In some parts of Canada, wildlife is not dominant in the landscape, especially in large cities which offer many properties surrounded by concrete and busy streets with few rippling rivers and tranquil lakes to be found nearby. But we are no longer restricted to what our property limits and cityscapes offer us in terms of habitat for wildlife. You can have instant habitat at your front door almost as easily as you can get pizza delivery!

How your garden can coexist with wildlife 

 Examining the state of bottom trawling laws and restrictions at home and abroad

When it comes to gardening, 2010 is the perfect time to think globally and act locally. This is the International Year of Biodiversity, so why not help celebrate by doing something to support biodiversity right in your own garden?

By April Overall

A tribute to Canada’s floral godmother

Adding mulch to your garden is easy, and you’ll be surprised by the benefits.

Cottages and camping are standard features of Canadian summers and tend to revolve around shoreline areas. A quiet canoe across a misty morning lake, a late afternoon trip trolling for fish, or simply lying quietly on a dock as the water’s tide rocks you to sleep are wonderful ways to spend part of a summer day. But what would those moments be without the hawk silently circling overhead or a dragonfly zipping past as it hunts for insects. Wildlife is an integral part of life in Canada and shorelines are a great place to experience it.

With over 25 million Canadians caught up in the hustle and bustle of urban life, it’s hard to picture vast spaces of our nation as desolate and wild. But in fact, only 11 per cent of Canada’s 8,886,356 square kilometres of land are privately owned. The remaining 89 per cent is Crown land (also known as public land) and is owned by the federal or provincial government.
 

In an age of urban sprawl, failing infrastructure, polluted water and greenhouse gasses, we are hearing the word “sustainability” more and more frequently. In fact, it seems that everywhere we look there is a new green or sustainable product on the market. Companies are responding to consumers’ needs and wants because we are starting to see the effect that products and human activity are having on our planet. For instance, in 1997 Charles J. Moore, a competitive sailor on his journey home from competing in the Transpac sailing race, discovered a vast expanse of floating plastic garbage in the northern Pacific Ocean. His discovery prompted research into the phenomenon. Researchers found that garbage generated worldwide was accumulating in a concentrated area due to the currents of the ocean. It was dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the Gyre. It is suspected that thousands of tons of plastic garbage are washed into the Pacific Ocean each year, carried by urban coastal storm water run-off. It has been speculated that the hidden area of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is greater in size than the state of Texas.
At our current rate of consumption, human beings are using up the earth's resources one and a half times faster than our planet's capacity for renewal. In order for our children to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle such as the one we have come to appreciate, we need to adopt a sustainable approach in the way we live. Sustainable living simply means preserving our ability to maintain, indefinitely, a way of living.

By April Overall

How would you like it if your home suddenly began to shrink? Wildlife across the country is being forced to live in smaller and smaller quarters and they’re paying the price. Read on to learn more.