February 2015 eNews

 

The KCP is hiring! A summary of the KCP Stewardship Coordinator job posting can be found below in our 'Employment & Volunteers' section, or you can view the full job posting on our website by clicking here. The application deadline is Friday, February 13 at noon Pacific time.  

 

The KCP still has two webinars left in our Winter Webinar Series. Click on the links below to register for the upcoming webinars:



Applications for KCP's Professional Development Bursary Program are still being accepted. This program provides financial assistance to our partner organizations to allow their staff and volunteers to attend professional development activities. Click here to read more about the program and to apply.

We hope you enjoy your monthly conservation update! You can click here at anytime during the month to check out current news and events on our blog.

As always, please submit any news you'd like to share with our network by the 26th of each month to info@kootenayconservation.ca.

Todd Larsen

East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council Program Manager

Todd Larsen has always had a keen interest in wildlife biology and conservation, and communicating that passion through environmental education. He has worked in a variety of disciplines including spotted owl research in California, horse guiding in Jasper, and outdoor education in Nova Scotia. With his position as Program Manager with the East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council (EKIPC), Todd intends to expand upon EKIPC's reputation as a regional leader of invasive species management. "I enjoy meeting with individuals and other organizations to discuss how EKIPC can help them reach their goals. The impacts of invasive species affect everyone. Responsible land management should be everyone's priority, but sometimes adequate support or resources are lacking." 

 

Click here for Todd's full Faces & Places feature.


Why did the bear, frog, bat and wolverine cross the field?

Nature Conservancy of Canada

Compared to other conservation lands, "Lot 3" is not much to look at. The 140-acre (57-hectare) property is a perfectly level field of canola located in BC's Creston Valley, nestled in between the Purcell and Selkirk mountains. Yet as part of the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC's) Frog Bear Conservation Corridor, Lot 3 is used by a diversity of species. Lot 3 came to our attention when a model developed by the Trans-border Grizzly Bear Project showed that the agricultural field formed part of a regionally-important grizzly bear linkage zone. Biologist Michael Proctor - the lead researcher for the project - validated the model with data gathered from radio-collared grizzlies from Darkwoods, showing that the bears use the property to cross between the Selkirk and Purcell mountains.

Click here for more information.

 

Working Together to Prevent Aquatic Invasive Species

Columbia Basin Trust

Four invasive species committees and Columbia Basin Trust have come together with the goal to develop one cohesive strategy and implementation plan to address Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in the Columbia Basin. The goal of this collaboration is to reduce the spread and prevent the introduction of invasive species that pose significant risk in this region. This month, Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee (CKIPC), East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council (EKIPC), Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) and North West Invasive Plant Council (NWIPC), along with 20 other participants came together to discuss how to address and prevent AIS in the Basin. 

Click here for more information. 

 

Wild Look Outside

Wildsight

Calling all ski-tourers, snowshoers, snowman-makers, dog frolickers and bird watchers! Look Outside, our year-long photo contest focused on BC's stunning Purcell Mountains, wants your photos! There are only two contest rules: 1) The pics submitted must have been taken within the month of submission, and 2) In the PURCELL Mountains. There are amazing prizes to be won every month including free nights at ACC backcountry huts, camera gear and Kicking Horse Coffee, as well as a grand prize of $1000. Submit photos to the Look Outside website or tag them #wildlookoutside on instagram, facebook and twitter.
Click here for more information.  


Fossils and Feathers

Wings Over the Rockies
The theme for the 19th annual Wings Over the Rockies Festival is "Fossils and Feathers", inspired by the recent exceptional find of a fossil bed of significant importance in the Kootenay National Park. Our Keynote Speaker and Guest Scientist will be Jean-Bernard Caron whose work on the Burgess Shale fossils and the recent Marble Canyon discoveries is a perfect fit. He will attend the Festival for several days, delivering the keynote address to the Wings Gala Banquet on May 9, an additional luncheon presentation as well as school presentations and participating in Festival field trips and paddles. 
Click here for more information. 


Nature Conservancy of Canada South Selkirk Natural Area Project Manager
Deadline: February 12

The Project Manager will be responsible for the delivery of conservation actions and land management obligations in the South Selkirk Natural Conservation Area. The Project Manager delivers "on-the-ground" management of all properties, with a focus on the Darkwoods Conservation Area.  The incumbent will implement Property Management Plans for all projects in the South Selkirk in concert with partner organizations. 

Click here for more information. 

 

Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) Stewardship Coordinator
Deadline: February 13

The KCP Stewardship Coordinator will lead the development and implementation of an innovative and targeted project focused on achieving improved effectiveness of stewardship activities on private land throughout the Kootenay Region. The Coordinator will work closely with program staff and partner organizations to conduct outreach activities, perform property evaluations, provide project oversight and coordination, facilitate KCP stewardship committee meetings, implement a Stewardship Strategy and further develop and implement a process to track and report on stewardship activities across the region.

Click here for more information. 

 

Canadian Columbia River Inter-tribal Fisheries Commission (CCRIFC) Project Biologist

Deadline: February 13

The Biologist is responsible for managing environmental and fisheries related research, monitoring restoration projects and providing scientific biological support to the Canadian Columbia River Inter-tribal Fisheries Commission (CCRIFC), the Ktunaxa Nation Council and the CCRIFC member communities in their work to
steward fisheries and aquatic ecosystems and to develop community stewardship capacity. 

Click here for more information. 

 

Columbia Basin Climate Resilience Program Development Request for Propos
als

Deadline: February 19 

Columbia Basin Trust is seeking qualified consulting services to develop a climate resilience program that supports climate change adaptation, mitigation and awareness activities in the Columbia Basin Trust region. 

Click here for more information.

 

Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA) Wetland Naturalist

Deadline: March 6

As a Wetland Naturalist with the CVWMA, you will be a member of a team dedicated to providing quality environmental education programs and front country excursions. You will interpret natural history; explain the purpose and management techniques of the CVWMA; conduct canoe, gallery, walking and bird watching tours; facilitate and lead school and youth programs, develop and deliver interpretive programming; assist volunteers; prepare daily wildlife sighting reports; assist in gift shop; and perform key holder and maintenance duties. 

Click here for more information. 

 

KCP Professional Development Bursary Program

Deadline: Ongoing intake until March 31

The Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) Professional Development Bursary Program provides financial assistance to our partner organizations to allow their staff and volunteers to attend professional development activities. It is funded by the generous support of the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and delivered by the KCP.

Click here for more information.


Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) Professional Development Bursary Program

Deadline: Ongoing intake until September 30

CBEEN members are eligible to apply for bursaries to support their professional development as environmental educators. CBEEN has received support from CBT to cover the registration fees for up to 10 CBEEN members to attend the National Environmental Education Conference in Canmore in October.

Click here for more information. 

 

The Nature Trust of British Columbia Brink/McLean Grassland Conservation Fund

Deadline: February 6

For over 50 years, Dr. Bert Brink and the Dr. Alastair McLean dedicated their lives to the conservation of BC's natural legacy, particularly the grasslands of the Southern Interior. To ensure this conservation continues, this fund promotes applied research, habitat restoration and other stewardship activities that will assist in the management of the land, plants and animals of BC's native grasslands. 

Click here for more information. 

 

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

Deadline: February 15

Funding for environmental projects.

Click here for more information. 

 

Mountain Equipment Coop

Deadline: March 10

Funding for the following categories: Land Acquisition, Capacity Building, Advocacy and Awareness, and Access and Activity.

Click here for more information. 

 

Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative

Deadline: March 13
The Great Northern LCC is pleased to announce the FY15 strategic science funding opportunity. Proposals targeting the priorities and specific criteria described in the Funding Guidance will be accepted. There will be two conference calls for questions about the Funding Guidance.

Click here for more information.  

 

HCTF Public Conservation Assistance Fund

Deadline: May 15

The Public Conservation Assistance Fund provides small grants to organizations and individuals who have a conservation project in mind but need financial help to make it happen.  Each year since 1974, the Province of BC and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation provide approximately $150,000 in PCAF grants to help implement on-the-ground conservation work, with a particular focus on hands-on, community based and public awareness initiatives. More than 1000 such projects have been carried out under the program so far.

Click here for more information. 

Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) Webinar
February 12, Online
The Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) system is a key tool for natural resource management and conservation in British Columbia. This webinar will outline the major changes to BEC that are anticipated to be released within early 2015 and 2016, with an emphasis on changes related to conservation and biodiversity, including an overview of some of the work being done around anticipating effects of climate change on ecosystems and how the updated BEC system will remain relevant in a changing climate context.
Click here for more information. 

Holistic Management Workshop
February 26 - 28, Clear Sky Centre
Are you a committed rancher, land steward or community builder challenged to meet your goals? Are you asking how do I do it all? Can I increase my bottom line, find time to spend with family and support healthy ecosystems? Jeff Goebel, certified holistic management educator and international consensus builder, specializes in leveraging issues which can accelerate and lead to the  long-lasting and effective changes you want. Jump out of the box and join Jeff Goebel at Clear Sky Centre. 
Click here for more information 

Emerging Issues in Mountain Watershed Management Webinar
March 5, Online
Mountain watersheds are very sensitive to changes in land use and increased climatic variability and recent extreme events show that we are experiencing significant changes in streamflow regimes, sediment transport and water quality. The session will show how land use activities and climate are affecting the availability of water, flooding problems, summer droughts and its effect on environmental services. Examples will be provided to show how Increased climatic variability combined with changes in forest cover, recreational activities, and agriculture are impacting watersheds and how innovative land use management practices can minimizing some of these impacts. It will also show what role community groups can play to protect streams and reduce the different risks.
Click here for more information.

2015 Crown Managers Partnership Forum
March 17 - 19, Lethbridge
The 2015 Crown Managers Partnership Forum's theme is Climate, People and Terrestrial Invasive Species: Taking Collective Action in the Crown of the Continent.
Click here for more information.

Environmental Education Leadership Clinic
April 25 - 28, Kootenay National Park
Building on the success of last years National Environmental Education Leadership Clinic, the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) will host a regionally focused Leadership Clinic this April. This Clinic will allow eight teams of four who have a great idea in environmental education to come together and develop an action plan to implement this idea. 
Click here for more information.

Regulated Rivers: Environment, Ecology and Management Conference
May 6 - 7, Castlegar
Call for presentations deadline: January 12. Through a keynote address, two days of presentations, a poster session, dialogue opportunities, and field-trips, this conference will provide a cutting-edge opportunity for scientists and managers to share results of recent research on regulated river environments, processes, and operations in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. 
Click here for more information.

International Conference on Forests and Water in a Changing Environment
July 6 - 9, Kelowna
Building on the success of past international Forests and Water conferences (Beijing in 2006, Raleigh, NC in 2009, and Fukuoka in 2012), the fourth conference will focus on forest disturbance and hydrological processes in a changing environment. The goal of this conference is to provide a forum for experts specialising in forest hydrology, ecohydrology, geomorphology, watershed management and climate change in forested environments around the world to share research progress, exchange ideas, and develop international research collaborations.
Click here for more information.

CABIN Field Training 
August 11 - 12, Golden
This Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) field training session requires that online training modules be completed in advance (by March 15, 2015) in order to gain access to the CABIN database (Project Manager or Field Technician). For online module descriptions and fees, click here. 
For more information contact rachel@wildsight.ca.
Tools of Engagement
A Toolkit for Engaging People in Conservation
Tools of Engagement provides ideas and resources about how to best engage people in your conservation work. The Toolkit is divided into six 6 sections. The first four sections (A-D) focus on 20 core planning steps. Section E provides planning tools that can help individuals and groups work through the steps in the planning process. The last section (Section F) includes a glossary and resources, as well as an introduction to each of the complementary modules.
Click here for more information.

Influencing Conservation Action
What Research Says About Environmental Literacy, Behavior, and Conservation Results
This module of the toolkit summarizes some of the key research on how we understand and influence environmental behavior. A range of literature is used to address common questions asked by conservation practitioners, and these answers represent an initial step toward compiling and synthesizing literature related to the planning process outlined in this toolkit.
Click here for more information.

 

If you have news or announcements that you would like to share via our eNews, please email them to info@kootenayconservation.ca by the 26th of each month.