Maple Leaf’s commitment to coastal conservation

Research, conservation and good relationships all tend to be long term endeavours and Maple Leaf’s commitment to Raincoast helps us build all three.

2019 marks the second year of a decade-long $100,000 commitment from Maple Leaf Adventures to our research and conservation efforts on the BC Coast and, in particular, the Great Bear Rainforest.

We are grateful that Maple Leaf recognizes the importance of community engagement and that their support helps facilitate our employment of local field crew members.

As the spring field program for Raincoast’s Salmon Carnivore program comes to an end, we are thankful that the generous support from Maple Leaf builds our capacity. It’s an investment in our ability to support not only Raincoast scientists, but also local field crew members who are essential to the research work in their territories.

Financial backing from Maple Leaf is part of what enables graduate student Ilona Mihalik to conduct her research. As a new graduate student, she will be using chemical markers to track the flow of salmon into coastal ecosystems. Under the direction of Raincoast’s Director of Science and UVic Professor Chris Darimont, Ilona’s studies are part of a greater ecosystem research effort being carried out in collaboration with the Heiltsuk, Wuikinuxv, and Nuxalk First Nations. We are grateful that Maple Leaf recognizes the importance of community engagement and that their support helps facilitate our employment of local field crew members.

Beyond their investments in research, Maple Leaf also supports our conservation work. As we now embark on efforts to end commercial trophy hunting in and around the giant Kitlope watershed, we owe a more recent thanks to Maple Leaf for inviting photographer Alex Harris aboard their Cascadia vessel for a trip into this spectacular region. You’ll be seeing more of Alex’s amazing pictures and stories shortly.

Research, conservation and good relationships all tend to be long term endeavours and Maple Leaf’s commitment to Raincoast helps us build all three.

With our thanks.

Ross Dixon
Communications and Development Director

 

Support our mobile lab, Tracker!

Our new mobile lab will enable the Healthy Waters Program to deliver capacity, learning, and training to watershed-based communities. We need your support to convert the vehicle and equip it with lab instrumentation. This will allow us to deliver insight into pollutants of concern in local watersheds, and contribute to solution-oriented practices that protect and restore fish habitat.

Sam Scott and Peter Ross standing in front of the future mobile lab, which is a grey sprinter van.