment to Schedule 2 of the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act in both Houses of Parliament - to be reviewed by their respective committees responsible for protected areas designations. According to the Act, the committees have 31 sitting days to review and collect evidence on the amendment (called an Order in Council) and decide whether or not to reject it. This is largely a formality to ensure that new protected areas are not squeezed into law without oversight, and is parliamentary process nonetheless.

Minister Prentice tabled the amendment on Monday, June 7th, at which time it was passed along to the House Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources. The Senate committee did "not disapprove" Prentice's Order in Council on June 8th, but it took the House committee until yesterday afternoon to arrive at a similar decision. The House committee heard testimony from several of Parks Canada's senior executive staffers before it decided to waive the 31 day review period and allow the Gwaii Haanas NMCA Reserve to be added to Schedule 2 of the Act without delay. Excellent news!!

But here's the best part: Nature Canada staffers were on an elevator with Parks Canada's senior executives when they heard the news about the committee's decision!! Just as news of the committee's decision broke, myself, Ahmed Zedan and Kim Pham-Huy were crammed into an elevator in Parliament's West Block just after the committee went in camera, alongside Parks Canada CEO, Alan Latourelle; Director General of the National Parks Directorate, Ron Hallman; Director of Park Establishment, Kevin McNamee; and Senior Counsel of Legal Services, Louise Bourbonnière, as well as senior staff from CPAWS and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. We all heard that the Gwaii Haanas NMCA Reserve was official via Alan Latourelle's Blackberry - quite a coincidence!

So there you have it - a bit more insight into what exactly has to happen to formally designate a federal protected area. And a funny coincidence that we heard the great news where and with whom we did! Congrats to the Haida Nation, CPAWS, CPAWS BC, Parks Canada and other organizations for the many years of hard work they put into getting this protected area established!

South Okanagan-Similkameen wants a National Park!

A recent public opinion study carried out by McAllister Opinion Research (based in Vancouver) regarding the proposed South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve (SOS) has voiced the region’s desire for its establishment. The telephone survey between May 26 and May 31, 2010 interviewed 405 randomly selected adults aged 18+.

Here are the major findings of the survey:

- 95% said it was important to protect the natural ecosystem, plant and wildlife species in the South Okanagan in order to maintain their quality of life

- 63% were in favour of protecting a portion of South Okanagan-Similkameen in a National Park

- 17% were concerned about the environment and conservation issues

There have been, however, some concerns over the establishment of the SOS National Park Reserve, mainly coming from ranchers who are afraid their grazing tenures would be forfeited and First Nations who voiced their opposition due to their exclusion from park consultations done by the government. "Parks Canada has been focused on refining the draft park proposal to respond to concerns raised by First Nations, the ranching community, and other stakeholders", says Debbie Clarke, Parks Canada’s project manager for the feasibility study. She adds, “From Parks Canada’s perspective, therewould be tremendous opportunity to work together to develop and manage a national park reserve that integrates traditional knowledge and indigenous perspectives with science-informed management”.

We hope this park will be established in the near future as it becomes obvious that all are in favor! Write a letter in support of making South Okanagan-Similkameen Valleys in southern British Columbia a National Park Reserve.

Photos: Okanagan Vaseux Lake by GwenBarlee and Big Horn Sheep by Larry Halverson

Gwaii Haanas - Canada's first National Marine Conservation Area Reserve!

With an announcement on the eve of World Oceans Day, federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice officially protected 5000 km2 of Haida Gwaii's stunning marine and terrestrial wilderness areas. The newly designated Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) Reserve and Haida Heritage Site complements its terrestrial counterpart, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, in protecting the "Galapagos of the North" from the depths of the sea - off of the continental shelf - to the rugged mountaintops that accentuate this other-worldly landscape. Haida Gwaii was formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, located off the British Columbia coast.

Perhaps even more exciting, this designation marks the very first time that an NMCA has been designated under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act. Under the Act, an Order to amend Schedule 2 - where the NMCA Reserves are officially listed - has to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament and approved by the Governor in Council before the designation is final; Prentice presented this Order on Monday. Parks Canada's existing marine conservation areas, Fathom Five National Marine Park and the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, were established using different legal mechanisms. Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, the first NMCA announced after the Act's passing, is still in the planning stages.

Monday's announcement follows a January 2010 Gwaii Haanas Marine Agreement between Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Haida Nation "to share in the planning, operations and management of the marine conservation area, including fisheries".

The combined Haida Heritage Site, NMCA Reserve and National Park Reserve also provide permanent protection for 5 coastal Important Bird Areas in Haida Gwaii - excellent news!

For more information, read Parks Canada's backgrounder on this historic announcement, many years in the making, and check out Canada's official NMCA website.

On a related note, yesterday Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea announced a new Area of Interest for a future Marine Protected Area in the same region as the new NMCA Reserve, as well as another Area of Interest in the Laurentian Channel between Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island.

What a way to celebrate World Oceans Day! Let's not forget about other long-outstanding marine and terrestrial protected areas commitments across Canada, though...

Enbridge Insists on Pipeline Project to the BC Coast

On April 20, the world awoke to news concerning BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Most of us, myself included, weren’t even aware that there was a oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, let alone that something had gone terribly wrong. Today, most of us have clued in on the rig and its resulting oil spill and are reminded of another tragedy, the Exxon Valdez, once considered the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters...until BP’s Deepwater Horizon.

Five weeks following BP’s Deepwater Horizon, Enbridge filed a formal application to the National Energy Board (NEB) requesting permission to build a twin pipeline system running from Edmonton to Kitimat, British Colombia and a marine terminal in the latter one.

John Carruthers, President of Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines, wrote in a recent brochure advocating the pipeline project: “I certainly appreciate the importance that local residents place on the environment and I want to encourage all affected stakeholders and Aboriginal people to continue to provide feedback on our project.” He added “feel free to email me at john@northerngateway.ca with any questions you may have.” So feel free, many already have.

On March 23, more than 28 First Nations in British Columbia called for a halt to the project. The pipelines cross traditional lands and the increased tanker traffic (200-220 tankers a year) puts the future of the coastal waters on which they depend in potential jeopardy. Mr. Carruthers must have missed their emails as two months after the First Nations called for a halt to the project Enbridge formally filed, on May 27^th, for construction of the pipelines.

Four days after the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines application, a solidarity rally was held in Kitamaat Village to protest the project. Even Amnesty International has 'piped' in, noting the project should not proceed without the free prior informed consent of the First Nations that would be affected by it. This standard was adopted in the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by 144 states. Four states voted against the declaration: Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and you guessed it...Canada.

To further spice up the mix, a rather unusual ally in the fight against the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines has emerged. Kinder Morgan Canada, owner of an existing oil pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast, stated in a news release that the Northern Gateway Project had not demonstrated adequate commercial support. Kinder Morgan believes that the better way is simply to increase the output of their own pipeline, rather than build another one. Kinder Morgan motives albeit not environmental, only add to the debate.

We at Nature Canada are opposed to the Enbridge Northern Gateway project because of the risk of an oil spill in the coast and the damage it would cause to the ecosystem and to livelihoods. We believe Greenpeace said it best, “Accidents happen. If oil tankers are brought to the Great Bear Rainforest, it’s not a question of if a spill will occur; it is a question of when, where, and how large. . . When you move oil, you spill oil. No amount of technology or process can eliminate human or mechanical error.” Just look at the Gulf!

This blog post was contributed by Nature Canada volunteer Stefan Kohut. Thanks for the insight, Stefan!

Photo by Pat Moss

World Oceans Day

Designating the 8th of June as World Oceans Day was proposed by Canada back in 1992 during the Earth Summit (also known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)) in Rio de Janeiro. Ever since, it has been celebrated unofficially until its designation in 2008 by the United Nations General Assembly.

The designation is largely due to the fact that oceans contribute immensely to our well-being. They provide us with food, recreational opportunities such as diving, and most of the oxygen we breathe! They also play an important role in regulating the climate and their evaporation is the main source of rainfall.

However, we haven't been able to show our appreciation as we continue to unsustainably harvest fish, kill marine mammals and birds and cause significant damage to these pristine ecosystems by pursuing resources such as oil & gas.

We've all heard about the impacts the oil spill has had on the Gulf of Mexico, and can only imagine the devastation it would bring should it ever happen in Canada. The only way to avoid such an event from happening in Canada is to pressure the Federal Government to live up to its commitments and establish more marine protected areas, develop management plans and apply strong conservation measures where they are needed!

Make your voice heard and send a letter to the government.

Happy Oceans Day!


Photo: Allan Woodhouse

Piping Plovers persevering through snow, predators

Volunteer Piping Plover guardian Kim Toews has sent us a quick update on the nests at Sauble Beach this season:

Nest 1

F1 & M2 (1st female to arrive / 2nd male to arrive)

This female and male are a returning pair from last season. The female had several mating attempts with M1 before her 2009 mate returned. In 2008, the female successfully nested at Oliphant.

There have been indicators that the hatch may occur soon. It will be interesting to see how many chicks hatch as our female laid her third egg in a heavy snow-storm and we had two evenings of -4 degrees C temperature.

Two Merlins observed hovering inside the perimeter fence. One falcon flying towards a feeding male on the beach and the other flying over the exclosure.

Nest 2

M1 & F2 (1st male to arrive / 2nd female to arrive)

This male is from Gulliver Lake, northern Michigan and he is a year old. This female is a chick that hatched at Sauble Beach last season. As far as we know, this is the first Ontario Piping Plover to return and establish a nest in the same area.

Two Additional Males

Two additional males have been seen on the beach for several weeks now. These males are building scrapes to attract a female, but with no luck at this time.

Visitors

We have had several visitors recently from as far away as Germany, Holland and Elliot Lake. All heard about the birds when visiting the area and made a special trip to see them. Our volunteer guardians answer questions, monitor the plovers and share personal observations about this endangered species. The guardians provide visitors with information brochures on these birds and a spotting scope has been set up on the beach for visitors to observe the plovers. Their behaviour can be fascinating even to those who have never been birdwatchers.

Thanks for the update, Kim! It sounds like the plovers are persevering through all sorts of obstacles this year. We can't wait to find out how they do when their eggs hatch.

Photo by Brendan Toews, btoewsphotos.zenfolio.com

World Environment Day

Today is World Environment Day (WED), a day that was commemorated by the United Nations General Assembly on June 5th, 1972. This designation is one of the major ways that the United Nations encourages people to become more aware of the environment and is a reminder to governments to take action towards conserving it.

Celebrations for WED 2010 should be the largest yet, given that it is also the International Year of Biodiversity. Get out today and do something for the environment: plant a tree, collect garbage from a shoreline, use your bicycle for the day, or one of the many other actions you can take to help our planet.

Happy World Environment Day!

Loophole in Fisheries Act Allows Dumping of Toxic Mining Waste into Canadian Lakes

The Sandy Pond Alliance, a coalition including Council of Canadians, MiningWatch Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador Natural History Society, the Sierra Club of Canada - Atlantic Chapter, along with scientists and activists in Newfoundland & Labrador, today launched a legal challenge against the federal government for allowing the dumping of mining waste into Canadian lakes and rivers.

The announcement was made at press conferences held simultaneously in St. John's and Ottawa this morning.

The dumping of mining waste into pristine lakes and rivers converts them into "tailings impoundment areas", rendering them industrial waste basins that are generally unsuitable as wildlife habitat. Despite prohibitions on polluting waters known to be fish habitat listed under section 36 (3) of the federal Fisheries Act, this practice is permitted under section 5.1(a) and Schedule 2 of the Fisheries Act’s Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER).

Nature Canada is aware of the environmental issues surrounding the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations and will continue to monitor the progress of the Alliance's court case as it moves forward.

Water bodies listed under Schedule 2 of the MMER are found across Canada, meaning that the environmental repercussions of these regulations are not isolated. We encourage the public to learn more about this issue and become informed in the debate.

Today’s press release by the Sandy Pond Alliance’s follows:

Coalition takes federal government to court to protect lakes

The Sandy Pond Alliance, a coalition including the Council of Canadians, MiningWatch, the Newfoundland and Labrador Natural History Society, Sierra Club Atlantic, along with scientists and activists in Newfoundland launched a legal challenge against the federal government today for allowing the dumping of mining waste into Canadian lakes and rivers. The announcement was made at press conferences held in St. John's Newfoundland and Ottawa this morning.

The Sandy Pond Alliance will argue in the Federal Court of Canada that a loophole in the Fisheries Act that has led to metal mining companies seeking permission to dump toxic waste into lakes since 2006 should be deemed illegal.

"We will argue that this regulation violates federal law," says Newfoundland-based lawyer, Owen Myers. "The principal function of the Fisheries Act is the conservation of fish and aquatic ecosystems. The challenged regulations essentially amend the Act by regulation which is unlawful."

While the coalition emerged out of efforts to protect Sandy Pond, a lake near Long Harbour, Newfoundland, the issue is of national significance.

"We started this campaign in Newfoundland to protect all lakes being threatened under this loophole in the Fisheries Act," says Bill Montevecchi,University Research Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Among the threatened lakes are Fish Lake in British Columbia, in the heart of Tsilhqot'in territory, and Bamoos Lake, just off the northern shore of Lake Superior near Marathon, Ontario.

"We are not opposed to mining, but allowing the destruction of healthy bodies of water is unconscionable," says Ken Kavanagh Council of Canadians chapter chair for St. John's and Director of the Sandy Pond Alliance.

The court case is expected to be heard in St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador in the Fall.

Other groups have also voiced their opinion regarding Schedule 2 of the MMER. Here’s a sample of what they had to say:

Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians:
"Allowing a lake to be turned into a dump site for a private company is nothing short of privatizing a public resource that is essential for life. Contaminating a water body will have devastating consequences on entire watersheds at a time when the world is dealing with a fresh water crisis."

Catherine Coumans of the MiningWatch Canada:
"Prior to 2002 mining companies were required to protect surface and ground water using existing technologies... they (are now)... allowed to destroy lakes in Canada when... they would not be allowed to do so in the United States or others developed countries."

John Werring of the David Suzuki Foundation:
"They can save millions of dollars in operating cost by doing this. But is that sufficient reason to destroy our treasured natural resources?... We thought... companies would want to be more environmentally friendly, not less so."

Celeste Cote of the Sierra Club Canada:
"Coming from a government that has committed to a National Water Strategy these changes to Schedule 2 are especially counterproductive."

Roger Hunka of the Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council:
"The advisors to the Prime Minister and Cabinet are ignoring the teachings of Aboriginal peoples. Stop using lakes as dump sites for toxic mining wastes."

All quotes are taken from MiningWatch Canada's website.

You can also become acquainted with the regulations in question.

Nature Canada volunteer Stefan Kohut contributed this blog post. Thanks, Stefan!

Photo 1 shows a scene from this morning's press conference (S. Kohut)
Photo 2 shows a pristine lakefront (A. MacDonald)

IBAs, from the Tundra to Tierra del Fuego

What makes Important Bird Areas (IBAs) so important?

Birds can tell us about the state of biodiversity that underpins our lives. IBAs are defined by birds, but they are vital for all life on Earth. Watch this video to learn more:

(If you can't see the full width, view the original here.)

This video was produced by BirdLife International for the launch of Important Bird Areas Americas: Priority Sites for Biodiversity Conservation, a directory of key conservation sites across the Western hemisphere.