History and its impact on our local flora and fauna Here is an interesting article published in The Tyee about the Himalayan Blackberry. The article discusses at length the history of introduction of this invasive plant and its impact on our environment. Read the article from the link below: How Blackberries Took Over. It’s a Juicy Story
Submitted by Caroline Penn Please see an article in The Narwhal from the link below. Written by Jimmy Thomson, it’s thorough but readable, with excellent maps and graphics. This is a follow up from the presentation by Tim Burkhart to Nature Vancouver on May 21. Tim Burkhart is BC Manager, Strategic Engagement and Peace Region, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Victoria. In his presentation Tim told the story of mountain caribou in BC, the stunning landscapes they help protect, and the…
Plans are progressing to upgrade the Iona Island Waste Water Treatment Plant. Two online public meetings will be held: May 19th(from 12 to 2 pm) and May 21 (from 6:30 to 8:30 pm). You can register with Metro Vancouver to attend this online meeting HERE You may recall that public meetings were held over a year ago, at the start of this ten year design and build process. Nature Vancouver representatives have also attended three smaller stakeholder meetings to provide…
A Brief History Text by Pat Miller – Photos by Doug Cooper Located on Vancouver’s east side, Hastings Park is the second largest park in the City of Vancouver, after Stanley Park. It was established in 1889 when the Province of BC granted 62 hectares (154 acres) of land to the City, most of which is currently occupied by the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) and the Hastings Park Racecourse. Four hectares (9.9 acres) of the site is occupied by the…
Report from Federal Review Panel Text submitted by Bev Ramey Many of you have followed this lengthy review process over the past four years and you may have heard that the Federal Environmental Review Panel released its report on March 30th. The Summary of Key Findings, three pages long, does not include recommendations, but does read fairly strongly against the project, beginning in the fourth paragraph of the summary, due to concerns for the environment, health, wildlife and First Nations….
Public Input sought by Feb 28, 2020 The BC government is seeking public input on its “Trails Strategy for BC”. Several naturalists have commented that some trails should remain single purpose, for walkers and hikers focussed on nature study and observation. Not all trails should be designed for multi-use. The BC government survey takes 15 to 30 minutes to complete. Deadline to complete is February 28th by 4:00 pm. The survey is available from the following link: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/trailsstrategyreview/ Click below for…
Appeal to Nature Vancouver members – Contact your MP in Support of Nature Nature Canada is organizing a rally “Nature on the Hill Day” in Ottawa on February 4th, to support Canada’s targets of 17% protection of land/freshwater and 10% protection of coastal/marine water, by 2020. In addition, this rally supports the Green Budget Coalition’s recommendations for investments in Nature in the 2020-21 federal budget. BC Nature is sending two representatives to the rally. Nature Vancouver is encouraging our members to…
Report by Dr. Peter R.B. Ward Cascade Bird Box Team has been working at McCleery Golf Course, other City of Vancouver courses and several private golf courses since 2014. We have achieved a steady growth in the summer population of Tree Swallows, with the co-operation of Golf Course superintendents. These birds are really good at controlling insects, and are a pleasure to watch. They are dependent for breeding on the presence of a suitable hole in a tree or a…
As part of the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade (a ten year project), the four sewerage treatment lagoons will be ‘dewatered’ over the next three years, but mitigation wetlands may not be created for another ten years, towards the end of the construction project. Bird Studies Canada and Nature Vancouver have sent a letter to Metro Vancouver Regional District expressing concerns with this multiyear gap for bird habitat. A PDF of the letter is available HERE.
Workshop on Lower Fraser River, organized by the Rivershed Society of BC June 20, 1:00 to 3:45 pm at Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre. Come with your ideas to help create a conservation and restoration plan for the Lower Fraser River. Please register to attend by EMAIL MORE INFORMATION