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The Other Side of the Story- a series of articles by Dave Neads on conservation-related topics
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The Other Side of the Story- a series of articles by Dave Neads on conservation-related topics
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February 19, 2004
Do you know what an "environmentalist" is? Over the years there has been a lot of labels given us. Some people have the view that we are obstructionist, anti-societal types who oppose everything from development to eating meat. These people speak of "bleeding hearts" and "anarchists". In reality, we are working for the same things as everyone else in the Chilcotin-Cariboo: a better future, a more safe and secure world for ourselves and our children. A look at the programs of the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society (CCCS) provides the other side of the story.The CCCS executive director, Marg Evans, is a very busy, dedicated person who smiles readily while providing the energy and enthusiasm to drive the many programs the CCCS has been involved in over the past year. Here are some of the current program areas she manages for the Society.
The core mandate of the CCCS is to foster and enhance the protection of our regions Parks through public education and involvement. For example, the CCCS worked this fall with over twelve other concerned groups in our community on the Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park (JSRP) conservation awareness. The CCCS produced signage and literature to help enhance and enforce the efforts to save our grasslands and their species. Acknowledgement of this initiative came from BC Parks area manager Steve Mazur who said "It is we who should be thanking you and the CCCS for leading the charge to get this [JSRP signage & handout] done. In these times of strained resources, cooperative efforts of volunteer groups go a long way to helping us all achieve our mutual objectives."
This spring, the Society plans to publish the second annual Parks Visitors Guide and Trails/Sites of Interest for 2004, increasing it by eight pages to include more hiking, cycling, and x-ski trail information. If you have any ideas for an article or photos please contact Marg.
The CCCS will again sponsor the second Our Parks Our Heritage Annual Exhibit, running June through November (ending in November at the Station House Gallery) . This program was hugely successful last year, show-casing the work of local artists who support the efforts of the society and giving them a chance to display their works.
We will continue to support and be involved in restoration of the Williams Lake River Valley Trail system as well as sponsoring a teaching module at Gavin Lake Education Centre, Ecological Webs and Protecting Spaces, where children will learn how everything is interconnected, including the species in the Chilcotin- Cariboo currently on the Red and Blue Lists (endangered and at risk species).
The society supports the Raptor Rehabilitation Centre with a donation as well as assistance locating some volunteer aides to help move some large bird cages. The upcoming Visitor's Guide will include an article on the centre, encouraging people to donate fish, volunteer time etc.
The Society is participating on the Interior Coho Recovery Team. A CCCS representative is working with a group of biologists to develop a recovery strategy that identifies the recovery goals, objectives and broad approaches to respond to known threats and recover the species.
The Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society offers several information sources : ccconserv List Serv, a free service to those concerned about parks, forests, wilderness, watersheds, air quality, biodiversity, ecological footprints, and wildlife issues. The list is also a forum for learning, sharing and discussing conservation issues and events. The Other Side of the Story articles printed bi-monthly in the Tribune provide a look at issues from a conservation perspective. Along with various public information sessions and displays, the CCCS office is open to the public Tuesdays-Thursdays, offering publications and books that may be loaned out.
The CCCS now has a website (www.ccconserv.org) which has detailed information on the species and various landscapes such as wetlands, grasslands, forests, alpine, and fjord lakes within the Cariboo Chilcotin region, including species at risk. Links to other educational sites with details on the environment are provided, as well as on-line access to the Parks and Trails/sites of Interest of the Cariboo Chilcotin Visitors' Guide. Some of these areas are still under construction as the site just went up and we are still working on it, so please bear with us.
For more information regarding the above mentioned projects or if you wish to volunteer or send a donation to the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society please give Marg a call or visit our website.
The CCCS is grateful to all its members, volunteers, donors and supporters. Your memberships and donations, including time and support in our various projects, makes the CCCS what it is today. However you have chosen to give, the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society would like to thank all of you so much for proving that environmentalists are just regular people who want to work with you to make the Chilcotin-Cariboo a better place to live.
- Dave Neads, President Cariboo Chilcotin Conversation Society
More articles in the series, The Other Side of The Story
Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society
Unit 201, 197 2nd Ave North Williams Lake, B.C., V2G 1Z5
Phone/Fax: 250 398-7929 • ccentre@ccconserv.org • Coordinator: Marg Evans
Original material in this website may be reproduced in any form without permission on condition that it is accredited to the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society, with a link back to this site or, in the case of printed material, a clear indication of the site URL. We would appreciate being notified of such use. Although care has been taken in preparing the information contained in this web site, the CCCS does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy thereof. Anyone using the information does so at their own risk and shall be deemed to indemnify CCCS from any and all injury or damage arising from such use.
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