Heritage Community Foundation Presents
Alberta Online Encyclopedia and Edukits

Audio

When you think about sustainable development, Forestry is probably one of the industries that should come to mind - after all it is a renewable resource.

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/018_Forestry1.ram


Wolves and Grizzly Bears often travel hundreds of kilometres as they move through what is left of their habitat in the Rockies. They ignore international boundaries as they range from Yellowstone National Park in the United States north to Banff or they may travel south from Alaska and the Yukon down to Jasper. But road building and other developments are fragmenting the habitats along the Rockies. This prevents the free passage of these large carnivores through their traditional range and it threatens their very existence. Today we will talk with Harvey Locke and Dave Foreman about their grand vision to reconnect the wildlife corridors from Yellowstone to Yukon. Then on this week’s special edition of Ecofacts and trends Cheryl Croucher brings us Dave Foreman on extinction rates from the Yellowstone to Yukon conference held in Waterton Lakes National Park.

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/076_Yellowstone_yukon.ram


Carbon in the Boreal Forest

Climate Change is thought to be driven by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases. The principle greenhouse gas on the planet is carbon dioxide or CO2. Humans take in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Trees on the other hand take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. It`s part of the magic that keeps the global ecosystem in balance.But in the big picture trees play a significant role in storing tonnes and tonnes of carbon. But the question of just how fast forests release carbon is not as simple as one might think. Dr. Mike Apps chaired the international conference on the role of the Boreal Forest and Forestry in the Carbon Budget. After dozens of presentations at the conference Dr. Apps describes how the boreal forest and forestry affects the global carbon budget.

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/199_carbon_boreal1.ram


On this week`s program we feature Brad Stelfox a forestry consultant who warns the amount of carbon stored in the Boreal Forest could decline by as much as 20 per cent in coming years if land-use practices are not changed. We also spoke with George Weyerhaeuser of Weyerhaeuser about how he sees his company responding to the challenge of the climate change issue. There are many, many resources on climate change available on the internet. A good starting point is the Pembina Institute`s website: www.climatechangesolutions.com

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/200_carbon_boreal2.ram


The Journey of the Blue Bag

This week is part two in the series on garbage. It`s been eight months since Edmonton launched the largest blue bag recycling program in Canada. EcoFile finds out what happens to the material that Edmontonians stuff into their transparent blue bags. David Dodge follows the bags from the trash bin to the factory and tells what he found, on today`s EcoFile.

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/179_bluebag.ram


David Suzuki on Endangered Species

This week we are pleased to bring you a special report on endangered species in Canada. David Suzuki is on tour in support of the protection of endangered species and last week he spoke in both Calgary and Edmonton. Despite three separate promises to create an endangered species law, beginning in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 at the Earth Summit, Canada still has no such law. David Suzuki says that Canadians are surprised by this fact. Today we will talk to David Suzuki about nature, endangered species and the symbolic importance about writing new endangered species legislation.

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/131_DavidSuzukiEndengSpec.ram


There is a significant mythology around the idea of humanity mastering nature. In the past it seemed necessary to exert power over the 'untamed wilderness' in order to survive, but now that humanity has the power to alter entire ecosystems.

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/158_nature_mentor.ram


About 1 in 10 of Alberta's towns, cities, rivers and lakes are named after animals. Not all of Alberta's animal-influenced place names are after local animals.

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/heritage_trails131.ram

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/heritage_trails132.ram

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/heritage_trails133.ram


Today we head out on the road to Coronation, Alberta, to uncover a home on the range where the deer, antelope and coyotes still play.

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/008_SustAgri2_BiggsTK.ram


Sustainable development could be described as living within the earth's means. But according to British Columbia researcher Dr. William Rees, humanity is already running an environmental deficit.

http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/audio/002_ecological_footprint.ram