News

January 2009

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

Green groups set 2009 priorities

British Columbia’s leading environmental groups have teamed up to tackle a new set of priorities for 2009: at-risk species, climate solutions, coalbed methane and salmon farming.

The consortium of 14 environmental groups, Priorities for Environmental Leadership, has picked four issues to champion for the year – the goal being to advocate for a small number of high-impact priorities that can be lobbied to become public policy, meaning a better chance of success.

Member groups are the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST), Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s B.C. Chapter, Dogwood Initiative, Ecojustice, Forest Ethics, Georgia Strait Alliance, Greenpeace Canada, Living Oceans Society, Pembina Institute, Sierra Club of Canada’s B.C. Chapter, Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC), West Coast Environmental Law and the Wilderness Committee.

B.C.’s at-risk species was picked as a priority because B.C. is one of only two provinces in Canada without a stand-alone law to protect at-risk species. Meanwhile, it has more endangered species than any province or territory.

Climate solutions championed by the group include ensuring industrial greenhouse gas emissions are subject to a carbon price; that a portion of B.C.’s budget surplus should go to improvements to local transit service; and the creation of an independently-managed fossil-fuel ‘Innovation and Legacy Fund’ to benefit communities and low-income families.

The group is also urging a turn away from coalbed methane, a gas trapped in underground coal deposits. Priorities for Environmental Leadership is seeking a 10-year moratorium on coalbed methane drilling to resolve impacts to watersheds, rural communities, wildlife and the environment. Other fossil fuel development is also being targeted.

The fourth issue being sought is a $10 million allocation to establish a Closed System Aquaculture Innovation and Development Fund to leverage investment from industry and accelerate development of closed containment technology for salmon aquaculture. Open pen aquaculture has been widely blamed on sea lice contamination of wild salmon stocks.

Donoso eyes state of Arctic

This issue's cover-story explorer, Cristian Donoso, is heading on a 550-mile exploration of the Palmer Archipelago and the Danco Coast to study wildlife density and explore the effects of global warming on the Antarctic coast in December 2008. Donoso will be joined by Juan Pablo Ortega and Roger Rovira. The hope is to inform the public about the effect of global warming on the Antarctic coast. Visit www.antarctickayak.com.

Cascadia Trail nears federal protection

U.S. Representative Jay Inslee recently introduced legislation that would begin the process of giving the Cascadia Marine Trail status as a National Scenic or National Historic Trail. The Washington Water Trails Association submitted a letter of support for legislation that would further protect and elevate the status of the Cascadia Marine Trail.

“Puget Sound is a national treasure both for its recreational opportunities and natural resources,” said Inslee, a resident of Bainbridge Island, WA, who serves on the House panel with jurisdiction over the Department of the Interior. “This designation would help ensure that generation after generation of Americans can enjoy the history and culture of these waterways.”

A trail has to go through a long approval process before it becomes a National Scenic or National Historic Trail. Inslee started the process in August when he introduced legislation providing funding for a feasibility study. An avid kayaker, Inslee thinks the Puget Sound deserves the national recognition that this designation would provide, as well as the greater protections that would result.

Following a study, additional legislation will be required to authorize the trail designation. Finally, the National Park Service will create a management plan that will make the trail designation a reality. To be successful it will take a large amount of community support and engagement. Visit www.wwta.org/trails/cmt/

Remains reinterred on island

A Tseshaht First Nations ceremony at the Broken Group Islands in late October was a happy ending for a case of poor judgment by kayakers in the 1970s. But questions remain about how to best handle possible future intrusions into native history in the national park.

A child's burial box with remains, glass beads and copper ornaments estimated to be about 200 years old were replaced in what is believed to be the original burial cave from which they were taken by the kayakers.

The bones of two teenagers were also re-interred at the October ceremony.

The kayakers gave the remains to the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria, which returned them to the Tseshaht earlier this year.

The ceremony was a tricky one, as burial caves are considered sacred and are not meant to be entered. The entrances were blocked after the ceremony.

The incident has raised concerns by the band about how to protect burial caves and other sacred sites in the national park.

One idea put forward is to have Tseshaht members act as park wardens.

The case highlights the need for kayakers to be aware of the cultural potential of visited locations on the B.C. coast, to respect the sanctity of cultural areas and to avoid removing objects of any type with a historic cultural significance. Caves should also be avoided.