Wonderful news that Átl’ka7tsem, also known as Howe Sound, is now a UNESCO Biosphere Region. It is the third UNESCO Biosphere Region in British Columbia – and the first on B.C.’s Mainland. These areas hold global ecological significance because they represent an ongoing commitment to strive for sustainability, however, they have no legal authority. Átl’ka7tsem, pronounced “At-KATsum,” is located within the unceded territory of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), who have been stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters since time immemorial. Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Councillor Joyce Williams is co-chair of the Board of the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society, which manages the Biosphere Region in ways that balance development, conservation and equity. The area’s new UNESCO designation helps to protect Átl’ka7tsem for future generations and supports the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We congratulate everyone for the years of effort that has made this a reality.

As one of Canada’s southernmost fjords, the Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Region (AHSBR) is home to recently discovered glass sponge reefs that were thought to have been extinct! These reefs are home to more than 84 species of fish and invertebrates. What are glass sponge reefs? (Video created by students at St’a7mes School). Thanks to Georgia Straight Alliance for this share.

More local info from Squamish here.

Join your Climate Action Coaches in the replay of our second webinar!

How to Plan Your Rainwater Harvesting System

November 9th 2021 

7:00 pm on Zoom

Watch here.

If you are interested in installing cisterns to collect rainwater this rainy season, this webinar is for you. 

We are pleased to be joined by our guests:

Shannon Cowan: PhD Biology, Coordinator SSI Watershed Protection Alliance

Rhonan Heitzmann: Owner Salt Spring Island Water Company

Matt Nowell: Rainwater Collection Installer Gulf Islands Irrigation

Join us for this incredible opportunity to discuss non-potable rainwater collection, learn more about currently available rebates and our plans for the future, and get your questions answered about what installation of a rainwater harvesting system is like on Salt Spring Island.

LINKS

• https://transitionsaltspring.com/climate-action-plan-2-0/
  • Check out this webinar from the spring on water storage solutions, includes info on ponds: https://transitionsaltspring.com/water-storage-options-presentation-resources/
  • If you’d like to see our other videos check out the TSS YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu6h4WYEsvfrnDMBNEYaPog

• Keep up to date on our Climate Action Coach programs https://transitionsaltspring.com/climate-action-coach-program/
• Sign up for our next webinar on December 7th: Home Energy Assessments and Insulation https://bit.ly/3bP9KZb
• Any donations to help TSS keep up this work are always appreciated: https://transitionsaltspring.com/donate/

• https://www.ssiwpa.org/
  • https://www.ssiwpa.org/category/rain-resources/
  • https://www.ssiwpa.org/2020/07/24/roof-types/
  • System Maintenance section in the Guidebook on ssiwpa.org
  • Shannon Cowan (SSIWPA Coordinator): ssiwpa@islandstrust.bc.ca
  • https://www.ssiwpa.org/wp-content/uploads/Public-Library/SSIWPA-Projects-Reports-and-Presentations/Communications-Materials/SSIWPA_rainwaterHarvesting_FinalSeptember2020_Web.pdf

• Matt Nowell (Gulf Islands Irrigation): info@rainwaterconnection.com
• Rhonan Heitzmann (SS Water Company): rhonanmann@yahoo.ca

On behalf of all of us at Transition Salt Spring, thanks so much to our over 100 participants for attending our first Climate Action Coach Program webinar ‘All About Heat Pumps’ this past Wednesday evening. 

If we didn’t answer all of your questions, or you were not able to join us, you’ll find some resources here to help you on your journey. Here is the recorded video to share with your friends and neighbours,

Here is the record of the chat which was jam-packed with resources, questions and answers on heat pumps.

A special thanks to

• Whirlwind Heating and Cooling
• Fresco Refrigeration
• CleanBC
  • Community Energy Coach: 1-844-881-9790 
  • Rebate information on home retrofits and electric vehicles

Stay tuned for our invitation to Rainwater Storage Rebate Webinar on Tuesday, November 9th, at 7pm.  

You’ll learn from experts and homeowners how to help store winter rains for summer use —and get an incentive of up to $500 thanks to the generous support of the Capital Regional District.

Vancouver Island BC. Documentary- Aug 4, 2021

In less than 150 years, 97.3% of British Columbia’s old growth forests have been logged.

These ancient trees and their ecosystems have been lost forever. Fairy Creek (Ada’itsx), one of BC’s last untouched old-growth watersheds, lies on Southern Vancouver Island on the unceded territories of the Pacheedaht, Ditidaht and the Huu-ay-aht Nations.

Despite Premier John Horgan’s 2020 election promise to protect the remaining 2.7% of old-growth forest, logging of Fairy Creek continues unabated. In August 2020, forest and land defenders began setting up blockades to prevent the destruction of this beautiful and fragile ecosystem. One year later, after mass civil action, over 500 arrests and intense public pressure, the conflict continues.

This comprehensive and compelling documentary film sheds light on the issues around the logging and blockades, through conversations with Indigenous Elders, politicians, police, lawyers, front-line activists, and many others. Special thank you to all those who helped make this documentary possible!

For more information and to stay updated on this story, please check-out and follow: (On Instagram) Arvin Singh Dang: @arvinoutside Mike Graeme: @mikegraeme Jen Osborne: @jen_osborne_photography David Testo: @davidtesto Justin Douglas: @justinalexdouglas Canada’s Social Change-Makers: @canadassocialchangemakers The Flying Rainforest Squad: @flyingrainforestsquad The Fairy Creek Blockade: @fairycreekblockade

Correction: Please note that Jen Osborne was spelled incorrectly in the film. You can find all of her work here: https://jenosbornestudio.com

Breaking Boundaries tells the story of the most important scientific discovery of our time – that humanity has pushed Earth beyond the boundaries that have kept Earth stable for 10,000 years, since the dawn of civilization. The 75-minute film takes the audience on a journey of discovery of planetary thresholds we must not exceed, not just for the stability of our planet, but for the future of humanity. It offers up the solutions we can and must put in place now if we are to protect Earth’s life support systems.

You can watch it on Netflix  and YouTube

We believe forests are the key to solve MANY of our problems. 

Why?

They are economic engines & job creators, fire suppressors and biodiversity enhancers, freshwater harvesters and food suppliers, as well as energy producers!

On May 25th, we had an amazing discussion at our Climate Action Network meeting that we want you to hear!

Please check out this video with expert forestry presenters Mitchell Sherrin (SS Fire Rescue), Michael Nickels (Seven Ravens Ecoforestry), Mark Lombard (Cortes Community Forest), Erik Piikkila (Yellow Point Ecological Society).

They share their wealth of experience and then dialogue together on collaborative forestry solutions to Climate Change along with time to address some of your questions and what this looks like on Salt Spring Island.

Also check out these awesome infographics:

(start watching at 45 secs)

On June 30th, 2021, the Salt Spring Island Conservancy and Transition Salt Spring were thrilled to host two of British Columbia’s top scientific experts on trees, forest ecology, and the effects of climate change. They presented Salt Spring Island’s current condition and future forecast for our forests and trees.

Dr. Andy MacKinnon and Dr. Richard Hebda are widely recognized authorities and popular science communicators who frequently speak to media, public audiences, and University extension courses.

Andy is a trained mycologist and is co-author of six popular and invaluable guidebooks to BC plants, including the infamous book ‘Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast.’

Richard, a recently-retired Curator of Botany and Earth History at the Royal BC Museum, is co-author of over 130 scientific papers and over 250 popular articles.

David Denning, our host, is a Salt Spring-based science educator, naturalist, and climate activist.

Eco-singer Remy Rodden—a bilingual, rich-voiced teacher and biologist – is committed to helping children learn about nature. He’s a clever songwriter, deeply concerned about the environment, and his wholly entertaining show (both live and now more frequently online) ignites both the young and the young at heart. Remy’s target is to inspire wonder and foster responsible action with his fun and poignant curriculum-connected songs.

Thanks Remy for sharing your talent and song with us!

Discover more at: remyrodden.com

Discover more at: remyrodden.com

To build community resilience to sea level rise and coastal flooding, Surrey, BC developed the Coastal Flood Adaptation Strategy (CFAS). Learn more about the journey and outcomes.

We believe forests are economic engines & job creators, fire suppressors and biodiversity enhancers, freshwater harvesters and food suppliers, as well as energy producers! A special Climate Action Network presentation with local regenerative forestry experts: Mitchell Sherrin (SS Fire Rescue), Michael Nickels (Seven Ravens Ecoforestry), Mark Lombard (Cortes Community Forest), Erik Piikkila (Yellow Point Ecological Society) share their wealth of experience and dialogue together on collaborative forestry solutions to Climate Change on Salt Spring Island.

We’re all living through the climate crisis. But we’re not all in it together. So what exactly does climate change have to do with social injustice? And how can we fix it? This is climate justice explained. We’re destroying our environment at an alarming rate. But it doesn’t need to be this way.

Want to see more? Make sure to subscribe to Planet A! #PlanetA #ClimateChange #ClimateJustice READ MORE Consumption-based CO2 emissions per person in 2018: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co… Each country’s responsibility for “climate breakdown”: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/la… (this is just one way of working out what a “fair share” of emissions is, but we verified the study’s findings with the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo, Norway) Rich people emit more than poor people: https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository…. Climate finance: https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository…. and https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/climate… Reporter: Ajit Niranjan, Camera: Henning Goll, Video Editor: Frederik Willmann, Supervising Editor: Joanna Gottschalk, Fact-Check: Maximilian von Mauch, Thumbnail: Tina Blackwell