Are you overwhelmed by Climate Change? Do you find yourself regularly shouting “BUT WHAT CAN I DO?” at the end of nature documentaries that show the environmental degradation that climate change is bringing?

© James Yang / WWF-Canada

Let’s face it, climate change is a big problem caused by many activities and sources. And we’re not going to sugar coat it – the solutions need to be just as big. We’re talking really, really big. Like getting to 100% renewable energy use in the next 38 years. By 2050 we envision a Canada that fully harnesses our abundance of solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy to use it to heat our homes and power our vehicles.

This big, hairy goal is what WWF Canada’s Climate and Energy team is working towards and we made this video to convince you to join us and start making and demanding big changes!

Click here to view the embedded video.

“A lot of people litter. They just don’t think,” says Zoe, one of the 45 students at Jackman Ave. public school who took part in the shoreline cleanup. “They walk along the river and eat a granola bar and because there isn’t a garbage can, they throw it down.” Another student, Ben, added: “It’s bad because litter affects the water and the animals that live in and near it.”

Students at Jackman Ave. school pick up litter along the Don River.

In May, about 200 schools in B.C. and Ontario, along with scout and guide groups, will take part in the annual spring educational program of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a joint conservation initiative between WWF and the Vancouver Aquarium and presented by Loblaw Companies Limited.

Susan Debreceni of the Vancouver Aquarium holds up one bag of litter that students collected along the Don River in Toronto.

“It’s an important event because shoreline litter impacts all our water systems and wildlife that rely on them, ” says Susan Debreceni, who works for the Vancouver Aquarium as the volunteer engagement co-ordinator for the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.

Great eco ambassadors: Gillian Archibald, a teacher at Jackman Ave. school, says this is the second time her class has taken part in the cleanup. “They are all so pumped about it.” Students have also written to the environment minister and participate in the school’s eco club as well as WWF’s annual CN Tower climb, which raises money for our conservation work.

Teacher Gillian Archibald lends a hand at the Don River cleanup.

“Clean water is one thing no one can live without and yet we take it for granted,”  says Gillian. “This is a great opportunity for kids to see the human impact on our waterways and the environment. Hopefully, they will go back to school and talk to their friends and other students about it.”

A good haul: The 45 students cleaned up an impressive 58 kilos of litter along the Don River.  The trash included styrofoam, plastic bags, rusted pieces of metal,  cigarette packaging and butts, as well as disgarded clothing, an old yoga mat and plastic utensils and food wrappers.

A student holds up two of the more than 1,000 pieces of litter collected.

“A lot of shoreline species eat styrofoam and plastic and have a false sense of being full and then actually starve,” says Susan of the Vancouver Aquarium. ”These types of litter are a big problem because they break down into smaller pieces but stay in the environment for such a long time.”

Here is great a CityTV news story on Jackman Ave. public school’s cleanup effort along the Don River!

How you can help: You can sign up for the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup that takes place across Canada this September. Be a site coordinator, or volunteer at a cleanup in your neighbourhood. You can also encourage your friends and family to get involved.

As we have mentioned before, a new plan, known as Bv7, has been developed by the International Joint Commission (IJC) to change how the water levels and flows in Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River are managed. This plan is good for nature and good for people, and you have the chance to show your support for it at the public information sessions that are being held in communities around the Lake and River during May and June.

The proposed plan will restore more natural water levels and flows to the lake and river, revitalizing the wetlands and river habitats vital to birds, fish, and other animals. And the plan has economic benefits too, showing that environmental restoration can go hand in hand with economic development. You can find out more about why WWF backs the plan here.

Four Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), swimming at the surface of the St. Lawrence River, Quebec, Canada. © Robert Michaud /WWF-Canada

So show the IJC your support for a healthier lake and river by coming out to the information session nearest you. These sessions start this week and run through June in communities around the region. If you can’t make it to a meeting, send your message of support to the IJC online by June 15. You can use and adapt this letter to add your voice to the growing number supporting the IJC’s efforts to put the plan put into action:

I write to express my strong support for Plan Bv7 and call for the full and speedy adoption of this new approach to water level regulation in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

I support this plan because Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River enhance the quality of life for all citizens who live, work and recreate in and around the lake and river.  The more natural rhythms of water levels and flows proposed in Plan BV7 will benefit migrating and nesting waterfowl, key wetland habitats, beaches and dunes, and valued fish species like the northern pike.

What is most encouraging is that the benefits of Plan Bv7 are not limited to the environment – recreational boating, hunting, fishing, hydroelectric production, and commercial shipping are also strengthened under this new approach to regulation. I support this plan because it demonstrates that environmental improvements and economic development can go hand in hand.

I write to you today as a citizen of the Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River community to voice my support for this new approach to water level regulation, which will restore the health of an ecosystem that is a global and local treasure.

For as long as I can remember, sharks have been my passion. Whether it’s reading about them or diving with them, these animals have dominated my psyche.

Over the past year, I’ve been working at WWF-Canada on shark conservation in Halifax, Nova Scotia, tackling the most pressing issues for Atlantic sharks. So when I received an envelope last week addressed to Mr. Jarrett Corke with the words “To the General Shark Scientists of the World” written in pencil along the edge, I was intrigued.

A Thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) is fatally caught in a fishing net, Mexico. © Brian J. Skerry / National Geographic Stock / WWF

Inside were two letters, both typed, along with 10 hand-drawn signs addressed to different countries around the world that read “Save the Sharks. No fishing”. I read the first letter. Written by the father of an exceptional young boy by the name of Jack Titterrell from Bowmanville, Ontario, the letter explained that his son had taken it upon himself to create these signs in the hopes of spreading his message – save the sharks. The second letter, dictated by Jack to his father, explained why he thinks people should take more care to avoid the unnecessary killing of sharks.

Jack’s reasons included:

1) “Sharks are endangered and I want them to survive.” Sharks and their relatives are among the most threatened marine vertebrates on Earth. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), close to half of the sharks found in Canadian waters are considered globally threatened.

2) “Sharks are nature and swim so fast.” Sharks play an important role in the marine ecosystem helping to maintain healthy oceans and life on earth. And, sharks are FAST! The Shortfin Mako Shark, an open ocean sprinter, is one of the fastest fish in the ocean achieving bursts of speed upwards of 80 km/h! By swimming so fast, they are also able to leap 15 to 20 feet from the water!

3) “If they don’t survive, they will become extinct.” Even before dinosaurs roamed the earth, sharks hunted our oceans. Although no species are known to have become extinct, shark populations are facing unprecedented declines. In some places, such as the Northwest Atlantic, shark species are estimated to have declined between 50 to 90% in the past few decades.

Jack is right to be concerned. Sharks are in trouble and they need our help. The loss of these predators may have direct and indirect effects on marine ecosystems, not only impacting other marine organisms, but us too – the human communities that rely on ocean resources.

It is time to put aside past notions of these animals and start to view them as wildlife. While sharks may not be as cute and cuddly (to everyone) as other marine species, such as turtles or whales, they are awe-inspiring animals.

While I could talk about sharks all day, I will try and end this on a positive note. Yes, sharks are in trouble. Yes, we have a long way to go in safeguarding these species, BUT, Things are changing for the better. Take Jack for example. He is evidence of a new generation growing up inspired by the wonder and beauty of these creatures. And it’s not just him. People of all ages and backgrounds are beginning to recognize the importance and beauty of these animals. Changing people’s perception of sharks is an uphill battle; however, there is hope! Public perception continues to shift from one where we need to protect humans from sharks to one where we need to protect sharks from humans.

So from one shark-fanatic to another, thank you for your words of encouragement Jack and Neil. Your letters have been a source of inspiration.

Did you know? You are more likely to die from faulty vending machines than ever being attacked by a shark. Honest.

To learn more about what we do to help protect sharks, visit, click here.

To help us continue our work with sharks, please consider donating, here.

Photo Credit: Sara Campbell Mates – WWF Canada

The blackflies were definitely around, but not so bad that we breathed them in, and it couldn’t have been sunnier. So, spring wildflowers bloomed everywhere on the forest floor, from the last of the hepaticas to the first of the trilliums, along with yellow barren strawberry, purple gaywings, lavender wood violets, and assorted white flowers on wild strawberry, blueberry and goldthread, which aboriginal people chewed to cure cankers.

We also snacked on a few bright red wintergreen berries, reminiscent of life-savers and toothpaste of the same flavor. This hardy, overwintering member of the heath family inspired my 1999 book Wintergreen: Reflections from Loon Lake.

Trees too were in blossom, especially the white flowers of pin and black cherry along open granite ridges, and the red blooms of soft (red) maples in flooded lowlands.

Paired-up mallards flushed from my beaver ponds, pileated wood peckers laughed back and forth at each other, and crested flycatchers shrieked from the treetops.

In the ponds themselves, we spotted many basking painted turtles, one big old snapper (now sadly classified as a species at risk), but no Blandings turtles on this trip—a threatened species which I know is there, because I have photographed them often. If any of our readers know why turtles in general are so wary, please let me know. What could possibly sneak up on them way out there? Otters?

Photo Credit: Sara Campbell Mates – WWF Canada

It was a cheerful group, brought together by a shared love for nature and a unique commitment to conserve it for future generations. I couldn’t help thinking how fortunate we all are to have such a beautiful world, and how fortunate WWF is to have such good people who have chosen to protect that world as their legacy.

To learn more about making a future for nature your legacy, please visit: http://www.wwf.ca/donate/legacy/

By the end of our snow leopard tracking expedition in the Himalayas, we had set up a total of 11 camera traps. Four were specifically meant to capture photos of snow leopards, others to gather images of their prey, including blue sheep or “naurs,” as they are known locally.

Photo: Naur adult male. (Photo credit: Royal Government of Bhutan and WWF)

To conclude my story of our expedition, I’ll recall an incident that took place upon my return to the nearest town. On Thursday, November 24^th, I stood at the main gate of my hotel holding an impoverished walking stick and wearing heavily soiled clothes and boots. I was sun burnt and had grown a beard and moustache. Then I had to break the silence to explain to the hotel owner who I was: “that crazy biologist” who had been to the hotel a month ago.

It was great fun to trick the owner of my favourite family-run hotel in the town of Bumthang. And my dinner that evening of Bhutanese red rice, chicken curry, lentil soup, green vegetables, fried potatoes and local wine is one I will not soon forget.

Rinjan, back from the field.

I took off from Thimpu in December 2011 to join my family back in Toronto.  After two months of painful waiting, results from the camera trap arrived at the WWF office here. I shed tears of joy as I viewed the pictures and movie clips of snow leopards engaging in activities, scent spraying scrape marking and prowling, that I had previously only read about.

Snow leopard scent marking. (Photo credit: Royal Government of Bhutan and WWF)

More importantly, we can now call the Wangchuck Centennial the treasure trove of biodiversity, because our camera traps documented a unique assembly of wild animals that include: snow leopards; Tibetan wolves; red foxes; wild dogs; musk deer; blue sheep or naur; Himalayan serow; pika; and many species of pheasants and birds of prey. This field work has truly been one of the best experiences that I ever had.

Snow leopard captured by our first camera trap that was set up at the treeline elevation. (Photo credit: Royal Government of Bhutan and WWF)

Figure: Himalayan serow sniffing snow leopard scent spray. (Photo credit: Royal Government of Bhutan and WWF)

Figure: A pack of Tibetan wolf. (Photo credit: Royal Government of Bhutan and WWF)

Figure:  Red fox. (Photo credit: Royal Government of Bhutan and WWF)

A Kermode bear (Ursus americanus kermodei) preparing to enter the water of a river in the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada © Natalie Bowes / WWF-Canada

From national television to provincial talk shows, the national campaign to support a sustainable future for the Great Bear has made news across this country.  A diverse group of expert spokespeople faced the cameras to voice concerns about the risks posed by the proposed Northern Gateway Project to Canada’s economy, environment and energy security.  Here are a few highlights:

The Risks Outweigh the Benefits

B.C. business owner and author Peter Ladner declared, “I am a Canadian for the Great Bear because I believe the economic and environmental risks of the Northern Gateway Pipeline Project far outweigh the benefits.”

What’s at stake?

Scott Niedermayer – “As places like this disappear around the world, we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to make the decisions to protect areas like this for future generations.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Grand Chief Edward John, Hereditary Chief of Tl’azt’en Nation – For First Nations, “the potential impact from large tanker traffic and an oil spill could have devastating consequences for food sources as well as livelihoods.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Economist Robyn Allan – “If we build the Northern Gateway pipeline, Canadians agree to higher oil prices, to exporting our jobs, and to giving away Canada’s energy security. “

Click here to view the embedded video.

Also joining the campaign, marine ecologist Anne Salomon skyped into the conference from the Hakai Institute in the Great Bear where she was teaching a field class on the resilience of social-ecological systems. Hon. Tom Siddon, former Conservative Fisheries Minister, along with University of British Columbia professor Eric B. Taylor also signed on.

Canadians for the Great Bear will be reaching out to Canadians across Canada to raise support for the Great Bear. Please join us! Spread the word. And find out more.

Five months ago, I embarked on a journey to the remote Himalayas of Bhutan with a faint hope of capturing snow leopards in my camera lens.

Snow leopards - perhaps the most elusive of all animals in the Himalayas – are found in a narrow band of land between the treeline and snowline in the Himalayas. There, they live in scattered habitats where there’s ample food.

I was thrilled with the opportunity to work in the newest park in Bhutan - the Wangchuck Centennial Park (WCP) – which we have little information on. And my team consisted of: park ranger, Tenzing Wandga; forester Leki Dorje (an expert high-altitude botanist); forester Nawang Tashi; and intern Gempo Wangdi. We were also accompanied by Chhokpa, the headman of the Nasphelle village, and Tenzing, a horseman with 12 horses, who is always ready to fix tents, bags and boots with his magic needles and yak hair threads.

My field crew,  from left: Gempo Wangdi, Tenzing Wangdi, Rinjan Shrestha, Leki Dorje, Nawang Tashi and Tenzing.

Equipped with supplies for about 45 days and teamed with fabulous mates, I set off by foot on a 35-day expedition into the desolate mountains that snow leopards call home. The first day of our journey saw a heavy downpour, which brought me happiness because it often means snow up in the snow leopard country. And fresh snow is what I needed to track these secretive animals. I got a shock as Chhokpa started to chant prayers to stop the rainfall. Trails can be treacherous up in the mountains during the rain, especially for horses.

Considering the caravan of horses – and paying due respect to the local culture - I did not dare to explain the significance of precipitation to our mission. Thankfully, the rain continued.

Tenzing with his horses. Photo credit: Rinjan Shrestha

Our study area is located in the north central part of the 4,914 sq km park (WCP).  Bhutan’s highest mountain peak, Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 metres above sea level) marks the northern boundary of our study area.

SIGN OF LIFE: It was not until the eighth day of our expedition, and the ascent of nearly 4,500 metres, that we found the first sign of a snow leopard.

It was a scrape marking that the cat made right at the cliff base along a trail. There were three scrapes clumped together – indicating that the site had been repeatedly used by the cat. Our happiness knew no bounds and high-fives were exchanged, followed by a short but wonderful dance by Chhokpa. Then we began to set up the camera trap.

We placed the camera a little further away from the trail, so we got a wider field of view, which would eventually allow us to document communication techniques adopted by these solitary cats, such as scent spray, cheek rubbing and scrape marking. The access to the trap site was marked by a narrow passage, which let me estimate the height of passing snow leopards – an unique opportunity offered by this site. Height can be used as a clue to discern the sex and age of the snow leopards.

Finally, I was happy that this site was located right at the treeline. Because the treeline formed a border between alpine grassland and forests, I expected that we could get animals from both habitat types in the camera trap.

This blog is Part 1 of a 2-part series about Dr. Shrestha’s journey to the remote Himalaya’s of Butan. Check back tomorrow for Part 2.

A few weeks ago I visited the Sears head office and met Katie Harper, their sustainability team lead, for the first time. Her energy at 9:00 am was admirable, but it was her unrelenting resolve to get her fellow colleagues to join her in a 1776-step pursuit to the top of the CN Tower that was truly remarkable! Needless to say, I wasn’t all that surprised when I heard that the Sears Climb team had raised $14,000 in support of WWF – exceeding last year’s goal.

Photo credit: Katie Harper, Sears Canada

I decided to connect with Katie, to get the details on how she and her team achieved such success. I learned that the Climb was one of many accomplishments and that big and small steps have shaped their sustainability journey. Below, Katie gives me a snapshot of some team initiatives from the past few months:

Step 1: Revised green team with a new structure
“Last summer our green team spent a few weeks rethinking our structure. We created a new vision and recruited a core team (our green team “council”) to lead initiatives like waste reduction, cycling, and associate engagement. At the same time, we keep our general membership wide open for anyone who wants to participate in and help promote our activities. We’ve also focused more on tracking and reporting on our efforts.”

Step 260: Small but meaningful intervention:
“During the holiday season, an employee noticed that Christmas tree lighting was left on 24/7 in our holiday display. We responded by putting timers on the Christmas trees and replacing incandescent bulbs in the accent lighting with LED and CFLs. That resulted in a 67% reduction of our electricity use, a savings of 90 kWh a week. It was a small intervention, but it corrected something that was sending the wrong signal.”

Step 534: Building a smart commute culture:
“We worked collaboratively with our building services team and cyclists in the office to launch the Bike Room – a bike storage place for those who pedal to work. At peak season, we’ll see about 50-100 people using it. It’s allowing us to build on campaigns like the commuter challenge and foster our sustainable cycle culture.”

Step 1045: Persevering promotion of the Climb
“In addition to regular e-mails and intranet postings, we spend a fair bit of time on informal recruitment. New climbers are often unsure what to expect and might be hesitant to participate, but a face-to-face “hallway chat” can make the difference.  This year we also framed our communication around team spirit and highlighted the connection to WWF so everyone was clear about the purpose of the Climb.”

Step 1521: Creative fundraising
“One of our Climb teams approached the executives to sponsor a pizza lunch for their department. The Climbers benefited from donations, while the executives were able to host a social event and show appreciation to their team.  It also helped raise awareness of the Climb with executives.”

Step 1776: Climbing 88,800 steps, raising $14,000 and sending a powerful message right from the top
“It was a great feeling knowing that so many people came together to do this, and that we were in this to support WWF’s conservation work. This year’s efforts are only building our capacity for next year. After the climb, I received many ‘thank you’ e-mails and interest for next year’s Climb.”

Step 1778: Climbing up and beyond
“Our next step is to improve waste at our head office. We’re creating communications around proper recycling, as well as working with building services to set up recycling depots. We want more communication and engagement activities to educate our employees.”

Katie’s advice:
“It’s OK to start small. Brainstorm and find out the amazing things you would do in a perfect world. Then work back and start on your first project – one that is achievable. Start building your success from there.”

If you’d like to join Katie in becoming a Living Planet @ Work champion and inspiring sustainable changes in your workplace visit atwork.wwf.ca

Reality check: It’s time for a reality check on our consumerism. What happened to macaroni necklaces, a hand-picked bunch of wild flowers and home-made cards? They’ve sadly gone out of fashion in our society’s collective need to accumultive more and more stuff.

Don’t get me started on how half of it ends up in landfill or second-hand stores  (surely someone other than me must want this cast off) – not to mention all the water and energy expended on making all the “things” that clutter our lives.

Striking a balance: I’m a mom whose lucky enough to still have my mom around. I love Mother’s Day. And, OK., I’ll fess up and admit that I’m not pining for a macaroni necklace, and I’d prefer my flowers to stay firmly planted in my garden. But I stand firm in my belief that the best Mother’s Day gifts give twice.

Here are my top picks … I hope some of them make it onto your list.

A WWF stuffie. No one’s ever really too old for a stuffie. WWF has a whole collect of adorable animals to chose from, and the money from the symbolic adoption goes to our great conservation work. (My favourite is this elephant.). $40

A gift for a living planet: Your donation of $50 can help a Spirit Bear thrive. You can also chose to help rebuild Atlantic cod populations, or keep a polar bear cool.

Make a donation to our Canadians for the Great Bear campaign. Your support can be given on behalf of a mom you love, and it will help stop a pipeline and super tankers in this ecologically senstive and precious region.

Become a Canadian for the Great Bear - or sign up a mom you know would be passionate about this cause.

Monthly dononations. Give the gift of conservation 12 months of the year.

Kathryn Dorrell is mom to Olivia and Sophie, and the editor-in-chief at WWF-Canada.