Tag: Environment

Bonaparte channel restoration is a win for coho and the people who love them

The Bonaparte River coho channel is a unique and potentially productive coho salmon rearing habitat again, thanks to the efforts of the Bonaparte First Nation and the B.C. Wildlife Federation (BCWF). The original 500-metre channel has been restored, renewed and doubled in length, according to Bonaparte CEO Sean Bennett. “The fencing was basically rotten, the…
Planting Seeds for Long-term Change

What comes to mind when you think of salmonberries? Do you think about how their flowers nurture pollinators, and their berries feed creatures of every size? Perhaps you pondered how fallen fruit attracts insects to nestle into the soil and among the fallen leaves. Indeed, salmonberry is a potent force for diversity and abundance. A…
Wetlands, Knowledge, and Community — 2022 Wetlandkeepers Workshops on Stó:lō and Ktunaxa Territories

Throughout the spring and summer, the Wetlands Education Program partnered with the Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre, Chawathil First Nation, ʔaq’am First Nation, and members of the Ktunaxa Nation to deliver two Wetlandkeepers workshops rooted in place-based learning and cultural exchange. As with all Wetlandkeepers workshops, the sessions began with classroom instruction on wetland…
Wetlands as a Tool for Flood Control and Prevention

If you live in British Columbia or have loved ones living in B.C., you will have heard about the devastating floods occurring across southern parts of the province. The Province of B.C. declared a state of emergency on November 17, 2021, following massive flooding and landslides caused by record-breaking rainfall throughout mid-November. Many communities in B.C. have been devastated by massive floods, including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Merritt, Princeton, Lillooet, the Cowichan…
Mapping Our Marshes with Doig River First Nation

On August 3–4, 2021, the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Education Program (WEP) visited the community of Doig River (Hanás̱ Saahgéʔ) to deliver the final Map our Marshes workshop of the season. Typically a one-day, hands-on course, this extended workshop provided additional time for in-depth discussions on wetland assessment and more extensive fieldwork. Situated approximately 70…
Increasing Stewardship Capacity in Remote Communities — Peace/Williston Region

The first two weeks of June proved to be a busy time for the BCWF’s Wetlands Education Program (WEP). Led by Wetlands Education Program Manager Neil Fletcher, the WEP team traveled through northeastern B.C. to deliver workshops in partnership with three remote First Nations: the Tsay Keh Dene Nation, Kwadacha Nation, and McLeod Lake Indian…
From Theory to Practice — Salt Spring Island Wetlands Institute 2018

Narrowly avoiding the Pacific Storms, the BCWF Wetlands Education Program (WEP) team was lucky to spend time away from our office in Surrey and in the safe haven of Salt Spring Island for the 16th annual Wetlands Institute. 23 enthusiastic participants from a mix of backgrounds, including: Non-profits, First Nations, Hobby Farmers, Consultants, Government, and Archaeologists,…
New Hope for Wetlands in B.C. — FREP Wetland Health Assessment

Earlier this year, the BCWF’s Wetlands Education Program received a contract from the Government of British Columbia to develop a protocol to assess the health of wetlands as part of the Forest and Range Evaluation Program (FREP). The protocol is designed to assess wetlands that have been impacted by forestry operations. However, there may be…
Species Profile — Trumpeter Swan

There’s no denying it: wetlands play a critical role in providing habitats for a variety of life. Studies have found that over 900 species require wetlands, with 64% of all endangered and threatened animal species needing access to them during some point in their life. In Canada, approximately 45 of the 95 species classified as…
Hip Deep in the West Kootenays — Wetlands Institute 2013

Did you know that North America was once covered with wetlands? It’s a wild thought when you look at today’s landscape, where fewer than 20% of wetlands remain in many developed areas. Wetlands are one of nature’s most valuable ecosystems. They provide critical services like flood control, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration, and natural water filtration.…