Habitat Acquisition Trust

Panel: Dr. Bill Code, Matthew Kemshaw, and Lana Popham

2:30-2:45 Break

2:45-4:00 Concurrent Session 3

A. Hook, Line & Sinker- A Guide to Sustainable Volunteer Fishing

Workshop with Volunteer Victoria's Tara MacDonald and Meagan MacDonald

B. The Marine Community: Community Involvement in Marine Issues

Panel discussion with Nikki Wright, Garry Fletcher, and Michael Dunn

Presentation Descriptions

Conservation Challenges and the Conservation Framework - Approaches to species and ecosystem conservation in B.C.

The challenge of conserving British Columbia’s biodiversity and retaining healthy, functioning ecosystems is considerable.  Fragmentation, ecosystem degradation, and urban encroachment have left many species and ecosystems close to collapse.  Identifying and taking meaningful action to protect the natural environment requires cooperation between citizens, conservation groups, and all levels of government.  The Ministry of Environment hopes that the recently announced Conservation Framework will be a tool that fosters cooperation between groups working to protect and restore our ecosystems.

Dave Fraser and Andrew Harcombe are two of the authors of the Conservation Framework, which will guide how the Provincial Government prioritizes species, ecosystems, and specific actions.  Dave and Andrew will provide insight into how the tools in the Framework were created and how they work. Dave Fraser will address some of the challenges facing B.C.’s environment, and how the Provincial Government will use the Conservation Framework.  Andrew Harcombe will discuss how the Nature Conservancy of Canada hopes to use the Framework, and facilitate discussion on how other conservation groups and levels of government can use the Framework to help guide their decision-making.

Dave Fraser is the Endangered Species Specialist for the Ministry of Environment.  In addition to work at the Ministry, Dave is the author of many papers on Rare and Endangered Species, has worked as a Provincial Park naturalist, and has a fondness for collecting unusually interesting nature facts.

Andrew Harcombe is the Terrestrial Ecologist with the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s BC Office. Previously, he was the Manager of the Conservation Data Centre. He has formerly served as a City Councillor and sat on various committees for Central Saanich, and has volunteered with many local conservation groups.  Andrew is also the past-president of HAT.

Fundraising for Sustainability Panel Discussion and Q&A

Panelists John Morton, Lynne Milnes, and Jane Buzza

In this interactive session, you will benefit from the proven experience of local experts on how to raise funds.  Topics will include: the barebones approach to finding your donors, how to write successful grants, and how to increase the profile of your organization through branding and public exposure. You will be able to query the panel about your own organizational challenges during the Q&A.

John Morton has a 20 year career that spans the broad field of marketing & communications. With degrees in Journalism and Marketing Management, he began his career in advertising agencies, inVancouver, Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. The majority of his clients have been household names: IKEA, Century 21, Revlon and Minute Maid, to name just a few.

His work on the client side has all been spent in the non-profit sector: Canadian Diabetes Association, Children’s Hospital Foundation, UBC, University of Victoria, and Vancouver Foundation. In this role, he learned how to get maximum exposure for a non-profit with a minimum of expense – and also learned how to apply his advertising knowledge to build strong, credible brand identities.

Lynne Milnes has been involved in raising money for the environmental sector for over 20 years. She has served on numerous boards and as a founding director and past president of the Friends of Ecological Reserves. She worked for The Land Conservancy from 2000 to 2006 and was part of its meteoric rise from a small group of 9 in 2000 with a budget of $150,000 to a staff of 50 in 2006 and a budget of $5 million. She has been employed with the University of Victoria for the last 2 1/2 years serving in a number of portfolios.

Jane Buzza- Information Consultant & Fundraiser, guides clients through the process of integrating a Development Plan suited to an institution's resources, needs, & readiness. Based on more than 10 years experience in fundraising, Ms. Buzza provides insight into the client's funding needs & their current capacity to attract donors from one-time gifts through to leadership commitments. She assists clients in aligning core values with fundraising goals and establishing consistent, manageable methods for delivering a fundraising plan.  Prior to becoming a fundraiser, Ms. Buzza established information management programs for academic institutions, medical associations, foundations & service organizations.

Climate Change: Local Action Roundtable

This session will delve into local climate changes issues. It will focus on regional initiatives that are taking place to educate people and inspire them to take action.

Russ Fuoco is the Director of Planning and leader of Climate Change initiatives in Saanich. He will be playing a lead role in developing the District’s responses to climate change.

Naomi Devine is a climate change and sustainability policy advisor who recently joined the office of Campus Planning and Sustainability at the University of Victoria in order to help create the university’s first sustainability policy and action plan. In November 2007, she was appointed to British Columbia’s Climate Action Team. In 2006 she represented Canadian youth as a member of the Canadian Youth Delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. She is a co-founder of Common Energy at the University of Victoria an organization that works to move the university ‘beyond climate-neutral’. She is a co-author on the report: Building on Progress: A Plan to move the University of Victoria Beyond Climate-Neutral. Naomi recently finished her term as Vice-Chair on the City of Victoria’s Environment and Shoreline Advisory Committee. A member of the Board since 2005 she is also the founding Chair of the Victoria Chapter.

Guy Dauncey is a speaker, author, and organizer who works to develop a positive vision of a sustainable future, and to translate that vision into action. He is author of the award-winning book Stormy Weather: 101 Solutions to Global Climate Change; Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic, and 9 other titles. He is President of the BC Sustainable Energy Association; Executive Director of The Solutions Project; board member of Prevent Cancer Now and Publisher of EcoNews, a monthly newsletter that promotes the vision of a sustainable Vancouver Island.

Filling the Toolbox- Different approaches that help retain and protect sensitive ecosystems

Presenters: Judith Cullington, Bob Cox, and Andrea Barnett

The Wetland Stewardship Partnership (WSP) is a multi-agency group dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and other sensitive ecosystems. WSP Partners include BC Hydro, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Environment Canada, BC Nature (Federation of BC Naturalists), Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Grasslands Conservation Council of BC, Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Union of BC Municipalities, BC Wildlife Federation, Pacific Salmon Foundation, and Ministry of Forests and Range. The WSP has drafted a Wetland Action Plan that sets objectives and details actions and approaches that will result in wetland retention and protection. To this end, the WSP has spearheaded the development of tools that help guide all levels of government, indus try and land managers in planning and management practices. The focus of this workshop will be looking at examples of 2 such tools.

Green Bylaws Toolkit for Conserving Sensitive Ecosystems and Green Infrastructure: The Green Bylaws Toolkit for Conserving Sensitive Ecosystems and Green Infrastructure (GBT), is a comprehensive document designed to provide municipal and regional governments with practical tools for protecting the green infrastructure within their jurisdictions. This Toolkit was prepared by the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Victoria in 2005, and was revised by Deborah Curran and Company in 2006/07 and is now being revised and expanded again based on requests from local governments in BC.  The Toolkit contains practical examples of bylaw provisions currently in use in B.C., including model provisions for Regional Growth Strategies, Official Community Plans, Development Permit Areas, Zoning, Tax Exemptions, Environmental Assessment, Stormwater Management and other regulatory tools. It includes several examples and case studies of successful green infrastructure projects and bylaws. Ducks Unlimited Canada has been coordinating a comprehensive GBT ‘roll-out’ program with selected local governments in BC.

Wetland Best Management Practices Guide: The Wetland Stewardship Partnership are preparing “Wetland Ways:  Management Guidelines for Wetland Protection and Conservation in British Columbia”. The document is intended to provide guidance to land manager and any one involved in land use planning on the ground on the best ways to maintain the ecological value of sensitive areas for individuals and user groups planning activities/ development around wetlands and directly adjacent areas. This workshop provides you with an opportunity to learn about the draft guidelines and to add your views and ideas.

Judith Cullington and Bob Cox: Judith Cullington and Bob Cox are working together on the development of this document. Judith is an environmental consultant who has worked for many years on the conservation of sensitive ecosystems, urban forests and Garry oak ecosystems. She was the lead author of “Develop with Care” – the Ministry of Environment’s guidelines for environmental protection during land development. Bob has many years experience in resource management and habitat protection with the Provincial Government in British Columbia. During this time he worked on diverse topics including marine aquaculture; forestry; agriculture; mineral exploration and mining; oil and gas exploration; urban and rural development and commercial and public recreation, and has led the development of several best management practices documents for government.

Andrea Barnett: Andrea Barnett is the Industry and Government relation Specialist, and Policy Lead of Ducks Unlimited Canada (BC). Andrea is the coordinator of the Green Bylaws Toolkit Project and coordinates several other policy driven approaches to habitat conservation for DUC in BC.  Much of this work is done through DUC’s extensive involvement in the Wetland Stewardship Partnership.

Eating Local:  Challenges and Solutions in local food production

Description: There has been much buzz in the media and the community about the importance of supporting the production and consumption of local foods. Best-selling books, radio shows, and surveys are showing more and more that people want to consume local food. This panel will discuss the barriers and challenges to local farmers, ways to access local food, and initiatives to help bring more agricultural land into production and protect existing productive farmland.

Dr. Bill Code is the president of the Island Farmer’s Alliance. The Island Farmer’s Alliance is a coalition of farmers on Vancouver Island and the surrounding islands who work to ensure the sustainability and growth of Island agriculture by promoting local foods and farmers. Dr. Code lives on 7.5 acres and grows organic heirloom or heritage vegetables

Matthew Kemshaw is with LifeCycles Project Society, and is their Urban Agriculture and Education Coordinator for the Growing Schools Organic Garden Classroom Program.

Lana Popham is one of the owners of Barking Dog Vineyard located on Old West Saanich road. The vineyard was the first certified organic vineyard on Vancouver Island and also grows berries, vegetables and bedding plants. She is a past president of the Wine Islands Growers Association.

Hook, Line & Sinker- A Guide to Sustainable Volunteer Fishing

In this workshop with Volunteer Victoria, we will look at ways to recruit (hook), place (line) and keep (sinker) valuable volunteer skills and energy to help us achieve our conservation goals.

The Marine Community: Issues and Community Involvement in Marine Issues

Nikki Wright works as the Executive Director of SeaChange Marine Conservation Society.  SeaChange works towards conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems in British Columbia.  Nikki has used education and advocacy to inspire communities to undertake locally-based action for preserving and actively restoring our coastlines.  SeaChange is currently focusing on eelgrass conservation.  After talking briefly with Nikki, I gained an understanding of the primary challenge SeaChange currently faces, that being the ability to engage communities and volunteers in direct conservation activities.

Garry Fletcher serves as the Educational Director of racerocks.com as well as a consultant in marine education.  Racerocks.com is a valuable teaching and research resource created to allow youth and communities to learn about the Race Rocks sensitive ecosystems without impacting the sensitive features the ecologically reserve protects.   Garry strives to assist ecological reserves in BC to create an internet presence to provide online access to the resources for research and education.  He is currently promoting the "Adopt an Ecosystem Approach" for community stewardship of ecologically significant areas.

Michael Dunn acts as the Program Director and is the Founder of the Gulf Islands Centre for Ecological Learning.  The Gulf Islands Centre for Ecological Learning is a place-based ecological exploration program connecting youth with nature using the unique ecosystems of the southern Gulf Islands.  These explorations include natural science, multi-sensory experiences, art, photography, theatre, story telling, music and play as core learning methods.  Day programs include informative explorations of the marine waters.