Rick Searle at work at a Friends of Shoal Harbour “All Buffleheads Celebration”
Appended below are links to three short videos, arranged, produced and directed by Rick Searle, Greater Victoria Naturehood Coordinator. Filming and editing by Peter Campbell of Gumboot Productions. ____________________________________________________
Bob Peart, FOSH Chair, looks out over Tsehum Harbour (part of the Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Here is a link to a short video about the Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary:
Lindsey McCrank, Assistant Harbours and Watershed Cordinator for the Capital Regional District, talks about the Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Here is a link to a short video about the Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary:
New Information Shared by the Roberts Bay Residents Association
Roberts Bay looking north across the Mermaid Creek Estuary (summer 2021). Photo by Mary Chu.
Roberts Bay Restoration Project
Hot off the press!! We just received the attached report “Analysis of Current and Historic Conditions in Roberts Bay” from Peninsula Streams and Sea Change Societies. Prepared by CORI (Coastal and Oceans Resources Inc.), it provides a detailed description of things like the slope and structure of the shoreline around the bay plus the plants and animals found at each level. This is in addition to the birds and other wildlife we are already familiar with which depend on the bay’s ecology for their survival. Starting at page 40, (see link below) the work on the Mermaid Creek estuary and saltmarsh demonstrates how the saltmarsh has diminished and receded in the past 60 years and how this relates to carbon storage and climate change. The final paragraph (page 60) concludes: “This analysis provides insights into potential restoration efforts. It is clear the estuary can support a much larger marsh which is a good basis for restoration and provides a reasonable expectation of success. The active erosion of the front edge, the sediment deposits on the marsh during storm events, and the coastal squeeze the marsh is currently experiencing make it clear that simply adding sediment to the beach below the marsh and replanting (or allowing colonization) will fail if measures are not put in place to mitigate wave action and prevent erosion.” This report, along with other documented evidence like water quality and volumes at the Mermaid Creek outfall, provides a foundation for the Town, Peninsula Streams and Sea Change to seek funding to engage shoreline restoration specialists and work with residents to maintain and enhance Roberts Bay for the future.
Reprinted with permission from the Roberts Bay Residents Steering Committee
Editor’s Note: It is understood that the rapid surges in flow delivered to Roberts Bay following heavy rainfall events are potentially harmful to the creek estuary and to Roberts Bay due to both quality and quantity of the storm water. The :”atmospheric rivers” experienced this autumn (2021) seem likely to become seasonal events heightening the importance of adequate storm water management..
Friends of Shoal Harbour join Nature Canada and other environmental advocates in urging the federal government to stop and reverse nature loss by 2030
200 organizations call on the federal government to follow through on election promises11/18/2021SHARE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, ON – November 18, 2021
As parliament prepares to return next week, two hundred of Canada’s leading nature organizations are calling on the Prime Minister to ensure the federal government prioritizes the protection and recovery of nature during this session of Parliament, as promised during the recent federal election.
Over the past two weeks, world leaders have gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, at the UN climate conference COP26. Today’s open letter reminds federal parties that the protection and restoration of nature is critical to our global environmental recovery and that Canada must solve the climate and biodiversity crises together or risk solving neither.
“We must put in place stronger actions to cut greenhouse emissions. And we must deliver a comprehensive plan — with timelines and targets — to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 and bring nature to full recovery by 2050,” the letter reads.
“Despite the historic nature investment in Budget 2021 and advancement of protected areas, studies show that Canadian laws and policies to safeguard biodiversity have fallen short and we continue to lose nature faster than we can recover it.”
Protecting at least 30 percent of land and ocean by 2030
Supporting Indigenous-led conservation and respecting Indigenous rights
Getting nature-based climate solutions right
Restoring degraded ecosystems
Supporting urban biodiversity and advancing environmental justice
The nature groups want to underscore the urgency of this moment for Canada and the planet and they look forward to working with all parliamentarians to build a nature-positive, carbon neutral and equitable Canada for all.
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QUOTES:
Nature Canada
The Government’s commitment to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 is a game-changer. With Canada’s wetlands, grasslands, and primary forests disappearing faster than we can recover them and over 600 wildlife species at risk, we are facing a climate and nature emergency that threatens our collective future. We need a comprehensive strategy to put us on the path to nature’s full recovery. The government’s platform commitments to support Indigenous-led conservation, protect and restore land and ocean and advance environmental justice must be top priorities for our new parliament. Over 200 nature organizations are ready to help. Our climate and planet depend on it.
Graham Saul, Executive Director of Nature Canada
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)
We need urgent action on the intertwined climate and biodiversity crises. All levels of governments must work together toward our land and ocean protection goals, including by supporting and investing in Indigenous-led conservation and Indigenous Guardians programs that conserve nature while advancing reconciliation.
Sandra Schwartz, CPAWS National Executive Director
David Suzuki Foundation
Human societies have to deeply embed and then act on the understanding that we are an interconnected part of nature. Species extinction, the destruction of nature, climate chaos and the disenfranchisement of many parts of society share common causes and require urgent, coordinated action to address. The ways forward are there and we need action from government and civil society to achieve what we know is possible.
Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Executive Director, David Suzuki Foundation
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For more information contact:
Nature Canada Scott Mullenix – Director of Communications smullenix@naturecanada.ca | 613-462-4024
David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) Brendan Glauser – Director of Communications bglauser@davidsuzuki.org | 604 356 8829
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) – National Tracy Walden – Director of Communications twalden@cpaws.org | 613-915-4857
World Wildlife Federation – Canada (WWF) Elizabeth Hendriks ehendriks@wwfcanada.org
Friends of Shoal Harbour 