Conservation in the Kootenays
Monthly eNews

Happy New Year from the KCP Board and Team! 

Register now for first webinar that will kick off our 4-part Winter Webinar Series titled "Restoration in Action". Whitebark Pine Restoration: How it's Done and How You Can Help presented by Adrian Leslie of the Nature Conservancy of Canada takes place on January 17, 2019.  Registration is also open for the Local Government Forum on "Tools for Conservation in the Kootenays" taking place on March 13, 2019 in Creston.  See the KCP News and the events sections below for details on both the webinar series and the Forum. 

If you're curious to learn what KCP has accomplished over the last year, our 2017-2018 Annual Report is now available on our website
 
Please feel free to submit any photos, news or events you'd like us to share by the third week of each month to communications@kootenayconservation.ca.

Please click here throughout the month to check in on current news and events. You can click here for our KCP Partner list and click here to read more about some of the great organizations that support conservation in the Kootenays. You can also like us on Facebook to hear more news from partners throughout the month.
 
As always, a big thanks goes out to our supporters!
 


KCP Winter Webinar Series
2019 Theme: Conservation in the Context of Climate Change - Restoration in Action
KCP is pleased to bring back the Winter Webinar Series. This four-part series will focus on the Fall Gathering theme of "Conservation in the Context of Climate Change".  The first presenter will be Adrian Leslie from the Nature Conservancy of Canada speaking on "Whitebark Pine Restoration: How it's Done and How You Can Help" on January 17, 2019 at 10 am PST/ 11 am MST. On February 7th, Neil Fletcher (The BC Wildlife Federation) will discuss Wetland Restoration in the Kootenays. On February 21st, Gregoire Lamoureux (Slocan River Streamkeepers) will present on Riparian and Wetland Restoration in the Slocan Valley. On March 7th, Marc Trudeau, (Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resource Society) will discuss the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program

KCP Local Government Forum
March 13, Creston
The goal of this Forum is to identify specific tools/resources required by local governments of the Kootenays to integrate conservation principles into planning. The workshop will showcase examples of voluntary and regulatory tools that have been used in B.C. to promote conservation in local government activities.

2 019 KCP Fall Gathering - Save the Date!
October 4-5, Invermere
Did you have a fun, enlightening time at the 2018 Fall Gathering - or wish you did because you missed it? Mark your calendar for next year's event, which will be taking place in Invermere in the East Kootenay. The KCP Fall Gathering & AGM serves as one of the primary vehicles to connect and re-connect KCP partners from across the region, complete with a guest speakers series, field tour, catered meals and more at no cost to attendees. 
Visit the Fall Gathering page for coverage of the 2018 event.
 


Faces & Places Monthly Feature
John Bergenske
Wildsight's Conservation Director John Bergenske was instrumental in the process that created and completed the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy as well as numerous other protected areas and parks in the East Kootenay. His passion for the outdoors fuels his vision to create an ethic across Kootenay communities that connects people to the land and all the living things that share it. 
 


Columbia Basin Trust
29 projects receive Environment Grants
There are many ways to support a healthy and diverse environment, from restoring habitat to educating schoolchildren about ecosystems. Columbia Basin organizations will be taking on 29 projects like these with support from over $1 million in Environment Grants from Columbia Basin Trust.

Columbia Basin Trust
Darkwoods Conservation Area to Grow
The Nature Conservancy of Canada has received $650,000 from Columbia Basin Trust to purchase one area within the Darkwoods Conservation Area - the Next Creek watershed - that remains unprotected. Once the purchase of the Next Creek area is complete, it will increase the overall size of Darkwoods by 14 per cent, to nearly 630 square kilometres. Combined with the other protected lands between Nelson and Creston, the network of conservation lands and protected areas will total about 1,100 square kilometres.

Living Lakes Canada
Columbia Basin Water Data Hub update
On November 20, 2019 in Cranbrook, B.C., Living Lakes Canada hosted an inaugural in-person Steering Committee meeting. Over 20 people attended this full-day meeting to brainstorm and share content from their expert backgrounds to help develop the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Framework and Data Hub Initiative.
Read the full update here.

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The KCP encourages partners to take advantage of our eNews - send your content to 
communications@kootenayconservation.ca 


CRED Talks - Keeping Toads off Roads: Western toad ecology and Hwy 31A mortality at Fish & Bear Lakes 
January 9, Revelstoke
Western toads by their very nature and lifecycle require both terrestrial hibernating and aquatic breeding habitats. Consequently, a highway running between these habitats can result in a lot of dead toads on the road during annual migrations. Marcy Mahr's (MSc, Senior Research Biologist, Valhalla Wilderness Society) presentation will discuss how in a remote, mountain pass between Kaslo and New Denver in the south Selkirk Mountains, a population of western toads are getting some assistance from the Valhalla Wilderness Society to cross Highway 31A, a popular route for summer tourists. Over the past 4 years, researchers and volunteer Toad Ambassadors have been keeping thousands of adult toads and baby toadlets out of harm's way while identifying highway crossing hotspots where toad underpasses and directional fencing could be installed

Sustainable & Profitable Ranching with Steve Kenyon
January 9, Cranbrook
Join the Kootenay & Boundary Farm Advisors for a free presentation that will cover soil building, water management, grazing plans, bale grazing and economic viability. Steve Kenyon is well respected in the agriculture community for his business management and innovative ideas. 

KCP Winter Webinar Series - Whitebark Pine Restoration: How it's Done and How You Can Help
January 17, Online
Join KCP for the first of four winter webinars that will focus on the Fall Gathering theme of "Conservation in the Context of Climate Change". The first presenter will be Adrian Leslie from the Nature Conservancy of Canada speaking on "Whitebark Pine Restoration: How it's Done and How You Can Help". Whitebark Pine is an endangered tree species found throughout the highest elevation forests in the Columbia Basin. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is working with partners on a multi-year restoration program around Kootenay Lake and throughout the Basin, and needs your help. Find out how you can help save the species while you are out in the mountains by taking a few photos with your smartphone. You will also learn how to identify whitebark pine, about whitebark pine ecology, and what is being done to restore the species and the ecosystems that depend upon on it. The webinar will take place  on January 17, 2019 at 10 am PST/ 11 am MST. 

Wild and Scenic Film Festival Creston 2019
February 2, Creston
Join the Creston Valley Branch of Wildsight for the 5th annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival, an evening of outdoor adventure, at the Prince Charles Secondary School Auditorium on Sat. Feb. 2, 2019. Show starts at 7 p.m.

KCP Winter Webinar Series - Wetland Restoration in the Kootenays
February 7, Online
Join Neil Fletcher (The BC Wildlife Federation) for the second webinar in the KCP Winter Webinar Series where he will discuss Wetland Restoration.

CRED Talks - Using eBird and DNA analysis to track the evolution of BC's "Whiskyjacks"
February 20, Revelstoke
Biodiversity in British Columbia is nothing short of spectacular. Its latitudinal stretch, convoluted topography, medley of climates, and perch on the western rim of the continent, have given rise to a variety of species unparalleled within Canada. In this presentation, presenter Dr. John Woods, a zoologist in Revelstoke, will look at the intraspecific evolution and post-glacial dispersal of Canada Jays. This free event will take place at the Revelstoke Community Centre.
Click here for event details.

KCP Winter Webinar Series - Riparian and Wetland Restoration in the Slocan Valley
February 21, Online
Join Gregoire Lamoureux (Slocan River Streamkeepers) for the third webinar in the KCP Winter Webinar Series where he will present on Riparian and Wetland Restoration.
Click here for the Winter Webinar Series web page.

KCP Winter Webinar Series - Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program
March 7, Online
Join Marc Trudeau (Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resource Society) for the fourth and final webinar in the KCP Winter Webinar Series where he will discuss the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program.
Click here for the Winter Webinar Series web page.

KCP Local Government Forum
March 13, Creston
The goal of this Forum is to identify specific tools/resources required by local governments of the Kootenays to integrate conservation principles into planning. The workshop will showcase examples of voluntary and regulatory tools that have been used in B.C. to promote conservation in local government activities. If you are a local government elected official or staff in the Kootenays, please register online for the Forum using the link below:

The 6th International Columbia River Transboundary Conference - Save the Date!
September 12-14, Kimberley
Join Columbia Basin Trust and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council from September 12 to 14, 2019 in Kimberley, B.C. to connect and collaborate on the future of the Columbia River.


Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund
Deadline: January 11
The purpose of the Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF) is to restore high-use caribou habitat in British Columbia using functional and ecological restoration methods. The CHRF is made possible by a $2 million grant from the Province of British Columbia to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

Columbia Basin Trust Environment Small Grant
Deadline: January 31
Environment Small Grants funds projects that take place within the Columbia Basin Trust region requesting up to $5,000 that will strengthen the environmental well-being and address one of the following four categories: ecosystems, climate, water and environmental education. 

Target 1 Challenge of the Canada Nature Fund
Deadline: January 31
The Target 1 Challenge component of the Canada Nature Fund will support the conservation of Canada's ecosystems, landscapes and biodiversity, including species at risk. Through the Challenge, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) will work with provinces and territories, Indigenous people and the private and non-profit sectors to achieve significant progress on terrestrial elements of Target 1 of Canada's 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets. The proposal process for Challenge will be 2-phased; an Expression of Interest phase followed by the submission of a formal proposal. 
Click here for more information. 

2019 Brink/McLean Grassland Conservation Fund
Deadline: February 8
The objective of the Brink/McLean Grassland Conservation Fund is to promote 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 and how to apply.

Columbia Basin Trust Career Internship Program
Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
CBT's new Career Internship Program provides wage funding for employers to hire college and university graduates in permanent, career-focused positions. Eligible employers are businesses, registered non-profits, municipalities, regional districts and Indigenous organizations within the Columbia Basin Trust region that have a demonstrated fiscal and organizational need for an intern and wage funding. The funding is up to 50 per cent of the new employee's wage over the first seven to 12 months, to a maximum of $25,000. The intern position must include a training plan that provides structured learning to the new employee and transitions to full-time, permanent employment at the end of the internship.

Vancouver Foundation Systems Change Grants - Develop Grants
Deadline: Ongoing
Systems Change Grants support projects that take action to address the root causes of pressing social, environmental or cultural issues by influencing the behaviours of populations, organizations, and institutions. Short-term grants (Develop grants) are a one-time application that can be submitted any time throughout the year and decisions are made the following month. The next granting cycle for multi-year grants (Test and Scale grants) opens January 2, 2019. 

Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program
Deadline: Ongoing
Delivered for the Columbia Basin Trust by the Kootenay Livestock Association, the Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program supports efforts to maintain and/or enhance grassland resources while meeting conservation, environmental and recreational objectives. Objectives include promoting the stewardship of the grassland resource, striving to maintain and enhance biodiversity and long-term fish and wildlife productivity in public grassland ecosystems and improving compatibility between livestock management and recreation use.

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Community Engagement Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
The goal of the Community Engagement Grant is to provide an opportunity for FWCP stakeholders (e.g. environmental groups, rod and gun clubs, non-profits, stewardship organizations, government, and First Nations), to apply for small amounts of funding to support their conservation and enhancement work. 
 

Kinship Conservation Fellows
2019 Fellowship
Kinship Conservation Fellows is now accepting applications for the 2019 Fellowship. Conservation leaders with at least five years of experience who are interested in the application of market-based solutions to solve environmental problems are invited to become part of this expanding global community of innovative conservationists. Those who are selected receive a $6000 stipend and a month of valuable training. The deadline to apply is January 8, 2019.

Regional District of Kootenay Boundary 
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II
The Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II must be a qualified Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Level II (WTP Level II) through the Environmental Operator Certification Program (EOCP). The Operator II will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the wastewater treatment facility and pumping stations, and water mains. The deadline to apply is January 11. 

Communications + Philanthropy Manager
Wildsight
Wildsight is looking for a creative, collaborative and passionate Communications & Philanthropy Manager to join its team. The Communications & Philanthropy Manager will be an exceptional writer and strategic thinker, developing and executing our strategic communications plan to help accomplish Wildsight's goals. The Communications & Philanthropy Manager will have a proven ability to write for different audiences in order to connect with supporters and donors, creating engaging content across channels. The deadline to apply is January 31. 


Kootenay Conservation Program
Conservation Resources for our Region
The Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) helps partners to coordinate and facilitate conservation efforts on private land, and in an effort to support this, KCP has developed a webpage that compiles some of the best conservation and stewardship resources available for our region. 

Securing Private Land for Conservation in the Kootenays
FAQ document available online
KCP has prepared a Frequently Asked Questions document to provide an overview of conservation securement in  the Kootenays. This is a living document that may be updated regularly to reflect the evolving and variable securement process. 
Click here for the online PDF.
   
Trans-border Grizzly Bear Project 
Conservation of threatened Canada-USA trans-border grizzly bears linked to comprehensive conflict reduction
Mortality resulting from human-wildlife conflicts affects wildlife populations globally. Since 2004, a comprehensive program to reduce human-bear conflicts (HBC) for 3 small, fragmented, and threatened grizzly bear populations in the trans-border region of southwest Canada and northwest USA has been implemented. Ongoing monitoring has demonstrated that our comprehensive HBC program has resulted in a significant reduction in human-caused mortality, increased inter-population connectivity, and improved habitat effectiveness.

Association of State Wetland Managers
ASWM-NRCS Wetland Training Webinar Series
This webinar series has been designed to provide participants with a general level of knowledge about wetlands and wetland restoration options and considerations. Participants will come away from trainings with key knowledge, the ability to be more conversant about wetland issues, knowing what questions to ask when looking at restoration opportunities, and knowing when to contact or bring in an expert.
 

 

If you have news or announcements that you would like to share via our eNews, please email them to communications@kootenayconservation.ca by the 25th of each month.