© Conservation Council of New Brunswick 2024
In this edition of EcoNews, our Fundy Baykeeper brings you the inspiring story of the Peskotomuhkati Nation-led effort to restore the Skutik River; we check in on the government’s progress on implementing the spraying and forestry recommendations it received from committee six months ago (don’t expect too much); we update you on the exciting work happening in our electric school bus and Learning Outside projects; and more.
"What Happens To The Alewife Happens To Us"
Big things have been happening lately for a little fish. Not only have the small but mighty alewife, pictured above, begun their annual migration up the Skutik (St. Croix) River, but late last month Indigenous communities and government agencies signed an historic document committing to the restoration of the Skutik watershed. Our Fundy Baykeeper, Matt Abbott, brings us the story of the inspiring, Peskotomuhkati-led effort to return this important river to its more natural, healthier state.
Nullity And Dullity: Little Progress on Forestry Reform in N.B.
With herbicide spray season about to start in New Brunswick, we thought it might be a good time to check in on the progress made since the Legislative Assembly received a standing committee report that recommended a more “cautious approach on pesticide use, including glyphosate.” Unfortunately, as our Carleton County-born Executive Director, Lois Corbett, found out—there’s no much to report; small potatoes indeed.
Atlantic Loop, Homegrown Renewables Needed For Fossil-Free Atlantic Canada: Study
A new study from our colleagues at Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre (EAC) concludes that a combination of building an Atlantic Loop and developing much more non-polluting, renewable energy in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia is the best way to ensure affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity when the provinces’ coal plants go offline. Click on to learn more about EAC and the Conservation Council’s Atlantic Electricity Vision.
Getting More Electric School Buses On The Road In N.B.
Our Climate & Energy Solutions campaigner, Adam Mahoney, got to check out one of the province’s few electric school buses last weekend. Mahoney is part of our team working to replace New Brunswick’s noisy, pollution-spewing diesel school buses with a fleet of clean, cool electric buses. See why making this switch is a no-brainer both for our children’s health and the environment.
Helping Teachers Take Learning Outside The Classroom
Basically everybody at the Conservation Council agrees: our in-house ecologist, Dr. Nadine Ives, has the best job. That’s because she spends most of her days outside, helping children connect with the natural world by teaching them all about the plants, animals, and habitats that are found on or near their school grounds. After two challenging years of the pandemic, Dr. Ives fills us in on the exciting activities her Learning Outside team is developing and tells us why it’s more important than ever to help kids spend time in nature.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, June 22, 2022: Join our Climate Change and Energy Solutions project coordinator, Adam Mahoney, at 1 p.m. for a webinar on the benefits and challenges of converting the province’s school bus fleet to electric, what we’ve discovered through our research, and the next steps in our campaign to electrify New Brunswick’s school buses. Register here.
We work hard to ensure a strong environmental voice is heard in the New Brunswick print, radio and television media. Click the link below for the latest stories Conservation Council staff have been called upon for expertise, analysis and commentary: