Latest news with #NatureConservancy
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Rare peninsula lands saved from development
A 29 hectare plot of rare shoreline land along the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula will never be developed, after being purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Source: Esme Batten, Nature Conservancy of Canada) A rare section of the Lake Huron shoreline along the Bruce Peninsula will never be developed, thanks to a more than $3-million investment by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. 'The N.C.C.(Nature Conservancy of Canada) is in the forever business. So, we're going to be stewarding this property in perpetuity,' says Esme Batten, program director for the midwestern Ontario division of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The 72 acre (29 hectare) property, called China Cove, is located just west of Tobermory. It's home to rare and at-risk species of several animals and plants, says Batten. It also protects nearly one kilometre of incredibly valuable Lake Huron shoreline, from development, forever. 'It really presents one of the last opportunities to protect Lake Huron shoreline on the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula. We only have about eight kilometers left that's unprotected or not developed on the northern part of the peninsula. These undisturbed shorelines are really important for helping clean our water. But, they're also really important for many species, including fish, like lake trout and whitefish that kind of spawn in those shore waters,' says Batten. china cove A 29 hectare plot of rare shoreline land along the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula will never be developed, after being purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Source: Esme Batten, Nature Conservancy of Canada) The funding to buy the property came from private donors, along with the provincial and federal government. 'When I am meeting with colleagues at Queen's Park and they realize where I am from, they always recall Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound for its stunning natural beauty and heritage. I am so pleased to see community and nature come together to see China Cove be protected for generations to come. I would specifically like to recognize the donors behind this project, for whom this is certainly not possible,' says Paul Vickers, member of provincial parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, which includes the now protected property. The area previously known as China Cove will be renamed Aah Mahwi Nibi or Crying Water, to remember the shipwreck, the China. china cove A 29 hectare plot of rare shoreline land along the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula will never be developed, after being purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Source: Esme Batten, Nature Conservancy of Canada) 'The Aah Mahwi Nibi project will permanently protect 72 acres of land on the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula, which is about the size of 180 NHL hockey rinks. With the help of the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program and local partners across Ontario, we are providing more opportunities for people to explore the many incredible outdoor spaces and hidden gems that our province has to offer,' says Todd McCarthy, federal minister of the environment, conservation and parks. The now protected property is located near a famous shipwreck, the China, which wrecked offshore in 1883. Scuba divers will still be able to access the wreck, but the shoreline near it, will now be studied by researchers, before deciding if the property will be opened to the public, or simply protected, for decades to come. Before it's purchase by N.C.C., the 29 hectare property was slated for the construction of, as many as seven homes. 'This property actually abuts Fathom Five Marine National Park, which is really exciting. So, say you're a bird along your migration. The Peninsula acts as almost a funnel for those species kind of going to the Boreal Forest further north. So you could stop off and an N.C.C. property down in Norfolk County, and then that bird could stop at Crying Water to kind of rest and feed, and then continue along other kind of conservation land along the north shore of Lake Superior to the boreal,' says Batten.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
17th annual Canaan Mountain Bike Festival to take over Davis this weekend
DAVIS, (WBOY) — The 17th annual Canaan Mountain Bike Festival is set to take place in Tucker County this weekend, and event organizers expect more than 300 bikers to come out and explore Canaan Valley and the Monongahela National Forest. The weekend will include group rides, skill sessions for bikers to improve, biking competitions, a morning session to help maintain a local trail, a hike on the Nature Conservancy's newly acquired Dobbin Slashings Nature Preserve and a dinner on Saturday night. New Dobbin Slashings Preserve in West Virginia is open to the public Other than the normal bike rides and chances to socialize, this year's event will include something a little different, a 'bike hash,' where one biker gets a 15-minute head start on the group and makes an improvised path that everyone else tries to follow. 'I've been biking a long time and it just still never gets old,' Haywood said. 'I love doing it with my friends and I like this area. It's challenging terrain and you know the weather can be wild and it's just a fun, beautiful place to ride a bike,' Blackwater Bicycle Association President Sue Haywood said. Event organizers said another unique thing about this festival is that normally bike festivals are centered around a big campground facility, whereas this one is centered around the two local towns. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Zawya
09-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
The scourge of plastic pollution in Africa
As the world celebrates Environment Day, the United Nations estimates that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. The associate director of advocacy and strategic communications at The Nature Conservancy Africa, Victor Nyambok, talks to The EastAfrican's Fred Oluoch about plastic pollution in Africa. What is the extent of plastic pollution in East Africa?East Africa is confronting a rapidly escalating plastic pollution crisis. The volume of plastic waste entering the region's aquatic ecosystems is expected to nearly triple, rising from approximately 11 million tonnes in 2016 to around 29 million tonnes by 2040. This pollution contaminates soils, streams, drinking water sources, and wildlife habitats. A significant and growing proportion of plastic waste ultimately ends up in the ocean, accumulating at an alarming pace. Plastic pollution poses serious risks not only to the environment but also to the health and well-being of communities, particularly the most vulnerable groups. What are the effects of plastic pollution on humans?Plastic pollution is so widespread that microplastics that cannot be seen by the naked eye contaminate our food, drinking water and even our bodies. Plastic pollution is a threat to the health of nature such as wetlands and forests, and the health of our communities, especially the most vulnerable populations, such as the poor. The effects of microplastics on environmental and human health are a cause for concern. Kenya banned single-use plastics in 2017. What is your assessment of the impact, eight years down the line?While there is no direct assessment from the Nature Conservancy Africa, existing evidence indicates that Kenya's ban on single-use plastics, especially in protected areas, has led to notable reductions in visible plastic pollution and increased public awareness. Following a presidential directive issued on World Environment Day 2020, the ban took effect immediately in national parks, beaches, forests, and other conservation areas. Visitors are no longer permitted to bring plastic water bottles, cups, disposable plates, cutlery, or straws into these protected zones. This initiative builds on Kenya's pioneering nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags implemented in 2017. However, challenges remain. Enforcement is inconsistent outside protected areas, and alternatives to single-use plastics are not always readily available. There is also an ongoing need for greater public participation and a shift in mindset to fully eliminate the use of single-use plastics across the country. The UN estimates that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. Is this a reality or a scare tactic?This projection should be seen as a wake-up call. There is a need for urgent collective action on plastic waste, as the damage to marine ecosystems and human health is already significant and growing. Every year, plastics entering our oceans weigh more than three times the planet's entire blue whale population. If we act now to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics, and protect at least 30 percent of the planet's oceans and lands by 2030, we can avert the worst outcomes. The theme of this year's World Environment Day is 'Ending Plastic Pollution in the Entire World.' Is this possible in Africa?To effectively tackle plastic pollution, we must set ambitious and realistic targets that drive meaningful action. Ending plastic pollution will require authentic partnerships that bring together leadership, communities, governments, and the private sector in Africa. Ending plastic pollution is not going to be easy, but this is a challenge we can solve together. Recycling of plastic waste is an economic activity as well as a contributor to a safe environment in Africa. What role has your organisation played in this regard?While marine litter and plastic pollution pose significant economic, environmental, and health challenges globally, The Nature Conservancy has been actively engaged in addressing these issues through innovative approaches to ocean and coastal management. Though our work is not directly related to plastic recycling operations, we enable governments and communities to manage marine resources sustainably, indirectly reducing plastic waste leakage into marine environments. Since 2006, TNC has led efforts in marine spatial planning, collaborating with governments and stakeholders worldwide to develop sustainable ocean management plans that integrate environmental protection with economic development. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
CBC
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
See an injured turtle? This centre is looking for volunteers to bring them to rehab
As turtles come out of hibernation, they risk getting hit by cars or boats. A Nature Conservancy of Canada program is trying to increase their chance of survival by asking volunteers to transport the reptiles to a turtle rehab centre in Laval, Que.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
How to turn down the volume and protect wildlife in your yard and garden
In the garden, the start of the growing season means the return of dirt under our fingernails, the scent of freshly spread mulch and the first blooming roses. In my neighborhood, and perhaps yours, it also means an audible onslaught of lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other tools of the landscaper's trade. From 8 a.m. through at least early afternoon — five or six days every week — the hum of power tools and other machines disrupts my peace. But even more concerning is that my peace pales in importance to that of my property's other residents. Birds, squirrels, rabbits, frogs, insects and other wildlife are critically affected by human-made noise. They're outdoors right in the middle of what must seem to them a war zone — with no escape. And the battleground noises that surround them aren't merely nuisances; they disrupt the basic instincts the animals' lives depend on. Instincts such as those that alert them to the presence of predators become masked under the gas-powered cacophony prevalent throughout most of suburbia. The unnatural sounds can also force birds, bats and insects into changing their feeding, nesting and mating habits, says Kevin Munroe, Long Island Preserve Director for The Nature Conservancy, based in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. 'Quite a few animals communicate primarily through song, and their songs are how they find each other,' Munroe said. Those with soft and quiet songs, like warblers, small species of owls, bats and some species of crickets, for instance, can be so badly drowned out by noise pollution that 'they literally cannot build families or reproduce,' he said. To illustrate the point, Munroe likens the animals' songs to navigation systems. 'Imagine these songs are the birds' roadmaps to each other, and imagine you're using your GPS to get somewhere and all of a sudden it turns off, and that's the only way you can find your family. Now, with it turned off, there's no way you'll find your family. That's what song is like for these animals,' he said. Artificial noises from power equipment, traffic, construction and industrial sources, can also cause stress and hearing loss in animals. A University of Georgia study even found that highway noises can elevate heart rates in monarch caterpillars. Thoughtful planning can reduce the noise This may seem like a losing battle in modern society, but there are steps we can take to help. The Nature Conservancy recommends changes to industrial practices that include accounting for sensitive areas when siting noise-producing facilities, such as access roads and compressor stations, and designing them to include sound barriers such as walls, vegetative screening and noise-absorbing equipment. Altering the timing and duration of noisy activities during breeding and hibernation periods could also reduce adverse effects on wildlife, the organization said. What you can do at home On our own properties, small changes can make a big impact. Because birds do their 'most important talking to each other' between dawn and 9 a.m., Munroe recommends shifting noisy yardwork later. Another critical time for many species of wildlife is after dark, he said. 'You can play music and have fun, but try not to make any loud noises,' he said. In addition, creating sound buffers by planting dense native trees, evergreens or deciduous shrubs, and switching from gas- to battery-powered tools, including leaf blowers, string trimmers and chainsaws, are simple things homeowners can do to avoid causing harm. Educating and introducing change to local communities is important, too. Munroe suggests working with your homeowners association, schools, businesses and churches to limit loud, destructive activity on their properties. 'Talk to local municipalities about their noise ordinances and (encourage them to) create a sound sanctuary in the neighborhood (to protect) wood thrushes, katydids' and other wildlife, he said. And always observe noise ordinances at home and in public places, like parks. Wild animals serve as 'pollinators, affect pest control and have a positive effect on our agriculture and our economy,' Munroe said. 'We want them in our neighborhoods.' ___ Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice. ___
