Fall 2009 News

Funding

The Canadian Wildlife Foundation has funded several wildlife conservation projects this season:

West

• $5,000 to build a 300-foot long elevated boardwalk addition for Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society’s Marsh Open Air Classroom boardwalk in Duncan, British Columbia.
• $2,500 to the Alberta Conservation Association to study Arctic grayling habitat fragmentation.
• $7,500 to the University of Alberta to assess how grizzly bears respond to industrial development.
• $8,000 to a joint snake conservation research project conducted by the University of Regina and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

Central

• $7,000 to the University of Montreal to assess how human-caused landscapes change the genetic disposition of wild species, specifically the eastern wolf.
• $5,000 to McGill University to research the usefulness of unmanned aerial vehicle technology in wildlife-related aerial surveys.
• $5,000 to Bird Studies Canada to track birds of prey via satellite in Ontario.

East

• $4,000 to educate over 1,000 grade four to 12 students at the Tantramar Wetlands Centre’s “Wetlands through Waterfowl” and “Wetlands in Winter” projects in Sackville,
  New Brunswick.
• $3,000 to aid the Nova Scotia Nature Trust’s “Species at Risk Habitat Conservation” project that protects the habitat of nationally listed species at risk in Nova Scotia.
• $2,000 to the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute to support the operation of a non-profit field station in rural southwestern Nova Scotia.

Education

5th World Environmental Education Congress

As a major partner of the 5th World Environmental Education Congress, CWF’s commitment to environmental education was taken to the global stage this past May. Held in Montreal, the bi-annual conference was host to delegates from all over the world who stressed the important role of education in protecting the future of our planet.

Summer Institute

The biodiversity-themed 2009 Summer Institute was led by CWF Learning Institute Fellow, Dr. Leo Elshof, a professor in the Faculty of Education at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Educators enjoyed a week of exploring wildlife and habitat around the Bay of Fundy and Kejimkujik National Park. Visit CWFLearningInstitute.org and click on “educate” to sign up for future courses and learn more about CWF’s Learning Institute.

Research

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

This December, the eyes of the world will be on Copenhagen for the United Nations conference on climate change. Nearly 200 countries will be represented to outline what must be done to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions post 2012. Since the impacts of climate change are being felt all over the world, it is vital that adaptation plans are put in place. CWF will attend to represent the needs of Canadian wildlife.

Awards

Conservation Achievement

Award Winners
Earlier this year, CWF celebrated our country’s continued commitment to wildlife with the 2009 Canadian Conservation Achievement Awards! The awards honour six individuals or organizations and their commitment to wildlife in Canada. Visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca to learn more about the winners and how you can nominate a conservationist for 2010!

Campaigns

Footprint Project

CWF, along with the Yukon Fish and Game Association, developed a naturalized trail along the Yukon River in Whitehorse, Yukon as part of its annual footprint project. In conjunction with CWF’s annual general meeting, the project aims to leave a lasting, positive ‘footprint’ in each of the cities its meetings are held to unite environmental leaders from across the country and encourage discussion around issues facing wildlife, habitat and conservation.