KCP Conservation Leadership Award

Open for 2024 nominations

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for their conservation work in the Kootenays? The annual KCP Conservation Leadership Awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and dedication to conservation in our region. Nominees must be affiliated with a KCP partner organization and they must show a demonstrated commitment toward the KCP vision. Award winners will be announced at the KCP Fall Gathering. Nominations are accepted until June 15.

Click here to download the nomination form.

KCP partnered with CMI to present 2024 Winter Webinar Series

All webinar recordings are now available to watch online 

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 was hosted in partnership with the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI) on the theme of “Wildlife Corridors and Ecological Connectivity”. In this webinar series, wildlife corridors and ecological connectivity were discussed from different perspectives that provided a wide view which can inform conservation of connected and resilient landscapes in the Columbia Basin. This included seeing 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 was offered free of charge.

Click here for more information and to access the recordings.

Okanagan Nation Alliance, Trail Wildlife Association, and BC Ministry of Forests

Lower Columbia Rare Species Ecosystem Enhancement Project

The Lower Columbia Rare Species Ecosystem Enhancement Project (LCRSEEP) supports rare and threatened ecosystems and wildlife species in the Lower Columbia Basin. LCRSEEP protects and enhances habitat, with a focus on riparian, dry forest, and brushland ecosystems, while incorporating Syilx Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) for ecological resiliency and providing community outreach and education. This 2023 Project Summary includes details on many projects including the treatment of 19.5 hectares to increase fire resiliency and enhance habitat in dry open forest and brushland at akɬ p̓ʕas (Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area - FSCA) south of Trail, and the planting of over 1,000 riparian trees and shrubs at Norns Creek and Kinnaird restoration sites along the Columbia River.

Click here to read all about the projects in the summary report.

BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

New mapping app for Eagle and Heron nests

The BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship and the Community Mapping Network (NGO) have collaboratively developed a citizen science app for documenting eagle and heron nest sites. The Bald Eagle and Osprey nest registry is a province wide partnership managed by the Wildlife Tree Stewardship (WiTS) program with a goal to support the protection of nest trees covered under Section 34 of the British Columbia Wildlife Act. The WiTS Atlas collects Bald Eagle and Osprey nest records provided by government, industry, conservation/naturalist groups, and the public. The WiTS mobile app can be used both online (with an interactive base map) and offline by recording your location coordinates. When on-line, the app will help you find existing nests so that you can update nest activity, the status of the nest tree and other important information.

Click here for more information. 

Valhalla Foundation for Ecology & Wildlife Conservation Society Canada

Can fake trees save real bats?

Four leading-edge bat roosting structures have been installed in a nature sanctuary located in the Slocan Lake region of BC, a sanctuary stewarded by the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology (VFE). In September 2023, four trees at the VFE's Snk'mip Marsh Sanctuary were modified for the installation of BrandenBark™, an artificial roost structure that mimics the natural roosting habitat of tree-dwelling bats. The installations were done in partnership with Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCSC). “The Snk’mip nature sanctuary provides a great place for bat enhancements,” said bat biologist Heather Gates of WCSC, “it has a large open water-body for them to swoop down and drink from, and a healthy ecosystem providing lots of insects for them to eat.” The natural habitat available for bats at Snk’mip has been substantially expanded and enhanced by the VFE restoring and expanding the Snk’mip wetland itself. 

Click here to read more about this.

Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society

Invasive Rats

Two species of rats are problematic and invasive in BC: Norway and Black rats. The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) is raising awareness of what can be done about these pesky rodents. Do not release or transport rats in BC, and prevent them from entering your home. Robyn Hooper, Executive Director of CSISS, states “we encourage residents to block off potential entry points and remove and securely store any food or garbage that might attract rats”. Entry points might be small cracks or holes, areas where there is a food or water source, or where vegetation touches the building. Guidance from a licensed professional on choosing a proper control method is best for finding a long term solution. When possible, choose an alternative method to poison, as it does not kill the rat immediately and can enter the food chain if it is captured by a predator before it dies. Due to this impact on other wildlife, the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides has now been limited to essential services only in BC.

Click here for the CSISS press release.

Parks Canada

All water bodies closed in Kootenay and Yoho National Parks

Parks Canada has closed all bodies of water in Yoho and Kootenay National Parks until at least March 2025. This comes after BC's first-ever case of whirling disease was found in fish in Emerald Lake, near the village of Field in Yoho National Park, in September of 2023. Whirling disease was later found in fish in Kicking Horse River, Wapta Lake, Finn Creek, Monarch Creek and at the confluence of Emerald River and the Kicking Horse River. Access was first restricted for five months beginning last October, and Francois Masse, Parks Canada's superintendent for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay, says extending the restrictions another year will help protect fish species including several types of trout and Kokanee. Whirling disease has a devastating impact on aquatic life. Once established, researchers say, it is impossible to eradicate the parasite, which is a known aquatic invasive species. Parks Canada says the mortality rate for young fish is 90%, with no treatment options available.

Click here for more information.

Elk River Alliance

Whirling Disease Education Project

The Elk River is at high risk of disease spread, since whirling disease is found in the Crowsnest Watershed, a mere 15-minute drive away. Monitoring by the Elk River Alliance (ERA) has detected presence of the Tubifex tubifex worm, a key parasite host, throughout the watershed. The hardy spore stage of the disease can survive for a long time in mud/dirt and can be spread by human recreational stream users. Once established, eradication is not possible and mortality rates of up to 90% of juveniles have been recorded in fish populations. Being on the front lines, it is especially important that we do our part to slow the spread. A simple transfer of wet or muddy equipment between waterbodies can cause the spread of whirling disease to an entire watershed. Please consider not transferring any equipment between the Crowsnest and Elk River watersheds, but if you do remember to Clean, Drain and Dry all of your equipment.

Click here for more information about the education project

Living Lakes Canada

Photo Essay: An Exploration of Apex Creek

Located 15 minutes south of Nelson, Apex Creek tumbles down from the alpine and through a modest waterfall. Flowing over moss-covered rock, the water arrives at a tranquil pool. This is where Living Lakes Canada collects data on Apex Creek as part of the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Framework (CBWMF). Follow the installation of a new hydrometric site last fall and learn more about the monitoring process.

Click here for the photo essay. 

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 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 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.

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.

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.

Knowing Water Public Symposium

April 3, Fernie

What do you know about the water you drink and play in? Good quality water is essential for thriving ecosystems and communities. The Elk River Watershed Collaborative Monitoring Program works to unite different knowledge and data sources for a mutual understanding of Elk Valley water. During this public symposium, we invite you to join us for an evening of learning and knowledge sharing. From 6:30 to 8:30 pm MT at the Fernie Arts Station.

Click here for more information and free registration. 

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.

Western Painted Turtle painting class

April 6, Revelstoke

Find out more about our Western Painted Turtle and how Turtle Conservation Revelstoke is increasing their odds of survival with local biologist Sarah Boyle. Make a cup of tea in the kitchen art room of the gallery and work with acrylics on wood or coloured pencils and drawing paper, which will be provided. Feel free to bring your own watercolours or pastels if you would like to use a different medium. Pictures of turtles will inspire you and local artist Donna Naprstek will offer guidance on how to paint these fascinating creatures that appeared on our earth before the dinosaurs. Class size is limited to 10 people. Register by emailing revelstoke@wildsight.ca. From 9:30 to 11:30 am PT.

Bighorn Sheep monitoring event

April 6, 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 MT.

Click here for more information and 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. 

Decoding Drought Management Engagement Session

April 10, Wasa

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship are pleased to invite you to join us for a community learning opportunity at the upcoming Decoding Drought Management Engagement Session. The purpose of this session is to improve awareness of the supports available to area producers to prepare for and reduce the impacts of drought. The engagement sessions will help build understanding within the agriculture sector about BC’s legislative framework for water management, including regulatory tools, and decision-making under the Water Sustainability Act (WSA).

Topics include: 1) How are water management decisions made during a drought? 2) What information is considered and what tools are used? 3) Drought Preparedness and Response: What is the role of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food? 4) What drought resources and supports are offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and what role does the Ministry play before and during drought? There will also be small group discussions, about information and tools you may need to prepare for and manage drought, and how we can work together as individuals and communities to prepare for and respond to drought. For more information, please contact Clare Dwyer at events02@vgnresources.ca. From 9 to 11:30 am MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Bear-deterring electric fencing workshop

April 10, Fernie

Learn how to install effective bear-deterring electric fencing with Grizzly Bear Solutions. A properly designed and maintained electric fence will deter even the most determined grizzly bear. Workshop leader Gillian Sanders has helped to install more than 500 electric fences for bears, and in this workshop, you will learn how to design a fence specific to your needs. This is a free workshop, held at the Fernie Seniors Center from 6:30 to 8:30 pm MT.

Click here for more information.

Wildlife Bioacoustics: A Hands-on Introduction - registration closes April 2

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.

Invasive Fish Webinar: Northern Pike

April 11, Online

The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) presents this webinar about the invasive northern pike (Esox lucius) in BC. Northern pike were first seen in the Columbia River in Castlegar in 2010. Evan Smith is a biologist representing the Okanagan Nation Alliance, where he serves as a key figure in the fight against invasive species threatening British Columbia’s delicate ecosystems. Evan has lead initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of invasive species, particularly northern pike, on local aquatic environments. He will offer valuable insights into the Okanagan Nation Alliance’s efforts to address the northern pike invasion in BC, highlighting innovative approaches, successful interventions, and ongoing challenges. The Okanagan Nation Alliance is recognized as the lead by Canadian agencies for suppression and monitoring in the Columbia River Basin. Webinar is from 10 to 11 am PT / 11 am to 12 pm MT.

Click here for 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.

Gardening with Native Plants – full with a waitlist

April 13, Trail

Elk Root Conservation Farm Society (ERC) and the Trail Library present “Gardening with Native Plants". ERC is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to inspire ecological stewardship and wildlife conservation by offering learning opportunities through research, innovation, and hands-on education. This workshop will offer a high-quality selection of “local ecotype” seeds, and the opportunity to learn about gardening with native plants including planting practices that attract native pollinators and promote ecological stewardship activities in the community. The Trail Library will be the first host of ERC’s seed library of native local ecotype seeds, and the site of the launching of the ERC’s new field guide to native plants! This workshop is from 10 am to 12 pm PT, and pre-registration is required.

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 this webinar exploring the Columbia River Treaty and climate change. To support Columbia River Treaty negotiations, projected climate change scenarios are being used to assess the resilience of any proposed changes to reservoir management under a range of climate change futures. Greg will summarize the projected climate changes, and their implications for future management of reservoirs and seasonal flows in the Columbia Basin. The changing conditions will provide a challenging environment for future managers, and the spectrum of projected increases in frequency and intensity of extreme events will compound this complexity. From 12 to 1 pm PT / 1 to 2 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Kootenay Livestock Association Agriculture Showcase 

April 20, Cranbrook

Last year was the Kootenay Livestock Association (KLA)'s first year hosting a vendor event and they are excited to offer this opportunity again to businesses and organizations that support agriculture in the Kootenay region. If you have any questions or to register please contact Director Katie Pighin at the KLA office. The Agriculture Showcase will be at the Prestige Hotel from 1 to 5:30 pm MT.

Click here for more information.  

Earth Day Community Cleanup: Planet vs Plastics

April 20 - 22, Invermere

Across Earth Day weekend, Wildsight Invermere is partnering with Kootenay Savings Credit Union, Lake Windermere Ambassadors, and a bunch of local businesses to host a giant community clean up and celebrate climate- and eco-friendly action. Form a team with your friends, family, or colleagues to see how much garbage we can clean up from the streets, parks and lakeshore in just a few hours! You can look forward to eco-friendly giveaways, prizes, games and some super useful demos on how to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Click here for more information.

Duck Lake Bird Walk

April 21, Creston

On the lead up to the the Creston Valley Bird Festival, Wildsight Creston is hosting spring bird walks. Come out to learn about the ecology of the Creston Valley and have fun! Please sign up in advance for this free event. Ulrike Silworsky, the Creston Valley Bird Festival Coordinator, will lead the walk. The walk will take place along the Duck Lake South Dike from 9 to 11 am PT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Earth Day Community Clean up and Potluck

April 22, Golden

Wildsight Golden is organizing a community clean up and potluck dinner at Reflection Lake! This annual event started decades ago by the late Ellen Zimmerman, has been a popular and fun way to celebrate Earth Day in Golden. Join in at Reflection Lake starting at 5 pm MT to start the clean up, followed by a potluck dinner at 6 pm MT, and a group photo.

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

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. This free event is great for families and for anyone interested in the many species that make the East Kootenay one of the most biodiverse regions in Canada. Turtle Day will take place at Elizabeth Lake from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, with an opening ceremony by Nasuʔkin (Chief) Joe Pierre Jr. at 2:30 pm MT.

Click here for more information.

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. The webinar begins at 7 pm PT / 8 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Native Bee Study Group

April 24, Online

The BC Native Bee Society hosts a monthly Native Bee Study group with a different theme each month, as a jumping off point to share knowledge and learn from others. This group is an opportunity for connecting and learning about native bees with others throughout the province. Experts and complete beginners are very welcome! The format is a show and tell style, and anyone who is interested in participating can create a slide on the shared google slides deck to share with the group (link sent with registration). Photos can also be sent to bcnativebees@gmail.com with a subject line of "Native Bee Study Group". From 7 to 8:30 pm PT / 8 to 9:30 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Planting for Pollinators Course: Introductory Webinar

April 25, Online

During this webinar, Kate Mizenka, the creator of the Sustainable Apiary Model and Director of Farm, Orchard & Apiary at Elk Root Conservation will guide you through how to plan, prepare, select, design and plant a sustainable flower habitat that you will love and bees will thank you for! It is highly recommending that you attend this introductory webinar if you plan on attending the Planting for Pollinators field days, on May 4, June 15, July 27, and September 14. The field day series will literally walk you through a full season of blooms and help you apply the concepts taught in the Planting for Pollinator Webinar. Or the webinar can be taken as a stand-alone course. From 6 to 8:30 pm PT / 7 to 9:30 pm MT.

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. 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.

Safe Work in Swiftwater Training Course

April 27 & 28, Kimberley

Join Living Lakes Canada on a 2-day Safe Work in Swiftwater Training course in Kimberley! Living Lakes Canada has a few spots available as they train their staff ahead of the field season. This 2-day course delivered by Raven will provide the knowledge and techniques for employees who need to work in or near swift water. It focuses on assessing risk and pre-planning to prevent incidents from happening, covers the use of appropriate PPE, and provides simple and safe techniques for assessing sites. Techniques for self rescue and rescue of co-workers will also be addressed. Students will be provided with strategies to address working in small teams with minimal equipment.

Click here for more information and to register.

Gardening during a Drought

April 28, Invermere

Join Groundswell Network Society for this workshop on how to conserve water while still enjoying growing good food. Worried about your garden this year? Wanting to reduce your water consumption but harvest more food? Part tour, part workshop, & part discussion: learn more about drought tolerant plants, enriching the soil without chemicals, reducing insect damage, and capturing water in new ways. Hosted with Groundswell and Old Blue Truck Farm. From 1 to 2:30 pm MT.

Click here for more information.  

4th Annual National Lake Blitz - registration is open until April 26!

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. 

Field Day 1: How to Create a Beautiful Bee & Butterfly Garden

May 4, Slocan Valley

Part of the Planting for Pollinators course series, this field day will start with an orientation of Elk Root Conservation’s Educational Demonstration Gardens and tour of its existing pollinator forage habitats. Students will participate in the creation of a pollinator habitat from scratch and be able to follow its development through the growing season by attending additional field days later in the season! This field day is suitable for all levels of gardeners and ideal for beekeepers. Specific topics will include: your pollinator habitat as its own ecosystem; plant characteristics; site planning & preparation; plant selection & planting; plant nutrition; and pollinator identification. From 9 am to 12 pm PT.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Wings over the Rockies Nature Festival – tickets available starting April 9

May 6 - 12, Invermere

The theme of the 27th annual festival is Wings “Way Over” the Rockies. There will be over 100 events during the 7 days of the festival, including many new events! Bob McDonald, host of CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks program, will be the keynote speaker on May 11. Please plan to come and join in 2024 as Bob and all of us explore "The BIG Picture"! Buy your tickets online starting Tuesday, April 9 at 9 am PT / 10 am MT. Please plan to be an “early bird” to get your event choices. Usually, 70% of the festival tickets are purchased on the first day. The festival is located in the beautiful upper Columbia River Valley centred around the mountain town of Invermere.

Click here for more information and to get tickets.

Understanding Statistics and Decision-Making for Natural Resource Managers

May 8 - June 26, Online

This eight-week online course is for natural resource managers who interpret the results of statistical analyses and make decisions about how much data to collect and which management actions to undertake. The course focuses on the fundamentals of uncertainty, modeling, effect sizes, decision theory and the value of information. It does not require a statistical background and doesn’t involve any modeling although different types of results are presented and discussed. It will require participants to spend an extra ~2 hours a week reading or watching recommended material. The course will be interactive and include discussion as well as mentimeter quizzes. This course, back by popular demand, is the less advanced introduction to Joe’s summer-long Bayesian Study Group (read about that offering here.) This course is taught by Dr. Joseph Thorley, RPBio., a Senior Computation Biologist at Poisson Consulting Ltd., from 9 to 11 am PT / 10 am to 12 pm MT every Wednesday for 8 weeks.

Click here for more information and to register.

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 on April 2.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Migratory Bird Day Birding Breakfast

May 11, Golden

Join Wildsight Golden for their annual birding breakfast to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. This is event is also listed as a Wings over the Rockies Event. The Columbia Wetlands is a superb place to view migratory waterbirds as well as many other song birds. During breakfast, spotting scopes and binoculars will be available to view birds on Reflection Lake. After breakfast, join biologist Rachel Darvill in a walk to observe birds in their natural environment around Reflection Lake. For the kids: there will be a couple of excellent naturalist directed games, hosted by Sanne van der Ros. The pancake breakfast will begin at 7:30 am MT and the bird walk will start at 8:45 am MT and last 1 hour.

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, which is hosted by Kootenay Outdoor and Environmental Society (KOEL Society). On Saturday evening there will be several speakers on local ecology: Craig DeLong, with 40 years of research experience in ecological land classification, vegetation competition, natural disturbance-based management, mixed wood ecology, deadwood dynamics, old growth assessment, and climate change related drought stress; Tyson Ehlers, a professional biologist and forest ecologist; and Shanon Berch, an Emerita Research Scientist with the BC Ministry of Environment and an Associate member of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and the Botany Department at UBC. The evening talks are from 7:30 to 9 pm on Saturday.

Click here for more information.

Field Day 2: ​​Establishing A Wildflower Meadow & Filling the June Bloom Gap

June 15, Slocan Valley

This workshop is part of the Planting for Pollinators course series offered by Elk Root Conservation Farm Society. This second field day will include: 1) Pollinator Meadows: how to plan, select and prepare a meadow site, select local ecotype native flowering plants, manage invasive plants and grasses, care for, and successfully maintain your meadow into the future; and 2) Filling the June bloom gap in gardens and meadows through careful plant selection to counteract the lack of late spring and early summer blooms to ensure continuous nectar and pollen supply for wild pollinators as well as honeybees. Suitable for all levels of gardeners and ideal for beekeepers. From 9 am to 12 pm PT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Introduction to Wetland Classification - registration is full with a waitlist 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. 

Field Day 3: Gardening with Native Plants

July 27, Slocan Valley

This workshop is part of the Planting for Pollinators course series offered by Elk Root Conservation Farm Society. Specific topics in this third field day will include: native plant ecosystems; identification of native plants; the danger of unmonitored seed collection and wild harvest of native plants from natural environments; selecting drought tolerant native plants in the face of climate change; the importance of sourcing local ecotype native plants so as not to pollute the adapted traits of local native plants through cross pollination; native plant care and managing invasive plant competition, and more. Suitable for all levels of gardeners and ideal for beekeepers. From 9 am to 12 pm PT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Field Day 4: Fall & Winter Preparations, Meadow Preparation & Fall Seeding of 2025 Pollinator Habitats

September 14, Slocan Valley

This workshop is part of the Planting for Pollinators course series offered by Elk Root Conservation Farm Society. Specific topics in this fourth field day will include: pollinator habitat development grants available to support your 2025 pollinator habitat project plans; fall to winter preparations; preparing and seeding pollinator meadows; planting perennial native plants; selecting plants for dividing, cutting back and frost protection by plant preference; selection and planting of spring bulbs; protecting orchard trees and shrubs from winter rodent damage and more! Suitable for all levels of gardeners and ideal for beekeepers. From 9 am to 12 pm PT.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Data Manipulation and Visualization in R

October 1 - 4, Revelstoke

Course instructor Ayla Pearson is a Computational Biologist at Poisson Consulting Ltd. who has a passion for the intersection between data and resource management policy. In this course, 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, how to set up a reproducible data pipeline, introduction in the tidyverse suite of packages, how to import, tidy and transform data, how to deal with missing data, summary statistics, exploratory data analysis, data visualizations and writing reports in R markdown. The course spans four half-days. Students should have a basic working knowledge of R software to take this course – see Ayla’s Intro to R courses.

Click here for more information and to register.

Introduction to ‘R’ Software

October 15 - 18, Online

An introduction to the programming language R. This course will provide tips and tricks to programming in R, installation of R packages and libraries, introduction to base R objects and data types, assign a value to a name, identify functions, for loops, and conditional statements, read in data from common file types (csv/xlsx), and perform mathematical operations and linear regression. This course spans four half-days. Students are not expected to have any previous experience in R or any other programming languages, this is a true intro level course. Course instructor Ayla Pearson is a Computational Biologist at Poisson Consulting Ltd. who has a passion for the intersection between data and resource management policy.

Click here for more information and to register. 

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. 

Large Grants from Natural Heritage Conservation Program – Land Trusts Conservation Fund (NHCP-LTCF)

Deadline: April 22

As an outcome of the Government of Canada investing a further $90 million to their initial $100 million investment (2019-2023) over the next 3 years in the Natural Heritage Conservation Program investment, Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC) in consultation with the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts (ACLT) has launched the Natural Heritage Conservation Program – Land Trusts Conservation Fund (NHCP-LTCF 2023-2026). Eligible recipients are invited to apply to this federally funded program which aims to assist and support the securement of key conservation areas across Canada, protect habitat for species at risk, enhance connections and corridors and stem the loss of biodiversity. The program is currently scheduled to conclude on March 31, 2026. In order to be considered for NHCP-LTCF Large Grants 2024-2025 (Year 6), completed Application Forms and required documentation need to be submitted by April 22 at 5 pm PT / 6 pm MT. If you would like to be added to the NHCP-LTCF email list to receive program announcements and updates, please email grants@whc.org.

Click here for more information. 

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.

Small-scale Ecosystem Grants from the Columbia Basin Trust

Deadline: November 28

Do you have a small-scale project, that helps improve ecological health and native biodiversity in the Basin? If so, the Trust wants to hear from you. Does your new project enhance a terrestrial and/or aquatic ecosystem, such as wetlands, fish habitat, forests or grasslands? Implement on-the-ground action? Have a small local scale? Take less than two years to implement? If your project meets these criteria, email Natasha Barisoff, Delivery of Benefits Manager, at ecosystems@ourtrust.org to discuss your project further. Deadline to apply is November 28 at 2 pm PT / 3 pm MT

Click here for more information. 

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.

Ktunaxa Nation

Water Quality Biologist, Cranbrook

Reporting to the Director of Lands and Resources, the opportunity is suited for someone who values conservation and stewardship of water and aquatic ecosystems to contribute to a positive outcome for the Ktunaxanin̓ tik as a whole. The water quality biologist is responsible for ensuring that the interests of the Ktunaxa First Nations are fully considered in protecting and restoring water quality throughout ?amak?is Ktunaxa, particularly in the Elk River watershed. The position is also responsible for managing or supporting environmental research, monitoring and restoration initiatives on behalf of Ktunaxa’s work to steward fisheries, water and aquatic ecosystems and to develop community stewardship capacity. The water quality biologist will participate on the behalf of the Ktunaxa First Nations on these issues and engage with industry, provincial and federal regulators through working groups or committees. This is a full-time permanent position with full benefits. Applications are accepted until April 5.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Yaq̓ it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it (Tobacco Plains Band)

Biologist, Grasmere or Sparwood

Yaq̓ it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it (Tobacco Plains Band) is currently seeking a full-time biologist in their Lands and Resources Department to provide professional support for Yaq̓ it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it stewardship of their traditional territory, including biological and environmental planning, surveys, projects, and assessments. The biologist will respond to referrals in accordance with Yaq̓ it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it rights, title, and interests, and conduct analysis, planning and assessment projects including species at risk, bird and wildlife surveys, fish and water impact assessments, and climate change vulnerability assessments. Collaboration regarding land use planning on reserve and in traditional territory lands will also be involved. This competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Columbia Lake Stewardship Society

Water Monitoring and Education Assistant

Columbia Lake’s Water Monitoring and Education Assistant will work alongside scientists, trained citizen scientists, and the Executive Director of the Columbia Lake Stewardship Society (CLSS). The successful candidate will assist with the collection of water quality samples, hydrometric measurements, the distribution of educational materials to community members and tourists through community outreach programs, participate in and promote CLSS conservation initiatives, and assist in delivering educational summer camps for kids. The Assistant will average 30 hours weekly, with some weekend shifts required. Note that all applicants must be under 30 years of age. This is a term contract from May 5 to August 24. Applications are received until April 8.

Click here for more information and to apply.

BC Conservation Foundation

WildSafeBC Community Coordinator: Arrow & Slocan Lakes • Columbia Valley • Selkirk • Rossland • Trail

The WildSafeBC Community Coordinator position is a unique opportunity to make a difference in reducing human-wildlife conflicts where you live. Professionalism, good communication and community engagement skills are essential for this position as well as an ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Community Coordinators will attend group training sessions to learn WildSafeBC conflict-reduction information relating to BC wildlife species, and effective engagement and delivery techniques, which they can bring into their communities. These are term contracts from May 8 to November 30. Applications are received until April 8.

Click here for more information and to apply

Wildsight Golden

Invasive Plant Coordinator, Golden

Do you love physical outdoor work, have a passion for the environment and have good communication skills? Wildsight Golden is seeking a qualified person to coordinate ‘Golden’s Community Invasive Plant Program’ and to develop and deliver public education on invasive plants. This program is jointly supported by Wildsight Golden and the Town of Golden. Most of the time (~65%) will be spent hand pulling invasive plants that have been identified at pre-determined sites throughout the Town of Golden. Other job duties include attending the Golden Farmers’ Market once per month throughout the summer to host Wildsight Golden’s educational table, developing content for social media posts, including short videos on the management of ‘weeds of the week’, developing a short, entertaining interpretive program to deliver during 3 summer camp events with children, and organizing and hosting two Community Weed Pull events in Golden, working with local stakeholder groups. This is a contracted term position from May to August. Applications are received until April 10.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Lake Windermere Ambassadors

Water Stewardship Assistant, Columbia Valley

The Lake Windermere Ambassadors are looking for a passionate water steward and community leader to join their organization. The ideal candidate will enjoy working within the community and will have a strong interest in water resources, the natural world, and the environment. The Water Stewardship Assistant must be under 30 years old, passionate about the environment and looking forward to a summer spent working outdoors. The main roles are to provide support to our water quality and quantity monitoring program and offer public stewardship education about Lake Windermere and the Columbia River Basin. The Water Stewardship Assistant will report to the Program Manager, who is also available to provide training. Anticipated employment is from May to August. Applications are received until April 19, or until the position is filled.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Director of Communities and Conservation, within Y2Y region

Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) is on the lookout for a dynamic, strategic, collaborative, and high capacity senior professional to lead their Communities and Conservation Program. This position is responsible for leading engagement with communities to develop support for protected areas, wildlife corridors and nature-positive decisions. The Communities and Conservation Program currently focuses on human-wildlife co-existence and promoting well-planned and managed recreation. The new director will identify 1-2 other potential areas of long-term engagement for their team. There are already some excellent model communities identified within the Y2Y landscape, and this team is tasked with determining how best to ensure that the characteristics of these model communities are replicated and scaled across the Y2Y region. The successful candidate will thrive in a complex, fast-paced work environment while leading a diverse, geographically dispersed team in strategy, planning, advocacy, partnership development and project execution. In addition, they will lead work that scales across Y2Y and drives change at the systems level. The position offers flexible location within the Y2Y landscape, with preference for proximity to airports in Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, or Alberta. Applications are accepted as soon as possible.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Wildsight Invermere

Seasonal Program Coordinator - Columbia Lake Bighorn Sheep Project

Wildsight Invermere is seeking a full-time seasonal Program Coordinator to assist with their Bighorn Sheep Conservation & Biodiversity Program, which focuses on the conservation and stewardship of the Columbia Lake Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep herd. In this role you will be responsible for organising and spearheading the monitoring of the sheep and building/maintaining important relationships with volunteers, ENGO partners and First Nations. Reporting to the Program Manager, you will assist in the organisation and implementation of community outreach programs, educational workshops and events and hosting of discussion panels giving members of the community an opportunity to get involved with creating lasting Bighorn Sheep conservation efforts. This position will begin in May for 8 to 16 weeks, depending on funding. Note that applicants must be under 30 years of age.

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.

New publications in the Susan Bond Memorial Library for 2024

Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program

This was a busy year, and there are 146 new titles in the online Susan Bond Memorial Library! These include 19 papers on First Nation use of fire and covers reports on K’tunaxa, Salish, Secwepemc, and Blackfoot Nations fire knowledge, with varying degrees of First Nation knowledge keepers. Also new is the “Cranbrook Community Forest Intensive Monitoring Report Year 6” written by Becky Philips at VAST Resource Solutions, in December 2023. The report was funded by the Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society and the Cranbrook Community Forest Society. It covers the change in vegetation in a thinning operation carried out in the Community Forest in the winter of 2018-2019. Some interesting Policy Papers are added because they give a good overview of issues and have good bibliographies for the topic. Possibly the most difficult to find document added to the library this year is a government scientist’s firsthand description of the Trench prior to settlement: Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada: Preliminary Report on the Physical and Geological Feature of that portion of the Rocky Mountains, by George M. Dawson, D.S., F.G.S., 1886.

Click here for more information and click here to access the library.

Guidelines for Winter Recreation near Wolverine Dens in Montane Western North America

Doris Hausleitner, Andrea Kortello, Mirjam Barrueto, William Harrower, and John Krebs

This paper is meant to form the science-informed basis for operational best practices and provincial and federal regulations in areas where wolverines and winter recreation overlap. The goal of this research was to synthesize existing ecological information for denning wolverine and identify risks from human presence in the categories of timing, distance, footprint, pattern of use, and frequency of use. The authors suggest commercial tenure holders and private users keep recreation in the low-risk category to minimize disturbance on denning females. Denning area surveys should be conducted prior to tenure application or renewals and dens can be identified by a concentration of tracks over more than three weeks from January 15 to May 15. Recreation should be restricted within a 5-km radius of confirmed dens during this window. Best practices include limiting the number of groups and concentrating movement on existing linear features as wolverine are sensitive to disturbance at a very low intensity of use and are at greatest risk when disturbances are dispersed and unpredictable.

Click here to access the article.

Wildfire Video Series

Harrop Procter Community Forest

This series of short educational films about community wildfire protection features the Harrop Procter Community Forest in the West Kootenay, and includes local experts including Erik Leslie and Rachel Holt. The first video, Climate Change and new Approaches to Wildfire Risk Reduction, lays the groundwork for the overall series with experts sharing both the historical approach to and current best practices for land management, ecosystem resilience and fuel treatments. The Harrop Procter Community Forest will serve as the case study for how a close call in 2003 spurred a local community to meet the challenges of climate change and a history of fire suppression. From this example, we learn how a community can work together to take responsibility before it's too late. The series continues with Wildfire Risk Reduction in Harrop Procter Community Forest, Living with Fire: A Community Approach to Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Working with Fire: Forest Management Strategies for Wildfire Risk Reduction.

Recording: Applying Nature-Based Solutions in the Foreshore

Green Shores

This webinar in March was hosted by experts Cori Barraclough with Aqua-Tex Scientific Consulting Ltd. and Dr. Donna Marie Bilkovic with Virginia Institute of Marine Science. They discuss their work in applying nature-based solutions in coastal and lakefront foreshore areas. They share their research, methods for maximizing ecological function while maintaining shoreline stabilization, some challenges and lessons learned from working with landowners, what incentives have worked to get more projects completed, and more!

Click here to access the recording.

Recording: Weaving together people and place - creating a climate of regeneration

West Kootenay Climate Hub

This webinar in March explored the concept of bioregionalism within our own community. Presenter Jan Inglis, grassroots environmental educator and public engagement practitioner, shares examples of on-the-ground regenerative projects and discusses 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. We also hear from Ramona Faust about the importance of preserving healthy watersheds and our relationship with them. Ramona, now a director of the West Kootenay Watershed Collaborative, has contributed in many positive ways in our community for many years. She has worked in forestry, education, social services and community forestry, and spent 14 years as an RDCK Director.

Click here to access the recording.

The influence of social identity on attitudes toward wildlife

Max H. Birdsong, et. al.

This study found strong evidence that people's attitudes toward wildlife are driven by social identity, bearing implications for wildlife management and conservation. Given the profound influence of social identity on human cognitions and behaviors in myriad contexts, the patterns the researchers observed are likely important in a variety of wildlife conservation situations. To foster positive conservation outcomes and minimize polarization, management strategies should account for these identity-driven perceptions while prioritizing conflict prevention and promoting positive wildlife narratives within and among identity groups. This study illustrates the utility of social identity theory for explaining and influencing interactions between people and wildlife.

Click here to access the article. 

Counting sheep: saving a bighorn herd in the Rockies

Narwhal article by Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood

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.

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.