To mark its first year anniversary the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement (CBFA) will be the subject of an online town hall conversation on May 18th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm EST. Open to the public and media, participants will be able to learn more about the CBFA and put questions to its signatories on a wide range of issues related to Canada’s Boreal Forest including species at risk, the economic importance of the forestry industry, the necessity of finding win-win solutions for the environment and a healthy forestry sector, and how the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement is making progress in these areas. Richard Brooks from Greenpeace and Avrim Lazar from the Forest Products Association of Canada will be on hand to take questions. The CBFA is an historic agreement between 9 environmental organizations and 21 member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) that seeks to implement a globally significant model of conservation and resource management in Canada’s vast Boreal Forest, protect threatened woodland caribou and sustain a healthy forestry industry for the communities who rely on it in a manner that respects Aboriginal rights and title.

The town hall and instructions on how to take part will be located on the CBFA website at www.canadianborealforestagreement.com

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Contact média: Jim Pimblett 647-966-7388, jimpimblett@ententeboreale.ca

Members of the Newfoundland Horticultural Society will welcome spring with a beautiful display of spring flowers on Saturday, May 28, noon – 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 29, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

This popular annual event will take place in the display room of the Botanical Garden’s Field Centre.  Admission is FREE!  For more information on the horticultural society, please visit http://nfldhort.dhs.org/

For a complete listing of workshops, events and programs, please call 864-8590 or visit www.mun.ca/botgarden.

Spring has arrived at MUN Botanical Garden! The snow has melted, flowers are blooming, and ducklings have made an appearance on Oxen Pond once again.

Drop by the Botanical Garden on Sunday, May 29, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for our Annual Signs of Spring Family Program.  A variety of crafts, stories, activities, nature hikes and excursions to Oxen Pond to feed the ducks will be provided throughout the day. All children must be accompanied by an adult. General admission fees apply.  Free for children 5 years and younger.

For a complete listing of events and programs, please visit www.mun.ca/botgarden or call 864-8590.

NCC is inviting you to go birding on NCC properties (and elsewhere) in the Codroy Valley from May 28^th and 29^th. Thanks to the Royal Bank’s support for NCC’s Conservation Volunteers program, NCC is able to pay for one night accommodation in the Cottage Country Cabins (or another cabin of your choice). NCC will also have hot dogs/hamburgers on hand for meals (although the Saturday pot luck is something to look forward to). This year, we have made efforts to reduce paper so we’re asking that you register on-line. The link below will bring you to the appropriate page. If you do not wish to receive any NCC mailings, please remember to check the appropriate box (it’s at the beginning of the registration form).

We request that you register by May 13^th. If you are unable to register, contact us by the 13^th and we’ll do it for you. Our 2011 Shell Intern, Dan Myers, will be helping with the logistics this year. He is preparing maps and forms for you to assist with species observations on NCC properties.

Meet: 8:30 AM, Saturday May 28^th Wetlands Building, Upper Ferry

Link: http://www.natureconservancy.ca/site/Calendar/1653812546?view=Detail&id=100724

ACAP Humber Arm is pleased to announce our next Coastal Matters speaker’s series will be a joint presentation by Alan Kirby, Environmental Technology Instructor at College of the North Atlantic.  Mr. Kirby has titled his presentation  Storage/Demand Analysis for Blue Gulch Watershed: A Case Study.  An abstract for the presentation can be found below. 

The presentation will take place 12:30 – 1:30pm, Thurs, May 26^th in the Lecture Theatre at College of the North Atlantic, Corner Brook.  Please feel free to bring your lunch.  Tea and coffee will be available.

Coastal Matters presentations are free of charge and open to the public; RSVP’s not required.   

PRESENTATION ABSTRACT
Storage/Demand Analysis for Blue Gulch Watershed: A Case Study

This presentation has two main objectives: (1) to present the methodology used on the Blue Gulch watershed in western Newfoundland to determine the mean annual runoff from which the storage/demand for the watershed was evaluated, and (2) to present the results of the same hydrological assessment using future changes in precipitation forecasted by a number of Global Climate Models (GCMs).

The purpose of the proposed dam on Blue Gulch Pond was to provide sufficient storage of runoff from the watershed to meet the future municipal water demand for the Town of Pasadena.  It was also necessary to comply with a Department of Fisheries and Oceans directive for an instream flow requirement of 25% of the mean annual runoff in Blue Gulch Brook for fish migration and habitat health.  The original work was done in 2002 using very limited streamflow data (17 years). 

This presentation considers the additional flow data collected since 2002 and predictions of GCMs.  The effects of the additional data and predicted climate changes on the original design storage capacity are discussed in the context of uncertainties in predictions using limited streamflow data and future climate conditions.  From the analysis it can be concluded that precipitation and mean temperature, as projected by GCMs, decreased the net annual watershed streamflow by 5% and increased the required storage volumes by 56% over values not adjusted by climate models.

Sheldon Peddle | Executive Director
ACAP Humber Arm Environmental Association Inc.

P.O. Box 564 | Corner Brook, NL | A2H 6E6
phone 709.637.2883

Saturday, June 4, 2011

The Town of Torbay sets the stage in 2011 for the East Coast Trail Association’s Hiking fund raiser.

• The Kinsmen Centre, 8 Kinsmen Place, Torbay
• Minimum $40 donation per person. (Exception: children under 16 years of age are not obliged to contribute the donation.)
• Registration begins at 8:00am

Mark your calendars now and start assembling your fund raising team. Check out Registration details, hike information, and more.