Environment

Csaba Korosi, right, 77th President of the UN General Assembly, speaks at the opening of the high level segment at the COP15 biodiversity conference as Canada’s Environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, left, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Chair Huang Runqiu, Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, look on in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Nature finance impasse deepens between developed, developing countries at COP15

More than 100 government ministers joined the talks on Thursday and Friday

Csaba Korosi, right, 77th President of the UN General Assembly, speaks at the opening of the high level segment at the COP15 biodiversity conference as Canada’s Environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, left, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Chair Huang Runqiu, Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, look on in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Police officers walk past the convention center at the COP15 biodiversity conference Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Environment ministers try to get Montreal biodiversity talks on track in last days

More than 60 nations from the global south walked out Wednesday over funding concerns

Police officers walk past the convention center at the COP15 biodiversity conference Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Sidney’s new active transportation plan prepared by Urban Systems appeared before council meeting as committee of the whole Monday. It points among other issues to the possibility of improved cycling infrastructure along Resthaven Drive, improvements with impacts on parking. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sidney’s draft active transportation plan could disrupt parking

Plan would lead to loss of downtown parking spaces due to protected bike lanes

Sidney’s new active transportation plan prepared by Urban Systems appeared before council meeting as committee of the whole Monday. It points among other issues to the possibility of improved cycling infrastructure along Resthaven Drive, improvements with impacts on parking. (Black Press Media file photo)
Delegates walk past a giant Jenga-style tower at the COP15 United Nations conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. The tower illustrates the complex web of life where each brick nudged out of place represents damage caused to nature and with it the danger of ecosystem collapse. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Developing countries walk out of Montreal biodiversity conference over funding

Main concern about a special fund to finance biodiversity conservation in poorer nations

Delegates walk past a giant Jenga-style tower at the COP15 United Nations conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. The tower illustrates the complex web of life where each brick nudged out of place represents damage caused to nature and with it the danger of ecosystem collapse. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Link Island Nature Reserve. (Carmen Smith photo)

Private island near Nanaimo worth $3.7 million donated for conservation

Betty Swift, who died in 2021, instructed that Link Island be donated to Islands Trust Conservancy

Link Island Nature Reserve. (Carmen Smith photo)
Federal Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson waits to speak to the media at the COP15 biodiversity conference Monday, December 12, 2022 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Canada, other G7 nations launch sustainable mining alliance at COP15 nature meeting

Deal involves countries that are trying to reduce China’s dominance in the critical mineral field

Federal Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson waits to speak to the media at the COP15 biodiversity conference Monday, December 12, 2022 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
This screen cap of a video shows environmental activist Paul Chiyokten Wagner prior to arrest by RCMP officers on Nov. 19 on a property in the 11000-block of Rosborough Road in North. (Mike Graeme/Submitted)

Protests growing over trees cut on North Saanich ALR property

Activist rejects any comparisons between recent arrests on the property and Fairy Creek protests

This screen cap of a video shows environmental activist Paul Chiyokten Wagner prior to arrest by RCMP officers on Nov. 19 on a property in the 11000-block of Rosborough Road in North. (Mike Graeme/Submitted)
A local environmentalist says more needs to be done to protect ALR properties - like the one in the 11000-block of Rosborough Road - from logging. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

North Saanich tree-cutting underscores need for ALR changes, says activist

Bobby Arbass says more needs to be done to protect wooded ALR properties

A local environmentalist says more needs to be done to protect ALR properties - like the one in the 11000-block of Rosborough Road - from logging. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Trudeau was unequivocal Wednesday when asked if Canada was going to meet its goal to protect one-quarter of all Canadian land and oceans by 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

As nature talks unfold, here’s what ‘30 by 30’ conservation could mean in Canada

‘I am happy to say that we are going to meet our ‘25 by 25’ target’: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Trudeau was unequivocal Wednesday when asked if Canada was going to meet its goal to protect one-quarter of all Canadian land and oceans by 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Debris believed to be from the 2021 Zim Kingston freighter spill is shown being collected off Palmerston Beach, on Vancouver Island B.C. in this handout image provided by the by the environmental organization Epic Exeo from February 2022. Those who walk the beaches say debris from the 109 shipping containers that went overboard is still washing up onshore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Epic Exeo **MANDATORY CREDIT**

From urinal mats to unicorns, cargo from 2021 spill still washes up on Island shores

Advocates still awaiting solutions in the wake of the MV Zim Kingston spill

Debris believed to be from the 2021 Zim Kingston freighter spill is shown being collected off Palmerston Beach, on Vancouver Island B.C. in this handout image provided by the by the environmental organization Epic Exeo from February 2022. Those who walk the beaches say debris from the 109 shipping containers that went overboard is still washing up onshore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Epic Exeo **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a discussion with members of the Environment and Climate Change Youth Council in Montreal on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Trudeau says 120 countries are ready to agree to 30 by 30 framework at COP15

PM acknowledges some of the world’s five biggest countries pose challenges at nature summit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a discussion with members of the Environment and Climate Change Youth Council in Montreal on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Protestors gathered outside Government House in Victoria on Dec. 7, 2022 to fight against proposals that would see an expansion in the fossil-fuel industry in B.C. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Environmental alliance calls for end to fracking as Eby swears in new cabinet

Members staged demonstration at Government House in Victoria ahead of swearing-in ceremony

Protestors gathered outside Government House in Victoria on Dec. 7, 2022 to fight against proposals that would see an expansion in the fossil-fuel industry in B.C. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
The City of Colwood has taken two new steps along its path to make the community more environmentally friendly. (Black Press Media file photo)

Colwood takes next step toward climate change goals

The city approved moving to the third stage of the BC Energy Step Code

The City of Colwood has taken two new steps along its path to make the community more environmentally friendly. (Black Press Media file photo)
Workers set up the Montreal Convention Centre in preparation for the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. A major international conference on preserving the world’s biodiversity is to open Tuesday with speakers including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Nature ‘under attack’ says Trudeau as UN biodiversity conference opens in Montreal

196 countries being asked to hammer out a deal to save and restore ecosystems

Workers set up the Montreal Convention Centre in preparation for the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. A major international conference on preserving the world’s biodiversity is to open Tuesday with speakers including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
A dead chum salmon in the Delta River after it had returned more than 1,000 miles from the ocean to spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Keepers of Cheewaht: Restoring a Vancouver Island ecosystem for generations to come

After years of neglect, salmon are returning to remote West Coast river system

A dead chum salmon in the Delta River after it had returned more than 1,000 miles from the ocean to spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Volunteers work to clear invasive plants from Peter Grant Park in Sidney on Nov. 13. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)

Mystic makeover: Green Team tackles invasives at the University of Victoria

With hot chocolate to keep volunteers warm, the team tackles ivy Dec. 4

Volunteers work to clear invasive plants from Peter Grant Park in Sidney on Nov. 13. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)
A bulk carrier cargo ship travels into port as a Harbour Air seaplane flies towards Stanley Park and the downtown skyline, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Victoria beats Vancouver, Kelowna surprisingly low in in city environmental ranking

Small Canadian cities rank high on environmental scorecard that has a few surprises

A bulk carrier cargo ship travels into port as a Harbour Air seaplane flies towards Stanley Park and the downtown skyline, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A monarch butterfly is seen in the Insectarium in Montreal, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. A new report assessing the status of wild species in Canada says more than 2,200 plants, animals, fish and other wildlife found in Canada are at risk of dying out.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Thousands of plants, animals at risk of extinction in Canada: wild species report

135 species at one time found in Canada believed to be extinct, another 4,883 threatened

A monarch butterfly is seen in the Insectarium in Montreal, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. A new report assessing the status of wild species in Canada says more than 2,200 plants, animals, fish and other wildlife found in Canada are at risk of dying out.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
An injured mule deer buck was located and euthanized in Quesnel on Wednesday, Nov. 23. (Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)

Deer wandering with arrow in side euthanized in Quesnel, sparking warning to hunters

The animal was located by the Conservation Officer Service and the RCMP

An injured mule deer buck was located and euthanized in Quesnel on Wednesday, Nov. 23. (Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)
Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Sea lice numbers not necessarily influenced by salmon farms: industry studies

New data suggests sea lice levels trend up or down; Activists are skeptical

Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward