FORREX Conservation Biology Extension Listserv – November 23rd, 2006

This list posting, published by FORREX Forum for Research and Extension in Natural Resources, is supported in part by BC Ministry of Forests and Range through the Forest Investment Account, Forest Science Program. For details or to contact FORREX, visit www.forrex.org

———-TABLE OF CONTENTS————————————-
1. Special Announcements
2. Conservation Biology News/Headlines
3. Conservation Biology Events/Conferences
4. Conservation Biology Workshops/Courses
5. …and for something on the lighter side…

Endangered Species Recovery Fund

The Endangered Species Recovery Fund (ESRF), a joint initiative of Environment Canada and World Wildlife Fund (Canada), was established in 1988 to support recovery activities for species at risk of extinction.

Project proposals from university researchers, conservation groups and others are reviewed once a year by a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) which makes funding recommendations based on established criteria. The SAC iscomposed of experts who altogether provide broad taxonomic and geographic expertise.

Since 1988, over $7 Million has been invested by ESRF partners for more than several hundred projects, and 100 different species at risk.

Deadline:
December 8, 2006. Application documents and guidelines:
http://www.wwfcanada.org/NewsAndFacts/Resources.asp?type=funding

**

DFO’s Aquatic Species At Risk Funding directed towards Aboriginal Involvement in SARA in British Columbia

The deadline for applications is midnight December 15th, 2006.

DFO’s “SARA – Aboriginal Involvement” program provides funding to support the facilitation of Aboriginal participation in the implementation of SARA and to build on existing and developing relationships between DFO and Aboriginal groups. In particular, the program aims to strengthen cooperation and foster integrated protection and recovery of species at risk.

Over the past 3 years this program has succeeded in providing support for initiatives such as technical training, outreach and awareness, population assessment and monitoring, habitat restoration, enforcement, and ATK collection to a number of Tribal Councils, Aboriginal Organizations, and individual Bands.

Applicants are encouraged to develop projects in cooperation with DFO in order to ensure an integrated approach to protect and recover species at risk and their habitats in BC.

More information please contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Louvi Nurse –
604-666-4565, nursel@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

**

Aboriginal Critical Habitat Protection Fund (ACHPF) for Species at Risk.

The ACHPF provides contributions to Aboriginal organizations undertaking activities for benefiting the habitat of species at risk in the Pacific and Yukon Region. As part of the Government of Canada’s programs to support stewardship of species at risk, this fund complements the Habitat Stewardship Program, the Interdepartmental Recovery Fund, and the
Aboriginal Capacity Building Fund for species at risk recovery. These funds are cooperatively managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Parks Canada Agency.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact members of the ACHPF Regional Management Team prior to December 15th, 2006 to discuss potential projects and receive any guidance and assistance with your applications.

For projects on terrestrial species please contact the Canadian Wildlife
Service. Stephen Hureau – 604-940-4722, stephen.hureau@ec.gc.ca

For projects on aquatic species please contact Fisheries and Oceans
Canada. Louvi Nurse – 604-666-4565, nursel@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Applications must be received by Sunday, January 21st, 2007 by 11:59 PM
by email to sarp.pyr@ec.gc.ca

—– 2. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY NEWS / HEADLINES —–

October 22, 2006 – Penguins get a helping home from fiberglass ‘igloos’-
Houses go fast on Dyer Island. Not 15 minutes after Wilfred Chivell
finished
the final touches on one recently installed structure – covering it with
dirt, making sure the opening was clear – a couple had made themselves
at
home. Such is the demand on this flat, rocky island, once home to the
largest colony of African penguins in the world. “These penguins were
just
dying for shelter,” says Mr. Chivell, a conservationist and tour-boat
operator who helped launch this avian housing project – one of the more
novel and promising attempts to help southern Africa’s endangered
penguins.
Full story at:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-10-22-penguins-africa_x.htm?cs
p=34

November 8, 2006 – N.B. government bans SUVs for ministers – The New
Brunswick government is hoping to lead by example with a plan for its
vehicle fleet to cut emissions and become more fuel-efficient.
Transportation Minister Denis Landry announced Wednesday that cabinet
ministers and deputy ministers can’t buy full-sized sport utility
vehicles
or pick-ups, unless they are hybrids or meet strict, fuel-efficiency
standards. As well, the province will require 20 per cent of its fleet
to
burn alternative “flex-fuels” such as ethanol. Landry says the
government
wants to set an example in a changing world. Full story at:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2006/11/08/nb-greenfleet.ht
ml

November 9, 2006 – Global climate efforts ‘woeful’- Efforts to help
developing nations adapt to the impacts of climate change have been
called
“woefully inadequate” by a UN-commissioned report. Rich countries have
focused on ways to reduce carbon emissions but have largely ignored
helping
poor nations cope with the consequences, it says. The findings appear in
the
UNDP’s Human Development Report 2006. For more information and to
download
the report, please visit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6126242.stm.

November 9, 2006 – Expert says oceans are turning acidic – The world’s
oceans are becoming more acidic, which poses a threat to sea life and
Earth’s fragile food chain, a climate expert said Thursday. Oceans have
already absorbed a third of the world’s emissions of carbon dioxide, one
of
the heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming, leading to
acidification
that prevents vital sea life from forming properly. “The oceans are
rapidly
changing,” said professor Stefan Rahmstorf on the sidelines of a U.N.
conference on climate change that has drawn delegates from more than 100
countries to Kenya. “Ocean acidification is a major threat to marine
organisms.” Fish stocks and the world’s coral reefs could also be hit
while
acidification risks “fundamentally altering” the food chain, he said. In
a
study titled “The Future Oceans – Warming Up, Rising High, Turning
Sour,”
Rahmstorf and eight other scientists warned that the world is
witnessing, on
a global scale, problems similar to the acid rain phenomenon of the
1970s
and 1980s. Full story at:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-11-09-acidic-oceans_x.htm?csp=
34

November 11, 2006 – Environment a priority for more Canadians, poll
suggests
– While health care continues to be the most important issue facing
Canadians, concerns about the environment have shot up to rank a close
second, according to a CBC News survey. But of the 2,005 Canadians
surveyed
by Environics Research Group between Nov. 2 and 6, 71 per cent said the
federal Conservatives’ proposed clean air plan is not tough enough in
dealing with environmental issues. “A majority of Canadians of every
political stripe think the approach is not enough,” Donna Dasko, the
senior
vice-president of Environics, said Wednesday. “So this is cutting
through
party lines.” Full story at:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/11/08/environment-poll.html

November 20, 2006 – Storm expected over clean air act as Parliament
resumes
– The environment is set to take centre stage Monday as Parliament
resumes,
with the NDP expected to introduce amendments to the Conservative
government’s proposed clean air act. NDP Leader Jack Layton said Sunday
the
conditional changes include renaming the proposed rules, to the healthy
air
and climate act, and reinserting Kyoto Protocol targets as a key
priority.
Full story at:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/11/20/parliament-resumes.html

—– 3. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY EVENTS / CONFERENCES —–

CFP = call for papers; CFA = call for abstracts
** – new additions

2006

November 20-25, 2006. EMAN National Science Meeting. Winnipeg, MB.
http://www.eman-rese.ca/eman/reports/meetings/

**November 26, 2006. Talk by David Hughes: “Peak Oil and the Future of
Energy”. Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver. Presented by Mayor Darrell
Mussatto and the City of North Vancouver, in partnership with the GVRD
and
Capilano College, Mr. Hughes will discuss how quickly the world’s
remaining
energy reserves are declining, steps that must be taken to ensure a
sustainable energy future and what this means for the residents of the
City
of North Vancouver. Admission is free for the event.
http://www.onedayvancouver.ca/calendar.php

2007

**January 23-25, 2007. Alberta Conservation Association’s Partners in
Conservation Conference & Photo Contest 2007 – Industry and
Conservation:
Bridging the Gap/Collaborative Conservation Initiatives. Sherwood Park,
AB.
The Partners in Conservation Conference 2007 theme is “Industry &
Conservation: Bridging the Gap – Collaborative Conservation
Initiatives.”
Presentations from respected industry and conservation representatives
will
examine collaborative conservation initiatives; current challenges,
opportunities and case studies. The goal, to leave with tools to create
viable long-term solutions to environmental problems. For online
registration, conference and contest information go to:
www.ab-conservation.com

**February 19-21, 2007. Riparian Management in Headwater Catchments:
Translating Science into Management. Vancouver, BC. Headwater streams
have
been increasingly recognized as important sources of water, energy,
nutrients and organic matter to downstream reaches, as well as being
valuable habitats in their own right. The goal of this conference is to
bring together researchers studying the hydroecological responses of
headwater streams to alternative riparian management approaches and
practitioners charged with managing forestry activities in headwater and
tributary systems. The ultimate goal is to explore the range of
approaches
potentially available to forest and aquatic resource managers and their
efficacy in meeting ecosystem management objectives.
https://www.eplyevents.com/riparianmanagement

February 21-24, 2007. Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology (SNVB)
Annual Meeting-Preparing for the Unpredictable: Conservation Needs in
the
21st Century. Victoria, BC. For more information, visit:
http://www.snwvb.org/victoria-meeting1.html

March 20-23, 2007. Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop.
Seattle, WA.
http://www.cses.washington.edu/cig/outreach/workshopfiles/cpasw07/

CFA March 26-29, 2007. 2007 Georgia Basin Puget Sound Research
Conference
Knowledge for the Salish Sea: Toward Collaborative Transboundary
Solutions.
Vancouver, BC. This international conference will provide a venue for
scientists and decision-makers from a wide range of disciplines to share
results and information. It is also a fabulous opportunity for
non-scientists to learn about ecosystem-related science specific to the
Georgia Basin and Puget Sound and do some networking, too. Nov 1, 2006:
Abstracts Due, Jan 1, 2007: Registration Opens. For more information
visit:
www.researchconference.org

May 2007. VI International Conference on Disturbance Dynamics in Boreal
Forests, Fairbanks, Alaska USA.
http://www.ipy.org/development/eoi/details.php?id=93

May 15-18, 2007. 5th International Fisheries Observer Conference.
Victoria,
BC. http://www.fisheriesobserverconference.com/

**June 2-7, 2007. CFP. 43rd Annual North American Moose Conference and
Workshop, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. The University of
Northern British Columbia in collaboration with the British Columbia
Ministry of Forests and Range, the Ministry of Environment, the Peace
Williston Compensation Program, and the John Prince Research Forest are
please to host the 43rd North American Moose Conference and Workshop.
The
conference will be held at the University of Northern BC, Prince George,
B.C., Canada from June 2 – 7, 2007 with an aim of bringing together
moose
managers, biologists and other interested parties from across the range
of
moose. The Conference Committee is seeking papers on general topics
relating
to moose research, management and biology for presentation at the
upcoming
Annual Meeting. Please see the attached 1st Call for Papers or visit
us at
our website http://resweb.res.unbc.ca/namericanmooseconference2007/ for
more details.

June 15-17, 2007. Sustainable Social and Ecosystem Stewardship. Wilfred
Laurier University, Waterloo, ON. Contact Dr. Sanjay Sharma.
1-519-884-0710.
http://www.greeningofindustry.org/june2007.htm

**June 18-22, 2007. 6th North American Forest Ecology Workshop.
Vancouver,
BC. We are pleased to announce that the 6th North American Forest
Ecology
Workshop (NAFEW) will take place in Vancouver, BC, from June 18 to 22,
2007.
The Workshop will bring forest ecologists from around the world together
to
share ideas and knowledge on forest ecosystems in North America. The
program
will include three days of plenary sessions consisting of invited
plenary
speakers and volunteer presentations and posters. Field trips to
locations
in the local Vancouver area, Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii (the Queen
Charlotte Islands) and possibly southern BC and Alberta will take place
both
before and after the technical sessions. Travel to and from the
conference
can include world-class scenery and tourist areas (e.g., the Canadian
Rockies and the coastal Inside Passage – the location of BC’s coastal
temperate rain forest). http://www.nafew2007.org/announce.htm

June 19-20, 2006. Northern Silviculture Committee Summer Field Tour.
Smithers, BC. The Northern Silviculture Committee will be organizing
another
two day workshop with relevant and timely presentations. The workshop is
a
great venue for keeping up to date on the latest trends in silviculture
and
networking with new and old friends. The NSC promotes co-operation,
understanding and improvement in the application of silvicultural
practices
at the field level through this winter workshop and a summer field tour
in
June.
http://www.unbc.ca/continuingstudies/nrme/index.html#IntroductiontoGPS

—– 4. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY WORKSHOPS / COURSES —–

University of Victoria: Division of Continuing Studies
http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/programs/

2007

Jan 8 to Apr 15, 2007. Principles and Concepts of Ecological
Restoration
Jan 8 to Apr 15, 2007. Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
Feb 21- 25, 2007. Role of Engineering and Geoscience in
Environmental Restoration
Apr 23-27, 2007. Spring Explorations at Summer Point Lodge

———

Selkirk Management Services
http://www.selkirk-management.com/events.html

Invasive Species Management
**Spring 2007 dates/locations TBA

Soil Conservation Survey Accreditation Course
**May 22-24, 2007 Sorrento

———

Malaspina Natural Resources Extension Program
see: http://www.mala.ca/nrep/Schedule.asp

Electrofishing: Theory, Safety and Uses
Feb 22-23, 2007 Nanaimo
Apr 17-18, 2007 Surrey
**Apr 24-25, 2007 Cochrane, AB

Environmental Monitoring for Construction Projects
Jan 9-11, 2007 Vancouver
Jan 16-18, 2007 Victoria

Riparian Area Regulation
Mar 7-9, 2007 Nanaimo
Mar 26-28, 2007 Kamloops
Apr 16-18, 2007 Vancouver

S-100 Basic Fire Suppression & Safety
Jan 13-14, 2007 Nanaimo

Professional Reliance
Nov 24, 2006 Nanaimo

RISC – Field Operator’s Course – GPS
Oct 18-19, 2006 Nanaimo

Erosion and Sediment Control
Jun 5-7, 2007 Chilliwack
Jun 5-7, 2007 Fort St. John
Jun 11-13, 2007 Campbell River

Fisheries Field Technician Certificate Program
Jan 29-Mar.2, 2007 Port McNeil

———

UNBC Continuing Studies
http://www.unbc.ca/continuingstudies/

Basic Forest Soils
May 14, 2007 Prince George

Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC)
May 15-16, 2007 Prince George

Computer Applications in Forest Road Design
Feb 5-7, 2007 Prince George

Eco-Forestry Workshop
May 10-11, 2007 Prince George

Forest Law for First Nations
March 14-15, 2007 Prince George

Forest Road Construction Practices & Procedures
Apr 17-19, 2007 Prince George

Geotechnical Engineering & Resource Road Workshop
Jan 29-30, 2007 Campbell River
Feb 12-13, 2007 Kamloops
Mar 5-6, 2007 Prince George
Apr 10-11, 2007 Fort St. John
Apr 16-17, 2007 Cranbrook
Apr 24-25, 2007 Hinton

Inspection, Reporting and Managing Bridges
Mar 27-29, 2007 Kamloops

Invasive Species Management Workshop
June 5-6, 2007 Kamloops

Residue and Waste Survey Certificate
May 7-10, 2007 Prince George

Soil Conservation Survey Accreditation Course
June 25-27, 2007 Prince George

Stream Bank Restoration Using Bioengineering Techniques
April 19-20, 2007 Prince George

Understanding Your Forest Tenure
Mar 13, 2007 Prince George

Wildlife Habitat Mini-Course
Apr 27-29, 2007 Fort St. James

Wildlife Danger Tree Assessors Certification
– Wildland Fire Safety
Apr 26-27, 2007 Prince George

Northern Silviculture Committee Winter Workshop
**January 15, 2007

Northern Silviculture Committee Summer Field Tour
June 19-20, 2006 Smithers

—– 5. AND FOR SOMETHING ON THE LIGHTER SIDE —–

Dolphin May Have ‘Remains’ of Legs

November 6, 2006, Tokyo. Japanese researchers said Sunday that a
bottlenose
dolphin captured last month has an extra set of fins that could be the
remains of hind legs, a discovery that may provide further evidence that
ocean-dwelling mammals once lived on land.

Fishermen captured the four-finned dolphin alive off the coast of
Wakayama
prefecture (state) in western Japan on Oct. 28, and alerted the nearby
Taiji
Whaling Museum, according to museum director Katsuki Hayashi.

Fossil remains show dolphins and whales were four-footed land animals
about
50 million years ago and share the same common ancestor as hippos and
deer.
Scientists believe they later transitioned to an aquatic lifestyle and
their
hind limbs disappeared.

Whale and dolphin fetuses also show signs of hind protrusions but these
generally disappear before birth.

Though odd-shaped protrusions have been found near the tails of dolphins
and
whales captured in the past, researchers say this was the first time one
had
been found with well-developed, symmetrical fins, Hayashi said.

“I believe the fins may be remains from the time when dolphins’ ancient
ancestors lived on land … this is an unprecedented discovery,” Seiji
Osumi, an adviser at Tokyo’s Institute of Cetacean Research, said at a
news
conference televised Sunday.

The second set of fins — much smaller than the dolphin’s front fins —
are
about the size of human hands and protrude from near the tail on the
dolphin’s underside. The dolphin measures 8.92 feet and is about five
years
old, according to the museum.

Hayashi said he could not tell from watching the dolphin swim in a
musuem
tank whether it used its back fins to maneuver.

A freak mutation may have caused the ancient trait to reassert itself,
Osumi
said. The dolphin will be kept at the Taiji museum to undergo X-ray and
DNA
tests, according to Hayashi.

Source: Associated Press

***

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