Environment

People who have declared themselves “Land Defenders” sing a song as they guard an area of a logging cut block called “Heli Camp” in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C. Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Second judge to consider stay application of old-growth logging protesters in B.C.

More than 1,100 people have been arrested since Fairy Creek watershed blockade injunction

People who have declared themselves “Land Defenders” sing a song as they guard an area of a logging cut block called “Heli Camp” in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C. Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Container ship MV Kingston was escorted from its anchorage off Victoria to Duke Point in Nanaimo following the loss of several containers and an on-board fire last fall. (Photo: Transport Canada)

MV Zim Kingston’s lost cargo containers still a deep concern for B.C. coast

Coast Guard says it is working with ship owner to investigate and respond to reports of debris

Container ship MV Kingston was escorted from its anchorage off Victoria to Duke Point in Nanaimo following the loss of several containers and an on-board fire last fall. (Photo: Transport Canada)
Anyone who finds a European green crab like this one on Vancouver Island shorelines should report the invasive species to DFO, with photos and the exact location. (Courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Extreme weather could help invasive green crab crawl along B.C. coast

European green crab is identifiable by five spines on the side of each eye

Anyone who finds a European green crab like this one on Vancouver Island shorelines should report the invasive species to DFO, with photos and the exact location. (Courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
Researchers aboard the vessel Noctiluca monitor southern resident killer whale behavior. (Photo courtesy of Northwest Fisheries Science Center/North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries)

US review emphasizes uncertain future for B.C.’s southern resident killer whales

Boats, food decline, pollution threats as researchers recommend continued endangered status

Researchers aboard the vessel Noctiluca monitor southern resident killer whale behavior. (Photo courtesy of Northwest Fisheries Science Center/North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries)
FILE - Matt Lisignoli walks through an irrigation canal that ran dry in early August after the North Unit Irrigation District exhausted its allocated water on Sept. 1, 2021, near Madras, Ore. The American West’s megadrought deepened so much last year that it is now the driest it has been in at least 1200 years and a worst-case scenario playing out live, a new study finds. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File)

Western American megadrought worsens to driest in at least 1,200 years

Study calculated that 42% of this megadrought can be attributed to human-caused climate change

FILE - Matt Lisignoli walks through an irrigation canal that ran dry in early August after the North Unit Irrigation District exhausted its allocated water on Sept. 1, 2021, near Madras, Ore. The American West’s megadrought deepened so much last year that it is now the driest it has been in at least 1200 years and a worst-case scenario playing out live, a new study finds. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File)
Fresh cut sawdust is seen from a tree cut near the “heli camp” in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C., Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Crown calls application to stay charges in B.C. old-growth logging case flawed

Lawyer: Fairy Creek protest group’s petition lacks ‘factual foundation,’ not the way justice is done

Fresh cut sawdust is seen from a tree cut near the “heli camp” in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C., Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The clouds move among the old growth forest in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. forest protest accused ask court to stay charges due to ’ systemic police misconduct’

RCMP have made close to 1,200 arrests enforcing Fairy Creek injunction

The clouds move among the old growth forest in the Fairy Creek logging area near Port Renfrew, B.C. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Volunteers made a “Plastic Goddess” from some of the debris collected in a 2019 beach clean-up of Baynes Sound and Denman Island. File photo by Gerry Ambury

Coastal communities ‘fed up’ with B.C. shellfish sector’s plastics problem

Feds committed $8 million to ghost gear recovery, B.C. dedicated $18 million to shoreline cleanups

Volunteers made a “Plastic Goddess” from some of the debris collected in a 2019 beach clean-up of Baynes Sound and Denman Island. File photo by Gerry Ambury
Karen Scheffers. (Submitted photo)

B.C. woman making cloth bags out of used t-shirts to reduce reliance on plastic

Karen Scheffers hopes people will think about the impact single-use plastic has on the environment

Karen Scheffers. (Submitted photo)
Waterways around Teck’s Fording River operations are affected by mining activity, with mining contributing to the decline of Westslope Cutthroat Trout between 2017-2019. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Report doesn’t let Teck off the hook: Wildsight

A report on the decline of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in the upper Fording River didn’t address selenium enough according to Wildsight

Waterways around Teck’s Fording River operations are affected by mining activity, with mining contributing to the decline of Westslope Cutthroat Trout between 2017-2019. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Nechako River in Vanderhoof, B.C. (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)

First Nations to appeal B.C. Supreme Court ruling on damages to Nechako River

First Nations to appeal B.C. Supreme Court ruling on Nechako River and fisheries to hold Rio Tinto Alcan mining company accountable for damages

Nechako River in Vanderhoof, B.C. (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)
The dromedary jumping-slug has a multi-coloured hump concealing a partial shell. The slug is red-listed provincially and listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act. (Contributed - Kristiina Ovaska)

Scientist leaping to the defence of Vancouver Island’s dwindling jumping slug

Mapping project tracks this important indicator of the health of B.C. rainforest

The dromedary jumping-slug has a multi-coloured hump concealing a partial shell. The slug is red-listed provincially and listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act. (Contributed - Kristiina Ovaska)
Part of the 2019 Incubator cohort, Tofino residents Louise Rodgers and Georgina Valk saw a need for composting in their community so they founded Tofino Urban Farm Co. (Westerly File photo)

Project Zero Incubator program aims to support green startups in B.C.

Applications to the 2022 Project Zero Incubator is open to early-stage business ideas across B.C.

Part of the 2019 Incubator cohort, Tofino residents Louise Rodgers and Georgina Valk saw a need for composting in their community so they founded Tofino Urban Farm Co. (Westerly File photo)
The Elk River Alliance held a webinar on Jan. 27, 2022, to discuss 2020 results of their watershed monitoring program.

Elk River Alliance presents 2020 watershed monitoring results, says sites overall ‘looking pretty good’

The Elk River Alliance held a webiner and community forum on Jan. 27

The Elk River Alliance held a webinar on Jan. 27, 2022, to discuss 2020 results of their watershed monitoring program.
Bob Livsey, otherwise known as Nature Bob, passed away in December, 2021. (Courtesy of Wendy Reade)

‘A very kind, caring person’: fundraiser seeks to honour legacy of Fernie naturalist ‘Nature Bob’

Bob Livsey spent years sharing his passion of nature with others

Bob Livsey, otherwise known as Nature Bob, passed away in December, 2021. (Courtesy of Wendy Reade)
The B.C. environment ministry is developing a watershed security strategy to protect wetlands. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. seeks public input on new watershed protection strategy

Groundwater licence program has March 1 deadline

The B.C. environment ministry is developing a watershed security strategy to protect wetlands. (B.C. government photo)
The turnoff to Teck’s Line Creek Operations in the Elk Valley. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Teck named to global 100 list for sustainable companies for fourth year in a row

The company was given the 74th spot this year, up the list from last year, when they were named 91st

The turnoff to Teck’s Line Creek Operations in the Elk Valley. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The Regional District of East Kootenay Planning & Development Services Committee held a meeting on Jan. 13, 2022 to consider recommending the introduction of the Galloway Lands development proposal zoning and Official Community Plan amendment application for for first and second reading. Board members voted in favour of recommending the introduction, nine in favour and five opposed.

Galloway Lands development proposal clears major bureaucratic hurdle

The Regional District of East Kootenay held a planning committee meeting on Jan. 13 to consider the application

The Regional District of East Kootenay Planning & Development Services Committee held a meeting on Jan. 13, 2022 to consider recommending the introduction of the Galloway Lands development proposal zoning and Official Community Plan amendment application for for first and second reading. Board members voted in favour of recommending the introduction, nine in favour and five opposed.
Deep Water Recovery Ltd. owns a ship-breaking company in Union Bay. File photo

Global coalition calls for halt to Vancouver Island shipbreaking operation

Belgium-based group joins lobby concerned about the demolition of old ships in Union Bay

Deep Water Recovery Ltd. owns a ship-breaking company in Union Bay. File photo
The Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound included this photo of two ships parked in Union Bay in a presentation to the Electoral Area Services Committee. The photo shows the shipbreaking occurring on the water, which CCOBS said violates the Ministry of Forests (FLNR) foreshore lease. Photo supplied

Neighbours call B.C. shipbreaking operation a ‘disaster waiting to happen’

A group dubbed Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound (CCOBS) is pressing the…

The Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound included this photo of two ships parked in Union Bay in a presentation to the Electoral Area Services Committee. The photo shows the shipbreaking occurring on the water, which CCOBS said violates the Ministry of Forests (FLNR) foreshore lease. Photo supplied