Light pollution is an extremely large problem that goes relatively unnoticed by the public. Not many people remember how visible the natural night sky used to be: filled with stars and the Milky Way stretching across the universe. Instead, almost everyone today is accustomed to seeing only a few of the brighter stars at night scattered across a dull gray or pink haze. The World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness found that over 80 percent of the earth’s population is affected by light polluted skies when they look up. In Europe and the United States, 99 percent of these populations are living under polluted skies. This issue is getting worse as well with the transition to LED lights, which are much brighter than older lights.

There are four main types of light pollution – light trespass, clutter/over-illumination, glare and sky glow. Light trespass is when light shines in unwanted or unintended directions or areas (a street light shining into your window). Light clutter (or over-illumination) is when lights are grouped together or near each other which causes them to blend together (think of urban areas where street lights, path lights, building lights all blend together). Glare is excessively bright light which can impair your vision (bright LED vehicle headlights while driving in the dark). The last type; sky glow, is when the sky above populated areas becomes brighter due to lighting which causes a glow effect in the sky above. All of these increases brightness of the night sky which in turn reduces the amount of stars visible.

Humans have evolved to rely on a circadian rhythm to regulate hormonal production and balance. Some of the key hormones that the circadian rhythm helps regulate include serotonin, dopamine, cortisol, melatonin and growth hormone. Serotonin (happiness hormone), dopamine (mental and physical alertness) and cortisol (stress hormone) are all influenced by blue light that is taken in between the times of 6-10 am in the morning. Melatonin (sleep hormone) and growth hormone (cell repair and metabolism) are triggered by increasing darkness in the late evening. Therefore, changes to natural lighting affects these hormones. When these hormones are out of balance they can cause issues such as depression, anxiety, weight-gain, sleep disorders and more. There have been several studies that have shown artificial lighting at night creates imbalances that increase breast and prostate cancers.

Not only does light pollution have negative impacts on our well-being it also has a significant ecological impacts, as well as a huge environmental footprint, primarily because of wasted energy. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) estimates of all the outdoor lighting, at least 30 percent is wasted in the United States. This energy waste equates to about 21 million tons of carbon dioxide being released and costing 3.3 billion dollars per year. Unlike other sources of pollution such as air or water, light pollution is an extremely easy and cheap thing to fix! – the only problem is that it is not often viewed as a problem, or it’s not even on people’s “radar”.

Here are some of the easiest fixes to make a huge difference in energy consumption and to reduce impacts on us and our sky:

1. Shielding outdoor lights – light should be directed to the area that actually requires it. Concentrating the light will reduce the need for more light sources- and lower wattage options can be used.
2. Using warmer coloured lighting and/or warmer spectrum lights instead of LEDs – LEDs are typically high Kelvin (bright) which is in the blue/white spectrum, regardless of their “colour”. Therefore, they mimic “daylight”. The IDA recommends using a maximum 3000 Kelvin, warm-white bulb for outdoor lighting. However, lower Kelvin (brightness) is always recommended. Therefore, old-fashioned orange-yellow sodium bulbs with lower wattage are best. In general it is always recommended to reduce the amount of blue-white light.
3. Dimmers, timers and motion sensors – these are excellent options to consider when purchasing or updating outdoor lighting or implementing to current outdoor lighting- they save our heads and nature too!
4. Lighting laws/ordinances – towns, cities or municipalities can implement laws and restrictions by creating a lighting code to reduce the amount of light pollution. These  help create a safer and healthier community as well as a clearer night sky.
5. Create awareness – not many people even know this is an issue and could be impacting them personally- spread the knowledge!

Dark Sky Preserves were established to protect areas (great observatories) from light pollution. They are becoming increasingly popular, for people who want to view the full night sky without interruption. Currently Canada is the only country that has standards for Dark Sky Preserves; we have 22 Dark-Sky Preserves recognized by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). These preserves are areas where no artificial lights are visible. Often neighbouring  municipalities adopt better lighting practices to extend the area influenced and the benefits. Two of these dark-sky preserves fall within The Land Between. They include the very first preserve  recognized in Canada: the Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve was recognized in 1999. The second preserve is recent: the North Frontenac Township preserve was established in 2013.

Light pollution not only has effects on our mental and physical health it is also disconnecting us from the night sky and the stars, which have inspired artists, writers and scientists since time immemorial. In 1994 there was a massive earthquake that hit Los Angeles overnight and wiped out the power across the entire city. People went outside to see what had happened and caught their first ever glimpse of an unaffected and unpolluted night sky, making the Milky Way visible for the first time in their memories. This was so new to some people it caused them to freak out; they started calling the police and reporting a “silvery cloud” hovering over the city!

How much artificial light is polluting your world? Check out this map: https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/

 

By Daniel Grenon, GIS Specilast

 

• Light and Dark and Human Health – Joan E. Roberts, Ph.D.
• https://rasc.ca/sites/default/files/publications/JRASC-LPA-Special-Issue-hr.pdf
• https://www.darksky.org/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002207/
• https://timeline.com/los-angeles-light-pollution-ebd60d5acd43

Keep Your Fur Child & Wildlife Safe (aka. Apocalypse Meow)

We tend to love and dote upon our pets. We treat them as our children, and post photos of their silly antics. But what do you do if your fur child is inadvertently harming local wildlife? It is time for cat owners to address an unfortunate truth: your cat is (probably) a wildlife killer.

Bird numbers are in trouble throughout the world. Over the past 50 years some groups of birds in North America have declined dramatically. We have lost 57% of grassland bird populations and 59% of aerial insectivores (1). Recent studies have revealed the extended ecological and economic effects tied to the alarming reduction of bird numbers (2). Birds are natural seed dispersers and several trees rely on them to propagate. Forests will suffer without birds. Birds are also our best natural pest control. Hundreds of insect eating birds manage pesky mosquitoes and black-flies, and help our farmers by controlling crop pests. Cavity excavators like woodpeckers provide homes for secondary cavity-nesters like wood ducks, chickadees, and some small mammals. The calls of songbirds keep out forests lively, and inspire musicians and artists around the world.

After habitat loss, the second largest threat to bird populations in Canada are invasive species – and these include domestic cats (3). Each year in Canada, an estimated 100 to 350 million birds are killed by feral cats or those that are allowed to roam free (4). Within the Land Between, 17 species of birds are at risk of extinction, and another 8 species are listed as “Special Concern”, indicating that populations are declining quickly. But even common birds are fading from the region. Several of the species that are recorded as “at risk” are ground-nesters, making them very vulnerable to predators like domestic cats. Cat predation is a listed threat for the Eastern Whip-poor-will, Wood Thrush, and Barn Swallow. Beyond direct predation, feral cats affect wildlife by spreading diseases, and the presence of “outdoor cats” also drastically cha

nges the natural foraging and breeding behaviours of birds and small mammals.

The domestic cat (or Felix catus) is considered non-native wherever it exists since it did not evolve in the wild. Our love of pets can distract us from recognizing their broader ecological effect. Domestic cats have contributed to the extinction of 33 species since the 1600s (3).

Luckily, there are some simple ways to become a more responsible cat owner – and also to protect both wildlife and your cat. The most effective action: keep your cat indoors. Outdoor cats are exposed to diseases, parasites such as mange and ticks, vehicles, and also wild predators.

The Cats and Birds website (5) provides several tips to transition your outdoor cat to an indoor cat. They recommend a slow phase-out of outdoor time. You can make the indoor environment more engaging for your fur child by building window seats, scratching posts, and giving them small toys. After the adjustment period, most cats will learn that hanging around the door won’t get them anywhere. If this will not work for you and your cat, there are several ways to let your cat enjoy the outdoors more responsibly.

How to safely let your cat outdoors:

• Build an enclosed “catio”. Screened in play areas are becoming more common amongst cat owners. Cats can enjoy the fresh air in a controlled environment.
• Install an appropriate fence around your yard. See www.CatsandBirds.ca for design tips.
• Train your cat to walk with a harness. Yes, it is possible!
• Give your cat a Bib or BirdsBeSafe collar to make your cat less stealthy.
• Keep your cat inside during peak bird breeding season (from May to September).

Beyond individual actions by cat owners, there are steps that municipalities can take to reduce risks for cats and wildlife. Most policies have focused on animal welfare rather than ecological impacts. For instance, “Tag, Neuter, Release” programs intended to control feral cats have been found to be ineffective. In most cities, almost three quarters of feral cats would need to be sterilized in order to see reduced bird kills over the long-term (6). Researchers suggest that municipalities instead introduce precautionary policies; that cats should always be registered and spayed or neutered. The first step is simply acknowledging that cats are causing a problem.

Wildlife numbers are declining drastically and natural wildlife habitats decreasing alarmingly in The Land Between region and across the world. There are many different threats to wildlife, and we should pay attention to all the ways we may be inadvertently contributing to them. While some problems are very difficult to solve, by applying simple solutions and by working together, we can substantially reduce the number of birds that are killed by cats.

Quick Facts about Cats and Birds:

• Cats are just as likely to hunt when they are well-fed. Cats will often kill and discard birds or rodents.
• Declining prey (birds) is also detrimental for their natural predators such as American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, other birds of prey, foxes, weasels, and other mammals.
• Declining birds also means declining natural mosquito control, other pest control, or declining quality of forests and grasslands (through their innate capacity to spread seeds around).
• Birds have eyes 10-times as sensitive to light as humans and will confuse LEDs for stars or their flooded areas for twilight, meanwhile cats prefer to hunt at dusk or dawn
• The number of domestic cats in the United States has tripled in the last 40 years. 65% of them go outside at least part of the time.

 Written by Emma Halupka, Conservation Technician

 

Download the PDF here: Apocolypse Meow. How to keep your fur child and wildlife safe

References :

• North American Bird Conservation Initiative Canada. 2019. The State of Canada’s Bird. Environment and Climate Change Canada: http://nabci.net/wp-content/uploads/39-184-Bird-Survey-Corrections_EN_web.pdf
• Rosenburg, K.V, A.M. Dokter, P.J. Blancher, J.R. Sauer, A.C. Smith, P.A. Smith, J.C. Stanton, A. Panjabi, L. Helft, H. Parr and P.P. Marra. 2019. Decline of the North American avifauna. Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6461/120
• American Bird Conservancy. 2006. Five state review – Impacts of feral and free-ranging cats on bird species of conservation concern: http://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/NFWF.pdf
• Blancher, P. 2013. Estimated Number of Birds Killed by House Cats (Felis catus) in Canada: http://www.ace-eco.org/vol8/iss2/art3/
• Nature Canada: CatsandBirds.ca
• Loss, P.P. and S.R. Marra. 2017. Population impacts of free ranging cats on mainland vertebrates: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/fee.1633
• Dauphine, N. and R.J. Cooper. 2009. Impacts of free-ranging domestic cats (Felis Catus) on birds in the United States: A review of recent research with conservation and management recommendations: https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Dauphine-and-Cooper-2009-Impacts-of-free-ranging-cats-on-birds-in-US.pdf

Further Resources :

• Tips for transitioning cats indoors: https://catsandbirds.ca/research/tips-for-transitioning/
• Birds Be Safe collar: https://www.birdsbesafe.com/
• Guidelines for municipal policies. The Calgary Model: https://catsandbirds.ca/blog/the-calgary-model/
• Portland Autobond’s Cats Safe at Home campaign: https://audubonportland.org/our-work/protect/habitat-and-wildlife/urban/cats-safe-at-home-campaign/

 

 

 

You read that right, Squirrel Appreciation Day, an annual celebration of our furry backyard friends. Since its inception in 2001, every 21^st of January has been set aside as a day to say thank you to the cute little guys we all know (some might say all too) well.

There are more than 260 species of squirrel all over the world, and 22 here in Canada. But some of the critters that scientists call squirrels may not necessarily be what you and I would automatically think of. Technically, a squirrel is anything belonging to the Sciuridae family which includes tree squirrels, chipmunks, flying squirrels, marmots, prairie dogs, and ground squirrels. What exactly makes a squirrel a squirrel is quite technical, but generally they are linked by a similar skull structure, four large front teeth that grow throughout their entire lives, and tails that are about as long as their bodies. The squirrels we are probably most familiar with here in Canada are tree squirrels, which are especially adapted for climbing with their flexible ankles and long fingers.

Some squirrels, like the African Pygmy Squirrel, are tiny and cute, and only grow to be about 7 cm long. Others, like the Indian Giant Squirrel, are absolutely humongous, reaching a total length of about one metre! Not only that, but the Indian Giant Squirrel has some of the coolest colours you will ever see on any mammal from blues to purples. Seriously, Google these guys, they’re really neat!

The squirrels we have here in Canada are not quite as cool as the Indian Giant Squirrel, but they’re still up there. One of our more charismatic and perhaps most famous squirrel residents is Wiarton Willie, a groundhog who predicts the winter forecast for us every Groundhog Day. Groundhogs, also known as Woodchucks (you know the poem) are one of Canada’s largest squirrel species, and are the largest squirrels found in Ontario.

One of the most common and easily recognizable squirrels in Ontario is the Eastern Grey Squirrel. These squirrels can be grey or black, with the black individuals often being mistaken for a different species entirely. Eastern Grey Squirrels can live anywhere from deciduous forests to urban backyards, and munch on everything from tree nuts to insects.

Grey Squirrels also play a critical role in ensuring our forests remain healthy and survive for the long term by literally planting trees! Because these squirrels are active throughout the winter, they have to store food away for when availability is scarce. In order to protect their food from thieves, they bury their stores in the soil at various locations throughout their territory. But because the stores are so spread out, it is not uncommon for the squirrels to forget exactly where they put them all. The buried seeds that are forgotten, which is usually at least 5% per squirrel, and there are A LOT of squirrels, are left to germinate in the soil, and are frequently able to sprout into new trees! This practice of burying seeds, called caching, has been found to be particularly important for the dispersal of oak trees in North America.

And if that wasn’t enough to inspire your appreciation of squirrels, here are a few more crazy cool facts about the little dudes:

1. A squirrel’s front teeth, called incisors, grow throughout their entire lives, so they never get run down by their constant chewing. Even cooler than that, the tissue at the front of the teeth is much tougher and therefore slower to wear down than the tissue at the back of the teeth, so the teeth always stay sharp.
2. Squirrels are incredible gymnasts. I’m sure we’ve all seen the lengths squirrels are willing to go to get to food, especially to reach bird feeders. The acrobatics they pull off in the process of chasing food are very impressive and some people (actually more people than you would think) have even taken the time to challenge their backyard squirrels by setting up obstacle courses (click on link) for them.
3. The average lifespan of a Grey Squirrel is only about 5 months, with only about 25% of Grey Squirrels living to be more than one year old.
4. Squirrels are good swimmers. Many North American species including the Eastern Grey Squirrel having been observed swimming across lakes and rivers.
5. The largest squirrel found in Canada is the Hoary Marmot. This species can be up to 80 cm long and weigh as much as 13 pounds!

So show the squirrels some love this Squirrel Appreciation Day. Say hello, give them a smile, and maybe let them hang out on your bird feeder… just this once.

Written by Siena Smith, Conservation Technician

 

 

Sources:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/squirrels/

 https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/7-fascinating-facts-about-squirrels

 https://www.britannica.com/animal/squirrel

https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions/answer/what-controls-the-caching-behaviour-of-squirrels-and-how-do-they-find-their-bur

University Of Richmond. “Researchers Tackle The Nutty Truth On Acorns And Squirrels.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 November 1998. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/11/981126102802.htm>.

https://www.squirrelcontrol.ca/blog/different-types-of-squirrels-in-ontario/

https://onnaturemagazine.com/squirrels.html

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/squirrel

https://naturecanada.ca/tag/squirrel-appreciation-day/

http://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/fauna/mammals/eastern-grey-squirrel.html

http://tolweb.org/Sciuridae

 

Plastic, which comes from the Greek verb plassein that translates to “to mould or shape,” was invented and made popular in 1869 by John Wesley Wyatt. This new material offered an alternative from the natural resources humans were confined to, such as metal and wood, along with animal based resources such as ivory, coral or bone. In plastic’s infancy it was used to mimic ivory and turtle shells and it was used for items such as billiard balls, piano keys, combs and so on. Over the years, new plastic variants were developed. A large-leap occurred after the end of World War 2 where production exploded due to it being cheap, convenient and because it was easy to mass produce. This efficiency resulted in the rise of the “throw away” society we live in today.

A research article published in Science Advances 2017 titled “Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made” estimates that in 2015, all plastic that has ever been produced from raw materials amasses 6300 million metric tons. Further that from all that plastic only 9% has been recycled, 12% has been burned, and the remaining 79% has ended up in landfills or the environment. The researchers further project that if current habits continue, 12000 million metric tons of plastic will be in landfills or the environment by 2050. The article also goes on to mention that 42% (146 million tons) of all the plastic created in 2015 was for packaging. Building and construction materials (which are long-lived practical uses for plastic as opposed to single-use packaging) represent only 19% of the share. The situation is dire! Which has propelled many companies, cities and even countries to begin to tackle the issue…starting with the biggest culprit of single-use plastics such as shopping bags, packaging, straws and utensils. These common items, which we come across in our everyday lives, add convenience, but compared to the small amount of time they are in our hands, the time they last in landfills or the environment is an eternity.

There are many small and easy ways that each person can reduce their plastic footprint, and yet make a huge difference:

1. Reusable coffee cups/mugs – Grab yourself a nice personal travel mug, you can get them in many styles and often coffee shops will offer discounts to people that use a reusable vessel
2. Metal or glass water bottles – Ditching plastic water bottles is one of the best things you can do to reduce your footprint- Not only can you get very nice ones which are able to keep your water cold for hours, but refill stations are often easily found in public areas. Furthermore, the quality of your town water is monitored closely, while water bottling companies aren’t bound by the same standards.
3. Reusable shopping bags – The hardest thing about reusable shopping bags is remembering to take them into the store. However, they are extremely cheap and come in a variety of styles and materials. And with stores starting to charge for bags you’ll save money in the long run as well reduce your plastic footprint. The reusable bags are also a much sturdier option for carrying your purchases. So many people are carrying these that they are traded around readily, and you never know, but another shopper might be willing to share!  Finally, as a last resort, some stores offer paper bag options.

Tips from the Land Between staff:

1. Personal care options – Shampoo bars are an excellent alternative to bottled versions and they often have no packaging. Look for stores that have a return/reuse/refill options for the containers for cosmetics such as creams, lotions and soaps. More and more specialty stores and health food stores offer these options. We hope that soon grocery stores will get on this wagon too.
2. Produce and bulk shopping – You don’t need produce bags, just put your loose produce in the cart. Alternatively, cloth drawstring bags are easy to sew and you can make them from old clothes too! They are becoming increasingly available in grocery stores. Also they don’t add significant weight to your produce when placed on the scales at the checkout counters. You can even use old stockings or socks for produce. Also, try shopping at bulk stores where you can bring your own containers, this adds use to those plastic containers you already have stocked up.
3. Litterless lunches – Bring your meals in reusable options such as containers and reusable snack/sandwich bags such as those made with beeswax. This also pairs well with the next tip: bring your own ‘city kit’ for take out when dining out- a kit has a take-out container, personal cutlery and a travel cup.
4. Garbage disposal options – Use a biodegradable garbage bag and if you throw away wet materials that cannot be composted, you can line the bag with a standard plastic one; then when you visit the dump or put the garbage out, you can remove the biodegradable one and rinse and reuse the plastic one as a liner again and again.
5. General tip – Just be a little more conscious of your purchasing habits every time you go to the store. Try to find items with the lowest amounts of packaging or wrapping and if it is difficult to avoid, look for bulk sizes, so that you can to maximize the volume to packaging ratio.

Many people might think that reducing waste is a daunting or difficult goal to achieve, but small steps work! You don’t have to jump right in, just make a few minor changes that you can stick to at first, and over time new habits will be made. Also each step and each piece that is saved from the landfills is cumulative. In no time at all, you will have made a significant impact. In 2010 the average Canadian produced 32.85 kilograms (72.42 pounds) of plastic waste. With a few of the minor habit changes listed above a few pounds can easily be shaved off.

If you are having a hard time imagining that a person could generate that much plastic waste in one year, check out this news article about Daniel Webb. He is a British artist who kept every bit of plastic waste that he generated in 2017 which tallied up to 29 kilograms (63.93 pounds), very close to our Canadian average…and only 10% of it was recyclable. He made a wall of his plastic waste! See it here:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/17/i-kept-all-my-plastic-year-4490-items-forced-rethink

 

Written by Daniel Grenon. Photos by Mert Guller and Antoine Giret

 

Sources:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-brief-history-of-plastic-world-conquest/

https://www.sciencehistory.org/the-history-and-future-of-plastics

https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700782.full

Every time a species goes extinct or is lost from a given area, global biodiversity is irreparably damaged and destabilized. Specific causes of losses to biodiversity are varied, but the predominant and severe causes of global species extinction are summarized by HIPPO.

No, we are not talking about the cute but albeit huge 3500 pound African mammal, instead the HIPPO we are talking about is an acronym. HIPPO stands for Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, Pollution, Human Population, and Overharvesting. This HIPPO is not an exotic creature, but is one found in your own backyard, and unfortunately it is becoming more familiar to us all:

Habitat Loss

Habitat loss is the single greatest threat to biodiversity on Earth today and in fact it is the second largest threat to our existence on this planet next to Climate Change. Habitat loss is sometimes sweeping and significant, but equally harmful is the death by a thousand cuts; the removal of plants in your backyard, or trees in an urban setting.

Human activities such as urban development (construction of homes, businesses, roads, and cottages), resource extraction (logging, mining, oil and gas), and agriculture (land conversion to farmland) degrade or completely eradicate areas on which species depend for food and shelter. For example, as a result of human activities, Southern Ontario has lost over 70% of its wetlands, 98% of its grasslands, and 80% of its forests, resulting in the loss of habitat for countless species of plants and animals (Sierra Club Canada). In this flyway alone, and in just 50 years, we have lost over 75% of songbirds because of habitat loss. The loss of birds means we have also lost the essential pest control services that they provide, and also agents of seed dispersal. Habitat loss, threatens 84% of government-listed Species at Risk in Canada (Venter et al. 2006).

Habitat loss can also take the form of night lighting; this unnatural condition removes habitat for most animals, birds and even fish…especially from LED lights which mimic daytime spectrums. Even plants will not respire under LED lights. Undue noise levels from industry and fireworks can also alter nigh-time habitats and sleeping patterns of wildlife. Also removing small but natural features can reduce habitats; from removing “debris” along shorelines which takes away essential fish habitat, to raking leaves, which removes shelter for small mammals and insects.

Natural events such as storms, forest fires, floods, and droughts also have the potential to alter or eradicate habitats. And while these events are natural occurrences, overall, or until recently, they do not compare to the losses caused by human activities- and yet they are also amplified as a result of climate change- a phenomenon aggravated by human activities.

Invasive Species

An invasive species is any non-native organism whose presence negatively impacts one or more native species in a given area. An invasive species can render a habitat unsuitable for our native species by out-competing them for food, sunlight, and even by crowding native species out, such as with Phragmites, a willowy grass known also as European Common Reed. Phragmites takes over entire wetlands and shoreline areas and can completely alter habitats so that amphibians, turtles, birds, and fish can no longer survive there.

Invasive species can also proliferate such as with zebra mussels, where there are no predators to keep them in check.

Pollution

In Canada, burning fossil fuels and coal to heat homes, power cars, and generate electricity produces approximately 700 Megatons of carbon dioxide per year (National Inventory Report 2018). This influx of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere directly impacts air and water quality, and therefore the health of individual species. It also significantly contributes to the effects of Climate Change.

Pollution also includes the release of effluents from industrial and agricultural processes into the natural environment. For example, nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from agricultural fields can cause large algal blooms that starve the water, and therefore its inhabitants, of oxygen. These situations also threatening the biodiversity of an area. For instance, the collective pollutants that accumulate along the Mississippi River and all major river systems in the USA, and are deposited in the ocean, render the coastline of Maryland or even the Gulf of Mexico inhabitable by any life (Biello 2008). Solid waste, specifically plastic, also poses a significant threat to biodiversity. Not only does the waste take up huge amounts of space on land and in our oceans, it takes hundreds of years until it decomposes and it also strangles, suffocates, and poisons species who mistake it for food.

Human Population

According to the United Nations, the current global population is approximately 7.6 billion people, and is predicted to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.  According to the Ontario Ministry of Finance, the current population of Ontario is approximately 14.57 million people, and is expected to reach 18.4 million by 2041. As the global human population increases, without new ways and behaviours, other threats to biodiversity such as habitat loss, pollution, and overexploitation will intensify.

Over-harvesting

Over-harvesting, is the extraction of a resource from the natural environment at an unsustainable rate. Over-harvesting can include trees, plants, and animals that are targeted for their meat or other body parts. For example, the Passenger Pigeon was harvested to the point of extinction. Also years of unchecked harvesting of the wild American Ginseng, a species native to The Land Between, has left its populations dangerously small. It is now critically endangered of becoming extinct.

Why should you care?

Our health, long-term wealth, and general wellbeing are dependant on Nature. Biodiversity provides invaluable services that are irreplaceable, cannot be duplicated, and are not readily monetized such as air and water purification, pest and disease control, pollination, carbon sequestration, water supply regulation including flood control, etc. and also aesthetic, spiritual and recreational services.

Canada harbours 20% of the world’s freshwater, 25% of the world’s wetlands, 25% of the remaining global temperate rainforests, and is home to over 71,000 individual wildlife species (Environment and Climate Change Canada 2019, McCallister 2015). An estimated 13% or more of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product depends directly on nature from tourism, fiber production, and agricultural production. (Environment Canada 2012).  This does not include other resources such as value added forest supplies, peat supplies, natural medicines, commercial fisheries, sport fisheries, hunting, maple syrup, and other economic assets derived from otherwise renewable resources.

Change and conservation are increasingly in the hands of the people rather than governments. Therefore, it is our responsibility to do protect nature here.

What you can do?

Pay attention to the HIPPO in your backyard!

Any help is a big help- from keeping native plants around, reducing unnecessary noise and night lighting, reducing waste, up-cycling items, and recycling others. Also, you can advocate for nature conservation in your municipality; join an environmental committee, or volunteer to monitor wildlife, to patrol roads for turtles, or to remove invasive species.

Studying one animal’s biology and needs will lead you to the entire world of biodiversity because everything is linked.

Anything you can do to combat the HIPPO in your yard, will make a world of difference.

Live Humbly. Live in Sync with Nature. Live Well.

Written by Siena Smith, Conservation Technician

Sources:

• Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018. National Inventory Report 1990–2016: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada. Gatineau, QC: Government of Canada. http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2018/eccc/En81-4-2016-1-eng.pdf
• Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2019. Summary of Canada’s 6th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Gatineau, QC: Government of Canada. https://biodivcanada.chm-cbd.net/sites/biodivcanada/files/inline-files/EN_Summary%20of%20Canada%27s%206th%20National%20Report_Final_1.pdf
• Oscar Venter, Nathalie N. Brodeur, Leah Nemiroff, Brenna Belland, Ivan J. Dolinsek, James W. A. Grant, Threats to Endangered Species in Canada, BioScience, Volume 56, Issue 11, November 2006, Pages 903–910, https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2006)56[903:TTESIC]2.0.CO;2
• http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/edward_o_wilson_the_loss_of_biodiversity_is_a_tragedy/
• https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/biodiversity
• Major threats to biodiversity loom on Canadian economy: federal briefings
• https://www.sierraclub.ca/en/video-biodiversity-in-ontario
• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fertilizer-runoff-overwhelms-streams/.
• https://www.ontario.ca/page/phragmites-fact-sheet
• https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects-2017.html
• https://www.livescience.com/27339-hippos.html
• https://www.ontario.ca/page/conserving-biodiversity
• Photos: Gene Taylor and Julie Wolpers

Keys to our Collective Cultural Heritage and Future Stewardship. An Introduction to the Land Stories App

Written by Leora Berman, COO, The Land Between.

The history of the landscape that we occupy is often an overlooked component that shapes our sense of place and our personal identity. Yet these early stories hold the keys to individual inspiration, richer relationships, greater vitality of our communities, and also to insightful and increased understanding of how to best steward the natural world around us.

The Territories of the First People, their Teaching places and Trade routes show us the sophistication of these custodians, and the intricate inter-relationships that exist within the natural world around us. The route that Champlain took across the Land Between and the reasons for this journey may light the way to a new appreciation of the relationships and resources of this land, which sustained him in his expedition. The historic haunts and ghost towns, of the early Europeans teach us about foiled plans and instruct us in humility, which is the basis of knowledge.

These pieces, accounts, and pages of the whole narrative are incredibly invaluable- they introduce us to neighbours, inform us of new and different worldviews, and provide insight into the riches and restraints of this region …and what we can learn from these journeys and ways, can guide us to wisdom. However, because these layers are slowly vanishing from our lens, and are increasingly illusive in the modern arena, I ventured to create a repository for our collective cultural heritage.  The Land Stories database and application are visible testimony in a modern medium for our shared identity. Here you will find routes, territories and stories. This is the beginning of a self-guided exploratory and online school and a storehouse for our ongoing discovery. I invite you to browse, share: https://knowledgecircles.ca/landstories/

Also add new old-stories to the board by emailing me at info@thelandbetween.ca

 

 

 

Recently I came across a book called THE LAND BETWEEN. My examination of the book led to a kind of epiphany for me, and since epiphanies don’t come to me every day of the week, I thought I would share this one in an email with a few of my friends and family, despite my concern that our kids would email Mummy wondering if Daddy was OK. And I was certain that my skeptical friends would see an epiphany as evidence  of old Eric finally having gone round the bend. Despite these misgivings I went ahead, and what you see here is a dressed up version of the original rambling and chaotic text.

As ‘Land Between’ insiders know, in some 40 short essays by different authors, the book deals with that stretch of land in Ontario between the Great Lakes Lowlands in the south and the Precambrian Shield to the north. This ‘land between’ is book-ended roughly by Georgian Bay in the west and Kingston and the end of Lake Ontario in the east. It is sometimes described as a transition zone, or as an ecotone by my geographer colleagues – using recondite vocabulary to show the rest of us that they know a thing or two. But if you want to get an on-the-ground sense of the thing just jump into your car in one of those little towns along the shore of Lake Ontario and head north – it won’t do to head south.  You know that you are getting into the zone when the large farms with those huge tractors with double wheels as big as the ones you see out on the tar sands begin to thin out and are replaced by farms – or what used to be farms – whose faces are pockmarked with outcroppings of limestone and whose barns and houses (if they are still there at all) seem to be full of nothing but ghosts. Then, as you continue north, you know you are leaving the zone behind when the landscape becomes a Thompson painting, with rock and trees – and lakes, of course – trees and rocks ! Then you know you are entering the relentless and forbidding Shield.

The book, then, paints a picture of the complex character of the region: the flora and fauna, the topography, its history and culture, and the human impact on the landscape. The more I read, the more I realized how familiar it all sounded – except, perhaps, for the story of the eels. I was utterly surprised that the females ( doing the heavy lifting again!) swim all the way from the Sargasso Sea to Baxter Creek, or Indian River, or Kinmount where they fatten up for fifteen years, then turn around and swim all the way back to the Sargasso Sea where they mate, spawn and then die. Not surprising that this story would be a discovery for someone who is a male and who also has a biological science deficit. In any event, I found myself time and time again muttering “I’ve done that … I’ve been there …I’ve seen that … I know what she’s talking about!”

Thus, of the Land Between and me I can say: I was born there; grew up there (although many say that it is questionable that I ever grew up – anywhere!); settled down there – equidistant from each end; fathered and helped to raise two families there; worked there; walked, motored, hiked, cycled, jogged and skied over its roads and trails; have flown through its skies, and swum through, canoed and rowed over its waters; and as friends know, for close to sixty years I have sailed those waters from Georgian Bay at the west end to Kingston’s harbour in the east ; for over thirty of those years I/we have been carried in the yawl, “Anemone” (and before her in “Duet”) to anchor with the ghosts of the naval establishment in Penetang Harbour, and with the spirits still hovering over Fort Henry at the other end; I have followed the paddle strokes of Champlain and his indigenous companions and wondered what he/they would have thought of the Berlin Wall of “No Tresspassing” signs that now lines the shores of the Bay screaming “Ours”, “Not Yours” – not the land, not the water, not the view ; and at this western watery boundary of The Land Between I have known the glassy surfaces of the countless inlets of the eastern shore, as well as the gut-roiling rumbustiousness of a gale coming ashore from “The Open”, south of O’Donnel Point.

Throughout the land I have kept company with squirrels, will-of-the-wisp chipmunks, skunks, raccoons, beavers, otters, loons, geese, ducks, cormorants, squealing ospreys, snappers, rattlers, deer, moose, bears and the monarchs collecting out on the Pancakes off Parry Sound’s North Channel in late August. But I have never seen the dwindling Shrike despite countless journeys across the Carden Plain. And everywhere, of course, we are hounded by the triple curse of the mosquito and the black and deer flies. If pressed for a fourth curse I could add the ubiquitous and ever-so-innocent poison ivy. Yet, in its never-ending balancing act, nature offers us too the pleasure of the subtle pastels of the water lilies and the assertive, brilliant red of the cardinal flowers hugging the shorelines.

I have seen countless miles of disintegrating snake fences that enclosed the fields of the pitiable families who once tried to farm the often intractable surface of The Land Between. Yet there are areas, or perhaps “pockets”, within the larger landscape that are productive, such as the river bottom where I spent two or three years of my long-gone youth  on my knees in a market garden weeding endless rows of carrots. I am still at it in my own little two-by-four garden with its few inches of topsoil over who knows how many yards of glacial debris. Although never a lumber baron, I have used the zone’s forest resources, employing local species to build all my boats – sturdy white oak, fragrant cherry, white cedar, locust and pine. And like thousands of others, as a cottager I have drawn in the cooling air of one of the many lakes that dot the landscape of The Land Between.

Like my fellow octogenarians I have seen the changes that transformed both The Land Between and the larger world: from horse and buggy to car, truck and tractor; the end of steam; and at the zone’s western limit the disappearance of the Great Lakes’ freighters from inshore service; and gone too are the steersman’s ‘toots’ to the kids as we crossed courses on our way up the Bay.

There it is, then! With the reading of a slim volume over the space of a few hours, I suddenly saw anew a landscape which hitherto had consisted of disparate elements : this birthplace, that heritage site, this colonization road, that wetland, this secluded anchorage. But THE LAND BETWEEN gives form to a large integrated landscape in which for me there is embedded a lifetime of experiences, perceptions, memories, impressions; a landscape with which I have had a complex, enduring relationship and in which I have invested so much of my time and my physical, emotional and intellectual energy. When people speak of roots and a sense of belonging it is this sort of relationship they must be talking about.

So the next time I meet a stranger and he asks me who I am, what are my roots, where I am from, I will answer, “I am from The Land Between. I am a ‘Tweener’ .”

Eric Jackson is the former head of History at Kenner Collegiate and Former
Director of the Laurentian Project (Canada Studies Foundation) He has given
me permission to send this to you and I have copied him above. He was born
in Warsaw On. and lives in Peterborough. I think his work captures a “sense of place” and the heart of the Land Between region. Trust you will think so as well. (Sumbitted by Wayne and Linda)

Bracebridge – On Friday September 27, the same day as the Climate strikes, another topical meeting took place. Local MPP Norman Miller, and Muskoka District Chair John Klinck, with OTF Grant Review Team member Patricia Arney stopped in to a local venue in Muskoka to hear about the direction that will be taken for a new ecolabel program, called Blue Lakes. The Blue Lakes project aims to award landowners and lake associations who demonstrate excellence in stewarding our precious and limited aquatic resources.

A 12-month SEED grant was awarded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in 2018, which allowed a collaborative group to shape and test the program. The pilot year concludes in October and with some promising results.

MPP Norman Miller said “Muskoka’ s lakes are the heart and soul of Muskoka.  While many of us greatly enjoy them, it is important that we recognize that our presence on these lakes has an impact on the whole ecosystem.  By being conscious of our actions and making responsible decisions surrounding our use and enjoyment of these lakes, we can make sure that their inherent value is protected, ensuring that many generations to come will also be able to enjoy them.  I am pleased to see this collaborative effort, headed by The Land Between charity and Watersheds Canada, actively engaging residents and visitors alike in environmental stewardship.  I commend everyone for their hard work and dedication.”

The Blue Lakes steering committee represents 50 lakes from Muskoka and municipalities across the region, as well as experts from the lead agency of The Land Between charity, and also Watersheds Canada, University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Trent University. The group lead the development of many program features, provided review, and helped to pilot the program across the region. The group sample more than 350 lake community landowners across the region to estimate the need and desire for the program and to find out how the program may fare if launched fully.

“The result of this year’s research and experience has shown us that there is a strong need and desire for the program across most lake associations. This is because the Blue Lakes program has the potential to create shared values across lake communities and protect the environment and resources that we love, and all while buttressing property values,” said Leora Berman, COO and Founder of The Land Between charity and The Blue Lakes Program.

The program is based on the well-established Blue Flag Program, which is an ecolabel provided to marinas and beaches around the world to recognize their environmental stewardship. An ecolabel is a “seal” or label that assists the market to identify products or services as being less harmful to the environment than others. Ecolabels help consumers make environmentally responsible choices and encourages improvements and sets standards. The Blue Flag program began 1987 and fourty years later it has been adopted by more than 3000 beaches and marinas in 36 countries.

Blue Lakes, like Blue Flag, is a voluntary program that seeks to balance recreation with conservation. The Blue Lakes, however focuses entirely on behaviours and creates a standard of excellence for individuals to strive for.

The Blue Lakes ecolabel program provides a template for action and education. It is a label and a portfolio of tools, resources, and activities that can be tailored to each lake’s needs. For instance, the program provides educational opportunities, forums, and in-kind support for naturalization or lake-wide projects to improve lake health. The program also provides access to a comprehensive database and app that tracks lake health.

Lakes are the source of our wealth and our health. Our actions determine whether lakes will thrive or even rebound from Climate Change effects. Individual actions make a difference, but as a community, we can protect our most precious resource. The Blue Lakes program, creates the platform for community and cooperation.

Check out www.bluelakes.ca for more details about the program and to find out how to enroll.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $108 million to 629 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.

 

Quick Facts:

 

• The Land Between bioregion, is a distinct and important landscape that stretches from Georgian Bay to the Ottawa Valley
• There are over 2700 lakes in this region, and 10% of these are cold water sensitive lake trout lakes
• More than 15% of all lake trout lakes have over 75% shoreline development
• Development is increasing rapidly meanwhile controls/legal protection is primarily left to municipalities with limited resources, through their site plan controls and bylaw enforcement.
• Few standards exist to manage and protect lake health across Ontario.
• Approximately 75% of natural process (spawning, fish and wildlife foraging, fish nursery habitats, water filtration etc.) within a lake occur at the shoreline
• Ecolabels are known to raise awareness of all stakeholders involved; improve environmental performance in areas where improvement is most needed; minimize potential for environmental infractions and fines; increase confidence with government, community, residents etc.; provide environmental information so informed choices can be made