volume 29, numBer 4, 2008

western region ( )BritishcolumBia

JJason Young (pictured right), a student in the Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), thoroughly enjoyed his summer job with Ducks Unlimited Canada's (DUC) team in the Coast Region. “I wanted a real broad range of activities – from operations and maintenance to bird and vegetation surveys", he says. "This was an amazing, hands-on experience, and everything I was looking for in a summer job.”

“Having the summer students is always an exciting time, as they bring new energy and ideas,” says Jeanine Bond, DUC conservation specialist. “Jason brought a lot of skills which were very complementary to our team.”

This year, Young was involved in habitat surveys and sampling, breaking up beaver dams, bird and vegetation identification, maintenance and infrastructure. All of these efforts are necessary to conserve marshland and maintain wintering habitat for waterfowl.

One of the main projects for the DUC summer work crew in the West Coast region has been the removal of spartina.

Not native to the West Coast, Spartina anglica is an aggressive aquatic grass that invades intertidal mud flats and beaches. It was planted as a bank stabilizer in Washington state and has become a multimillion-dollar problem forming “spartina meadows,” resulting in lost habitat for fish and wildlife, disrupted saltwater ecosystems and increased threat of flooding.

“In B.C., the spartina invasion is still in its infancy and our committee partners are employing the Early Detection, Rapid Response (EDRR) technique to control its spread,” says Bond.

The Fraser Delta Spartina Committee led the charge to remove this year’s crop of spartina from the shoreline along Boundary Bay and Robert’s Bank. The committee is a consortium of conservation organizations and government agencies including the Ministry of Environment, Metro Vancouver Regional District, Corporation of Delta, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Vancouver Aquarium and G.L. Williams and Associates Ltd. DUC led the mapping and removal efforts this year, including an intensive two-and-a-half week period, when all the groups, and local volunteers pitched in to dig up and dispose of this invasive plant.

Summer student helps Ducks battle spartina

TTwenty-three major findings regarding B.C.’s biodiversity were highlighted at the July 9, 2008, release of Taking Nature’s Pulse: The Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia, a significant science-based assessment of the province’s natural environment. The report was prepared by Biodiversity B.C., a partnership of government and non-governmental organizations, including Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), established in 2005 to produce a biodiversity strategy for British Columbia.

The status report shows that biodiversity in B.C. is still in relatively good shape, but is vulnerable to rapid deterioration unless changes are made in the way people use and relate to the natural world.

Taking Nature’s Pulse is the result of an unprecedented collective effort by more than 50 reputable scientists – both provincial and international, representing some of the best ecological thinking in B.C. – who contributed to its development and validated the importance of the province’s natural biological diversity.

“The report points out several key habitats that are DUC’s priority,” says Dan Buffet, co-author and DUC regional planning and research biologist for the B.C. Coast. “These include the vulnerability of wetlands in the Columbia River and Fraser River basins, the importance of coastal estuaries, the essential functions related to the flow of water in lakes, streams and wetlands, and the risk to migratory birds, wetlands and other ecological processes associated with human activity.”

“B.C. is a spectacular place, known worldwide for its natural beauty and diverse landscapes,” says Marian Adair, co-chair of Biodiversity B.C. “This natural endowment not only serves as a foundation for our economy, but also supports a wide range of recreational, spiritual and cultural pursuits.

“But B.C. has much to lose in all of these areas unless we reverse some of the threats to biodiversity that are stated in this report. For example, the cumulative impacts from resource extraction, development and human settlement have negatively affected ecosystems in some areas of the province. The report also states that climate change is already occurring in British Columbia and is the foremost threat to biodiversity.”

“People now realize it’s no longer a case of environment versus economy, but that the environment is the economy,” says Dr. Fred

Bunnell, professor emeritus, Department of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, and an expert on conservation biology. “Taking Nature’s Pulse is an important scientific foundation. What is now important is how to take action on its findings.”

He adds, “I know that my kid is not going to see the same richness in this province that I’ve been able to enjoy. If nothing else, climate change will ensure that. But I sincerely hope that we can maintain as much of that richness and productivity as possible.”

Dr. Richard Hebda, curator of botany and earth history at the Royal British Columbia Museum for more than 28 years, also

comments on the report’s findings. “This is a well illustrated, well thought out document that describes the richness of B.C.’s natural life and ecosystems including its special and unique elements. It also examines the serious challenges we face. The good news is that much of it is relatively intact, but parts of that legacy are depleted or under serious stress and that stress is increasing.”

“One of the intensifying stressors is climate change. Ancient climatic changes and their effects such as the ice age have shaped our biodiversity. But rapidly advancing changes will be unprecedented and are already having impacts on the workings and components of our ecosystems. The pine beetle outbreak is just one example,” he says.

The release of Taking Nature’s Pulse represents the completion of the first step in taking action to conserve B.C.’s biodiversity. Conserving the province’s biodiversity cannot be done by any one organization alone. Provincial, federal and

local governments will have a role to play, as will conservation organizations, resource industries and First Nations.

Under the B.C. Conservation Land Forum established in 2005, DUC and 10 other government and non-governmental agencies have been working under a partnership to secure and manage lands co-operatively in B.C. The partnership also developed Biodiversity B.C. to undertake Taking Nature’s Pulse and will work with its partners, including the Ministry of Environment’s new Conservation Framework initiative that will address key conservation challenges on a priority basis. Biodiversity B.C. will also be working to build awareness and understanding among British Columbians about the importance of biodiversity and to identify tools and incentives to promote stewardship of the natural

environment.S

Report takes BC's biodiversity pulse

Taking Nature’s Pulse: The Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia is a comprehensive science-based assess-ment of the current condition of biodiversity in British Columbia. The report includes 23 major findings grouped under six themes: Ecosystem DiversitySpecies DiversityGenetic DiversityKey and Special Elements of BiodiversityThreats to BiodiversityCapacity and Knowledge To view the complete text of Taking Nature’s Pulse: The Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia and the major findings, please go to www.biodiversitybc.org. Other science foundation documents, including Ecological Concepts, Principles and Applications to Conservation, Science Background Reports and the Biodiversity Atlas, are also available.

major Findings in taking nature’s Pulse

Wetland StewardshipPartnership

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w e s t e r n r e g i o n ( B r i t i s h c o l u m B i a )

IIn June, the British Columbia government released Living Water Smart, a provincial water plan marking a very important step toward the conservation and restoration of B.C.’s water resources. Living Water Smart outlines new actions and targets that will help protect and preserve water through planning, regulatory change, public education and incentive programs.

“Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is pleased that B.C.’s water plan emphasizes the valuable role wetlands play in fostering a healthy and abundant water supply,” says Les Bogdan, DUC’s manager of provincial operations in B.C.. “We applaud the

government for making wetlands an explicit priority through a number of statements, actions and targets outlined in Living Water Smart.”

In addition to the irreplaceable habitat benefits for waterfowl and other wildlife, wetlands filter out pollutants and toxins, ease water shortages and drought, recharge groundwater supplies, assist with flood control, promote natural drainage and prevent soil erosion. All of these services are essential to B.C. in the interest of maintaining a healthy population, a healthy economy and a healthy environment.

Many of the details need to be ironed out over the next months and years and DUC, as part of its leadership and involvement in the Wetland Stewardship Partnership (WSP), is working with the government to develop targets and strategies for effective implementation.

The WSP is made up of government and non-governmental organizations working together to elevate the profile of wetlands and to ensure that protective measures are put in place to

ensure wetland areas and wetland function are retained. In particular, the WSP is committed to developing a comprehensive wetland policy that includes elements such as regulation, best management practices, education, incentives and a compensation and mitigation framework.

The Living Water Smart document and accompanying information are available online at www.livingwatersmart.ca. S

B.C. commits to water resources

Decoys and photographs at the Japanese Canadian National Museum

IIncreasing his expertise in waterfowl and wetlands protection played a key role for Ian Fife, in applying to be part of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) summer student program. Currently studying at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay, Ont., in the Fish and Wildlife Program, Ian knew the employment opportunity would complement his educational path.

For Darcy Paslawski, Ian’s teammate and a student at the University of Saskatchewan’s Land Use and Environmental Studies program, the position appealed to him because of his interest in the socio-economic benefits of environmental protection and the success that DUC has achieved in this area.

Joining DUC’s summer student program in British Columbia’s Peace Region, Ian and Darcy’s working days encompassed building fences, and learning and undertaking habitat management tools such as fencing and dam infrastructure and weed control. A big project for the Peace Region’s team was Project Webfoot, an award-winning education program that includes in-class resources and a field trip to a local wetland.

Fifteen classes of Grade 4 to 7 students in Dawson Creek visited McQueen Slough, and a group of students from Chetwynd visited a local site. There is truly no better way to learn about wetlands than getting your feet wet in a real one, and Project Webfoot was an excellent educational experience not only for the school children but also for Ian and Darcy, who had to improve their knowledge of bird and pond life and invertebrate identification, to lead the field trips.

The students took part in a variety of activities including bird and pond life identification and critter dipping, and learned how to build a bird feeder under the guidance of Ian, Darcy and their supervisor Darryl Kroeker. They also explored pond life at a nearby wetland and learned about the science, benefits and importance of wetlands to their local community.

“The field trip was not only a chance to have fun, but for students to learn that Canada’s wetlands are essential to birds, wildlife and people in the community,” explains Kathleen Fry, B.C. education co-ordinator for DUC. “Through Project Webfoot, DUC tries to foster understanding and concern about conservation in children so that they are able to make important decisions about the environment throughout their lives.”

Ian and Darcy’s summer ended with a bang, spending a week in August banding ducks with the Canadian Wildlife Service.S

The Flyway newsletter is published by Ducks Unlimited CanadaOak Hammock Marsh Conservation CentreP.O. Box 1160, Stonewall, ManitobaR0C 2Z0 tel (204)467-3000 fax (204)467-9028toll-free 1(800)665-DUCK

Please direct your inquiries to the following:Eastern Region Atlantic: Kelly MacDonald Quebec: Bernard Filion Ontario: Lynette MaderWestern Region Prairie-Western Boreal: Marci Dube Pacific: Wendy Fister

Flyway production staffDirector of Communications and Marketing:Madeleine ArbezEditor: Duncan MorrisonAssistant: Deb MenardArt Director: Tye GreggGraphic Designers: Lindsay Pikta-Marie, Aquila Samson, Jeope Wolfe

© Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2008 Printed in Canada on 100% recycled paper including 100% post-consumer fibres

western region ( )BritishcolumBia

Darcy Paslawski’s interest in the socio-economic benefits of environmental protection and DUC’s achievements in this area compelled him to apply for a summer student position.

Peace Region summer students enjoy DUC experience

Summer student Ian Fife feels his employment with DUC complemented his education as it helped to increase his expertise in waterfowl and wetlands protection.

area contactsDirector of Regional OperationsIan Barnett, Edmonton (780) 602-3221

Manager of Provincial OperationsLes Bogdan, Surrey (604) 592-5000

Manager of Conservation ProgramsBrad Arner, Kamloops (250) 374-8307

Marketing and CommunicationsWendy Fister, Surrey (604) 592-5004

FundraisingRory Brown, Victoria (250) 652-5090

Major Gifts and Feather SocietyLes Bogdan, Surrey (604) 592-5000

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