Conservation
Survival Against the Odds: Alberta’s Half-moon Hairstreak Butterfly
BY BENNY ACORN
Waterton Lakes National Park is truly one of the most remarkable areas in all of Alberta, where natural beauty is partnered with rich and unique biological diversity. Although you would not expect it, the story of one of Alberta’s rarest insects begins here, under the late-winter snow. This is a story of unexpected alliances, remarkable specialization, and perseverance in the face of catastrophic adversity, and it all takes place on the Blakiston Fan.
Read MoreFreedom to Roam
BY RICHARD SCHNEIDER
What if people were allowed to walk through and explore undeveloped landscapes wherever and whenever they chose? And what if this was considered a basic human right with deep cultural roots and wide public support?
Read MoreBotanical Treasures in McClelland
A collection of rare plant species, presented by the Alberta Native Plant Council have been curated, in a heightened effort to create awareness among the communities across Alberta and beyond regarding the ecological significance of the McClelland Lake watershed.
Read MoreDon’t Mine McClelland
BY PHILLIP MEINTZER
The McClelland Lake Wetland Complex, dominated by peatlands, and features a beautiful and provincially significant patterned fen, is one of Alberta’s greatest, but also lesser-known natural treasures—one that’s at risk of destruction.
Read MoreCollaborating for Protection: Conservation Easements and the Waldron Ranch Grazing Co-operative
BY FOREST HISEY AND JONAH OLSEN
The Waldron Ranch Grazing Co-operative has entered a partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to protect over 120 km2 north of Pincher Creek using a conservation easement.
Read MoreConservation Trade-offs
BY RICHARD SCHNEIDER
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Situations where conservation objectives are themselves in conflict are challenging for conservationists to grapple with and lead to divisions within the conservation community.
Does Going Green Put Wildlife in the Red?
BY LORNE FITCH
There is no question we need to transition from fossil fuels to alternate energy sources. It’s hard to find a species in Alberta not affected by climate change. But we shouldn’t be blind to the issues renewable energy solutions can cause to wildlife and their habitats.
Who Is Minding Alberta’s Fish and Wildlife?
BY LORNE FITCH
The task of allocating fish and wildlife has been hived off to Forestry, Parks and Tourism. The fish culture section (all the hatcheries) has been sent to Agriculture and Irrigation, leaving the species at risk function behind in Environment and Protected Areas.
Read MoreDeadly Fungus Adds to Bat Conservation Concerns
BY CORY OLSON
While bats have a remarkable ability to manage energy reserves, only a few can withstand the devastating impacts of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease caused by a fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, that grows on bats during hibernation, which will lead to more frequent arousals during the winter, depletion of energy stores, and eventual starvation.
Read MoreHow Do UCP Environmental Policies Stack Up?
BY RICHARD SCHNEIDER
One thing almost all Albertans will agree on is that it’s important to take good care of our environment, both for our own well-being and for the generations that will follow. So how are we doing on the environmental protection front? In this article we will review how past and present governments have sought to balance resource development with environmental protection.
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