Entries tagged "woodland"

Caribou in the Classroom

Jun 19, 2010

Did you know that students as young as grade 2 are learning about biodiversity? The other month, Jill Sturdy, CPAWS National Conservation Outreach Coordinator, and I visited a couple of grade 2 classes at Briargreen Public School. They invited us to talk about, you guessed it, Canada's threatened woodland caribou.

We talked about how to tell a caribou from a moose, the unique features of woodland caribou, their connection to Canada and the environment, why woodland caribou are at risk of disappearing forever, and what needs to be done to save them. It was a great meet-up. And what made it great was that it wasn't just Jill and I doing all the talking. The students had outstanding questions and even better answers. The whole thing was very interactive. We played a game with them to demonstrate the importance of Canada's magnificent boreal forest to woodland caribou. The students took on the part of the trees and helped me hide from my predator "Jill the wolf".

Given that children are the future, I am very glad we had the chance to meet with them to help secure a better future for my species, the ecosystem, and biodiversity. Below is a short video of our visit. Thank you to the teachers and students of Briargreen Public School for the awesome opportunity. We hope you'll invite us back next year!

Quarters for Caribou: "Small Change, Big Difference"

Jun 19, 2010

Do you know what's happening at the Bonn Climate Talks?

Jun 07, 2010

Do you remember all the press and online chatter leading up to last December’s UN climate talks in Copenhagen? For many, the results were disappointing. In particular, countries did not reach an agreement to be accountable for their true carbon emissions from forestry activities (check out MakeForestsCount.org to learn about the issue).

One big disappointment from the Copenhagen talks was the proposal of a Logging Loophole. This loophole basically allows developed countries to increase logging activity without accounting for the carbon released from it. This is where the UN Bonn Climate Talks come into play. It’s at this meeting that the Logging Loophole could be formalized and put into a climate agreement. I obviously hope not and CPAWS’ forest and climate expert Chris Henschel is there right now trying to ensure that it doesn’t.

If you are interested in this issue which will have a very real impact on climate change and how it affects all of us, then I strongly encourage you to follow Chris on his blog at: http://climateforests.blogspot.com

Here is Chris'  video blog from the Bonn Climate Talks:

(watch on YouTube)

If you are wondering why making forests count is important to a woodland caribou like me, then check out my past post: Why Making Forests Count is a Caribou concern.

Have a safe flight back Chris and thank you for keeping us up-to-date on what’s happening with this very important area of the UN climate talks!

Historical Agreeement - something to dance about!

May 18, 2010

(watch video on YouTube)

I have a feeling today's news will be filled with stories about the signing of the historical Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. After two years of negotiations, The Canadian Parks And Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and sister conservation organizations have reached an historic agreement with the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC). CPAWS played a leadership role in achieving The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, which:

• covers over 70 million hectares of Canada's Boreal forest licensed to FPAC member companies across the country;
• commits these companies to world-leading sustainable forest management practices and conservation planning;
• focuses on protecting the Boreal woodland caribou's critical habitat; and
• is signed by CPAWS and eight other conservation organizations and 21 forestry companies represented by FPAC.

To learn more about the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, who's invovled, and why it's important, visit www.CanadianBorealForestAgreement.com.

For Earth Day, help make Nááts'ihch'oh a protected national park

Apr 22, 2010

The herd is coming!

Apr 16, 2010

(watch video on YouTube)

Over 20,000 people have signed the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Caribou Pledge. That is AWESOME! So now we want to gather the herds and tell the world by holding a spontaneous crowd for caribou celebration in the streets of Ottawa, Montreal, and Vancouver. On April 21, 2010, grab your antlers, grab your friends, and join a herd for this quick and crazy caribou event!

Event details for each city:

Ottawa: http://bit.ly/ao7ehb

Vancouver: http://bit.ly/9maDaT

Montreal: http://bit.ly/aUXcTD

One step closer to keeping the house intact

Apr 15, 2010

Will your children know what a woodland caribou is?

Feb 26, 2010

They have been central to many of Canada’s First Nations.

Hundreds of Canadian places and even sports teams are named after them.

Woodland caribou are a national symbol carried in the pocket of almost every Canadian.

But they are disappearing.

Because of the over development of their home, Canada’s Boreal forest, they are no longer found in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick or Nova Scotia.

Unless we do something now, they will be gone forever.

If we lose the Canadian woodland caribou, we lose a piece of Canada.

Help save a Canadian icon for future generations.

Sign the caribou pledge.

Become a fan.

Because Canada’s woodland caribou need your help.

Olympics bring a caribou hockey nation together - Go Canada Go!

Feb 25, 2010

Since being in Ottawa, I have come to learn a few things about what Canada means to its people. Over the last two weeks, one of those things has been loud and clear: Hockey is Canada’s game.

To check this out, I brushed up on the basics of the game and then sat down to watch last night's much anticipated Olympic hockey event: Canada vs. Russia.

WOW! What a rush! Seeing the endless sea of red and white dressed fans and hearing them cheer “Go Canada Go!” from the rafters to the streets of Vancouver was contagious. I got chills experiencing the fan support. I was amazed by how it turned inspiration into action that silenced the critics and saved Team Canada’s iconic status for future hope.

After the game, I was filled with an even greater believe in the power of caribou caring Canadians to come together to save another of their Nation’s icons for future generations, Canada’s Woodland Caribou. Go Canada Go!

Alberta's Athabasca Heartland - A world class conservation opportunity for caribou and you

Feb 03, 2010

You may have read in the news yesterday Woodland caribou under threat in oilsands area, group says. Alberta’s Athabasca Heartland contains most of Alberta’s last unprotected intact wildness which is home to an amazing variety of plants and animals such as woodland caribou, wolverine, old growth forests, and peat lands. It is also the home of the Alberta oil sands , as well as other development such as logging and conventional oil and gas operations.

For the first time in over 10 years, the Alberta government will be identifying and creating new protected areas in the province --starting with the Lower Athabasca Region. What an incredible conservation opportunity! The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) wants the Alberta Government to protect at least 50% of the region by establishing a strong network of protected areas to conserve this valuable wilderness and give species, such as the threatened woodland caribou, a fighting chance for survival.

To learn more about the issues and proposed solutions visit the CPAWS Northern Alberta Chapter’s website or watch this great video prepared by the Chapter and sign the petition to protect Alberta’s last great intact wilderness for caribou and you:

(watch video on YouTube)

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