Historic climate action and a wave of forest love are highlights in this edition of EcoNews that we think will find you raising a glass of local apple cider in celebration this Thanksgiving weekend.
Paris Agreement on Climate Change a reality
The Paris Agreement on Climate Change was formally ratified on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016
when Canada brought the world over the threshold of countries needed to bring the Paris Agreement into force. TheConservation Council applauds the federal government for ratifying the Paris Agreement.
Earlier this week, on Oct. 3, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government’s proposal for carbon pricing, just one component of the Canadian climate plan. Read more about what the Conservation Council thinks about the plan to meet targets set out in the Paris Agreement here.
Next-generation environmental assessment in Canada: Expert Panel in Fredericton onOct. 11 & 12
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change has commissioned an Expert Panel to review federal environmental assessment processes and engage Canadians on a new environmental assessment process for the country. The Expert Panel’s only scheduled stop in New Brunswick is in Fredericton on Tuesday, Oct. 11 and Wednesday, Oct. 12. You must register to present before the Expert Panel. Read more on how you can participate or observe here.
Falling for our forest all over again: 5 Days for the Forest brings generations in awe of our forest together
National Forest Week in Fredericton, Sept. 18-24, was marked by the Conservation Council’s first-ever 5 Days for the Forest. The 5-day festival began with a guided adventure with Dr. Jim Goltz through Odell Park. People dined on hors d’oeuvres made with locally-sourced ingredients by the Crowne Plaza’s chefs while listening to the funny and poignant poetry of Marilyn Lerch at OMISTA’s Local Chews & Brews. An overflowing room at the University of New Brunswick’s Forestry Building listened to Nick Hawkins and Community Forests International’s Zach Melanson tell stories of global forest conservation and restoration through their photographs and film. Over 14 teams came toTREEvia night at the Grad House to test their knowledge of trees, flora and fauna facts. Audiences were treated to live performances by the talented Gypsophilia and Tumba Sound. The week concluded with a screening of A Beautiful Forest that shared indigenous perspectives of protecting the forest, land, language and culture.
Check out what some folks had to say about 5 Days for the Forest:
What an outstanding and eclectic set of events CCNB put together for its first-time celebration of National Forestry Week! Of course, a walk in the woods with Jim Goltz is always super special for a tree guy, but all the events, from the local nibbles on poetry night to films, talks and concerts were superb. Congratulations on a job well done. – David Palmer
The activities of the 5 Days for the Forest campaign that I attended, and others that I heard about from friends, really seemed to bring together people from all age groups, which I think is very important. And because we are so often involved in hard and serious work, the lasting impact on people of having fun, while supporting what’s important to them, can’t be overestimated. It’s a great way to win people over and keep them interested. – Jim Emberger.
Congratulations on your great events this week. Very forward thinking strategy. – Anne Levesque
More news from the Conservation Council’s forest team
The Conservation Council’s Lois Corbett met with the new Minister of Energy and Resource Development, Rick Doucet, on Sept. 1. She discussed concerns that New Brunswickers have with the current forest plan and glyphosate spraying. Tracy Glynn and Zachary Bourque are busy collecting data for an Acadian Forest Report Card that will assess public priorities for Crown lands and forest management. The team is also diving into preparing the second edition of The Great Trees of New Brunswick and is part of the organizing efforts for the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute’s Old Forest Conservation Science Conference happening on Oct. 19-21 in Debert, NS. The Conservation Council also looks forward to networking with non-timber forest producers at the From Fields and Forest Conference in Moncton on Oct. 19-20.
Conservation Council in the news
Lois Corbett talks to Global News about the federal carbon pricing announcement
Fundy Baykeeper Matt Abbott tells Local Xpress about a federal study that shows extreme weather caused by climate change is affecting marine spills off Nova Scotia
Tracy Glynn tells CBC that our best defence against spruce budworm outbreaks is a diverse forest with healthy bird and insect populations
Louise Comeau tells CBC that New Brunswick is straggling when it comes to climate action
Conservation Council event with local conservation photographer Nick Hawkins featured inThe Aquinian
Brittany MacLean talks to CBC about the Tula Farm Newcomers’ Garden
That’s worth celebrating: CCNB’s Tracy Glynn on 5 Days for the Forest on CHSR
Fundy Baykeeper Matt Abbott tells CBC that increased oil tanker traffic will impact fisheries
Conservation Council’s President Liane Thibodeau’s talk on clean energy opportunities delivered to the Legislative Assembly’s select committee on climate change gets coverage byGlobal and CHSJ
Louise Comeau on the push to accelerate the phasing-out of coal in The Globe & Mail