SHAK HAQ: A beetle known as the emerald ash borer is destroying ash trees across Ottawa. City forestry officials were shocked to hear recent cases of the beetle’s appearance and concerned at the potential damage a severe infestation could cause. Originating from eastern Asia, the beetle was first sighted in 2008 in Ottawa’s east end. Since then, beetle populations have migrated across the city and are now attacking ash trees in the west end, where the Central Experimental Farm is located. The farm is home to a collection of rare and valuable ash trees, some more than 80 years old. The beetle poses a threat because their larvae eat the flesh of the ash tree leaving snake-like burrows in the trunk. Its recent sighting was first noticed two weeks ago when city officials found a dead tree at the southern edge of Central Experimental Farm. At this point, the trees within the farm are expected to be unharmed, however farm staff is taking all precautions and inoculations will take place over the next few weeks. [ index ]

JESSE ROGERSON: BP Canada has quietly begun construction and drilling operations earlier this month on an exploratory methane well at Mist Mountain, located in the British Columbia Rocky Mountains.

Permission to drill was granted in December for the Mist Mountain project, despite an onslaught of public and private criticisms of the lack of environmental oversight.  Critics contest that the process of extracting the coalbed methane produces water that can contain unnatural substances, which is then allowed to flow back into the ecosystem.

BP Canada has conducted several environmental impact studies for the past 3 years at Mist Mountain and maintain their impact will be minimal.  Critics believe BP has side stepped a more involved study by the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Review.  It is unknown how the governmental assessment would compare to BP Canada’s private assessment.

Mist Mountain is located in the rocky mountains near Banff National Park.  This region is home to protected wildlife. Possible disruption of the habitat or food system in the area could have detrimental effects on these at-risk species. [ index ]

SHAK HAQ: Brinkman & Associates Reforestation Ltd. recently planted its billionth tree. Founded in British Columbia in 1970, the Canadian silviculture and forest ecosystem renewal company reached the milestone on June 14. Planting crews from Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Costa Rica and Panama attended the ceremonial planting of the billionth tree. The lucky tree is a sapling now residing in Toronto’s Centennial Park. A mature tree was also planted at Eagleridge Bluff on the Sea-to-Sky Highway in British Columbia as part of the occasion. Thus far Brinkman & Associates has specialized in reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation in addition to restoring and managing forests. In some countries they will even exchange their reforestation efforts for emission reduction credits, which is especially appealing to developing and heavily industrialized nations. The president of the company, Dirk Brinkman, hopes this achievement will help drive the company towards forest ecosystem renewal in the US, Central and South America as well as tropical silviculture, which would lead to projects in Southeast Asia and Africa. [ index ]

JESSE ROGERSON: The National Round Table on the Environment and Economy has concluded in a new study that Canada’s water management policies do not promote sustainability or allow for economic growth in the natural resources sector.

Clean water is a critical component of the energy, mining, forest, and agriculture sectors, representing 85% of the country’s water consumption.  These sectors also represent a significant portion of the Canadian economy.  Current estimates show a growth in these industries of over 50% in the next 20 years, which will add to the already heavy demands on water resources.

Currently, water allocation and management is the responsibility of local governments, which may not be properly equipped to handle increased pressures on the resource. The report calls for a centralized national framework for integrated water governance and management.  This, however, must be initiated before water scarcity becomes an issue.

The report, titled ‘Changing Currents,’ is phase I of an inquiry into sustainable water policy in Canada.  Phase II will include research into potential solutions to these critical issues.  Results of phase II are expected in the coming year. [ index ]

SHAK HAQ: Waste management strategies are being revamped for apartments and condos across Toronto due to low participation rates in current programs. In 2006, Mayor David Miller promised to divert 70 per cent of household waste from landfills by 2011. While single-family homes have reached 60 per cent diversion, multi-unit buildings stand at only 16 per cent. Last year green-bin service was introduced to multi-unit facilities, but participation has only climbed to 10 per cent. According to city staff, the previous fee system confused many residents and building owners and offered minimal benefits for participating. As a result 75,000 residents lost access to the city’s recycling program as building owners opted to go with private removal companies. By provincial law, private companies are only required to provide basic blue-box service and are not obliged to collect organic waste or electronics. The city has responded by creating a new system that forces a building owner to make significant cuts in waste produced per unit and only then will they receive a cut in the removal fee. Under the new system, even reducing a small amount of waste will result in immediate financial rewards. Currently, buildings are not charged for recyclables collected. [ index ]

JESSE ROGERSON: A federal inquiry into the state of sockeye salmon in the Fraser River begins preliminary hearings this week.   Prime Minister Stephen Harper ordered the inquiry last year when 10 fold fewer sockeye returned to the Fraser River than expected.

The inquiry will examine a variety of potential influences, including water pollution, diseases, and urbanization.  Most importantly, the impact of salmon farming on the survival of wild sockeye will be assessed.  The commission will contract out research studies to leading experts in the field.

Other sections of the inquiry will look at the structure of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and contamination from pulp mills and sewage treatment plants that are scattered along the river.

Conservative MP John Cummins has criticized the commission for conflict of interest.  As he pointed out, a large portion of the leading experts being used in the inquiry were former employees at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which will be under scrutiny during the course of the hearings.  The commission denies the conflict of interest.

The proceedings will occur in the federal court in Vancouver, led by Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cohen.  The commission will present its findings in May of next year. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE: Following negotiations with the White House earlier this week, British Petroleum has agreed to set aside $20 Billion into an independently managed fund to pay costs and liabilities stemming from the ongoing Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. The fund will be overseen by Ken Feinberg, a lawyer and mediator who oversaw the fund to compensate victims of the September 11th attacks. The $20 Billion will go towards compensating employees of the fishing and tourism industries in the Gulf States whose livelihoods have been threatened by the mass of crude oil washing ashore. In addition, BP has bowed to US pressure and suspended paying dividends for at least the next three fiscal quarters; this is to assure that it retains enough cash to pay for further liabilities and damages should they exceed $20 Billion. Some analysts have estimated that the costs to BP could go as high as $60 Billion, especially if the US proceeds with criminal charges against the company. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE: The European Parliament has drafted a bill to ban illegal timber starting in 2012. The law would require companies operating in the European common market to ensure that their timber comes from legal sources. The law will apply “substantial penalties” to companies which do not employ due-diligence in ensuring their timber was not logged illegally. The law would regulate the import and use of raw timber and products such as furniture starting in 2012, while paper products would be exempt for 5 years. A UN report estimated that in 2006, 20-40% of the world’s wood came from illegal logging. In Europe, an estimated 16-19% of imported wood comes from illegal sources. Aside from the ecological damage it causes, illegal logging depresses the price of legal wood, and deprives nations with forestry industries of royalties and tax revenues. The proposed bill will go to a vote in the European Parliament next month. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE: A rather unusual project is underway in Peru to try and slow, or reverse, glacier loss. The project involves painting the rock face of Chalon Sombrero peak in the Peruvian Andes white. The paint, made from lime, egg whites, and water, is splashed on the rocks surrounding the glacier. The idea is to increase the amount of light the mountain reflects, thereby reducing the temperature and creating a colder microclimate which is more conducive to snow and ice formation. It may sound far-fetched, but the idea has won a $200,000 prize from the World Bank’s “100 Ideas to Save the Planet” competition. The local population, who rely on Andean glaciers for water, are behind the idea and pitching in to help the pilot project. Peru is home to 70% of the world’s tropical glaciers, but they have been receding rapidly over the last 50 years. [ index ]