Thank you to Camille Roberge

KCP Stewardship Coordinator

KCP is very sad to announce that Camille Roberge, KCP Stewardship Coordinator, will be leaving the KCP Team at the end of this month. We have really appreciated the knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm that she brought to the position and will sincerely miss her. Over the past year, Camille successfully coordinated KCP Stewardship Committees, promoted the Stewardship Solutions Toolkit, helped facilitate Conservation Action Forums, Fall Gatherings, and other KCP events, and conducted biological evaluations of candidate properties for acquisition. We wish her all the best in her new role with the provincial government, and look forward to continuing to work with her in that capacity in the future. All the best to you, Camille!

KCP and CMI present 2024 Winter Webinar Series

Webinars continue on March 14 & 21

Each year KCP offers a webinar series to facilitate the sharing of technical resources among partners and others so that local conservation activities consider the best available information and practices. The 2024 webinar series is once again hosted in partnership with the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI), on the theme of “Wildlife Corridors and Ecological Connectivity". During the eight webinars, wildlife corridors and ecological connectivity are discussed from different perspectives that provide a wide view that can inform conservation of connected and resilient landscapes in the Columbia Basin. Topics include corridors and connectivity through the lenses of wildlife biology and landscape architecture; Indigenous stewardship principles in forestry practices and fire management; road ecology and highway crossing structures; human-wildlife coexistence; and how connectivity is embedded in a larger context of ecological integrity and functioning ecosystems. Thanks to the generous support of the Columbia Basin Trust, LGL, and CMI, this series is offered free of charge. Note that the recordings of the first six webinars are now available on the main winter webinar page below.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Thank you to KCP Partners

Partner Survey completed

KCP would like to give a big thank you to all the wonderful people who took time to fill out KCP's Partner Survey last month! Your input ensures that KCP is focused on the most important priorities for all partners and that together we are working towards our shared goals for private land stewardship and conservation in the Kootenays. Congratulations to our three prize winners: Richard Johnson (Slocan Wetlands Assessment and Mapping Project), Melinda Watson (Kootenay Livestock Association), and Nancy Wilson (Columbia Lake Stewardship Society). 

Events Calendar

Public Calendar on KCP webpage 

Did you know there is a place you can find out about the upcoming conservation and environmental events throughout the Columbia Basin of BC? The Events Calendar on the KCP webpage is regularly kept up to date with upcoming events related to conservation throughout the East & West Kootenay. This calendar is a collaboration between the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN), the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI), and KCP. The calendar is intended as a simplified way for you to see upcoming conservation-related events for each month, all in one place!

Click here to see the Events Calendar.

Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners 

Conservationists building beaver dams to help restore BC's drying Columbia Wetlands

Conservationists are trying to help restore a vast area of wetland in southeastern BC by doing what beavers do: building dams. While the Columbia Wetlands area has been drying for decades due to human activity and climate change, and certain parts that once held open water all year long are now often dry in the winter and spring, the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners (CWSP) and Living Lakes Canada (LLC) are doing what they can to restore the wetlands by building dams in areas beavers have vacated. Beavers reside throughout the wetlands, but the animals have left the western upland area at the base of the Purcell Mountains. With their dams unmaintained, water has flowed over and created a stream where the wetland once was. Building back those small dams will help spread water out across the valley again.

Click here to read the whole CBC News article. 

British Columbia Wildlife Federation

Feedback on proposed Hunting and Trapping regulations - by March 22

Everyone in BC is invited to provide input on proposed changes to hunting regulations through public engagement sessions from Feb. 20 until March 22. Every two years the province reviews regulations and proposes changes as necessary. Proposed amendments are made to support economic and recreational opportunities, respect First Nations’ harvest rights and sustainably manage BC wildlife. Proposed updates are developed regionally with local input. As many as 50 proposed regulation amendments are under consideration for 2024, covering a range of topics, such as adjustments to seasons (length, start and end times) and motor-vehicle restrictions. We need to be focused on protecting endangered species, restoring wildlife wherever possible and using sound data to guide harvest regulations. Please take the time to engage and give feedback to the provincial government. Note that the deadline to provide feedback on these proposed Hunting and Trapping regulations is March 22 at 4:30 pm PT / 5:30 pm MT.

View and respond to the proposed hunting and trapping regulations here.

Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship

Land Act Amendments

This is a legislative amendment to enable agreements with Indigenous Governing Bodies to share decision-making about public land use throughout the province. The province hopes to be able to negotiate agreements with Indigenous governments and begin sharing decision-making on public land use in late spring 2024. The proposed amendments to the Land Act will allow individuals who fish, hunt and recreate to continue to do so on the land, and will allow ranchers and farmers to continue their way of life and important work, have no effect on tenures, renewals, private properties, or access to public land, provide durability of decisions that will help to unlock BC’s economic potential, ensure transparency and public consultation in any future agreement on shared decision-making negotiated by a First Nation and the Province, and require that the public, stakeholders and proponents are engaged in the discussion of any agreement that contemplates changes or impacts to the public or third-party interests. The Province wants to know your thoughts on sharing public land use decision-making, which will help ensure the path forward is informed by a range of perspectives and solutions. The consultation period was from Jan 4 to Feb 21. This formal engagement process has been closed, but people interested in sharing their views on the topic can still submit by email to landactamendments@gov.bc.ca.

Click here for more information. 

Columbia Basin Trust

Columbia Basin Management Plan 2024 – 2034

In its aim to support people and communities in the Columbia Basin, Columbia Basin Trust is celebrating the release of its new Columbia Basin Management Plan 2024 - 2034. This Management Plan was informed by feedback that the Columbia Basin Trust continuously receives from Basin residents, as well as from a comprehensive engagement process throughout 2023. Residents shared how important it is that the Trust balances being focused with being responsive to changing conditions in the Basin. Therefore, over the Plan’s 10 years, residents can expect approaches and objectives to evolve, progress to be reported, and updates to be shared. The Trust will engage directly with First Nations and Métis Peoples to listen and understand perspectives on how to support their activities and will also reflect on and adapt their approaches in response to evolving relationships and understandings with Indigenous Peoples. This Plan can be read together with the Trust’s Charter, the enduring part of the Columbia Basin Management Plan that sets out the Trust’s mandate, vision and core values.

Click here to access the Management Plan. 

Columbia Basin Trust

Enhancements focus on ecosystem health

Making changes to ecosystems in the Columbia Basin takes time, which is why four organizations are undertaking long-term projects to create significant, positive impacts. These projects are being supported by Columbia Basin Trust. “Large-scale projects of this size can make big differences when it comes to ecological health and native biodiversity,” said Johnny Strilaeff, President and CEO of the Trust. “Maintaining, improving, enhancing, restoring - these are some of the goals when it comes to taking care of the vital landscapes and waterscapes that make up this region’s natural spaces.” This latest intake of the Ecosystem Enhancement Program is providing nearly $2 million for four projects from around the Basin. 

Click here to read the full press release.

Sparwood and District Fish & Wildlife Association, Wildsight, and BC Fish & Wildlife Association

Opposed to the proposed Crown Mountain Mine

Sparwood and District Fish & Wildlife Association, Wildsight, and the BC Fish & Wildlife Association all have concerns about the Crown Mountain Coking Coal Project, particularly regarding wildlife connectivity and habitat loss, and water blockage and contamination. Crown Mountain mine, to be located mid-way between Sparwood and Elkford in the Alexander Valley, recently passed a new stage of government approval with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. Following this, the government and NWP Coal Canada Ltd. launched a month-long period of public consultation to give stakeholders and interested parties the chance to comment on the proposed project. Sparwood Fish & Wildlife member Matt Huryn described the valley as being one of few undeveloped natural spaces left for elk to use as a wintering range, that if destroyed, would make herds more vulnerable to starvation in the colder months. Huryn explained that while he’s not completely against mines, he doesn’t think the valley needs any more mines, and he also expressed concern over the impact the mine could have on local water sources, such as selenium runoff into adjacent Grave Creek.

Click here to read the full article. 

Sinixt Confederacy

Confederacy asks BC for formal assessment of proposed Zincton resort

Jarred-Michael Erickson, Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Sinixt Confederacy, is supporting the call for a full Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed Zincton all-season resort. This proposed project would be built on high quality wildlife habitat within a critical wildlife corridor between two major parks. Their preliminary internal review has raised a number of concerns, including potential impacts to blue-listed species such as wolverine and grizzly bear. Further, the proponent's Environmental Overview Report does not consider the cumulative impacts of both the proposed Controlled Recreation Area and the associated development of private property associated with the project. A thorough assessment is clearly required. The Zincton proposed project is located in the London Ridge area between New Denver and Kaslo in southeastern BC, in the heart of Sinixt traditional territory. 

Click here to read the full press release. 

Wildsight Golden

Nominations are open for the Ellen Zimmerman Award - by March 31

Nominations are now open for Wildsight’s 2024 Ellen Zimmerman Award! This award recognizes an individual who works to protect nature or to inspire a love of the wild through environmental education. Ellen Zimmerman was a tenacious champion for nature conservation in the Columbia Valley for more than 40 years until her passing in 2020. The Ellen Zimmerman Award was established to support conservation and environmental education champions in the Columbia Headwaters region, stretching from Canal Flats to the Mica Dam. The deadline for nominations is March 31. 

Click here for more information and for the nomination form.

Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it First Nation (Tobacco Plains)

Counting sheep: saving a bighorn herd in the Rockies

Native bighorn sheep range from the mountains to the rolling hills, dotting BC’s Interior and the Canadian Rockies and extending south into the US. In the 1980s, bighorn sheep began to be infected with mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi), which ultimately causes pneumonia, after interacting with domestic sheep. The illness swept across the population and, combined with the surge of changes on the land caused by colonial settlement and industrialization, almost wiped out bighorn sheep. Farmers and governments have taken steps to rein in M. ovi, including double-fencing domestic sheep and goats and inoculating them. Now, Tobacco Plains is working with the province to take on another one of the major challenges bighorn sheep face — restoring habitat, specifically in the Galton Range which extends from southeast BC into Montana. This winter they began a pilot project clearing trees to imitate how cultural burns would have thinned out forests before fire suppression practices began. Sheep thrive in those thinner, grassier forests, which First Nations stewarded for millennia.

Click here to read the full article.

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Forty-two Indigenous-led conservation projects across Canada receive federal funding to protect more nature

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced approximately $66 million in funding to support 42 Indigenous-led conservation projects across the country. These projects aim to conserve more land that will support Canada’s area-based conservation targets.

Click here for the full news release. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Public consultations on the potential amendment of the List of Wildlife Species at Risk under SARA - by May 16

You are invited to submit comments on the potential impacts of amending the List of Wildlife Species at Risk according to the COSEWIC status assessments for the terrestrial species. Your comments will be considered and will inform the Minister’s recommendation to Cabinet. Please provide comments by May 16, 2024, for species undergoing a normal consultation process. One terrestrial species, the Great Blue Heron fannini subspecies, will follow an extended consultation process. Please provide comments by October 16, 2024, for this species that will be following an extended consultation path. There will also be an opportunity to provide comments during the 30-day public consultation period associated with pre-publication in Canada Gazette Part I.

Click here for the complete set of statements and the consultation path for each species.

Province of BC

New funding supports First Nations to build forest, community resilience

Two grants from the Province for the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) will help support emergency management and land stewardship, as well as disaster- and climate-risk resilience in communities throughout BC. A $5-million grant from the Ministry of Forests will go toward a broad range of fire-stewardship programs at the local level and will be distributed by FNESS based on input from First Nations. Funds will support revitalization of Indigenous cultural practices for fire stewardship and land resilience and facilitate new equipment and wildfire training to improve emergency response and help organize First Nations community-led forums and outreach. In addition, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness has provided $960,000 to FNESS to help advance the Province’s collective understanding of disaster and climate risk throughout BC to support community resilience, planning and decision-making. The funding will support FNESS to undertake work that will help inform the Province’s Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessments.

Click here for the full news release.

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program

Nutrient restoration program update on Kootenay and Arrow Lakes

On February 8, the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) held an online information session on its Nutrient Restoration Program (NRP) on Kootenay Lake and Arrow Lakes Reservoir. Marley Bassett, a fish restoration biologist with the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, touched on the nutrient history of Kootenay and Arrow Lakes, then talked about what the program is doing to promote healthy food webs through nutrient application. The Nutrient Restoration Program (NRP) began as an experiment in 1992 in the north arm of Kootenay Lake with the objective of restoring lost nutrients, and then expanded to Arrow Lakes Reservoir in 1999. The NRP is a balancing act, because adding too many nutrients can cause too much algae to grow, which is just as detrimental to the ecosystem as too few nutrients. The goal of the NRP is to ensure that there are enough nutrients to move up the food web to support fish populations, particularly the keystone kokanee. An independent review of the program found that the program is working.

Click here to read more about the Nutrient Restoration Program. 

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Burbot recovery work to begin in Lower Kootenay area

BC’s fish biologists and international co-managers were on Moyie Lake in February to catch, tag and release burbot as part of egg collection to support recovery in the Kootenay River and Kootenay Lake. The egg-collection project is part of successful recovery efforts for the Lower Kootenay burbot population downstream of Libby Dam in Montana to Kootenay Lake north of Creston. As of today, hatchery-released burbot are surviving well in the Lower Kootenay system. However, due to habitat limitations from the Libby Dam and floodplain alterations along the Kootenay River, burbot are not spawning successfully in the river. Moyie Lake egg collections are therefore an essential component of the hatchery production until wild spawning is restored. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship continuously monitors the Moyie Lake burbot population because it is a popular sport and subsistence fishery as well as a crucial part of the Lower Kootenay burbot recovery program. Members of the public can help refine burbot population estimates by calling 250 354-6333 when they catch a fish with a tag, and take a clear photo of the tag or mail it to the regional office. In addition to the tag number, anglers are asked to include a description of the location and accurate length, weight and sex of the fish.

Click here for the full article.

Kootenay Community Bat Project

Report your Bats

Whether you have bats and want them out of your house or are happy leaving the colony where it is, reporting your colony helps the BC Community Bat Program keep track of bats in BC. Note that all 17 species of bats in BC are protected under the Provincial Wildlife Act. The BC Community Bat Program is also asking for the public’s help in reporting dead or sick bats. From Nov 1 through May 31, if possible, collect the dead bat (without touching them with bare hands) and wrap with a paper towel and place in a plastic zip lock bag. Contact your local bat program immediately (Find your regional bat program here). Refrigerate the specimen or freeze if it will be longer than 48 hours before the bat is picked up. White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a fungus that is not harmful to humans. WNS has been detected in bats in Washington State and in Alberta. Pd, the fungus responsible for the disease, was detected in Grand Forks, BC in 2022 but as of November 2023, we have not found any bats with WNS in BC yet. 

Click here for more information and to report.

Wildlife Collision Prevention Program and iNaturalist

Report Roadkill BC

The Wildlife Collision Prevention Program has launched Report Roadkill BC, an iNaturalist project that aims to fill gaps in current wildlife vehicle collision data. This project hopes to identify wildlife vehicle collision hotspots, identify species that are being involved in wildlife vehicle collisions, particularly smaller animals where collisions may have gone unreported and Species at Risk, and bring awareness to the effects of underreporting on population numbers and conservation efforts. We are asking those in BC to take pictures of roadkill and upload them to iNaturalist. Your observations should automatically be added to Report Roadkill BC should they meet the project's specified parameters, but you can also add them directly to the project. Because taking pictures of roadkill can put you in dangerous situations, please use appropriate safety precautions.

Click here for instructions on how to upload your observations.

Wildsight Elk Valley

Looking for research participants 

Wildsight is looking for community members to join a participatory photomapping research project. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the changes that have taken place in the Elk Valley over the last century and understand how people value the landscapes they inhabit. Your participation will involve a 1 to 2-hour activity where you will engage with maps and photographs of the area. This is a great opportunity to reflect on shared values and have your say in the places that matter to you. This research is being conducted by Sonia Voicescu, a University of Victoria graduate student, in partnership with Wildsight. For more information, please contact Sonia at svoicescu@uvic.ca.

Wildsight Golden

Upper Columbia Valley Recreation Ecology Study

PhD candidate Gemma Cobb is seeking participants for a survey to delve into your perspectives on environmental challenges and how local residents engage with the landscape surrounding the area known as Golden. This research aims to build a better understanding of how local overlapping land use decisions may influence the maintenance of a healthy environment for humans, ecosystems, and wildlife. Why participate? Your valuable input will contribute to a doctoral research project that can support a more holistic understanding of landscape-society dynamics to facilitate well-informed decision making and more sustainable outcomes for the community and surrounding ecosystems. Should you have any questions or require further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to via email to gemma.cobb@griffithuni.edu.au. Thank you for contributing to our community research!

Click here to participate in the survey.

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

New restrictions for region affected by chronic wasting disease

The Province has implemented mandatory chronic-wasting disease testing, as well as restrictions on the transport and disposal of any road-killed cervids (deer, moose, elk, caribou) in the area where the first cases of the disease were found in BC in two deer samples in January. The restrictions apply within the Initial Response Area, which is south of and including Highway 3, situated between south of Cranbrook toward the US border, west to the Moyie Range, and east to the Macdonald Range. Chronic wasting disease is an infectious and fatal disease affecting species in the cervid family, such as deer, elk, moose, and caribou. The public is encouraged to report any sightings of deer, elk, moose or caribou exhibiting any of these symptoms: weight loss, drooling, poor co-ordination, stumbling, generally sick with no obvious reason, to the 24/7 Report All Poachers and Polluters Line. There is no direct evidence that the disease can be transmitted to humans and there have been no cases of the disease in humans. However, to prevent any potential risk of transmission or illness, Health Canada and the World Health Organization recommend people not eat meat or other parts of an animal infected with chronic wasting disease.

Click here to read the full news release.

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Description of critical habitat for American Badger jeffersonii subspecies, Western population and Eastern population

The American Badger jeffersonii subspecies (Taxidea taxus jeffersonii), Western population and Eastern population, is listed as endangered on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act. In Canada, the American Badger jeffersonii subspecies is found in southern British Columbia, within which two distinct populations are recognized: Western population and Eastern population.

Click here for more information. 

Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners

Report badger sightings

The Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners are asking the public to forward sighting information on American Badgers in the Columbia Valley. Have you seen an American Badger or one of its burrow entrances (large elliptical hole often seen with a mound of dirt at the entrance) in the Columbia Valley? If so, they want to hear from you! Please let CWSP know what you saw and when and where you saw it. To do so, please send an email to badgersightings@gmail.com.

Living Lakes Canada

Low snowpack expected to further impact water sources as drought conditions continue

Concerns regarding the impacts of record-low snowpacks on BC’s freshwater supplies are mounting, with the latest provincial government’s snow survey on February 1 revealing a 39% below normal average (compared to 21% this time last year). To better understand the impacts of climate change on water availability, Living Lakes Canada has been implementing a coordinated monitoring network across the region, known as the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Framework. Monitoring is crucial to track water and climate conditions throughout the year and respond accordingly. 

Click here to read more.

Living Lakes Canada

Connect to your local lake: Join the 4th Annual National Lake Blitz

Lakes are integral to communities, providing essential resources and serving as recreational and cultural hubs. Yet, increasing climate and other impacts highlight the need to monitor and protect these vital ecosystems. This summer, Living Lakes Canada invites you to dive into volunteer lake monitoring with the National Lake Blitz. Starting March 1, 2024, anyone interested in deepening their connection to their favourite lake can register as a Lake Blitz volunteer. Join hundreds of people across Canada in measuring air and water temperature, and documenting shoreline habitat, wildlife, invasive species and environmental concerns at their chosen lakes between May and September. 

Click here to read more.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans – feedback accepted until March 31

Potential amendments to the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), led by the Aquatic Invasive Species National Core Program (AIS NCP), is planning potential amendments to the federal Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations (AIS Regulations). These amendments are needed to improve the efficiency and environmental protections of authorized control activities for aquatic invasive species (AIS) that use pesticides (referred to as “pest control products” under the Pest Control Products Act). DFO is committed to developing regulations and policies through engagement and early discussions with Canadians, and they are engaging with the public, Indigenous Peoples, partners, and stakeholders to share information and seek early input on 3 changes to the AIS Regulations being considered. All Canadians are invited to participate in the online engagement. 

Click here for more information.

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada

Can fake old-growth trees help the endangered northern myotis bat?

Endangered northern myotis bats require mature and old-growth trees for roosting. In BC's inland temperate rainforest, most of those trees have disappeared and biologists are experimenting with fake old-growth bark to help the bats survive. Cori Lausen, director of bat conservation for the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, and her team members use BrandenBark™ to imitate old-growth trees. The modified trees are an essential component of a larger plan to create corridors for northern myotis bats and other wildlife dependent on old-growth trees. Lausen and her team are part of the Kootenay Connect project, which aims to create ecological corridors linking wildlife habitats, biodiversity hotspots, protected areas and climate refugia. 

Click here to read the full article in The Narwhal.

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada

Interview on CBC Daybreak - Singing Bats

Researchers in the West Kootenay have discovered that silver-haired bats have recognizable songs. Cori Lausen, Director of Bat Conservation with the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada (WCSC), was interviewed by Chris Walker for CBC Daybreak on January 24. These sounds are not echolocation; the bats sing when they are communicating with each other, potentially to attract mates or to identify their territory. Humans can't normally hear the songs of bats, because the sounds are ultrasonic signals in a frequency range that we don't hear, but these songs can be heard through a bat detector. Many of these songs were recorded at two abandoned mine sites in the West Kootenay. Silver-haired bats are a migratory species of bat that are designated as endangered by the federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 

Click here to listen to the interview with Cori Lausen (begins at 1:15:40)

Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society

Ecosystem Restoration projects for 2024

The Rocky Mountain Natural Resources Society recently published the map and list of Ecosystem Restoration projects that it intends to put into action in 2024. You can find the lists and maps at Maps | Rocky Mountain Trench Society If you have any comments, questions or feedback on any of these projects please contact Marc Trudeau at marc@trench-society.com.

Columbia Basin Trust

FireSmart activities come to more Basin communities 

From educating residents on how to lower the risk of wildfire, to reducing the amount of vegetation that could fuel a fire, there are many ways a community can act to keep the threat of wildfire at bay. Now, 10 communities in the Columbia Basin are undertaking such projects with support of nearly $1.8 million provided through a partnership between the Province of British Columbia and Columbia Basin Trust. Tailored specifically to the Basin, this program is one aspect of the Province of BC’s Community Resiliency Investment Program. Partners include the Ministry of Forests, BC Wildfire Service and Columbia Basin Trust, which is administering the funding.  

Click here for more information.

BC Wildlife Federation

Raises alarm over de-funding invasive mussel surveillance

BC’s fish populations and freshwater ecosystems are facing threats from a parasite that causes whirling disease in trout and salmon and two species of invasive mussels. The BC Wildlife Federation is deeply concerned that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), FortisBC and BC Hydro are scaling back their support for invasive mussel surveillance in BC and failing in their duty to protect our fish. Zebra and Quagga mussels are responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in the US and in Eastern Canada, and these mussels are frequently detected on boats coming to BC from the US. They attach themselves to boats, motors, trailers and marine equipment; they reproduce very quickly and are nearly impossible to eradicate once established. Surveillance programs that monitor incoming watercraft and gear are the most effective means of preventing them from entering freshwater systems. The provincial government considers them a threat to all of BC’s freshwater ecosystems. Infestations are predicted to lead to declines in lake trout, rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon.

Read the full article here.

Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society

Raises Alarm over Whirling Disease Detection at Emerald Lake

The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS), a dedicated local non-profit committed to the preservation of our natural environments, is deeply concerned to learn about the presumptive positive detection of Whirling Disease at the iconic Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. This development has the potential to mark the first-ever case of Whirling Disease in BC, raising urgent conservation and environmental concerns. In response to this alarming discovery, CSISS acknowledges the immediate collaboration between Parks Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to confirm the presence of Whirling Disease in Yoho National Park and further suspected cases in the Kicking Horse River, Wapta Lake, Finn Creek and Monarch Creek. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Parks Canada has taken decisive measures by temporarily closing all waterbodies in Yoho and Kootenay National Park until March 2024. CSISS supports this proactive step as it is vital in minimizing the risk of further potential spread and preserving the health of our cherished aquatic ecosystems.

Click here to read the full press release.

Wildsight Elk Valley

Well water monitoring for groundwater selenium contamination

Do you live in the Elk Valley and have a water well, or know someone who does? If so, this call out is for you! Wildsight needs historic well water monitoring data to support their research into groundwater selenium contamination in the Elk Valley region. In particular, they're interested in wells located from Elkford to Elko to help build a picture of how the contamination area may be changing.⁠ Please contact Simon Wiebe, Wildsight’s Mining Policy and Impacts Researcher: info@wildsight.ca. All communications will be kept strictly confidential.

The Nature Trust of BC

Conserving an Essential Wildlife Corridor in the East Kootenay 

The Nature Trust of BC, one of the province’s leading non-profit land conservation organizations, is aiming to protect 182 hectares (450 acres) of an important wildlife corridor. The area is located between the communities of Kimberley and Cranbrook and within the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa First Nation. You can help The Nature Trust of BC purchase and protect Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor – Wycliffe Prairie with a donation to their fundraising campaign. The parcel is adjacent to The Nature Trust of BC’s 364-hectare (900 acre) Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor Conservation Complex alongside additional lands conserved by the Province and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Once this land, known as Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor – Wycliffe Prairie, is protected, the combined total of conservation land in this multi-partner Wycliffe Conservation Complex will be more than 1450 hectares (3500+ acres). This ecologically diverse area contains native grassland, along with mixed forest, wetlands, riparian habitat along Luke Creek, and two small lakes. The parcel is part of a critical wildlife movement corridor that connects Grizzly Bear habitats and includes a Class 1 Ungulate Winter Range for Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer, and Elk. Purchasing this property will protect the land and the many species that depend on it forever. 

Click here to read the full story

Native Bee Pollinators of the West Kootenays

March 3, Kaslo

As part of the Kaslo Seedy Sunday event, native bee expert Gord Hutchings will present 'Native Bee Pollinators of the West Kootenays'. Gord has been studying native bees for over 30 years in BC, Yukon, and Saskatchewan. He has been a contract field biologist for the Royal BC Museum, BC Ministry of Environment (Conservation Data Centre), the Yukon Territory Government, and Canada Wildlife Service. In addition, KinSeed will have special native seed mixes available at this event. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the native seeds will be donated to the Kootenay Native Plant Society (KNPS) and the BC Native Bee Society. From 10 am to 1 pm PT, Native Bee presentation is at 12 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Regional Approaches to Wild Pigs Prevention and Management Across Canada

March 6, Online

Presented by the Canadian Council on Invasive Species, this webinar will be facilitated by Hannah McKenzie, Wild Boar Program Specialist with Alberta Agriculture, and Brook Schryer with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. According to the Province of BC, feral pigs (Sus scrofa) have been reported in low numbers throughout the province, including in the Kootenay Region. Many of these pigs were released or escaped from farms and were recaptured. Feral pigs have not yet established large populations in BC. Hannah’s presentation will provide an overview of wild boar in Alberta, and will also talk about the collaborative actions the Alberta Government and partners are taking to protect Alberta from this destructive invasive species. Brook Schryer’s presentation will highlight the Invading Species Awareness Program’s Wild Pig Surveillance Program, which has been working with volunteers across Ontario since 2021 to set up baited sites with trail cameras to monitor for any occurrences of wild pigs that may be on the landscape. This webinar will begin at 10 am PT / 11 am MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Virtual Open House with BC Hydro regarding Teck Electrification Project

March 6, Online

Situated in BC's Elk Valley, Teck Resources runs four coal mines in the area. These produce one-sixth of the metallurgical coal for the entire international steel industry and employ more than a quarter of the region's workforce. As part of BC Hydro’s mission to bring more clean, reliable electricity to the area and help Teck achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, they are helping the company transition to a zero-emission fleet and processing equipment. To facilitate this, BC Hydro plans to build a new 230 kV transmission line – about 85 km long – between a new substation and Teck's Elkview, Greenhills, and Fording River operations, two new switching stations, and associated infrastructure. BC Hydro is consulting with Indigenous Nations and engaging with stakeholders to help plan the project and select a transmission line route, including holding open houses in Elkford, Sparwood, and online to share their early plans and options for the route corridors they're considering. They want to hear from Elk Valley residents, businesses, and organizations. Email projects@bchydro.com if you have input to share or would like to receive emailed updates. The virtual open house is from 11 am to 12 pm PT / 12 to 1 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

A Personal Perspective on the Promises and Perils of the Single-Species Approach for Addressing Biodiversity Loss

March 7, Online

This is a free or by donation lecture by Dr. Justina Ray, President and Senior Scientist of Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, held in-person in Waterloo, and also available to all via Zoom. As wildlife conservationists and scientists, we sometimes focus on particular species as a means to achieve broader understanding of ecological dynamics and drivers of change. While governments have traditionally favored single-species management approaches, two emerging trends are challenging this paradigm. First, as the list of endangered species continues to grow, our current system is stretched beyond its limits. Second, our understanding of biodiversity has expanded well beyond the handful of species we typically prioritize, and the critical connections between biodiversity, climate, human well-being, and economic prosperity are becoming increasingly apparent. Both are compelling a paradigm shift towards multi-species and ecosystem perspectives. Drawing from Dr. Justina Ray’s personal experiences as a wildlife biologist and conservationist, she will explore the implications of this shift for how we save species that share this planet amidst the escalating complexity of global environmental challenges. From 4 to 5 pm PT / 5 to 6 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Bighorn Sheep monitoring event

March 9, Fairmont 

Wildsight Invermere is holding a monthly Bighorn sheep monitoring event. No experience is needed to be a citizen science sheep monitor, just the ability to walk and be outside for 4-6 hours. The orientation and tools to do the monitoring are provided. This is in support of the Bighorn Sheep Conservation and Biodiversity project. By participating in the program, volunteers actively contribute to the project’s objectives by assisting in monitoring activities such as observing and documenting bighorn sheep sightings, recording behavioural observations, and collecting data on habitat use. The sheep herd is located near Canal Flats, and car pooling can be arranged. Meet at the Local Café in Fairmont at 11 am.

Click here for more information and to register.

Winter Webinar Series: The trappings of success: the critical role of social carrying capacity in fostering long-term human-grizzly bear coexistence promoting safe and functioning wildlife corridors

March 14, Online

Wildlife corridors are more secure when human-wildlife conflicts can be reduced. Biologists Dr. Lana Ciarniello and Dr. Michelle McLellan, both with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bear Specialist Group, will examine the success of coexistence strategies in an agricultural community that is critical to the recovery of southwest BC’s five threatened grizzly bear populations, Pemberton Meadows. Bears are needed to gradually and naturally augment the adjacent small and struggling populations, highlighting the importance of using a multi-scaled approach that includes connectivity and long-term coexistence. They will discuss seasonal resource selection function models they developed to predict connectivity among core habitat and populations and on-site evaluations to identify corridors allowing bears to naturally move across the Meadow, and explain how the corridor design was supported by proactive Bear Smart management that fosters human-bear coexistence as an antidote to habitat fragmentation by managing the “ecological traps.” This talk will also discuss the critical role that social carrying capacity plays in grizzly bear recovery and the importance of preventing or resolving conflicts before residence tolerance for bears declines. Live webinar at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Climate Action 101

March 14, Online

This webinar is the second in the three-part Climate Resilient Kootenay Businesses Webinar Series. Join BC Green Business for Climate Action 101, a free webinar where you’ll discover the basics of climate action and how businesses can easily design and implement decarbonization strategies. The webinar will cover what 'climate action' and 'decarbonization' really mean, and explain how businesses of any size can track and reduce their emissions.

Real life examples of businesses taking action will be presented, as well as lessons from Jill Doucette, founder of Synergy Enterprises and Synergy Foundation. From 12 to 1 pm PT / 1 to 2 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Reconnecting the Rockies: Bridging Nature and Roads on Highway 3

March 14, Fernie

Join the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y), and Wildsight Elk Valley at the Arts Station in Fernie for this event, to explore the fascinating world of wildlife crossings and road safety. Learn about local projects reshaping Highway 3 for both critters and commuters. The Elk Valley is a vital corridor for grizzlies, elk, and more, connecting Banff National Park and Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park. Highway 3 is a barrier that poses challenges for wildlife in the Elk Valley, resulting in deadly collisions. Up to 200 large animals are killed each year, and there are costs to people, too. Connect with local wildlife experts, road ecologist, and safety advocates in an insightful panel discussion about ongoing local wildlife crossing projects along Highway 3. Learn how you can be part of the solution. This event is open to all and free, but you must RSVP to secure your spot. From 4 to 5:30 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Weaving together people and place - creating a climate of regeneration

March 15, Online

Jan Inglis will be exploring the concept of bioregionalism within our community, sharing examples of on the ground regenerative projects and discussing how we can deepen ecological connections. Bioregionalism is a term used for recognizing and respecting the unique geological, ecological and cultural features of the place we are in. It means orienting ourselves to living within ancient boundaries of watersheds and our bioregional commons instead of just orienting ourselves to recent political and civic boundaries. This orientation can attempt to repair much of the deep and pervasive assumption of separation of humans from the earth, and of individuals from each other that has justified commodification, extraction and colonization. This session will include some participatory aspects so that implications for activism and examples of on the ground repair and regenerative projects can be discussed. Facilitator Jan Inglis will share examples of on-the-ground regenerative projects and discuss how we can deepen ecological connections. From 12 to 1 pm PT / 1 to 2 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Applying Nature-Based Solutions in the Foreshore 

March 20, Online

Join Green Shores to welcome Cori Barraclough and Dr. Donna Marie Bilkovic, who will discuss their experiences in applying nature-based solutions in coastal and lakefront foreshore areas. They will present their research and methods for maximizing ecological function and shoreline stabilization, share challenges and lessons learned while working with landowners, and inform us on which incentives are working to bring more projects to completion. At 9 am PT / 10 am MT.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Winter Webinar Series: Context matters: landscape connectivity and ecological integrity

March 21, Online

Ensuring for ecological connectivity becomes critical as soon as habitat fragmentation of a once ecologically intact system is underway. This makes it necessary to understand the character and significance of high ecological integrity ecosystems, i.e., where composition, structure, and function are within their natural state, but are diminishing at a global scale. Mounting evidence suggests that healthy, high integrity ecosystems are better able to persist, and to deliver the critical services on which humanity depends, than those on the lower end of the continuum characterized by fragmentation, degradation, and species loss. In this talk, Dr. Justina Ray with the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada will explore the essential role that unfragmented, unroaded, and undeveloped lands and waters play in sustaining biodiversity and landscape connectivity, and the particular responsibility that Canada has for this theme when it comes to the domestic implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Live webinar at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Hidden biodiversity: the fascinating life of parasitic lice that infest birds

March 21, Online

Join this presentation, presented by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, and hosted by the University of Northern BC, about the diversity of parasitic lice that infest birds. There are more than 700 bird species in Canada but barely 50% of the expected fauna infesting them has been recorded, most of which are from only a few occurrences. Learn more about some of the more bizarre examples of parasitic lice, both in Canada and from around the world, and why we should be paying more attention to them. The presenter is Dr. Terry Galloway, with the Department of Entomology at the University of Manitoba. From 7:30 to 8:30 pm PT / 8:30 to 9:30 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Columbia River Film Release on World Water Day

March 22, Online

The film “Changing Course: A River's Journey of Reconnection” will be released on World Water Day! The film explores the degradation of what was once one of the most productive salmon rivers in the world. It looks at the dams and storages that eliminated wild salmon from the main stem of the river in Canada, and how this loss cut the heart out of Indigenous culture throughout the basin. The film also touches on the Columbia River Treaty, sixty years after it was created. New thinking is needed to ensure sustainable healthy ecosystems for this important river. In the film, leading voices from Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities eloquently express the need for new approaches to water management and governance that are more connected to nature, account for climate change, and meaningfully include First Nations leadership. Note that as this documentary is being offered at no charge to your organization to show and share, the filmmakers respectfully request that if admission is being charged to an event featuring this film, that there be the consideration of a donation to the creators of the film: Creatively United for the Planet. This is an active non-profit society dedicated to showcasing positive solutions that enhance environmental stewardship and conservation.

Click here to view the trailer for the film.

East Kootenay FireSmart Program Workshop – register by March 8

March 23, Cranbrook

This educational workshop will be split into two parts. There is an open session in the morning for anyone in the region interested in learning more about FireSmart and how to help make their home and property more resilient to wildfire. The afternoon workshop is about Neighbourhood Champions, focusing on the Regional District of East Kootenay’s new FireSmart Guidebook, successes, and challenges, and what lies ahead for the future of FireSmart. Special guest speaker, Christina Hanger, will also be joining after lunch via Zoom, from Australia. Christina is a certified and multi-award-winning engagement specialist with an extensive background in emergency management and fire safety education.

Click here for more information and to register.

Ecosystem Enhancement and Restoration Project Ideas Workshop

April 5, Nakusp

The Columbia Basin Trust's Ecosystem Enhancement Program is hosting four in-person workshops around the Basin this spring where you can learn more about the program and how to submit a project idea! Bring your ecosystem enhancement and restoration project ideas, and discuss the resources and partners that could help further develop your project ideas. Review next steps to submit your project idea for potential Trust support. Register below for an ecosystem enhancement and/or restoration project idea, and/or if you would like to contribute to a project. From 9 am to 1 pm PT. If you cannot make the workshop and you have an ecosystem restoration or enhancement project you would like to discuss, contact Krista Watts at kwatts@ourtrust.org.

Click here to register.

Ecosystem Enhancement and Restoration Project Ideas Workshop

April 9, Sparwood

The Columbia Basin Trust's Ecosystem Enhancement Program is hosting four in-person workshops around the Basin this spring where you can learn more about the program and how to submit a project idea! Bring your ecosystem enhancement and restoration project ideas, and discuss the resources and partners that could help further develop your project ideas. Review next steps to submit your project idea for potential Trust support. Register below for an ecosystem enhancement and/or restoration project idea, and/or if you would like to contribute to a project. From 9 am to 1 pm MT. If you cannot make the workshop and you have an ecosystem restoration or enhancement project you would like to discuss, contact Krista Watts at kwatts@ourtrust.org.

Click here to register.

CSISS Land Manager Meeting

April 9, Revelstoke

The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) invites all land managers and partners to provide input on regional invasive plant and animal priority lists. Join CSISS in completing the annual review of the Columbia Shuswap priority invasive species lists and watchlists from the 2020 – 2025 Columbia Shuswap Operational Plan. This meeting, including lunch, is from 10 am to 2 pm at the Revelstoke Community Centre.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Wildlife Bioacoustics: A Hands-on Introduction

April 10 – 12, Revelstoke

Many biologists are attracted to automated recording technology and software to increase data capture, lower cost to capture, reduce observer effect, increase surveyor safety, and capture field data that can be revisited. First-time bioacoustical surveys can seem intimidating with high initial cost of purchase, large-scale data management, and potential for recording failure. The main goal of this course is to provide attendees with hands-on knowledge of best field practices, acoustic data management, and analysis techniques so they can confidently implement acoustic monitoring for terrestrial wildlife (e.g. birds, anurans, insects, and mammals including bats). This is a hands-on course where participants will learn the acoustic physics and animal behaviour basics, plan surveys, prep and deploying equipment, review data for errors, build dataset management, and practice analysis techniques. Students will interact with a variety of devices and analysis software types with expert support.

Click here for more information and to register.

Ecosystem Enhancement and Restoration Project Ideas Workshop

April 11, Fairmont

The Columbia Basin Trust's Ecosystem Enhancement Program is hosting four in-person workshops around the Basin this spring where you can learn more about the program and how to submit a project idea! Bring your ecosystem enhancement and restoration project ideas, and discuss the resources and partners that could help further develop your project ideas. Review next steps to submit your project idea for potential Trust support. Register below for an ecosystem enhancement and/or restoration project idea, and/or if you would like to contribute to a project. From 9 am to 1 pm MT. If you cannot make the workshop and you have an ecosystem restoration or enhancement project you would like to discuss, contact Krista Watts at kwatts@ourtrust.org.

Click here to register.

Introductory Michif Language course - early registration until February 29

April 15 to May 20, Online

Join instructors Marie Schoenthal and Amy Cross for this Introductory Michif Language Online Workshop: Celebrating Métis Culture! This course is open to both Métis and willing non-Métis allies who wish to learn to uplift language revitalization. This engaging Métis cultural presentation provides community members with a unique opportunity to delve into their rich heritage and acquire fundamental Michif language skills. Led by a traditional Michif speaker Marie Schoenthal, this workshop promises an immersive experience that celebrates and preserves Métis culture. Southern Michif is a traditional language of the Métis people. It is also known as Michif, Michif Cree, Heritage Michif, aan Cree, and aañ Crii. Its origins are in the Red River Valley area in Manitoba and this language is now applicable across the southern parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Southeastern BC, and Southwestern Ontario, as well as the northern parts of North Dakota and Montana. This course will take place on Mondays from 6 to 7:30 pm PT / 7 to 8:30 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Columbia River Treaty and Climate Change

April 19, Online

How will the Columbia River Treaty negotiations affect ecological integrity, Indigenous rights, and climate resilience? What are the trade-offs between electricity generation and functioning ecosystems? Join Greg Utzig, Nelson-based conservation ecologist and land use planning consultant, for our this webinar exploring the Columbia River Treaty. Greg has contributed to various reports concerning the environmental impacts of reservoirs on the Columbia/ Kootenay River system in BC and the potential for mitigating those impacts. He is a member of the Columbia Basin Regional Advisory Committee, the Upper Columbia Basin Environmental Collaborative, and has participated in the International Collaborative Modeling Workgroup. From 12 to 1 pm PT / 1 to 2 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Wicking bed demonstration 

April 20, Invermere

Join Groundswell Network Society for this workshop on water conservation on Earth Day weekend.

Click here for more information.  

Data Manipulation and Visualization in R

April 22 – 25, Revelstoke

Data manipulation and visualization will provide students with the tools they need to effectively tidy, transform and visualize their data in R. This course will teach the theory behind tidy data, setting up a reproducible data pipeline, introduction in the tidyverse suite of packages, importing data, tidying data, transforming data, dealing with missing data, summary statistics, exploratory data analysis, data visualizations and writing reports in R markdown. This course spans four half-days. Students should have a basic working knowledge of R software to take this course. This course is paired with Ayla’s Intro to R course (next scheduled for May 6-9 and Oct 15-18). Be sure to check this course out if you need to brush up on your R skills first.

Click here for more information and to register.  

Turtle Day 2024 – Save the Date!

April 23, Cranbrook

Join the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) and the Rocky Mountain Naturalists, for this free, fun, family event! You will have an opportunity to see Western Painted Turtle hatchlings, just hours after emerging from their nests. You will be able to talk with naturalists and discover how this at-risk species has evolved and survives the winter, and learn about other animals that call Elizabeth Lake home. For more information, call 250-777-2591 or email fwcp@bchydro.com. Turtle Day will take place at Elizabeth Lake from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.

Blue Ecology: Sense the Spirit

April 24, Online

Join the Society for Ecological Restoration for this webinar with Michael Blackstock. He will share the story of how the Blue Ecology philosophy came to be, guided by Indigenous Elders. He will then follow the thread of implications of defining water as the lifeblood of our planet, such as redefining an ecosystem and proposing biocultural diversity zones in BC. Closing off, he will encourage the audience to look at climate change from a water perspective. Michael will also share some suggested personal actions for folks who want to sense the spirit of nature. Michael is a Founder and Director of the Blue Ecology Institute Foundation and is of Gitxsan/European heritage; he is a carver, visual artist, poet, forester, and mediator, and has a Master of Art degree in First Nations Studies. He has served as a member of the UNESCO-IHP Expert Advisory Group on Water and Cultural Diversity.

Click here for more information and to register.

International 2024 City Nature Challenge Bioblitz

April 26 to 29

The international 2024 City Nature Challenge (CNC) bioblitz will be held April 26 to 29, 2024. See the CNC FAQ for more information. Join in the 2024 City Nature Challenge! Make observations of wild plants and animals, and take part in one of the largest community science events in the world while helping us better understand – and therefore, take care of – nature that lives in and around urban areas. For more information, contact George Gehrig with the Northern Rocky Mountain Biodiversity Challenge at geogehrig@gmail.com.

Click here for more information and click here for the regional umbrella project of the CNC.

Sinixt ethnohistorical report – training session

April 27, Nelson

The Sinixt Confederacy and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will be conducting a joint training session with the Province of BC in late April concerning the Sinixt ethnohistorical report, as well as the implementation of the Desautel decision. Sinixt Confederacy staff will also be outlining their priorities for the upcoming year. If you have any questions in advance please feel free to reach out to James Baxter, Principal Biologist and Senior Manager. The goals of this training are to provide a background on Sinixt traditional territory in British Columbia, engagement / consultation with the Sinixt Confederacy moving forward following the Desautel decision and allow a forum for discussion. The target audience for this training session is NGO’s, the public, and recreational operators working in Sinixt traditional territory. If you would like to attend please contact James Baxter at james.baxter.fnw@colvilletribes.com to receive details and an invitation. This session is from 9 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday, April 27.

Gardening during a Drought

April 28, Invermere

Join Groundswell Network Society for this workshop on water conservation while still enjoying good food.

Click here for more information.  

4th Annual National Lake Blitz

May 1 to September 30, Lakes across Canada

The National Lake Blitz is an annual volunteer program with the goal of encouraging the widespread monitoring of lakes across Canada. Using simple tools, volunteers can gain a firsthand understanding of how climate and other impacts are affecting lake health and biodiversity. Living Lakes Canada equips volunteers with a free Lake Blitz Kit, provides training on how to monitor your local lake and hosts the Lake Blitz Speaker Series. Registration is now open and will close on April 26 or when the supply of standard Lake Blitz Kits runs out. Join Living Lakes Canada in getting outside this summer and help protect the lake you love! 

Click here to register and to learn more. 

Creston Valley Bird Festival - registration opens April 2

May 10 - 12, Creston

The Creston Valley is a vital birdwatching site, important bird area, and staging area for migratory birds with over 300 species of birds recorded. The Creston Valley Bird Fest celebrates this incredible diversity in an environmentally sensitive manner, inviting residents and visitors to expand their interest in the world of birds. The festival offers a variety of birdwatching activities guided by field experts, as well as photography and art displays, guided canoeing trips, and bird-oriented workshops. Registration opens in April.

Click here for more information. 

Introduction to Wetland Classification

May 24 - 26, Revelstoke

This course, offered as a partnership between the BC Wildlife Federation and the Columbia Mountains Institute for Applied Ecology (CMI), has been developed for ecology professionals looking to develop your wetland classification skills. While there are still some details to work out in this course before they can open registration - they wanted to let you know as soon as possible so you can save the date! 

Click here for more information when it becomes available.

Kootenay EcoFest

May 25 – 26, Nelson

Save the date for a ‘Made in the West Kootenays’ celebration of sustainable action with local waste reduction solutions, live demonstrations, inspiring learning opportunities, regional food and lively festivities. Connect and help bring our community together, be entertained, get involved and discover how you can help inspire change for the better at the first annual EcoFest. Hosted by Kootenay Outdoor and Environmental Society (KOEL Society).

Click here for more information.

Introduction to Wetland Classification

July 3 - 5, Revelstoke

This course will introduce students to the BC Classification system of wetlands and the Canadian Wetland Classification System, providing an overview of how to classify and delineate wetlands and the differences between using these systems. The course will start with a classroom session learning how to classify wetlands using the physical and biological characteristics (e.g., hydric soils, hydric plant indicators, and hydrology). These field parameters will be applied to protocols including the Canadian National Wetland Inventory that can be used in the field to describe, classify, and delineate wetlands. The course will include 3 to 4 field site visits around the Revelstoke area to local wetlands to practice classification and delineation processes using site forms and the Wetlands of British Columbia guidebook. Functional wetland assessments (including the Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol) and condition assessments will also be briefly discussed.

Click here for more information and to register. 

EcoAction Community Funding Program, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Deadline: March 22

Funding is available for new projects that engage Canadians and clearly demonstrate measurable, positive results related to the key Environmental Priority: Fresh Water. Your project must involve Canadians contributing to improving freshwater quality through actions that reduce harmful substances in fresh water and/or restore and protect freshwater ecosystem health. Non-profit and non-governmental groups and organizations are eligible to receive funding. The deadline to apply is March 22 at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Action Grants, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation

Deadline: March 31

Action Grants support projects that directly involve people and communities to change behaviours and/or practices leading to positive and measurable conservation outcomes. Projects should work to create solutions or sustainable practices or mitigate human-caused impacts to prevent or reduce impacts to species or ecosystems.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Capacity Grants, Habitat Conservation Trust Fund

Deadline: April 1

Capacity Grants provide funding to support and develop strategies, abilities and processes to initiate actions to benefit of fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation. The focus of the grant is to build and strengthen capability and capacity of organizations to successfully design and deliver conservation projects aligned to the objectives of HCTF. Capacity grants assist with the first steps in identifying, exploring, and undertaking actions to solve a local conservation challenge. The main goals of the grants are to advance conservation planning, engage organizations and communities, and develop skills and abilities. Note that these grants open for applications on February 15.

Click here for more information. 

Habitat Acquisition Grants, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation

Deadline: April 15

Each spring, HCTF accepts grant applications from land trust organizations looking to purchase properties to protect important habitat for BC’s fish and wildlife. Proposed acquisitions are evaluated on criteria such as species richness, connectivity, conservation planning priority, habitats, and impending threats to these values. Financial factors such as partnership funding, stability of the proponent organization, cost per hectare and level of community support are also carefully considered. Because Habitat Acquisition grants are funded with license surcharge money, properties that also include public fishing and hunting opportunities are generally given priority consideration. 

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Grant for Local Governments to Advance Biodiversity Conservation on Private Lands

Deadline: April 30

Fraser Basin Council, in partnership with the Province of BC, is offering a one-time grant for local governments in 2024 to explore opportunities for funding conservation tools and incentives on private land to enable and expand the role of local governments in conservation. Local governments can utilize this grant to explore how to develop a private landowner incentive model to achieve biodiversity conservation and climate action goals through carbon storage or sequestration. The grant could also be used as seed funding to investigate how to support private land conservation through developing agreements directly with private landowners. The amount available for a local government is expected to be $15,000 to $90,000. Please note that local governments must match the grant 1:1 with non-federal funds and/or in-kind staff time. This funding could be used to scope out the Local Conservation Fund service.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Funding Opportunity to Hire Interns through Eco-Internships

Deadline: July 31

The mission of Eco-Internships is to support environmental organizations across Canada by connecting non-profits to funding opportunities to hire interns through wage subsidy grants and other funding. Build capacity for your organization with Eco-Internships; they have helped 70 grassroots environmental non-profits and supported over 180 internships through our Intern Support Program. The 2024 Employer Applications are now open!

Click here for more information and to apply.

Healthy Habitats Community Service Grants for Youth, Invasive Species Council of BC

Deadline: Ongoing

Through this micro grant program, it is the goal of the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) to provide you with financial and project management support to help you grow your skills and make an impact in your community. ISCBC's Youth Engagement Coordinators will be happy to support you through every step of the project. The guidelines will walk you through the application process. The micro-grant program is designed to support youth in various stages of their projects or ideas. They supply three distinct tiers of funding, each aimed at different scopes and scales. Applicants can apply for one of the three tiers based on the needs of their project. The project must align with the goals of the grant program, and must show a reasonable effort to protect the environment at a local, regional, or national scale. This could include educational materials, art installations, research, field activities, etc. They encourage applicants to think freely, and not to feel discouraged if your project idea does not align exactly with their examples. Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 30 at the time of application.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program

Deadline: Ongoing

If you have an idea that will maintain or enhance grassland resources while meeting conservation, environment and recreation objectives, this program could help support it. This program is delivered by the Kootenay Livestock Association.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Community Engagement Grants

Deadline: Ongoing

Community Engagement Grants are typically $500 to $1000 and help stewardship groups and others take action to benefit local fish and wildlife.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Columbia Basin Trust Career Internship Program

Deadline: First-come, first-served basis

The Columbia Basin Trust Career Internship Program provides eligible employers with up to 50 per cent of an intern’s salary (up to $25,000 over a seven to 12 month term) for full-time, career-focused positions that lead to permanent employment. Eligible employers are businesses, registered non-profits, municipalities, regional districts and Indigenous organizations within the Columbia Basin Trust region.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Living Lakes Canada

Climate Change Monitoring Intern

Living Lakes Canada is hiring a full-time summer student Climate Change Monitoring Intern (government designation: Water Monitoring Technician) in Nelson. Applicants must be accepted in or enrolled in a full time undergraduate or graduate program at UVIC, UBC, SFU or UNBC, or a recent graduate. Role responsibilities will include in-the-field water monitoring, data management, and communications and community outreach. Living Lakes Canada is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, feel valued and respected, and actively promotes equal opportunities and strives to build a team that reflects the richness of perspectives and experiences of people across Canada. Applications are accepted until March 1 at 5 pm PT / 6 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Species and Ecosystems at Risk Information Specialist, Nelson or multiple locations

This position for one temporary opportunity until April 30, 2025, can be based in any Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship office, or work remotely. A permanent appointment may result from this temporary appointment. The Species and Ecosystems at Risk Information Specialist is the lead provincial technical authority for corporate spatial species and ecosystems at risk information; and, as such manages its custodial activities. The position provides specialist advice to senior ministry decision makers, to program areas, and to technical and professional staff in the natural resource sector on the development, use and interpretation of CDC corporate spatial data set(s). The position maximizes the potential of GIS and related geospatial and information technologies to support the business objectives of the program and its clients. Applications are accepted until March 3.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook

Summer Program Assistant

Wildsight is currently seeking a self-motivated/enthusiastic individual to serve as Program Assistant for the summer season – 8 weeks minimum, full-time employment with a flexible start and end date. The ideal candidate would enjoy taking part in a diverse range of community projects while working alongside the Wildsight team of staff, contractors, and volunteers mainly in outdoor, get-your-hands-dirty-style settings. The Program Assistant will become part of the Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook team and work toward the organization’s goals. By utilizing hands-on training and weekly check-ins, the successful candidate will work closely with the Branch Manager and key Program Coordinators to complete tasks essential to the function of the Kimberley Community Garden, the Backyard Farmers project, and the Kimberley Farmer’s Market. Note that applicants must be under 30 years old. Applications are accepted until 10 am MT on March 12.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Shuswap Band

Intermediate Fisheries Biologist, Columbia Valley

Shuswap Band is looking for an Intermediate Fisheries Biologist to join their growing Territorial Stewardship department. The successful applicant will be responsible for supporting the Shuswap Fisheries team with the development and implementation of projects related to the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative (CRSRI), Shuswap Fisheries Program, and other related projects. They will collaborate with internal and external partners to coordinate, implement, and lead fisheries projects which may include studies related to adult and juvenile movement, fish habitat assessment, fish passage, and climate change vulnerability. The ideal candidate will be able to work effectively and comfortably in a team setting, with strong communication and time management skills. Reporting to the Territorial Stewardship Director but directly supervised by the Shuswap Senior Biologist, the successful candidate will provide technical support and advocate for Shuswap Band’s fisheries and aquatics priorities throughout the Caretaker Area. Applications are accepted until March 15.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Shuswap Band

Program Coordinator, Territorial Stewardship, Remote

Reporting to the Director of Territorial Stewardship, you provide key administrative, strategic,

and operational support across the department’s various programs. With extensive knowledge of projects, engagements, stakeholders, and other key contextual linkages, you connect the dots across initiatives and see the big picture while having the expertise and wherewithal to keep things running smoothly in the day-to-day. With an eye for detail and a love of organizing, you make sure the team is supported and on-track to meet their program goals. Combining initiative, drive, and interpersonal skills, you support the Territorial Stewardship Director and Chief & Council with external engagements, strategic initiatives, internal and external communication, processes and procedures, and other areas where required. Applications are accepted until March 15.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Ktunaxa Nation Council

Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Planning, Cranbrook

Reporting to the Director of Lands & Resources, this opportunity is suited for someone

who is passionate about protection and stewardship of the lands and resources within ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa, with a track record of effective leadership and project management, and contributes to positive outcomes for the Ktunaxanin̓ tik as a whole. The Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Planning is responsible to the Director and leads a team to ensure that a clear Ktunaxa vision guides strategic initiatives and planning efforts undertaken by the Ktunaxa Nation Council. The position leads a team of professional and technical experts to participate in negotiations, policy and strategy development and planning initiatives to achieve Ktunaxa Nation land stewardship goals. The intention of this position is to support a proactive, strategic approach by identifying Ktunaxa values on the land and incorporating those values into policies, negotiations and stewardship plans. Apply by March 29.

Click here for more information and to apply.

The Land Conservancy of BC

Communication Officer

The Land Conservancy (TLC) is currently seeking a Communication Intern to provide support while gaining experience working in the non-profit sector to promote events, fundraising initiatives, and the organization in general. The Communication Intern will work with TLC’s team to implement comprehensive communication strategies for TLC projects. This will include contributing to TLC’s website, social media accounts, and designing / producing promotional material (print and digital). The Communication Officer will also participate in covenant monitoring, restoration initiatives, special events and fundraising activities. This is a full time, summer position; note that all applicants must be under 30 years of age. Applications are accepted until April 1 at 9 am PT / 10 am MT.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Eco-Internships

Now Accepting 2024 Intern Applications

The mission of Eco-Internships is to support environmental organizations across Canada by connecting non-profits to funding opportunities to hire interns through wage subsidy grants and other funding. Build capacity for your organization with Eco-Internships; they have supported over 180 internships through our Intern Support Program. Eco-Internship's mission is to create sustainable jobs for youth aged 18 to 30, equipping youth with the skills and experience necessary to excel in the environmental sector. The 2024 Intern Applications are now open!

Click here for more information and to apply.

Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network

Wild Voices Community Educator

Are you a forester or geographer? A biologist or mountain guide? A historian or holder of traditional knowledge? Do you have some unique knowledge, skill, or expertise you can share with students? If so, we’d like to connect with you! Wild Voices for Kids is a program of the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network. It is a unique program in the Basin as it enables local specialists to develop programs connected to the local environment and tailored to their area of expertise and passion. Each educator brings their own unique knowledge of environment or natural history, adds their passion for education, and creates classroom or field-based programs that will both captivate students and satisfy the learning objectives of teachers. Community Educators are the heart and soul of the Wild Voices for Kids program! Wild Voices for Kids promotes presenters and their programs and provides cash honoraria to community educators. For more information, see link below, or email the Wild Voices program manager at education@cbeen.org.

Click here for more information.

Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society

Board of Directors

Are you passionate about preventing the spread of invasive species? Do you want to contribute your skills to a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental conservation? Consider joining the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) Board of Directors! Overall, serving on the CKISS Board of Directors offers a rewarding opportunity to contribute to environmental conservation efforts, make a positive impact on local communities, and engage in meaningful work alongside dedicated individuals who share a common goal.

Click here for more information.

Wildsight Golden

Board of Directors

If you have an interest in the environment and conservation, please consider applying to be a Wildsight Golden Board Member. All active members will be eligible to run as Board members, they will need to be nominated and seconded. If you are interested in joining the Board - they would love to have you - please contact Wildsight Golden and they will put you in touch with their Board Chairs for more information. Contact information will be provided if you email the office at golden@wildsight.ca. 

Ungulate Habitat Management Plan: Yaqit a?knuqi'it/Tobacco Plains

Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi‘it First Nation

The overarching goal of the Ungulate Habitat Management Plan (UHMP) is to improve the ecological health of the land, with focus on enhancing habitat to better support ungulate populations on Yaqit a·knuqi 'it. Some main objectives of the UHMP are to identify habitat components and water sources for elk, white-tailed deer, and mule deer on Yaqit a·knuqi 'it and whether they are adequate, in poor condition, missing or are in short supply. Consideration has been made to provide recommendations that benefit all ungulate species found regionally, rather than on a per species basis. A whole ecosystems approach with ecosystem restoration prescriptions is required to improve the trajectory of ecological health. Key recommendations to improve habitat quality include forest thinning for ungulate habitat enhancement, controlling invasive species to promote ecological health, restoration planting to increase shrub cover for browse and habitat, and improving access to water.

Click here for more information. 

Elk Valley Cottonwood Conservation and Restoration Strategy

Elk River Alliance

Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) is the foundation of riparian forests in the Elk River watershed (Jamison, Allen, and Polzin 1997). To naturally develop, these stands require specific conditions and events such as light, high moisture, and nutrient-rich soils. Stands typically propagate with the assistance of moving water and thus grow on floodplains and adjacent rivers and creeks. The Elk River Alliance has mapped existing cottonwood forests and estimated that more than 50% has been cleared since the arrival of settlers. More than 100 potential restoration sites were assessed and three were chosen, with work beginning on 40 hectares of riparian habitat last year. Approximately 150 Elk Valley residents, biologists, ecologists, and First Nations community members were engaged, surveyed, or interviewed for the project.

Click here to read the full report. 

Recording: What Does Collaborative Capacity Make Possible? Prevailing Perspectives on the Relationship between Collaborative Capacity and Landscape Stewardship Outcomes 

Network for Landscape Conservation

What does collaborative capacity make possible? This webinar recording reveals the prevailing perspectives on the relationship between collaborative capacity and landscape stewardship outcomes. While this study was done in the US, the findings certainly support the importance of programs like the Kootenay Conservation Program. Collaborative landscape conservation partnerships represent innovative approaches to filling gaps in governance and making inclusive decisions in situations where the challenges we are facing exceed or overwhelm our current structures, approaches, and abilities. However, to effectively grow and resource these efforts to be effective in confronting our 21st-Century challenges, we need to better understand the “collaborative capacity” that sustains collaborative groups, partnerships, and networks. This webinar explores the findings of a recent study - commissioned by the California Landscape Stewardship Network and supported by The Stewardship Network and Resources Legacy Fund - that synthesizes perspectives from practitioners, leaders, and funders on what collaborative capacity is and how it leads to better on-the-ground conservation and stewardship outcomes.

Click here for the recording of the webinar.

What Does Collaborative Capacity Make Possible? Prevailing Perspectives on the Relationship between Collaborative Capacity and Landscape Stewardship Outcomes

Jamie Baxter and Seamus Land

Note that this study was done in the US; however, the findings support the importance of partnership programs like KCP. This study provides an analysis of what collaborative capacity is and how it leads to improved conservation and stewardship outcomes based on expert perspectives gathered from in-depth interviews and focus groups with practitioners, leaders, and funders across the US. The authors present a framework that illustrates the collaborative capacity elements that are necessary and fundable, as well as a list of activities they enable, and share the reasons why consistent, long-term investment in these elements is needed. The authors emphasize the contextual factors that affect collaboration so that these investments are made in the right places, at the right times, and in the right ways to achieve their potential. Also included is a set of recommendations directed toward practitioners, funders, and researchers that will help align their efforts, making them more effective, efficient, and able to achieve durable outcomes. This study contributes to a growing body of experience and evidence that points to the need for, and value of, collaborative capacity and makes the case for the ways strategically targeted support can help us meet the challenges before us.

Click here to access the full report. 

Recording: What makes a good wildlife fence?

Steve Bega & Steve Mars of Animex Wildlife Fencing

Did you know that transport is responsible for unintentionally killing millions of animals per year? Wildlife fencing is highly effective at excluding animals from roads and reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC). However, when wildlife fencing is used in solidarity, it can amplify barrier effects and further restrict the movement of animals across the landscape. Therefore, wildlife fencing should always be used in conjunction with other road mitigation strategies to retain connectivity for animals across their habitat ranges. Studies have shown that wildlife fencing used in conjunction with wildlife crossings can reduce WVCs by 92%. This webinar is an exploration into identifying, implementing, and maintaining an effective wildlife fencing project. 

Click here to access the recording.

Fuel types misrepresent forest structure and composition in interior British Columbia: A way forward

Jennifer N. Baron, et. al

A clear understanding of the connectivity, structure, and composition of wildland fuels is essential for effective wildfire management. However, fuel typing and mapping are challenging owing to a broad diversity of fuel conditions and their spatial and temporal heterogeneity. In Canada, fuel types and potential fire behavior are characterized using the Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System, which uses an association approach to categorize vegetation into 16 fuel types based on stand structure and composition. In British Columbia (BC), provincial and national FBP System fuel type maps are derived from remotely sensed forest inventory data and are widely used for wildfire operations, fuel management, and scientific research. Despite their widespread usage, the accuracy and applicability of these fuel type maps have not been formally assessed. To address this knowledge gap, we quantified the agreement between on-site assessments and provincial and national fuel type maps in interior BC. This report presents an assessment of the applicability and accuracy of FBP fuel types to forest conditions in interior BC and discusses pathways to improve future fuel characterizations across forest types.

Click here to access the report.

All our Relations: First Nations perspectives on the intimate connections between humans, species, and the environment

Summary Report of the 2023 First Nations Dialogues on Culturally Significant Species

A total of 74 First Nations technicians, knowledge keepers, Elders, harvesters, stewards, and youth involved in different ways in caring for the lands and waters within their territories attended the 2023 First Nations Dialogues on Culturally Significant Species. The Pacific Dialogue was held in February of 2023. The focus of the dialogues was: How might First Nations’ knowledge and approaches to species stewardship help Canada develop better conservation strategies, frameworks, policies, and legislation? One finding was that the term Culturally Significant Species and Places (CSSP) is preferable to the term 'Species at Risk' (SAR). SAR does not resonate as it fails to express a worldview of connectedness among species and places, and the term also excludes the cultural and spiritual values associated with species. A graphic recording of the 2023 Pacific First Nations Dialogue on Culturally Significant Species is also available.

Click here to access the full document.

Balancing the Narrative: Communications Guidelines for Indigenous-led Conservation

Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership

Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship is a new way of describing a range of practices, knowledge, skills, and laws Indigenous Peoples have developed, refined, and shared across generations to care for and govern their territories. These guidelines offer anti-oppressive practices, considerations, and approaches for communicating with and about Indigenous conservation leadership within the Canadian context. This document acts as a framework through which to co-develop communications strategies, approaches, and content with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners in respectful, reciprocal, and responsible ways. These guidelines attempt to shed light on the enduring impacts of colonialism. They also aim to encourage relationship building based on reconciliation, trust, respect, equity, open dialogue, integrity, and mutual accountability. The primary audiences for these guidelines are communications departments, teams, and professionals within environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs); federal, provincial, and territorial conservation agencies and organizations; consultancies; and other partners supporting and communicating about Indigenous led conservation. This document can also offer value to Indigenous-led organizations and governments as they co-create communications strategies with partners. It can support Indigenous governments and organizations as they reinforce the principles of respect, responsibility, and reciprocity to ensure authentic, meaningful communications.

Click here for the full document. 

Evaluating ecosystem protection and fragmentation of the world's major mountain regions

David M. Theobald, et. al.

New research highlights the Yellowstone to Yukon region, which stretches for 3,400 km up the spine of the Rocky Mountains, is among the few remaining large mountain areas of connected habitat left on Earth. Conserving mountains is important for protecting biodiversity because they have high beta diversity and endemicity, facilitate species movement, and provide numerous ecosystem benefits for people. Mountains are often thought to have lower levels of human modification and contain more protected area than surrounding lowlands. To examine this, the authors compared biogeographic attributes of the largest, contiguous, mountainous region on each continent. In each region, they generated detailed ecosystems based on Köppen−Geiger climate regions, ecoregions, and detailed landforms. They quantified anthropogenic fragmentation of these ecosystems based on human modification classes of large wild areas, shared lands, and cities and farms. By measuring ecological integrity and human-caused fragmentation with a detailed representation of mountain ecosystems, this approach facilitates tracking progress toward achieving conservation goals and better informs mountain conservation.

Click here to access the full report.

State of the World’s Migratory Species

2024 Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

The report finds that the conservation status of migratory species overall is deteriorating. Species listed for protection under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), despite positive successes, reflect this broader trend. Given the breadth and scale of the pressures facing migratory species, coordinated international action is urgently needed to reverse population declines and preserve these species and their habitats. This should include actions to expand the global network of protected and conserved areas, particularly those areas of importance to migratory species, in line with global targets, while also working to improve the condition and effective management of sites. Maintaining and enhancing the connectivity between these sites should also be a key priority, in part through the targeted restoration of degraded habitats. Coordinated action is also required to combat overexploitation, including the expansion of collaborative international initiatives to prevent the illegal or unsustainable taking of migratory species.

Click here to access the full report.

Felling Short: British Columbia’s Old Growth Management Areas are falling short on protecting old growth forests

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society 

According to the BC Government, 19.6% of BC is currently protected. This total comprises 15.5% in protected areas, including provincial parks, conservancies and ecological reserves, and the remaining 4.1% in Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs). OECMs are areas that provide biodiversity conservation outside of formal protected areas, and are intended to be more inclusive and able to recognize Indigenous and community conserved areas. This report evaluates legal Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA)’s in BC to document how they measure against OECM criteria. Researchers have found that of the 11.4 million hectares of old forest remaining in BC, 18% is in a permanently protected area, with OGMAs capturing a further 6%. Of the 1.87 million hectares of legal OGMAs in BC, intended to protect old growth, only 29% is actually old forest. When broken down into individual OGMAs, 37% of the approximately 22,000 legal OGMAs in BC do not have any old forest. The small proportion of old growth captured in OGMAs as well as OGMAs capturing non-forested areas, minimizes the effectiveness of this tool, both in facilitating biodiversity conservation and in protecting old growth.

Click here to access the full report.

The State of the Forest in Canada: seeing through the spin

Erika Rathje

For more than three decades, the Canadian government has published an annual report called The State of Canada’s Forests Annual Report (“Annual Forests Report”), issued by Natural Resources Canada. This report is meant to address how forests in Canada are faring; however, it may not provide Canadians with a transparent and credible synopsis of this basic information. Some of the gaps not addressed by the official State of Canada’s Forests Annual Report, which this report highlights, include forest ecosystem integrity, biodiversity, forest degradation, deforestation due to impacts of logging infrastructure, carbon / climate impacts, and Indigenous rights. For example, the government’s report avoids reporting on what we know about the state of key species that depend on high-integrity forest ecosystems, such as caribou, spotted owls, migratory birds, and chinook salmon. How much of these species’ critical habitat has been logged, how much remains, how much is protected, and how much is slated to be logged?

Click here to access the full report.

Community science for enigmatic ecosystems: using eBird to assess avian biodiversity on glaciers and snowfields

Brooks, W. E., J. Boersma, N. Paprocki, P. Wimberger, and S. Hotaling. 2023

Species living in mountain glacier and snowfield habitats remain poorly studied, likely because of the remoteness and ruggedness of their terrain. The authors leveraged community science data from eBird—an online database of bird observations from around the world—to characterize bird use of mountain glaciers and snowfields and estimated total bird biodiversity and preference for glaciers and snowfields over nearby, ice-adjacent habitats. They used field notes from eBird users and breeding codes to extend their data set to include insight into habitat usage and behavior. Finally, they compared their community-science approach to previous studies that used traditional (i.e., professional) field survey methods, and identified considerable avian biodiversity in glacier and snowfield habitat (46 species) with four specialists that appeared to prefer glaciers and snowfields over nearby, ice-adjacent habitats. Birds appeared to primarily use the glacier and snowfield habitats for foraging. When community science data was compared to traditional methods, results were similar, but community science resulted in a higher species diversity estimate. Their findings suggest glacier and snowfield retreat threatens specialist species via loss of nutrient resources. Additionally, community science data appears valuable for characterizing difficult to access areas, but traditional surveys are still useful for more rigorous quantification of avian biodiversity.

Click here to access the full report.

Kootenay Connect: Riparian Wildlife Corridors for Climate Change – Year 4 Summary Report

Michael Proctor and Marcy Mahr

The Kootenay Connect Initiative envisions a regional network of 12 ecological corridors connecting important habitats, biodiversity hotspots, protected areas, and climate refugia across the human-settled valleys of the Kootenay region of BC. The premise behind Kootenay Connect is that landscape linkages focusing on large riparian-wetland complexes are essential for conserving biodiversity, habitat connectivity, species movement corridors, and ecological resilience in a changing climate. Since its inception in 2018, Kootenay Connect has integrated the best available science and local knowledge to identify important habitats for large carnivores, ungulates, and many at-risk species. Kootenay Connect’s collective on-the-ground conservation and management actions are supporting the recovery of 34 federally listed species at risk and working to help Canada achieve its goal of conserving 30% of its land and water by 2030. This Year 4 Summary Report presents the initiative’s scientific rationale, local, provincial, national, and international significance, corridor analysis, and maps of conservation values and threats in our region. It also provides progress and results from over $4 million investment in four of the 12 Kootenay Connect corridors with nearly 50 projects delivered by 35 partners that are contributing to species recovery and connected and protected landscapes. Projects include wetlands vulnerability assessment and restoration, species at risk habitat enhancement, forest thinning, invasive species management, wildlife-friendly fencing, creation of habitat features, potential large carnivore and ungulate wildlife corridors, access management, strategic land purchases, and more.

Click here to access the report.

KCP Stewardship Solutions Toolkit

Resource updated with growing number of stewardship listings

In 2019, KCP launched Stewardship Solutions, an easy-to-access stewardship resource for landowners and land managers in the Kootenays available both in print and online. We keep this resource up to date, and encourage you to access all the available stewardship "solutions" (i.e. services and resources) available in each of the 14 Conservation Neighbourhoods. Visit the website, select your location on the homepage map, and you'll be brought to the growing list of stewardship options available in your region.

Visit the Stewardship Solutions website.

Kootenay Conservation Program

Conservation Resources for our Region

The Kootenay Conservation Program helps partners to coordinate and facilitate conservation efforts on private land, and in an effort to support this, KCP has developed a webpage that compiles some of the best conservation and stewardship resources available for our region.

Click here for more information.