308 varieties of plants and animals found only in Canada
A new report has developed the first comprehensive list of plants, animals and fungi that can only be found in Canada. It identified 308 species, subspecies and varieties that have been documented from our country.
Alberta has 54 nationally endemic species, the third highest in Canada behind British Columbia and Quebec. An example is the Lake Louise Arnica, a colourful wildflower that can be found on exposed alpine slopes and calcareous rockslides at high elevations.
This imperiled yellow wildflower is found only in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta and BC. Also known as snow arnica, this species grows at high elevations on exposed alpine slopes and rockslides.
Edmonton’s river valley and its natural areas are important not only for people but plants, animals, insects, and other creatures. There is no reason why we need to lose any local species due to our neglect of this Ribbon of Green. Learn more about this new report at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/23b1ba2f0e2e46ce9a8c27412f414fc1
Alberta parks closure town hall
The Edmonton Chapter of The Council of Canadians is hosting a webinar titled Alberta Parks Threatened on Wednesday June 17 at 7:00 pm. The town hall will feature two expert speakers: Steve Donelon and Chris Smith from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
Donelon began a career with Alberta Parks in 1981, becoming the Regional Director for Kananaskis Country and then overseeing Alberta Parks provincial operations programs until his retirement in 2018, Steve was privileged to lead the Alberta Parks Program as Assistant Deputy Minister and co-lead Pathway to Canada Target 1, a national initiative developing a road map to meet Canada’s International commitments under Aichi Target 11 of the Convention on Bio-Diversity.
Smith has worked in three different countries and four Canadian provinces, contributing his experience to industry, government, and non-profits. Chris started with CPAWS Northern Alberta as a volunteer in 2018 and shortly after was brought on full-time as Parks Coordinator working on the Love Your Headwaters campaign.
The event will include question and answer opportunities. Registration at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jN_8NsukSkez6vam40_UEA
Building homes for bats
Bats are an important component of our ecosystem and are beneficial to people. As insectivores, bats feed heavily on moths, flies and mosquitoes and consume forest and farm pests. In fact, a single little brown bat can eat up to 600 mosquitoes in one hour.
The loss of old, large-diameter trees because of human development, agriculture, and resource extraction has reduced the number of natural roosting structures. Look around your area and ask the following questions. Are there mature trees, but they will be cut down soon because of safety reasons? Are there trees, but not the kind that will provide roost-features for bats e.g., peeling bark, crevices, old woodpecker holes?
Bats that use bat houses in Alberta will also roost in trees. However, not all bats that roost in trees will use bat houses. Trees are also important for providing foraging habitat and flight corridors for bats.
Bat houses can provide alternate roosting habitat in areas where suitable features are lacking. Learn how to build a bat house at https://www.albertabats.ca/wp-content/uploads/ACBP-Bat-Houses-in-Alberta.pdf Share river valley event, job posting, or news
If you have a river valley event, job posting, or news that you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send the info to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
nsrivervalley@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/NSRVCS/
http://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/