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Bean leaves, bedbugs and biomimicry
Scientists often come up with new discoveries, technologies or theories. But sometimes they rediscover what our ancestors already knew. A couple of recent findings show we have a lot to learn from our forebears — and nature — about bugs.
Scientists often come up with new discoveries, technologies or theories. But sometimes they rediscover what our ancestors already knew. A couple of recent findings show we have a lot to learn from our forebears — and nature — about bugs.
Modern methods of controlling pests have consisted mainly of poisoning them with chemicals. But that's led to problems. Pesticides kill far more than the bugs they target, and pollute air, water and soil. As we learned with the widespread use of DDT to control agricultural pests and mosquitoes, chemicals can bioaccumulate, meaning molecules may concentrate hundreds of thousands of times up the food web — eventually reaching people.
BC needs active citizens to keep speaking out for the environment
British Columbians have shown they have power to demand a better environmental future. B.C.'s climate action law was enacted because British Columbians demanded it.
B.C. has elected a new government and, with it, hopes for economic growth and opportunities. But we've also heard loudly during the election campaign that British Columbians don't want that growth to come at the expense of the environment.
We've heard that environmental leadership and action on climate change are important to British Columbians. These issues were a decisive factor in the 2009 B.C. election and remained important influencers this election as well. During the next four years, we look forward to engaging discussions on how we can uphold B.C.'s law and targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. British Columbians want to be part of the discussion on how we proceed with liquefied natural gas development. And they remain concerned about the impacts of pipeline expansions and potential tanker traffic increases.
Continue reading »National Sustainable Seafood Day: Parliamentary Initiative Offers Hope for Oceans
(Credit: Barry J Brady)
Earlier this year, a motion was tabled in the House of Commons asking to make National Sustainable Seafood Day official in Canada. Since then, the Vancouver Aquarium's Ocean Wise program and SeaChoice have been working with Blueyou Consulting and Executive Chef Ned Bell of Yew Restaurant + Bar to help build support for a National Sustainable Seafood Day in Canada.
Last Friday, David Suzuki joined special guests National Geographic Fellow, Barton Seaver and 12 celebrity chefs for a sustainable seafood celebration in Vancouver.
With 10 unique Canadian sustainable seafood tasting stations plus two global features all prepared by some of Canada's top chefs, this event was not only a culinary adventure, but the inspirational stories of each fishery or farm offered not only solutions for seafood lovers, but more importantly hope for our oceans.
Continue reading »Pop up a picnic
Get into nature with a pop up picnic. (Credit: queen_of_subtle via Flickr)
If you're two weeks into the 30×30 Nature Challenge, you're probably starting to feel the benefits of increased time in the great outdoors! How did you ever get through your day with such a nature deficit? (Actually, it was with about 20 per cent less concentration and 20 per cent more stress — but that's a post for another day).
Continue reading »Wetlands: Too valuable to neglect
(Artwork by Elise Rocque)
Those of us living in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia are fortunate to be surrounded by a vast network of estuaries, sandy beaches, seagrass beds, marshes, rivers and creeks. These wetland habitats, where land meets water, are among the planet's most productive environments. They filter pollutants, lock up greenhouse gases that lead to climate change, store floodwaters, refill groundwater and provide habitat to a staggering range of wildlife.
Unfortunately, little by little, we're losing these spaces and the many benefits they provide. In the Fraser Lowlands of Metro Vancouver alone, we've lost more than 85 per cent of our wetlands over the past century due to agricultural drainage, industrial development, new subdivisions and transportation corridors. As people have moved in (often drawn to the region by the environment), it appears nature has moved out. But is this a necessary trade-off?
We don't think so. The remaining wetlands of the Lower Mainland exist within a shrinking natural landscape, where a growing population live and work. While we cannot turn back the clock, we can build on what we've got. We can build communities that incorporate wetlands into their design and planning, either through protection or restoration. In the process, we will be securing a fundamental part of local and global water cycles, saving tax dollars on infrastructure that replaces what nature does for free and allowing our children to experience wildlife in its natural habitat. In short, we have the chance to create new landscapes that will be treasured by future communities.
Continue reading »Lost Lagoon: Education in Nature
A video by Emily Carr student Emily Kao explores the myriad of benefits from Stanley Park wetlands.
Wetlands: Keeping our planet alive and well
This Ramsar video tells a story about the importance of wetlands for human beings and issues that these most precious resources are facing. The Ramsar Convention helps people to work together and manage these vital ecosystems.
