New Habitat Stewards on the Peninsula

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Created: Wednesday, 18 August 2010 15:01

Thank you for coming to Conservation Connection 2010

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Created: Thursday, 05 August 2010 11:00

Update: Thank you to everyone who attended the 2010 Conservation Connection Forum, and helped to make it such a success!

Orginial Blog: The 10th annual Conservation Connection Forum is scheduled for Friday September 17th, 2010.

Connect with conservation leaders in our community, including Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada; Ken Cossey, Tsawout Lands Manager; local MPs and MLAs, many other presenters, and representatives from local conservation organizations and governments.

The 10^th annual Conservation Connection forum will bring together organizations working on environmental issues in our region to build partnerships and capacity.  This full day forum is organized by Habitat Acquisition Trust and sponsored by ContinuingStudies atRoyalRoadsUniversity and Vancity.  There will be mix of topical, facilitated discussions, and capacity-building workshops.  This year will include sessions on fundraising and planned giving, land use planning on First Nations land, linking academic research with conservation initiatives, an Open Space session, and “big picture” politics and local conservation with regional MPs and MLAs. For more infomation and a draft schedule for the day click here.

Registration is on the Royal Roads Continuing Studies Website. Please make sure you choose the correct registration category. Any individual who works or volunteers for a not for profit organization is welcome to register under the Not for profit organizations category. Individuals and other organizations, please ensure you register under the Individuals and other organizations category. Forum presenters, please ensure you register under the Forum Presenters category if you will be attending the rest of the forum and lunch.

• Not for profit organizations - $30 - register by clicking here.

• Individuals and other organizations - $40 - register by clicking here.

• Forum presenters - please register here if you will be staying for the day and for lunch.

HAT welcomes summer at the beach

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Created: Thursday, 15 July 2010 14:43

The Cordova Shore Good Neighbours Project has had a successful launch in Central Saanich this month accompanied by gloriously sunny beach weather. Over the past two weeks, HAT has been at Island View Beach and throughout the neighbourhood working with residents and visitors to better understand and conserve the rare habitats of the Saanich Peninsula. The dune ecosystems around Island View contain many sensitive plants that have been protected and used for food and medicinal purposes by the TSAWOUT First Nation for centuries. Judith Lavoie highlighted the significance of these species under the direction of ethno botanists Lewis Williams and Earl Claxton Jr. in a recent Times Colonist article: "The sand dunes we love to death."

On Sunday, July 11, HAT successfully co-hosted an Eelgrass Mapping Event with Seachange Marine Conservation Society and TSAWOUT. Nikki Wright led an informative talk about eelgrass habitats and their importance in the lives of nearly all of our wild salmon on the coast. For this event we also conducted a valuable eelgrass mapping exercise, were led on a dune walk with Lewis Williams, and visited with birds of prey from Pacific Northwest Raptors. We have two more exciting events planned for this summer, for details please click here. 

Learning about salt marshes and intertidal plants is essential for a complete understanding of our coastal ecosystems, but the real progress on the project occurs as a result of local landowners who make a personal commitment to habitat conservation. Since early July, HAT has been visiting with residents in the Tetayut Creek watershed, Noble Creek watershed, and ocean catchment watersheds throughout Central Saanich and the bordering municipalities. We’re finding that residents in this area are passionate about creating natural habitats on their properties, buffering and protecting streams, removing invasive weed species, and continuing to spread the word about stewardship opportunities in the community. To these, we say thank you.

For more information about the Good Neighbours Project, CLICK HERE.

If you have any questions, or would like to book a free and confidential visit on your property with our HAT land care biologist, please contact Todd or Kimberly at 250-995-2428.

Organic Islands Festival

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Created: Thursday, 08 July 2010 11:07

Update: Thanks to everyone who joined HAT at the Organic Islands Festival this past weekend and made it such a great event!

“The Organic Islands Festival and Sustainability Expo features fun and entertainment for all ages:

• Discover provocative, inspiring education about health and sustainability, and how to effectively make it part of everyday life.
• Shop and learn from 150 eco-friendly, local businesses, farms, fair trade and community organizations.
• Get expert advice on greening your home, garden, body and soul at the Expo and on the Main Stage.
• Sample organic food, fair trade coffee, chocolate, beverages and enjoy farm fresh produce from forty exhibits.
• Test drive a $1 million fuel cell vehicle. See sustainable technology demos at work."