Birding and conservation groups call on Canada, U.S. to preserve boreal forest

Birding and conservation groups launched a campaign on last week  calling on the Canadian and U.S. governments to preserve at least half of the boreal forest.

“The importance of boreal forest habitat for birds will only increase in the future; climate change has already begun pushing bird ranges further north, making the boreal forest an important refuge—a ‘Noah’s Ark’ for birds,” said Jeff Wells, senior scientist for the Boreal Songbird Initiative and International Boreal Conservation Campaign, said in a news release.

Besides preserving bird habitat, The Boreal Birds Need Half campaign is looking encourage sustainable development in the remaining areas. It also says industrial activities in the forest should take place only with consent from the affected indigenous communities.

Habitat threats

The boreal forest stretches from Alaska to the region of Labrador in Atlantic Canada. Billions of birds use the forest as their breeding ground.

But many of the 300 bird species that make their way to the forest each year are in decline, such as the Canada Warbler, mainly due to loss of habitat says the Boreal Songbird Initiative.

The campaign is currently endorsed by  The Boreal Songbird Initiative, Ducks Unlimited, National Audubon Society, Bird Studies Canada, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Environment for the Americas, Nature Canada, Nature Needs Half, Birdzilla, and Wild Bird Centers of America.

Campaign organizers hope businesses as well as individuals will sign on to endorse the campaign.

“When you see broad support from the scientific community, bird organizations, and everyday citizens, it makes a compelling case for increased boreal forest protection,” said Kevin Smith, national manager of boreal programs for Ducks Unlimited Canada in a news release. “In addition to protecting 50% of the boreal forest, sustainably managed development in the remaining areas will be essential to striking the right balance between ecological health and economically healthy communities.”

For more information on the campaign, click HERE

Related stories from around the North:

Canada:  Fighting to protect bird habitat in North America’s boreal forest (SLIDESHOW), Eye on the Arctic

Finland:  New measures to protect the Saimaa seal in Finland, Yle News

Iceland: Endangered whale meat shipped from Iceland via Halifax, The Canadian Press

Norway:  Rapid growth in Svalbard walrus population, Barents Observer

Sweden: Sweden’s mountain hares changing fur color too early, Radio Sweden

United States:  Chemical contaminants suspect in mystery of Alaska chickadee beak deformities, Alaska Dispatch News

Eilís Quinn, Eye on the Arctic

Eilís Quinn is an award-winning journalist and manages Radio Canada International’s Eye on the Arctic news cooperation project. Eilís has reported from the Arctic regions of all eight circumpolar countries and has produced numerous documentary and multimedia series about climate change and the issues facing Indigenous peoples in the North.

Her investigative report "Death in the Arctic: A community grieves, a father fights for change," about the murder of Robert Adams, a 19-year-old Inuk man from Arctic Quebec, received the silver medal for “Best Investigative Article or Series” at the 2019 Canadian Online Publishing Awards. The project also received an honourable mention for excellence in reporting on trauma at the 2019 Dart Awards in New York City.

Her report “The Arctic Railway: Building a future or destroying a culture?” on the impact a multi-billion euro infrastructure project would have on Indigenous communities in Arctic Europe was a finalist at the 2019 Canadian Association of Journalists award in the online investigative category.

Her multimedia project on the health challenges in the Canadian Arctic, "Bridging the Divide," was a finalist at the 2012 Webby Awards.

Her work on climate change in the Arctic has also been featured on the TV science program Découverte, as well as Le Téléjournal, the French-Language CBC’s flagship news cast.

Eilís has worked for media organizations in Canada and the United States and as a TV host for the Discovery/BBC Worldwide series "Best in China."

One thought on “Birding and conservation groups call on Canada, U.S. to preserve boreal forest

  • Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 20:52
    Permalink

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    Arto Lauri 105. Radiaton pressure

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SwP5zl1iVE
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    Arto Lauri 104. GRAVITON

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtMdr11PA1I
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    T&T WATER 22.3.2015, Tapio Ikkala, 19: 08

    UNITED NATIONS: the threat of water shortage over the next 15 years

    The planet’s water reserves will be reduced by 40% in the next fifteen years, claims a new report by the United Nations. The increasing need for water is inspired by the industrial development, urbanization and population growth.

    If the water in the sustainable management of resources, the socio-economic system in the world, nothing will plummet, the main author of the report, Richard Connor told Reuters.

    2050 ‘s, two-thirds of the world’s population lives in cities, and water demand is expected to increase to 55%. For the most part, increasing demand comes from developing countries.

    Many big cities in developing countries will grow uncontrollably, and not everyone in the country can be migrated to provide water supply. For example, only 34 percent of the homes in the Sahara to sub-Saharan Africa, is the water supply in the district, when this number was still 42% during the 1990s.

    By 2050, the world’s food production to feed a growing population will need to grow by 60 percent. The food industry spends even now, a lot of water, and the United Nations, according to the calculations of the growth in food production will be quadrupled its water needs.

    * Definitely the biggest industrial water, however, the destroyer is nuclear power. 1000MW reactor to kill 1 800L/s body in the waters. On the other hand, the entire southern hemisphere, by far the largest consumer of water is Australia’s huge uranium mines. The destruction of the water of the blind is one of the kärkisyy to seek out just nuclear power.

    The report proposes significant investments in sustainable water resources management.
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    T&T VESI Tapio Ikkala, 22.3.2015, 19:08
    YK: Vesipula uhkaa seuraavan 15 vuoden aikana

    Maapallon vesivarannot vähentyvät – 40 prosenttia seuraavan viidentoista vuoden aikana, väittää YK:n uusi raportti. Kehityksen taustalla on teollisuuden lisääntyvä vedentarve, kaupungistuminen, sekä väestönkasvu.

    Mikäli vesiresurssien kestävään hallintaan ei panosteta, maailman sosioekonominen järjestelmä tulee romahtamaan, raportin pääkirjoittaja Richard Connor kertoi Reutersille.

    2050-luvulla kaksi kolmasosaa maailman väestöstä asuu kaupungeissa, ja veden kysynnän odotetaan kasvavan 55 prosenttia. Suurin osa lisääntyvästä kysynnästä tulee kehittyvistä maista.

    Monet kehitysmaiden suurkaupungit kasvavat hallitsemattomasti, eikä kaikille maalta muuttaneille voida välttämättä tarjota vedenjakelua. Esimerkiksi Saharan eteläpuolisessa Afrikassa vain 34 prosenttia asunnoista on vedenjakelun piirissä, kun tämä luku oli vielä 1990-luvulla 42 prosenttia.

    Vuoteen 2050 mennessä maailman ruoantuotannon täytyy kasvaa 60 prosenttia kasvavan väestön ruokkimiseksi. Elintarviketeollisuus kuluttaa jo nyt paljon vettä, ja YK:n laskelmien mukaan ruoantuotannon kasvu tulee nelinkertaistamaan sen vedentarpeen.

    * Ehdottomasti suurin teollinen veden tuhoaja on kuitenkin ydinvoima. 1000MW reaktori tappaa 1 800L/s elinvedet. Kun toisaalta koko eteläisen pallonpuoliskon ylivoimaisesti suurin veden kuluttaja on Australian valtavat uraanikaivokset. Veden silmitön tuhoaminen on eräs kärkisyy pyrkiä pois juuri ydinvoimasta.

    Raportissa ehdotetaan merkittäviä investointeja kestävään vesiresurssien hallintaan.
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    Reply
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