Long-time Supporter Campaigns for Frogs

Long-time Nature Canada supporter Sandra Soos has been spurred by her observations of the natural world around her to start her own petition to protect frogs and their habitat in Ontario.

Frogs provide benefits to us through their role in the food chain - both eating bugs and becoming prey for fish, birds and mammals. They are also an important indicator species, providing information about changes in the environment that may ultimately impact humans.

If you agree with Sandra that the Ontario government should take action to protect frogs and their habitat, sign her petition today. And way to go Sandra for standing up and doing something on behalf nature!

How Much is a Duck Worth?

According to a provincial court in Alberta, about $1,868.

Syncrude Canada has been sentenced to pay an award of approximately $3 million CAD for the death of over 1,600 ducks that dove into its 12 square kilometre tailings pond north of Fort McMurray in Alberta. Syncrude had been found guilty in June 2010 of violating both the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act and Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.

How does it add up to $3 million?

- $300,000; the maximum fine under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, which will be paid to the federal Environmental Damages Fund (EDF)

- $500,000; the maximum fine under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Half of this money will be used for the establishment of a program to monitor and protect birds, and to be integrated with aboriginal training at Keyano College in Fort McMurray, Alberta

- $1.3 million; to be given to the University of Alberta's Avian Protection Research Study

- $900,000; for the purchase of lands in the Golden Ranches Conservation Area near Edmonton

$3 million does not come close to the true value of the wildlife that was lost. Help us make sure tragedies like this one don't happen again. Sign Nature Canada's petition to stop the tar sands!

Water - We Can't Live Without It!

Without clean, abundant freshwater, life on Earth would not exist. The majority of the world's population depends on freshwater environments to provide water for drinking, irrigation, food, employment and recreation.

Luckily, Canada is blessed with plenty of water:

• Almost 9% (891 163 square kilometers) of Canada's total area is covered by fresh water.
• Wetlands cover an additional 14% (more than 1.2 million square kilometers) of the land area of Canada.
• Annually, Canada's rivers discharge 7% of the world's renewable water supply – 105 000 cubic meters per second.

Balanced, healthy ecosystems, including freshwater rivers and lakes, perform many amazing services that cannot be replicated – and that we depend on for survival. In Canada, these ecosystems:

• purify the air and water
• maintain biodiversity
• control agricultural pests
• preserve soils and renew their fertility
• pollinate crops and natural vegetation
• and much more...

These services are so fundamental to life that they are easy to take for granted, but we must remember that they are far beyond the ability of human technology to replace.

The way we treat our water resources can have an effect on healthy ecosystems. Runoff of pesticides, fertilizers and waste, introduction of non-native species and destruction of wetlands all reduce the ability of water ecosystems to perform their functions and provide these services.

We can all protect our freshwater resources through conservation action at home. Do your part to reduce global demand on our precious water resources - take the Water Conservation Pledge today! Join people across the country and around the world as we save more than 1 million gallons of water each year.

This post is a part of Blog Action Day, an annual event that sees blogs from around the world post about the same issue on the same day to spark global discussion and drive collective action.

Oil Now Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

An oil slick on the Gulf of Mexico, June 12, 2010
Photo by Deepwater Horizon Response/flickr

After the Deepwater Horizon oil well began spewing millions of litres of oil into the Gulf of Mexico earlier this year, governments, scientists, and coastal communities braced for what was expected to be a long and arduous clean-up effort. As attempts to stop the flow of oil failed repeatedly, the spill eventually grew to become the worst ecological disaster to hit American shores. The oil recovery effort was expected to continue for a very long time.

Then, in early August, the U.S. Government published a report claiming that much of the oil was contained or cleaned up because, for the most part, the ocean's surface was "clean." Unfortunately, that prognosis proved too optimistic.

In the past month several reports and studies appear to show that oil from the BP blowout is still present. A report released in mid-August by the Georgia Sea Grant and the University of Georgia stated that "up to 79 percent of the oil released into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon well has not been recovered and remains a threat to the ecosystem."

Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) discovered an oil plume that spanned roughly 35 kilometres in length, reached heights of 200 metres and was 2 kilometres wide. This oil plume lingers more than 900 metres below the ocean's surface and is believed will remain for months; however the environmental repercussions will be felt for years.

Following this latest discovery, it was revealed that more oil was present at the bottom of the seafloor up to depths of over 1,200 metres. Scientists discovered that a substantial layer of oil sediments rests on the bottom of the seafloor stretching several kilometres in all directions.

Samantha Joye, a professor at the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Georgia, set sail on August 21 to better understand where the 750 million plus litres of oil went and she now has a pretty good idea. "It's showing up in samples of the seafloor, between the well site and the coast. I've collected literally hundreds of sediment cores from the Gulf of Mexico." The oil sediments covering the seafloor are about two inches thick and in some samples they found tar balls, dead shrimp, worms and other invertebrates.

Florida's Department of Environmental Protection reports on its website that "beaches in Northwest Florida will continue to receive isolated impacts, mainly scattered tar balls, in the coming months."

As reported in our June newsletter, nearly five million Canadian migratory birds are making their way south, many of which will be passing through the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

So far, it's unclear just how many birds have died or been injured in the spill, and some environmental groups have voiced scepticism about official tallies. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife report, issued in response to a freedom of information request, listed only 4,676 affected birds as of September 14th. It was quickly determined, however, that the figures were up to 60 percent incomplete.

It's widely accepted that it will take months if not years before scientists are able to produce a true picture of the effects of the BP spill. In the meantime, we need to ensure that this type of tragedy is not repeated in Canada. Take action now and send a letter to the Canadian government to place a temporary moratorium on new off-shore drilling projects as was done in the U.S. immediately following the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

Fall Preview: What Should Parliament Be Doing for the Environment?

Parliament resumed this week, and there are several environmental policies or legislations that need action now. Nature Canada will be asking our elected representatives to:

• Complete the mandatory Species at Risk Act 5-year review.

The long-awaited 5-year review of Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA) began in 2009. The House of Commons Environment Committee has heard testimony from many witnesses and received numerous submissions, including from Nature Canada, and now needs to complete its report. As we wait for recommendations to make this crucial environmental legislation stronger, the list of at-risk species in Canada has reached 602.

Parliament must act now to strengthen SARA and make the law work to protect our endangered species.

• Begin a comprehensive review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and reinstate crucial measures that were cut this spring in Bill C-9, the Budget Implementation Act.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) establishes the national environmental assessment process used to evaluate the negative environmental impacts of new projects like mines, pipelines and tar sands projects and seeks out ways to reduce or eliminate those negative impacts.

During the budget process this spring, changes were made to CEAA that weaken the Act, side-stepping a mandatory review process that was due to start in June.

There should be a full consultation and discussion on CEAA, allowing for open and transparent debate of any further amendments. We are calling on all MPs to work to reinstate the legislation that was removed from the Act and strengthen it to ensure that our environment is protected.

• Begin a comprehensive review of regulation of unconventional oil and gas production promised in the spring.

In the wake of the Gulf oil spill, the federal government voted on June 2 to immediately conduct an open public review of relevant federal laws, regulations and policies regarding the development of all unconventional sources of oil and gas. Since this decision, little action has been taken, leaving Canada's wildlife and habitats in danger from oil and gas development.

The federal government must immediately undertake this comprehensive review to assure Canadians that our oil and gas development regulations meet the highest standards.

Additionally, Bill C-311 - the only piece of climate change legislation currently under consideration in Canada - is stalled in the Senate. The Bill has been adjourned in the name of Conservative Senator Richard Neufeld and cannot move forward until he speaks to it.

This Bill has been passed in the House of Commons not once, but twice. It was originally introduced as Bill C-377 by the NDP in 2008; the Bill died when an election was called in the Fall of 2008. In its most recent form, Bill C-311 passed third reading in the House by a majority of MPs representing almost 2/3 of the Canadian population.

Concerned Canadians have constantly raised their voices demanding strong action from our government on climate change, and we hope to see this Bill move forward this fall.

If you agree that these issues are important and the federal government needs to act on them this fall, contact your MP today and tell them to take action for Canada's environment.

Protect Canada's "Pocket Desert"!

The desert grasslands of the South Okanagan are home to over one-third of British Columbia's endangered species and other species at risk, including the bighorn sheep.

As the human population in the South Okanagan rapidly increases, the bighorn sheep's home is under growing threat by suburban sprawl and agricultural expansion. The time to act is now.

Help Us Establish a South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve!

Fact: There are more species at risk in the South Okanagan-Similkameen Valley than in any other part of BC, including white-headed woodpeckers, burrowing owls, badgers, tiger salamanders, spadefoot toads, pallid bats, spotted bats, flammulated owls, scorpions, and great basin spadefoot toads.

Fact: The South Okanagan-Similkameen Valley contains part of the Interior Dry Plateau Natural Region, also known as Canada's "pocket desert", one of the most endangered habitats in the country. The valley is all that connects the dry landscapes of BC's interior with the desert lands of the United States, allowing species to migrate north and south.

Fact: A national park would permanently protect 5 Important Bird Areas, each of which is home to at-risk bird species and other endangered plant and animal species.

Help protect Canada's only desert ecosystem. Ask the Canadian Government to create a National Park in the South Okanagan-Similkameen Valley.

Another Fake Lake?

Mining company Taseko plans to reclassify two interior BC waterbodies, Fish Lake and Little Fish Lake, as tailings impoundment areas (toxic waste dump sites!) and create an artificial lake as compensation for the resulting loss of fish habitat. However, a recently released report from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency reviewing the Project stated "that the Project would result in significant adverse environmental effects," calling into question Taseko's plans.

One specific adverse effect of reclassifying Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) and Y'anah Biny (Little Fish Lake) into tailings impoundment areas is "the destruction of approximately 90,000 rainbow trout" which is "an important food source (for First Nations) when salmon populations are low." The creation of the replacement lake, called Prosperity Lake, would not "adequately mitigate the losses of the fishing and recreational experience at Teztan Biny (Fish Lake)," the Panel found.

The Tsilhqot'in First Nation, local community, and environmental groups are strongly opposed to the Project for numerous reasons.

The creation of tailings impoundment areas out of pristine Canadian lakes and rivers has received more attention as industry further exploits the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations, Schedule 2 "loophole" of the federal Fisheries Act. Some lakes that were destined to perpetual toxicity are being spared, such as Bamoos Lake in northern Ontario. Others require long legal battles and strong public support with an unpredictable end, such as Sandy Pond, in Newfoundland.

The plaintiff in that case, the Sandy Pond Alliance (including Council of Canadians, the Sierra Club of Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador Natural History Society, MiningWatch Canada, and others) is arguing that "it is illegal for the federal government to allow the dumping of mining waste into Canadian lakes and rivers." The Alliance hopes to put an end to the practice of converting Canadian lakes into mining waste dumps once and for all.

If they succeed, Taseko will have to explore other waste management options around the Prosperity Lake Project. MiningWatch Canada has more information and details on how to send a letter to the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Environment and your MP to deny approval to this damaging project.

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

Photo: Highland Valley Copper Tailings Dam by Gord McKenna/Flickr

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.

Polar Bear Numbers Could Decline by 30% in One Year: Study

A new study from Dr. Andrew Derocher, one of the world’s leading polar bear authorities, predicts that polar bear populations may crash in one year by 30%. Derocher warns that the bears will starve as the number of days adults are forced to fast increases while they wait for Arctic sea ice to return.

From the Toronto Star:

Scientists factored in the shrinking sea ice, which affects how many seals the bears can eat before they hibernate and how easily they can find mates. Without enough food or opportunity, mating is less successful, fewer, less robust cubs are born, and teenage bears spend longer “wandering around trying to find something to eat.”

All of that information can be subjected to “some fairly advanced math” to create data tables that chart the estimated time of death by starvation for adult male polar bears.

Typically 120 days in the 1980s, the time polar bears have to spend fasting has increased by about seven days per decade and is continuing to increase.

While 3 to 6 per cent of polar bears in the Western Hudson Bay die during a 120-day summer fast, 28 to 48 per cent would die if it reached 180 days, the study found. The fast occurs because polar bears depend on frozen sea surface to cover distances.

Arctic sea ice is shrinking by up to five per cent every ten years – sea ice that not only provides hunting ground for polar bears, but shelter and transportation for seals, walrus, arctic foxes, and the Inuit people. The underside provides a surface for algae that supports cod, char, beluga, and narwhal. The white sea ice also has a cooling effect on climate by reflecting light away from Earth’s surface. As it melts, global warming advances even more quickly.

The United States designated the polar bear as threatened in May 2008. Canada's scientific Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada places them in a less serious category, as a species of special concern, and they are not included on Canada's official Species at Risk list. Regardless of its current official status, the polar bear’s habitat is under assault from the effects of our climate crisis, which, if not reversed, will mean the end of this iconic species within our lifetime.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the polar bear to its "Red List" of the world's most imperiled wildlife in 2006. In 2009, the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG) cited climate change as the greatest challenge to the conservation of polar bears, and concluded that 1 of 19 subpopulations is currently increasing, 3 are stable and 8 are declining. For the remaining 7 subpopulations available data were insufficient to provide an assessment of current trend.

You can send a letter to Environment Minister Jim Prentice asking him to add the polar bear to Canada's official species at risk list. Here is a sample letter that you can send.