Climate change coordinator, watershed monitoring, wetland education, and energy retrofits in Tantramar among projects funded by NB’s Environmental Trust Fund
The province of New Brunswick has announced another year of project funding with its Environmental Trust Fund, and about $500,000 of the $8.6 million funding package will go towards 13 projects directly impacting the Tantramar region.
A large share of the funding—$190,000—will go to the Southeast Regional Services Commission for five different projects including mattress recycling, glass recycling, a re-use expo, waste education, and a program to help communities clean up illegal dump sites.
Another large share will go to EOS Eco Energy, to help fund three ongoing projects: water quality monitoring in the Rockport-Dorchester area, a program to help residents with energy retrofits for their homes, and another to help people in the Chignecto area reduce their flood risk.
EOS is also involved in a fourth project in partnership with the town of Tantramar. The town will receive $35,000 in funding towards continuing its climate change coordinator position. Corporate services director Kieran Miller shared the news with council this week, and said they would see a motion come through as soon as the province sends a formal letter of offer.
“This is the Environmental Trust Fund that we’ve applied for for the past three years to fund the climate change coordinator position,” said Miller.… Continue
‘They put on a great show’: shorebirds are back at Johnson’s Mills in healthy numbers
It’s that time of year again. Tens of thousands of semipalmated sandpipers and other shorebirds are gathering at the mudflats near Johnson’s Mills on Dorchester Cape, in a weeks-long feeding frenzy that will help them make their annual migration from breeding grounds in the Arctic all the way to South America. More than a quarter million shorebirds–about 30% of the world’s population–return to the Bay of Fundy’s tidal mudflats each year, according to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
The Nature Conservancy’s observation deck and shorebird information centre at Johnson’s Mills is a popular spot to view the massive flocks of birds. CHMA stopped by on Monday to see and hear the goings on:
“I get down here several times per season,” said Sackville resident Paul Cant on Monday. “They put on a great show today, about 30,000 of them performing for us. It’s always spectacular to watch, and even to just see them on the beach walking around.”
Suzanne Smith from Campbellton was delighted with the display on Monday. “This is what I’ve been wanting to see for years,” said Smith. “They’re just amazing how they’re so close, and they they’re so camouflaged. And then when they all go up and just start swirling around, it’s just amazing.”
Zoe Estabrooks is manager of the interpretive centre at Johnson’s Mills, which is just off Route 935, about 10 minutes south of Dorchester.… Continue
Volunteer work party Saturday to get rid of invasive species along Tantramar River
The Nature Conservancy’s stewardship team has put out a call for volunteers to go to the Atlantic Wildlife Institute in Cookville this Saturday from 10am to 1pm, to help get rid of an invasive shrub that is strangling out other native species.
Aaron Dowding, New Brunswick Stewardship Manager with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, is hoping many hands will make light work in an effort to control glossy buckthorn in areas along the Tantramar River that pass through AWI’s 70 acre property in Cookville. The property has been under a conservation easement with the Nature Conservancy of Canada since 2009, and makes up part of the conservancy’s Chignecto Isthmus Nature Reserve.
CHMA called up Dowding to find about more about Saturday’s work party, and glossy buckthorn.
Glossy buckthorn is not actually thorny, so volunteers don’t need special equipment, but Dowding recommends bringing a good pair of gloves, a water bottle, and a lunch.
People wanting to participate can contact Caroline Blakely via email (caroline.blakely at natureconservancy.ca) or register online at www.conservationvolunteers.ca until noon Friday.
Glossy buckthorn was introduced to Canada about a century ago, says Dowding, as an ornamental plant that attracts birds. Unfortunately its popularity with birds also helps it spread its seeds and propagate easily, and as the plant moved into wild forests it took over the understory and mid-canopy, says Dowding.
