About 400,000 tonnes of food waste is thrown out every year in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 3F Waste Recovery, a startup of 11 people in St. Anthony, Newfoundland, wants to decrease that number. The three F’s in the company’s name stand for farm, fish and forestry — the main areas in which they’re trying to reduce waste.
Jonathan Yick is a natural product bioengineer with 3F, working there through Nature Canada’s Work to Grow program. He’s involved in multiple projects that try to reduce waste from the environment – such as dealing with cod by-products and repurposing farm waste.
As part of his job, Yick participates in the research and development stage of products at the company. Photos courtesy of Yick.
“I find, especially in Newfoundland, that waste reduction is an issue. Our recycling program, our environmental programs aren’t that great,” Yick said. “Given the way the world is going, we need to start reducing waste now, or else we might not have a world to live in.”
Yick helps with anything related to research and development, such as determining equipment needs, setting up job sites, and other engineering-related tasks.
When it comes to waste that industries produce, Yick gave the example of cod fish. When it’s filleted, only 40 percent of the fish is used. The remaining 60 percent is dumped back into the ocean or sent to a landfill.
Some of the fish that 3F recovered to turn into usable products. Without recovery efforts, much of this would have ended up as waste in the ocean or in landfill. Photo courtesy of Yick.
“We’re trying to make it so that the by-products, or what you would consider waste, is actually going to be more valuable than the fish fillets,” he said. “By doing that, it will create an incentive for people to develop less waste or find a new use for it.”
As part of the company’s Zero Waste Farms project, the hope is to divert more than 200 metric tons of Newfoundland farm waste.
Part of the Zero Waste Farms initiative includes repurposing farm by-products into usable materials like soap. Photo courtesy of Yick.
Dedicated to working in zero waste
Yick said that he always considered a career in the biomedical or environmental field, even though that’s uncommon for his degree.
“Going through mechanical engineering, I always knew that I wanted to steer away from oil and gas, which is one of the main fields for a mechanical engineer, mainly because I didn’t want to contribute to that kind of industry,” he explained.
“When I was told about 3F Waste Recovery, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity. While it doesn’t pay as well as an oil and gas company, I feel like I’m doing something substantial and something meaningful. That’s the main thing.”
Although the Work to Grow position is temporary, he’ll have the opportunity to continue his work with the company afterwards.
“We’re such a small company, so we rely heavily on funding sources, such as Work to Grow,” he said. “It’s pretty amazing to have those opportunities. Otherwise. I don’t think I would have been taken on in the first place.”
Yick hopes that the job will inspire others as well.
“I do believe that our initiatives to approach zero waste will make a huge difference, at least to Newfoundland, and hopefully to the rest of Atlantic Canada. Maybe it can be a model that can be approached by the rest of Canada and even the world.”
Countries around the globe need to do more to stop the destruction of ecosystems and rescue the planet from human-caused mass extinction. That’s the core message of a major new report written by over 50 researchers from 23 countries.
The report assesses the science underpinning the draft Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the basis for a new 10-year plan to stem biodiversity loss that will be the focus of discussions at this year’s COP15 Biodiversity Summit in Kunming, China.
The new report concludes that global commitments to protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030 are essential, but insufficient on their own, to address the multiple threats driving species extinction, including pollution, climate change, overharvesting and invasive species.
Aerial panoramic view of Pattullo Bridge and Skytrain Bridge over the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. The Fraser River estuary is a migratory super highway, home to over 100 species at risk of extinction.
To address these threats, the authors call for a transformative change in how humanity uses the planet’s resources.
While action at the international level is critical, the authors are clear that many of the day-to-day decisions that affect biodiversity occur at the national level.
Canada can play a critical role in turning the tide on species loss as the home to biodiverse and carbon-rich oceans, forests, wetlands, and grasslands.
We are already providing leadership by investing in the most significant expansion of protected areas on land and ocean in Canadian history and by committing to make Indigenous-led conservation central to this strategy.
But as the report notes, protecting habitat is not enough to address biodiversity loss. We need comprehensive action to halt and reverse the free fall of species across the country.
The challenge is that our current biodiversity laws and policies are ineffective and badly out of date. Canada’s Biodiversity Strategy dates from 1995 and remains largely unimplemented. We have fallen short of achieving most of the Biodiversity Goals and Targets set by the federal government in 2015. Biodiversity data and inventories are fragmented, and biodiversity knowledge is not well-integrated or readily accessible to Canadians.
And much of our data and accounting for nature is just wrong. For example, the government continues to undervalue the climate and ecological importance of ecosystems like primary forests while turning a blind eye to the impacts of industrial logging.
A clear cut block with a tree stump in the foreground.
In its 2021 election platform, the Liberal Party promised to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, and after forming government, it mandated its Ministers to deliver on this goal.
We’ll need a national action plan to make this happen with strong Indigenous engagement and rigorous monitoring and accountability.
From the scientists mobilized by the recent UN report to Indigenous leadership across the country and an impressive array of conservation experts across sectors–Canada has the know-how to take this commitment seriously.
By advancing a domestic action plan to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, Canada strengthens its position to play a leadership role at COP15. All while helping achieve a 10-year global biodiversity framework to address the threat of mass extinction and putting the world on the path to support the full recovery of nature.
Future generations and our fellow species deserve no less.
The Canadian red fox typically weighs from 3.6 to 6.8 kg and has the appearance of a small dog. These mammals have an average lifespan of 3 to 6 years old and tend to be diligent and nurturing parents. Kits will often practice hunting under adult supervision and leave the den site alone once capable of feeding independently, usually at about three months of age.
Red foxes are also great hunters. Although their usual prey consists of some seriously fast critters (including rabbits, squirrels, and mice), their acute eyesight and incredible sense of smell and hearing allow them to detect the slightest movements. But their diet doesn’t consist solely of meat; red foxes like to eat plants, fruits, insects, and berries, particularly during the summer months.
Did you know?
Red foxes are found in all of Canada’s provinces and territories, making them one of the most widespread mammals in the country. Contrary to their name, red foxes actually come in all colours, varying from brown to silver and black.
Red foxes tend to be timid animals. They are often described as nervous and prefer remaining hidden, but they are still curious animals that love to explore.
Fox in Snow by Julie Drummond
Where are they found?
Being one of the most widespread mammals, red foxes are found everywhere except in unwelcoming landscapes for the species like the high arctic and the islands off the coast of B.C. Instead, woodland edges, farmlands and prairies seem to be some of their favourite spots for habitation.
Contrary to popular belief, foxes only use dens when breeding. It’s very typical to find a fox asleep in the open, but this doesn’t mean you’ll find a red fox anywhere at any time of the day. Although they venture out occasionally during the daytime, red foxes are nocturnal.
Red foxes have a history of being treated as pests in North America because of their infamous reputation of being chicken thieves. In the past, hunting bounties have been used to cull their population. Over time, the red fox has been recognized as a valuable part of the ecosystem—often hunting small crop-destroying critters and insects to farmers’ benefit.
But foxes can also be prey. Wolves, coyotes, and even dogs will sometimes chase and kill foxes when the opportunity arises. In some cases, red foxes are victims of interspecific strife and forced outside their territory when overpowered for resources by competing species. It’s one of the main reasons why you might find a fox close to human habitation.
During the winter, red foxes are also vulnerable to fur trapping—especially for silver foxes, who are black with white-tipped guard hairs. Silver foxes are greatly valued by the fur trade and were bred in captivity back when fox fur clothing was popular.
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There is a word the Cree use to describe the vast peatlands that span the Hudson Bay Lowlands in northern Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Yehewin, meaning “breathing” in Cree, is a fitting description for the bogs, which are vital carbon sinks and key natural assets in the fight against global warming, says Vern Cheechoo, director of lands and resources at the Mushkegowuk Council that represents seven First Nations in northern Ontario.
Vern Cheechoo, director of lands and resources at the Mushkegowuk Council. Over his lifetime, he has seen rapid changes to the ecosystems in northern Ontario, and he says First Nations have had to adjust. Photo courtesy of Vern Cheechoo
The word was used by the elders and stretches back in time, Cheechoo says. “Yehewin is your breathing. The wetlands do the same thing. It’s like the lungs of Mother Earth: it cleans the air, it provides us with freshness, it keeps the Earth cool.”
A research team led by University of Alberta researcher Lorna Harris recently published a paper that scientifically corroborates this long-standing Indigenous knowledge about the importance of peatlands. Her paper argues for the preservation of peatlands as a nature-based solution to help achieve Canada’s 2050 net-zero goal. But these essential carbon sinks are under threat: particularly in Ontario, increased development is leaving Canada’s peatlands vulnerable to destruction, and without more government protection, a vital tool for addressing climate change could become a liability.
A peatland is a bog, swamp or wetlands composed of ancient soil, some of it over 8,000 years old, and made up of sphagnum moss and decaying vegetation. Peat holds five times more carbon per square hectare than the Amazon rainforest. These ecosystems also provide critical wildlife habitats and potential climate change refuge for species and serve as a natural barrier for worsening forest fires.
Across Canada, peatlands sit largely on traditional territories of Indigenous nations. The ecosystems serve as hunting grounds, vital for food security, and are culturally important locations for family traplines and ceremonies like Sun Dance for the Cree.
Canada holds one-quarter to one-third of the world’s peatlands, amounting to the largest peatland carbon stock at 550 billion tonnes. To put that into perspective, global emissions from fossil fuel burning were 35 billion tonnes in 2020.
The second largest concentration of peatlands in the world is in the Hudson Bay Lowlands.
Canada holds one-quarter to one-third of the world’s peatlands, amounting to the largest peatland carbon stock at 550 billion tonnes. To put that into perspective, global emissions from fossil fuel burning were 35 billion tonnes in 2020. Photo courtesy of Lorna Harris
Harris says these ecosystems are threatened by climate change, which can lead to environmental catastrophes, such as the wildfires that swept through Fort McMurray, Alta., in 2016, where a tree-planting experiment and severe heat waves transformed the peatlands into a tinderbox. Severe permafrost thaw can also drown out peatlands, causing them to collapse, as it has done in the Northwest Territories.
“When we look at historical fires and fire frequency in the Hudson Bay Lowland itself, because the landscape is so wet, the fires are very small and not very frequent,” Harris says.
Russia, China and the U.K. are awakening to the essential natural functions of these ecosystems and are spending millions to restore their peatlands, Harris says. Yet Canada does not have a strategy to conserve these natural assets.
Large areas of undisturbed peatlands are currently vulnerable to expanding industrial projects, such as the mining development planned in northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire, which will release an estimated 130 to 250 million tonnes of carbon once fully developed, according to Harris’ research. Even on the low end, the development would create emissions equal to more than a seventh of Canada’s overall total emissions each year. That’s on top of large potential disturbances caused by a proposed all-season highway connecting the region to the rest of Ontario.
The Ring of Fire is setting up a battle between First Nations, who want a larger say in development planning for the region, and provincial and federal governments that want to become global powerhouses in critical minerals for a green economy.
Indigenous communities have already had disputes with the Ontario government and area mining companies. In 2010, First Nations blockaded airstrips built by mining companies in the region. In contrast, both former premier Kathleen Wynne’s and current Premier Doug Ford’s governments have approached First Nations with a divide-and-conquer strategy, handpicking certain First Nations to work with over others. Ford has also gone so far as to recently repeal sections of the Far North Act, ensuring the construction of the all-season road without the need for environmental assessments and First Nation consultations. Before the amendments, any development without a prior land-use plan would have required careful and collaborative planning.
The Ring of Fire’s most precious deposits include chromite, an essential mineral in stainless steel, and nickel, which is used in an assortment of batteries — nickel sulphate, for example, is a key component of electric vechicle batteries. Previous Liberal governments have estimated the monetary value of the Ring of Fire’s minerals at $60 billion, but that number was discredited by a 2019 Globe and Mail investigation that called it “aspirational hogwash.”
An aerial photo of the Hudson Bay Lowlands. New research echoes long-standing Indigenous knowledge about the importance of carbon-storing peatlands. Photo courtesy of Lorna Harris
There are no firm estimates about the value of the minerals contained in the Ring of Fire, but Toronto-based Noront Resource Ltd., the company that owns most mining concessions in the region, recently sold to an Australian private equity firm for $617 million after a bidding war, signaling that increased development is likely and considered worth the possibly profitable risks.
Cheechoo says the Mushkegowuk Council is not against development per se, but it must protect against adverse effects on the world’s second largest peatland complex. He says the federal government’s environmental assessment of the Ring of Fire doesn’t include the downstream, run-off risks that could damage the peatlands, James Bay and the Arctic Ocean.
“We need to have a frank discussion about the impacts that can happen in this region,” Cheechoo said.
Industry leaders take the line that any disturbance to the peatlands can be restored at a rate of $3,500 to $4,000 per hectare. But regaining the same level of carbon storage would take 1,500 years, or 1,469 years after Canada aims to hit its net-zero emissions goal, to return to undisturbed levels, according to Harris.
All of the carbon released from the peatlands adds to the problem of greenhouse gas emissions, Harris says. “In terms of offset, if you destroy peatlands in one place, the idea is you can create peatlands somewhere else. That doesn’t work in terms of carbon storage.”
Instead of costly peatland regeneration projects that won’t work, Harris’ team advocates for Indigenous Protected Conservation Areas, accurate carbon tracking of the peatlands, especially during development projects, a conservation economy that includes payments to preserve ancient peatlands and policy initiatives based on avoiding disturbances rather than mitigation.
Cheechoo jokes that First Nations should place a meter on their territories to bill the world for the amount of carbon captured on peatlands.
“Society doesn’t place a value, or see the value, of what the ecosystem is doing right now,” Harris says. “It’s a shame we can’t put a value on carbon in the correct way; we only see carbon’s value when it’s extracted.”
— With files from Mia Rabson, reporter with the Canadian Press
February is one of the coldest months in the Northern hemisphere. By this time, food sources for wild birds have become scarce, buried underneath snow or wilted away until spring. Lower temperatures also mean birds need a lot more food just to maintain their body temperature. Providing food that is high in energy, like sunflower seeds and cracked corn, helps wild birds get through this challenging season. That’s what Feed the Birds Month is all about!
Over time, it’s become increasingly important to ensure that bird lovers like you are aware of best practices. The goal is to reduce potential harm to birds from feeders, primarily diseases and predators. Here are some tips to get you started.
Breaking Down Myths: Are Feeders Safe for Birds?
While feeding wildlife is generally discouraged, bird feeders are an exception—birds don’t become dependent on feeders. Instead, birds incorporate feeders into a route that also includes natural resources. As a result, removing a bird feeder wouldn’t have the same impact as it might on wildlife who can become dependent on a particular food source.
1. Placement
Bird feeders should not be further than 3.5 meters from cover that provides a route of escape and protection to avoid predation.
There should be an unobstructed view around bird feeders so that foraging birds can detect any predators in the area.
Any cover that could conceal predators attempting to attack should not be near feeders.
Feeders at lower levels should be surrounded by brush or fencing to preclude predator access.
Bird feeders should be placed less than one metre or more than 10 metres away from buildings to minimize the risk of window collisions.
Good bird feeders are made from plastic, steel or glass as they are easier to clean.
Small feeders are best since they do not allow large numbers of birds to congregate, reducing contact rates, and they empty quickly, which prevents seeds from getting wet or spoiled.
Feeders should have drainage holes to prevent water from accumulating, and they should also not have sharp points or edges that may cause injury.
They should be covered to prevent seeds from getting wet, and they should allow birds to perch away from the food to avoid fecal contamination.
Always wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning your feeders.
3. Feed the right food
Provide only high-quality birdseed and avoid bargain brands that list “filler” seeds as main ingredients (ex. milo, red millet, oats, rice and wheat). Not only will these seeds be discarded by wild birds, but they will also absorb moisture—promoting spoilage and fungal growth while attracting rodents and other species.
Different bird species prefer different seed types, try to provide a variety whenever possible. Sunflower seeds are the top choice among most birds. Suet is great, but only in the winter months since it goes rancid quickly in the heat. Safflower seeds, nyjer seeds and peanuts are other good choices that will attract a variety of species.
Foods that have no nutritional value for birds or should not be fed to them include bread and chocolate.
4. Clean bird feeders and artificial water sources regularly
They should be cleaned and disinfected twice a month while in use.
Use a scrub brush and hot soapy water to clean debris and bird feces off the feeders.
Special attention should be given to the perches and openings where the birds have to place their heads inside to get access to bird feed.
After cleaning, they should be disinfected by immersion for two to three minutes in a solution of one part of liquid chlorine bleach and nine parts of warm water, then rinsed with clean water and allowed to air dry.
Remove feeders if an outbreak is detected, and consult your CWHC Regional Centre to find out when the danger has passed.
5. And
Use visual markers or other means to make your windows visible to birds. Learn more here.
Keep domestic cats indoors or outdoors only on a leash or in an enclosure to prevent predation. Learn more here.
Surveil the birds at your feeders: this is an important aspect of disease prevention in particular since the possibility of outbreaks is a constant threat. As well as keeping an eye on your backyard birds, listen for alerts from press outlets and management agencies on disease outbreaks.
Learn more about how Nature Canada is working towards making cities across the country bird friendly, visit our Bird Friendly City campaign and subscribe for updates to be the first to know about upcoming initiatives.
