Environment

The Gitxaała First Nation Flag flies in Kitkatla in June 2022. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)

Gitxaała Nation enters first-of-its-kind mineral rights challenge in B.C. Supreme Court

Legal action seeks to overturn mineral rights claims and suspend further claim in Gitxaała territory

The Gitxaała First Nation Flag flies in Kitkatla in June 2022. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)
The Marine Detective Jackie Hildering snapped this photo of the herring spawn with a telephoto lens. (Jackie Hildering photo)

Herring spawn documented for perhaps first time ever in B.C.’s Port McNeill

Spawn a spring tradition along east coast of Vancouver Island, but not in this area off Port McNeill

The Marine Detective Jackie Hildering snapped this photo of the herring spawn with a telephoto lens. (Jackie Hildering photo)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are greeted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second from right, and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, left, at Rideau Cottage, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Ottawa, Canada. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

UPDATE: Biden, Trudeau pledge deal by summer on B.C. cross-border mining toxins

Indigenous groups wary of Canada-U.S. promise to ‘reduce, mitigate’ Kootenay pollution

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are greeted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second from right, and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, left, at Rideau Cottage, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Ottawa, Canada. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said government is looking into the issue of banning bear-spray. While legal, criminals have been using it in urban areas. (Contributed)

B.C. government looking into whether to ban bear-spray across province

Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth acknowledged such a move could impact wilderness safety

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said government is looking into the issue of banning bear-spray. While legal, criminals have been using it in urban areas. (Contributed)
Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food (left) was taken on a tour of Lucent BioSciences Inc. at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby on March 15, as part of an announcement for funding for clean tech farming projects in B.C. (Government of Canada photo)

4 B.C. agri-businesses awarded $1.6M in federal funding for clean-technology projects

Projects designed to reduce runoff, get farms further off the grid and reduce fuel consumption

Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food (left) was taken on a tour of Lucent BioSciences Inc. at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby on March 15, as part of an announcement for funding for clean tech farming projects in B.C. (Government of Canada photo)
Haisla Nation Chief Crystal Smith at a news conference in Vancouver speaking about the Cedar LNG project approval on March 14, 2023 (Jane Skrypnek).

B.C. approves LNG facility in Kitimat; to be majority owned by Haisla Nation

Cedar LNG expected to produce about 3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas a year

Haisla Nation Chief Crystal Smith at a news conference in Vancouver speaking about the Cedar LNG project approval on March 14, 2023 (Jane Skrypnek).
(Black Press Media Creative)

How coconuts protect the Jersey Shore, other eroding coasts

Coastal communities around the world are adding a tropical twist to shoreline…

(Black Press Media Creative)
A close-up of a log of coconut husk known as coir along the bank of the Shark River in Neptune, N.J., Jan. 31, 2023 where the American Littoral Society is doing a shoreline restoration project incorporating coconut fibers. The material is being used in shoreline stabilization projects around the world. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

It’s natural: Coconuts become tool in shoreline protection

Husks being used on shorelines around the world, including in Canada

A close-up of a log of coconut husk known as coir along the bank of the Shark River in Neptune, N.J., Jan. 31, 2023 where the American Littoral Society is doing a shoreline restoration project incorporating coconut fibers. The material is being used in shoreline stabilization projects around the world. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
The eradication of Fallow Deer on Sidney Island has renewed questions about the ethics of deer culls. (Parks Canada/Submitted)

Parks Canada plan to eradicate invasive deer from B.C. island approved

Sharpshooting of 500-1,000 deer from helicopters, on the ground will proceed off Greater Victoria

The eradication of Fallow Deer on Sidney Island has renewed questions about the ethics of deer culls. (Parks Canada/Submitted)
The Fraser River watershed is among the most threatened in Canada, according to the World Wildlife Foundation. The province has committed $100 million toward a permanent to fund protect watersheds. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

B.C. floats $100M to protect provincial watersheds

BC Greens Leader Sonia Furstenau calls the funding a start, but wants to see details

The Fraser River watershed is among the most threatened in Canada, according to the World Wildlife Foundation. The province has committed $100 million toward a permanent to fund protect watersheds. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
Waves and foam erupt from the Pacific Ocean during high tide at the mouth of the Quillayute River in La Push. (Black Press Media file photo)

Canadian environmental groups praise UN accord to protect marine life on high seas

New treaty to apply to nearly half of world’s surface

Waves and foam erupt from the Pacific Ocean during high tide at the mouth of the Quillayute River in La Push. (Black Press Media file photo)
B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau speaks to media ahead of the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C.’s 2023 budget not addressing the urgency of environmental issues: Furstenau

BC Greens, Wilderness Committee find some praise, but many faults with provincial budget

B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau speaks to media ahead of the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Detergent foam built up on Clayburn Creek after a company used Tide detergent to clean roof moss off a townhouse complex in Abbotsford in April 2021. A company has now been fined $8,900 by the ministry of environment. (Tom Ulanowski/Facebook)

Detergent mistake that caused bubbly waterway leads to fine for B.C. company

Tide used by contractor to clean roof moss ended up foaming up in a fish-bearing creek

Detergent foam built up on Clayburn Creek after a company used Tide detergent to clean roof moss off a townhouse complex in Abbotsford in April 2021. A company has now been fined $8,900 by the ministry of environment. (Tom Ulanowski/Facebook)
The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount, Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Oceana Canada celebrates commitment to protect B.C. Seamounts

Offshore area 4 times the size of Vancouver Island due to become protected

The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount, Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Rock legend Neil Young performs during a rally against the destruction of old growth forests on the front lawn of the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Saturday, February 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VIDEO: Neil Young sings at Victoria super-rally to protect old growth forests

People gathered at the B.C. Legislature after a march, to call for action on old growth protection

Rock legend Neil Young performs during a rally against the destruction of old growth forests on the front lawn of the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Saturday, February 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
As climate change pushes some plants northward, a new study suggests several unique species in Yukon and Alaska could have nowhere to go. Snow-covered hills in the Porcupine River Tundra in the Yukon Territories, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rick Bowmer

Climate change could leave Yukon plants with nowhere to go: study

Some plants expected to lose nearly all suitable habitat within the next two decades

As climate change pushes some plants northward, a new study suggests several unique species in Yukon and Alaska could have nowhere to go. Snow-covered hills in the Porcupine River Tundra in the Yukon Territories, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rick Bowmer
There are plenty of streets to explore in communities around the province. This view, from the top of Giant’s Head Mountain in Summerland, shows a portion of the lakefront area in that community. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Summerland to represent Earth Day Canada campaign

Community selected from 254 municipalities across Canada

There are plenty of streets to explore in communities around the province. This view, from the top of Giant’s Head Mountain in Summerland, shows a portion of the lakefront area in that community. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault rises during Question Period, Thursday, February 16, 2023 in Ottawa. Two environmental groups and a British Columbia First Nation say the federal government is recommending an order to protect the critically at-risk northern spotted owl. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal protection proposed for critically at-risk spotted owls in B.C., groups say

Just three of the tiny owls are known to be in the wild in B.C.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault rises during Question Period, Thursday, February 16, 2023 in Ottawa. Two environmental groups and a British Columbia First Nation say the federal government is recommending an order to protect the critically at-risk northern spotted owl. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Deepsea fragile pink sea urchin aggregating to feed on decaying seaweed at the Endeavour site during a 2016 expedition, is seen in this image provided February 7, 2023. Pink urchins like these are expanding their territory into shallower B.C. water. Researchers say the movement is a sign of how fast climate change is impacting life in the water. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Ocean Networks Canada/WHOI

B.C’s pink sea urchins are on the move to shallower waters thanks to climate change

Climate change and ‘The Blob’ is changing the way these fragile sea creatures behave

Deepsea fragile pink sea urchin aggregating to feed on decaying seaweed at the Endeavour site during a 2016 expedition, is seen in this image provided February 7, 2023. Pink urchins like these are expanding their territory into shallower B.C. water. Researchers say the movement is a sign of how fast climate change is impacting life in the water. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Ocean Networks Canada/WHOI
A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. British Columbia’s forest minister Katrine Conroy says the province is working to implement a strategic review of B.C.’s old-growth management and is working with First Nations and other partners to develop a new long-term strategy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. British Columbia’s forest minister Katrine Conroy says the province is working to implement a strategic review of B.C.’s old-growth management and is working with First Nations and other partners to develop a new long-term strategy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

RCMP’s shorter version of injunction prompts court’s acquittal of B.C. protester

Judge rules RCMP script didn’t give sufficient information about the injunction terms

A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. British Columbia’s forest minister Katrine Conroy says the province is working to implement a strategic review of B.C.’s old-growth management and is working with First Nations and other partners to develop a new long-term strategy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. British Columbia’s forest minister Katrine Conroy says the province is working to implement a strategic review of B.C.’s old-growth management and is working with First Nations and other partners to develop a new long-term strategy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward