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
You can help
Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.
We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.
