Nature P.E.I. educating summer campers about at-risk species

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A non-profit group is on a mission to coach kids about at-risk species in P.E.I. 

Nature P.E.I. launched a brand new program this summer time with the objective to journey to kids’s summer time camps throughout Prince Edward Island to boost consciousness about endangered species and the way they are often protected. 

“Plenty of kids and members of the general public usually in P.E.I. will not be conscious of the species in danger,” stated venture co-ordinator Harriet Laver in an interview with SaltWire Community on July 29. “It’s nice to get the message to out to particularly by means of kids as a result of they love studying these things.” 

There are 26 species in Prince Edward Island presently listed on the federal species-at-risk public registry.

Many Islanders find out about piping plovers and monarch butterflies, however they’re unaware of what number of different species are at severe threat of extinction, stated Laver. 

“They’ve been closely targeted on, however there’s so many different folks want to listen to about,” she stated. 

“The largest factor can be letting (youngsters) know there’s at all times one thing we will do. It might be so simple as planting flowers and constructing hen or bat containers or simply making an attempt to preserve the habitat that now we have.” — Harriet Laver 

As of 2022, P.E.I. has three bumble bee species in danger, 4 species of lichen and 15 species of birds. Others embody arthropods, bats and vascular crops. 

A number of fish species discovered close to P.E.I. are additionally in danger, together with Atlantic salmon and striped bass. 

“(Striped bass) is stunning as a result of lots of people get pleasure from fishing that right here and do not know,” stated Laver. 

Do you know? 

• The gypsy cuckoo bumble bee is probably the most endangered bee species in P.E.I. To outlive, they have to lay their eggs within the nest of one other bumble bee species. One other species of concern is the yellow-banded bumble bee, which has been listed below particular concern by the federal Species At Threat Act (SARA). 
• Most of the at-risk animals in P.E.I. are vulnerable to turning into extirpated, that means they not exist within the area however nonetheless exist elsewhere. 
• P.E.I. was house to 1000’s of Atlantic walruses, a species that has now turn out to be extirpated because of warming waters and elevated air pollution.

Causes for loss

A lot of this loss is because of elevated urbanization, deforestation, rising sea ranges and altering climate patterns. 

Laver distributes a pocket information to each camper that labels the species and breaks down that are extra at-risk than others, categorizing them as both endangered, threatened or particular concern. 

It additionally labels the species the Island has already misplaced, which incorporates the caribou, wolves, the Canadian lynx and the American black bear. 

“At the beginning, I at all times ask the youngsters what number of species are in danger in P.E.I. that they know of. Sometimes, some can title a couple of, some can’t title any. On the finish, I ask what species they know now, and so they can normally title 5 or extra,” stated Laver. 

To this point, Haver has visited 5 camps throughout the province and talked to greater than 75 kids. A lot of the campers she talks to are between the ages of 5 and 11, and their response has been very optimistic.

“The largest factor can be letting (youngsters) know there’s at all times one thing we will do. It might be so simple as planting flowers and constructing hen or bat containers or simply making an attempt to preserve the habitat that now we have,” she stated. “It’s nice to get the message out, particularly to kids, as a result of they love studying these things. It feels actually nice.” 

“At the beginning, I at all times ask the youngsters what number of species are in danger in P.E.I. that they know of. Sometimes, some can title a couple of, some can’t title any. On the finish I ask what species they know now, and so they can normally title 5 or extra.” — Harriet Laver 

Discovering funding

Rosemary Curley, president of Nature P.E.I., says this concept has been years within the making. 

Curley labored with a number of provincial environmental ministers to get the funding for the venture, receiving a one-year grant from Forestry, Fish and Wildlife to finish the work. 

“We didn’t have a lot hassle getting the funding for this venture,” stated Curley.

As soon as the summer time ends, the plan is to proceed this system by means of the autumn and go to faculties to proceed educating kids. To this point, one college has already signed up.

Seminars for adults are additionally being organized, because the objective is to attempt to attain each Islander with this info. 

“We actually need to attain the entire inhabitants. Plenty of Islanders don’t have any thought of what number of at-risk species now we have or what we will do to assist,” stated Curley. “It feels good to really make some progress and maybe make a distinction.” 

Rafe Wright is a Native Journalism Initiative reporter, a place lined by the federal authorities. He writes about local weather change points for the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island and might be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @wright542.