Issues & Opportunities
Opportunities for upgrading your natural history skills, volunteer work, speaking out on important conservation issues and, sometimes, to get paid for things you love to do anyway!
Natural Resources strategy in the works
The Banfield-Crossman phase 2 report, “A Natural Balance” recommends significant changes in forest harvesting practices to conserve biodiversity and the forest resource. Please express support of their recommendations.
Read more
Critical UARB hearings on Forest Biomass in July
UARB hearings related to the NSP-New Page proposal for using forest biomass to generate electricity take place end of July. Deadline for comments is July 14, 2010. More details
NCC Volunteers needed June 12 and Aug. 19-20, 2010
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is seeking volunteers to help in conservation efforts at two activities in Nova Scotia this summer: Brier Island Plant and Sweep (June 12) and Tusket Lakeshore Bioblitz (August 19-20, 2010). More details
Contribute to the Maritimes Butterfly Atlas
Details at http://accdc.com/butterflyatlas/home.html A Butterfly Atlas Training Session is being held Aug. 7, 2010 at the K.C. Irving Environmental Centre at Acadia University. Read more
HRM: Blue Mt-Birch Cove Lakes
Is HRM backtracking on its commitment to procure private lands for the Regional Park that includes the Blue Mt-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area? No date yet has been given for Regional Council discussion of this issue, poss. in next few months. See Update. Councillors need to hear from us.
Long lake in East Uniacke under threat
Those of us in Halifax treasure our Long Lake. Another beautiful Long Lake, in East Uniacke, which supports populations of Snapping Turtles (species of concern – COSEWIC) and possibly Wood Turtles (threatened – COSEWIC), as well as being highly valued for its natural history by local residents, is under threat from development. Read more.
***See January 2010 Update, Send a message of support.
Nova Scotia Department of Energy Renewable Plan
http://www.gov.ns.ca/energy/renewableplan/ A key issue for conservation: The Wheeler Report’s recommendation to realize 500 GWh through biomass projects by 2015, including large scale clearcutting.
Public comment : No date given, the sooner the better.
Scientists and Innovators in the Schools (SITS)
‘Want to volunteer as a speaker to promote natural history in schools? Register with SITS, a programme run by the Atlantic Science Links Association.