THE NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR CONTENTS ENVIRONMENT NETWORK (NLEN) The NLEN is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation whose purpose is to carry ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network – 2011 Recap ...................... 5 out environmental education with the following objective: to educate members of the public (including members of environmental and other non-profit organizations, This publication highlights the ACAP Humber Arm ........................................................................................... 9 students, policy makers, educators, professionals and the general public) through work of several of NLEN’s members topics such as climate change, protected areas, biodiversity, sustainable forestry, and associate member groups in Burgeo Regional Action Group ........................................................................ 10 sustainable fisheries, waste management, water conservation, pesticide use and 2011. The articles were voluntarily sustainable development. contributed by these organisations following a call for submissions by Brother Brennan Environmental Education Centre ............................................ 12 The NLEN is directed by a volunteer steering committee composed of the NLEN in December 2011. representatives of its member organisations who are elected at the NLEN’s annual Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – NL .................................................. 15 general meeting. CONTRIBUTORS Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides—NL .................................................... 16 WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. Please forward comments and feedback Douglas Ballam, Paul Bowdring, on this publication to [email protected] or call our office at 709-753-7898. Andreae Callanan, Lanna Campbell, Ducks Unlimited Canada ................................................................................ 20 Michael Collins, Suzanne Dooley, YOU CAN SUPPPORT THE NLEN by making a financial donation or by volunteering Danielle Fequet, Denise Hennebury, FEASt — Food Education Action St. John’s ...................................................... 23 with us or one of our member groups. Contact our office to find out how. June Hiscock, Kristie Jameson, Trish Layden, Jackson McLean, Food Security Network of Newfoundland and Labrador ..................................... 24 Phoebe Metcalfe, Sheldon Peddle, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR ENVIRONMENT NETWORK Toby Rowe, Helen Spencer, Sister Office location: Environmental Gathering Place, 172 Military Road, St. John’s, NL Mary Tee, Kim Todd, Tina Tracey, Memorial University Sustainability Office ......................................................... 26 Postal address: P.O. Box 5125, Stn. C, St. John’s, NL A1C 5V5 Fanta Yao. Phone: 709.753.7898 I Fax: 709.726.2764 I [email protected] I www.nlen.ca Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice .............................................................. 28 CONCEPT | Chris Hogan, NLEN. Nature Conservancy of Canada — NL .............................................................. 31 DESIGN | Perfect Day COVER | Grassy Place, NL. Photo Credit: Nature Conservancy Nature Newfoundland & Labrador ...................................................................33 of Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Educators ..................................... 36 Year in Review 2011 is published by the Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland & Labrador Women’s Institute ..................................................38 Environment Network (NLEN). The opinions expressed by contributors Northeast Avalon Atlantic Coastal Action Program ........................................... 41 are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the NLEN or Protected Areas Association — NL .................................................................. 42 its member groups. thegreenRock.ca — Habits for your Habitat .....................................................45 View the report online at www.nlen.ca. WELCOME TO THE NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR ENVIRONMENT NETWORK ENVIRONMENT NETWORK’S 2011 YEAR IN REVIEW 2011 RECAP 2011 will be remembered as a difficult year for the decisions approved by membership vote in December was to Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network (NLEN) prepare an application for charitable status, and revise our and the Canadian Environmental Network (CEN). On October organizational mandate and bylaws to meet the requirements 13, 2011 we learned that federal government funding to for charitable environmental organisations. the CEN and provincial environment networks across the This publication highlights some of the excellent environmental projects and country was to be cut, effective immediately. This money, We also communicated our concerns surrounding the funding programs that are happening around our province. It is truly motivating to see all a $500,000 annual grant to the CEN, had provided annual cuts to the media, public and decision-makers. At a meeting the work being done by groups from across the province - many of them driven by core funding for the NLEN (approximately $20,000) since its with provincial Environment and Conservation Minister Terry dedicated volunteers. We’d like to acknowledge all the incredible things they do establishment in 1990. French and his staff in early December 2011 we made a every day to contribute to environmental education, action and policy. request for provincial funding support. That request was Following this announcement, NLEN Steering Committee positively received, and we learned mid-February 2012 that This past year has also been eventful for the NLEN as many of you will have heard and member organisations mobilized to consider options for the province would support the NLEN with a one-time grant of about the loss of our core funding from Environment Canada. This cut affected our continued funding and survival of the NLEN. One of the major $20,000. parent organization, the Canadian Environment Network, as well as all the affiliate Networks across the country. Sadly, many of them have had to shut their doors. In our case, we are grateful to still be in operation, thanks in large part to a one time grant from the provincial Department of Environment and Conservation. We are now seeking sustainable funding, in the hopes that we can continue to support the many groups that belong to our network over the coming years. NLEN’S REVISED MANDATE STATEMENT (DECEMBER 2011): The Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network (NLEN) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation whose purpose is to carry out environmental education with the following objective: to educate members of the public (including members of environmental and other non-profit organizations, students, Katie Temple and Margaret McKeon policy makers, educators, professionals and the general public) through topics such as climate change, protected Co-Chairs, NLEN Steering Committee areas, biodiversity, sustainable forestry, sustainable fisheries, waste management, water conservation, pesticide use and sustainable development. YEAR IN REVIEW | 4 YEAR IN REVIEW | 5 NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR ENVIRONMENT NETWORK 2011 RECAP The NLEN also published a set of Some of the events the NLEN helped deliver in 2011: Some vital statistics for 2011… environmental policy recommendations and an all-party questionnaire, in an effort to raise public awareness on The number of public events (as appeared Active, unremediated contaminated environmental issues during the fall in NLEN’s online calendar) organized by sites identified in the province; total provincial election. These documents environmental groups around the province. costs for remediation of these sites is were prepared collaboratively with the [Note: This represents only a portion of unknown (NL Auditor General’s 2010 input of several NLEN member groups, the total number of meetings and planning report, published January 2011). and were delivered to each provincial sessions that are organized by groups party for review and response. The throughout the year in an effort to protect party responses to the questionnaire our natural environment]. Tonnes of Green House Gases emissions were published several days before the produced in the province (circa 2010). election and can be found at www.nlen. Note that the 2020 target is to reduce ca/issues/forests/party-responses-to- Member and associate member emissions to 10% below the 1990 level environmental-policy-questionnaire/ organisations of the NLEN. (to 8.3 million tonnes), and the longer-term 2050 target is to reduce emissions to NLEN E-Update: Are you subscribed? 75-85% below 2001 (approximately 2.5 MT). New protected acquired by the Nature We published 48 issues of the NLEN Conservancy of Canada in Newfoundland E-Update in 2011. It’s a weekly and Labrador (read more on page 30). Number of community garden initiatives summary of upcoming environmental February – April: Film Screenings of October: Public Forum: Genetically underway around the province! (see more events, opportunities, action alerts, “Play Again” in St. John’s, Glovertown, Modified Atlantic Salmon — Atlantic on pages 22 – 24). and a recap of the news. Subscribe at Corner Brook, Stephenville, and Canada is at the center of the global New marine protected areas created. www.nlen.ca. Rocky Harbour controversy over GM fish Number of ingredients captured by the Number of volunteer hours given to cosmetic pesticide ban announced in environmental organisations across