Denied: Species at Risk Status

Details: 20 August 2012

For those concerned about maintaining environmental protection, the recent federal decision to deny the applications for 3 species to be included the Species at Risk list is a red flag. The species, 2 plants and 1 dragonfly, might be found only in a few locations, but from my viewpoint that is the whole point of having endangered species legislation - to protect species that are vulnerable to being lost without anyone mounting a defence or, perhaps, without anyone even noticing. Our duty, as a species with big brains, is to ensure that all species are preserved, big and little. On top of this, the Sierra Club is raising concerns that the Species at Risk legislation itself is also on the chopping block. For more info http://www.sierraclub.ca/en/endangered-species/media/release/laura-dragonfly-creating-buzz-parliament-hill-pleads-protection-pre

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Spotlight

Blog

Seeking Proposals for Website and Database Development

Thursday, 18 January 2018

by Annika Chiasson

The NBEN is seeking proposals for:

1. Updated look for Our Website
2. On-line interactive Risks & Benefits Calculator (plus Appendix)

Proposals are due January 29, 2018.

National Spotlight on Moncton

Monday, 27 November 2017

by Raissa Marks

The NBEN is pleased to be the local host partner for EconoUs 2018, the annual conference of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, which is coming to Moncton in September 2018.

With a focus on green community economic development, EconoUs 2018 will feature leading speakers, engaging sessions, and tailored networking opportunities about People (inclusive communities), Planet (sustainable environments), and Economy (local prosperity) and how these things, together, create an economy that works for all.Who or what should be included in the agenda? Let the planning committee know here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V2QXMY2

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Upcoming Events

Tobique 4th Annual Spring Pow Wow
Sat, Apr 21st, 2018
Tobique Narrows

Corn Hill Nursery: Grafting Seminar
Sat, Apr 21st, 2018
Corn Hill

On the Rise
Sat, Apr 21st, 2018
Fredericton

See all events...

Action Alerts

Conserve Our NB

Friday, 09 February 2018

by Nature Trust of New Brunswick

For countless generations, people in New Brunswick have cherished the wildlife and beauty of their natural surroundings. We have adopted many deeply rooted outdoor traditions that take us to the rivers, lakes, wetlands, forests, and coastlines of our beautiful province in all seasons of the year. Help protect the wild places that you love so that your family, children, and grandchildren will be able to enjoy them forever.

Over 95% of New Brunswick is currently unprotected and open to exploitation that could harm wildlife and damage the natural beauty of our province, and we need to act now to change that.

Through the Convention on Biological Diversity, Canada has signed on to conserve 17% of land and freshwater by 2020. As Canadians, it is our shared responsibility to hold the government accountable to achieving this target. The Nature Trust of New Brunswick is urging you to speak out to your provincial representatives to declare your support for increased land conservation in the province, and encourage them to set set their own conservation goals for the province and develop an action plan to achieve these goals. Through Pathway to Canada Target 1, an Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) has been identified to ensure all elements of the initiative are guided by Indigenous experts across Canada, which should be reflected in New Brunswick’s efforts as well.

A vast majority of Canadians agree that protecting the environment is one of the most important issues currently facing our country. In a recent national conservation survey, 87% of Canadians support increasing the amount of natural areas protected from development, including at national parks. Join the growing movement of people who are speaking out in support of land conservation.

We’ve made it easy for you to take action! It takes less than a minute with our online template to send a letter to your local MLA. To learn more about what you can do to support land conservation, download the Conserve Our NB toolkit.

Printable pledge link: http://www.naturetrust.nb.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Conserve-Our-NB-Pledge.pdf Please help by joining the movement and collecting signatures from your corner of the province to show support for increased land and freshwater protection in NB.

Please return pledge sheets with original signatures to the Nature Trust of New Brunswick office.
Next Deadline: March 13, 2018

By mail:
P.O. Box 603 Station A,
Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A6

In person: 404 Queen St. 3rd floor,
Fredericton, NB

Have your say on Draft Water Strategy!

Wednesday, 15 November 2017

by Conservation Council of New Brunswick

A Water Strategy for New Brunswick

On October 6, 2017, the department of Environment and Local Government released a draft water strategy for comments. The draft strategy is available on the government website. Comments can be submitted by email to: waterstrategy-strategiedeleau@gnb.ca or by mail to: Department of Environment and Local Government, Policy and Planning Division, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, N.B., E3B 5H1. Comments will be accepted until November 20, 2017.

In order to help groups with their submissions, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, in cooperation with watershed groups, has put together key elements of a watershed strategy and a sample letter to send to the Department.

Summary of 8 Key Elements of a Strong Water Protection Strategy

New Brunswick deserves a water protection strategy that:

is science-based; (involving baseline data, tracking and taking into consideration cumulative impacts, environmental flows)
sets water quality standards within a working, legal mechanism;
conserves all water within watersheds including surface waters (lakes, streams, rivers) and groundwater, by developing good conservation plans, policies and practices, and uses the precautionary principle as a guiding, legally enforceable tool;
protects our marine coastal areas in law;
has a meaningful form of co-governance with First Nations;
includes the development, implementation and enforcement of watershed protection plans, developed in a transparent manner, involving government, businesses, watershed organizations, farmers, municipal officials, and citizens;
is accountable, which includes ongoing monitoring and annual reporting to the public on the progress of goals and objectives outlined in the water protection strategy; and,
is enforceable through a modern legal framework

Sample Letter

My name is ______, and I am writing to express my support for a strong Water Strategy in New Brunswick.

I live near ______ OR I live in ___________ watershed

Describe your favourite spot to fish/swim/paddle etc.

Share your favourite water memory.

Clean, healthy water is important to me because _____________.

Have you recently experienced a boil water order? Blue-green algae? Extreme weather? Describe what is of concern to you.

I applaud the provincial government for moving forward on its commitment to protecting our water; however I believe the draft strategy does not go far enough to ensure healthy water for my watershed.

We need a water protection strategy that (Insert one or multiple key elements).

I am afraid that if left unattended, my watershed will face ongoing and increasing treats from (pollution, wetland and coastal estuary loss, loss of adequate environmental flow to sustain aquatic life, and increasing climate change impacts such as floods, droughts, and high temperatures.)

Please protect my watershed by implementing a strong water protection strategy with modern legislation that (note key element(s)) to ensure the health of our water and people.

Thank you,
Your name.

For more information, visit the CCNB's website.

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