Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Jean Trebek and Rear-Admiral Rebecca Patterson join the organization as Honorary Fellows
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Jean and Alex Trebek pose at the entrance to the Alex Trebek Theatre at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society s headquarters during the building s grand opening in May 2019. (Photo: Andrew Lessard)
May 7, 2021
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society recently welcomed a trio of high-profile Honorary Fellows: Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Justin Trudeau, Jean Trebek and Rear-Admiral Rebecca Patterson.
Trudeau was recognized for his passionate commitment to the environment, including his government’s leadership on climate change, its historic investments in Indigenous-led nature conservation and Indigenous Guardians programs, and its action on ocean conservation and protection, including in reducing plastic waste.
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5 Reasons the Boreal Forest Is Important to Migratory Birds
Palm warblers like this one migrate to the boreal forest in Canada from the southeastern United States, the Yucatan Peninsula, and Panama.
Jeff Nadler
The boreal forest of North America stretches across the top of the continent, from inland Alaska and northern British Columbia to the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. Although fragmented wildlife habitat exists in the southern regions of the forest, the boreal in the northern subarctic region provides one of the most intact biomes on Earth. The forest its wetlands, peatlands, and treescape makes a home for hundreds of species of migratory birds, and a nursery for their young. Here are five reasons that migratory birds need a protected boreal forest.
In a section focused on biodiversity and the climate crisis, the 2021 federal budget shared in April contained a clear line: “Support Indigenous Guardians.” It was an explicit reference to the Guardians programs caring for lands across the country. The Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI), which bolsters Indigenous nationhood and culture via land stewardship and care, helps support the growing Guardians movement.
The nature conservation budget item, which proposed $2.5 billion over five years for climate and environmental work, acknowledged what has already been plain knowledge for centuries: Indigenous communities know best how to take care of the land and water. Guardians programs train individuals to be “the eyes and ears” of the land, speaking for their traditional territories in determining land and water use. Most importantly, the programs are run by and for Indigenous nations and their lands, rather than handed down from the federal government.
In recent weeks, Alberta s government has moved to add user fees to some of its protected areas, citing the conservation needs from increased visitors seeking…
Seize on pandemic-fuelled enthusiasm for outdoors to expand protected wilderness, former parks chief urges calgaryherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from calgaryherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.