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Nature and the environment

  • Author:
    Kagume, Sahara
    Summary:

    Canada is a vast country with large expanses of forests, towering mountains, spacious prairies and wide-open tundra. Each of these environments has its own unique animals, birds, insects and plants. This is your country, so learn all you can about

  • Author:
    Casey, Allan
    Summary:

    Lakes define not only Canada's landscape but the national imagination. Blending writing on nature, travel, and science, award-winning journalist Allan Casey systematically explores how the country's history and culture originates at the lakeshore. Lakeland describes a series of interconnected journeys by the author, punctuated by the seasons and the personalities he meets along the way including aboriginal fishery managers, fruit growers, boat captains, cottagers, and scientists. Together they form an evocative portrait of these beloved bodies of water and what they mean, from sapphire tarns above the Rocky Mountain tree line to the ponds of western Newfoundland.

  • Author:
    Ulysse, Collectif
    Summary:

    Découvrez Lake Louise et ses environs à l'aide de ce chapitre extrait du guide Ulysse Explorez les Rocheuses canadiennes. Partie intégrante du parc national Banff, Lake Louise est une véritable icône des Rocheuses canadiennes. Le lac et le village voisin portent ce nom. L'engouement pour le lac Louise ne date pas d'aujourd'hui et l'histoire de sa découverte est formidable. Vert émeraude, il se trouve au pied du fantastique glacier Victoria. En été, jusqu'à 15 000 visiteurs se rendent chaque jour à Lake Louise, attirés par la renommée de son petit lac, autour duquel un réseau de petits sentiers permettent de se promener tranquillement ou de gravir la montagne pour jouir d'une vue magnifique sur le glacier Victoria, le lac Louise et toute la vallée glaciaire, et même de rejoindre des maisons de thé perchées dans les montagnes. Le beau Chateau Lake Louise est un vaste hôtel constitue à lui seul une attraction touristique, avec son architecture de style château, ses 550 chambres. Les environs de Lake Louise recèlent de spectaculaires plans d'eau, tels le lac Agnes et le lac Moraine, qui, en plus, offrent d'extraordinaires paysages pour toile de fond, comme la Valley of the Ten Peaks ou les monts Victoria et Fairview. La Lake Louise Gondola du Lake Louise Ski Resort permet en été d'admirer le joyau des Rocheuses canadiennes, le lac Louise, et même d'entrevoir des grizzlys. Dans cette région idéale pour la randonnée pédestre se trouvent des sentiers menant vers des paysages qui le sont tout autant. Sans oublier les étonnantes auberges de montagne situées tout autour. Ce chapitre propose une liste descriptive et détaillée des différents attraits dans cette partie des Rocheuses canadiennes, chaque site étant coté par un système d'étoiles pour vous aider dans vos choix de visites. Pour les informations pratiques, un carnet d'adresses vous indique les meilleurs restaurants et cafés, une sélection d'hôtels et de gîtes, des bons plans pour le magasinage et les sorties.

  • Author:
    Ulysse, Collectif
    Summary:

    Découvrez La promenade des Glaciers à l'aide de ce chapitre extrait du guide Ulysse Explorez les Rocheuses canadiennes. La promenade des Glaciers, ou Icefields Parkway emprunte, depuis Lake Louise, la route 93 sur une distance de 232 km, remonte jusqu'à la ligne continentale de partage des eaux, partiellement recouverte de champs de glace, et prend fin à Jasper. Elle s'étend donc sur le territoire des parcs nationaux de Banff et de Jasper. Bien revêtue, cette large route est l'une des plus fréquentées des Rocheuses en été. La vitesse y est limitée à 90 km/h et de nombreux animaux la traversent. Les paysages qu'elle vous fera découvrir sont véritablement grandioses. Spectaculaires, les chutes, glaciers, monts, grottes et autres lacs auxquels la promenade des Glaciers donne accès. Fantastiques, les excursions en gros véhicule au départ du Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre, qui emmènent les visiteurs directement sur le glacier. Tout cela en plus du Glacier Skywalk, une promenade vitrée en porte-à-faux juchée à 300 m du sol, avec une vue magnifique sur la Sunwapta Valley. Ce chapitre propose une liste descriptive et détaillée des différents attraits dans cette partie des Rocheuses canadiennes, chaque site étant coté par un système d'étoiles pour vous aider dans vos choix de visites. Pour les informations pratiques, un carnet d'adresses vous indique les meilleurs restaurants et cafés, une sélection d'hôtels et de gîtes, des bons plans pour le magasinage et les sorties.

  • Author:
    Gauthier, Catherine, Séguin, Hugo, Simard, Philippe, Chaloux, Annie
    Summary:

    La crise de la COVID-19 est un choc violent porté à un système socio-économique mondial déjà en transition vers des sociétés carboneutres. Un coup d'arrêt a été donné à la mondialisation, à la libre circulation des biens et services et au fonctionnement du libre marché. Du point de vue de l'action et de la recherche sur la transition énergétique et écologique, il est pour le moment difficile d'imaginer quels seront les contours d'un monde post-pandémie, et notamment quelle « nouvelle normale » en émergera. La crise climatique à l'aube d'un monde incertain dresse un état des lieux du monde pré-COVID-19 que nous venons de quitter et offre des clés de compréhension des principaux enjeux climatiques et énergétiques actuels. Il analyse les bouleversements dans l'économie politique mondiale générés par les mesures de réduction des émissions de GES et passe en revue les objectifs de l'Accord de Paris, la montée des énergies renouvelables, la détérioration de l'environnement d'affaire des industries fossiles, la mise en place de grandes politiques publiques et les nombreuses incohérences et incompatibilités entre les engagements politiques et les réalités sur le terrain. S'adressant aux étudiants, aux professionnels et aux gestionnaires de domaines variés, le présent ouvrage conclut finalement par une question au cœur des réflexions critiques actuelles: et si l'économie de marché que nous connaissons était l'une des causes profondes de la crise climatique? Annie Chaloux est professeure à l'École de politique appliquée de l'Université de Sherbrooke et codirectrice du Groupe d'études et de recherche sur l'international et le Québec. Elle se spécialise en politiques environnementales et climatiques canadiennes et québécoises ainsi qu'en négociations climatiques internationales. Catherine Gauthier est directrice générale d'ENvironnement JEUnesse et chargée de cours à l'École de politique appliquée de l'Université de Sherbrooke. Détentrice d'une maîtrise en droit international et politique internationale, elle se spécialise dans les négociations climatiques internationales, les questions environnementales et les droits humains. En novembre 2018, elle a entamé une poursuite pour dénoncer l'inaction du Canada dans la lutte contre les changements climatiques. En plus d'être l'une des autrices de cet ouvrage, elle a également agi à titre de coordonnatrice de l'équipe de recherche. Hugo Séguin est Fellow au Centre d''études et de recherches internationales de l'Université de Montréal (CÉRIUM) et doctorant en études environnementales à l''Université de l'Oregon. Il se consacre aux questions de politiques environnementales et climatiques en tant que conseiller principal auprès de COPTICOM, Stratégies et Relations publiques.? Philippe Simard est professionnel de recherche à l'École de politique appliquée de l'Université de Sherbrooke et chercheur pour le Groupe d'études et de recherche sur l'international et le Québec (GÉRIQ). Détenteur d'une maîtrise en études politiques appliquées, il se spécialise dans les domaines de l'écopolitique internationale et de l'aide publique au développement. Il travaille également à titre de chargé de projet chez COPTICOM, Stratégies et Relations publiques.

  • Author:
    Eszterhas, Suzi
    Summary:

    Koala Hospital kicks off the new 4-book Wildlife Rescue series from Owlkids Books. Each book introduces a species of animal in danger somewhere in the world and invites readers inside a rescue center that helps them. Inviting photos by award–winning wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas give readers a rare view of the animals and the high level of care they receive. Koala Hospital features a koala rescue center in Australia. It shows why koalas are in danger, how they come to be in the sanctuary, and the process of healing and rehabilitating koalas for return to the wild. Koala Hospital also focuses on the people who work at the rescue center and how they aid the animals. Other special features include a map showing the rescue center and the koala’s native habitat range, as well as an index, glossary and author Q&A based on common questions from kids. An author’s note at the end introduces readers to small-scale ways that even they can help save koalas. Informational text features: table of contents, photographs with captions. A portion of the royalties from sales of this book will be donated to the Koala Hospital.

  • Author:
    Hanington, Ian, Suzuki, David
    Summary:

    A resounding post–Paris Agreement wake-up call about the urgency of the climate crisis that offers a range of practical solutions—and above all, hope.
    Climate change is the most important crisis humanity has faced, but we still confront huge barriers to resolving it. So, what do we do, and is there hope for humanity? The problem itself is complex, and there’s no single solution. But by understanding the barriers to resolving global warming and by employing a wide range of solutions—from shifting to clean energy to planting trees to reforming agricultural practices—we can get the world back on track.
    Just Cool It is David Suzuki at his most passionate. In this book, he offers a comprehensive look at the current state of climate science and knowledge and the many ways to resolve the climate crisis, imploring us to do what’s necessary to live in a better, cleaner future. When enough people demand action, change starts happening—and this time, it could be monumental.

  • Author:
    Flyn, Cal
    Summary:

    A beautiful, lyrical exploration of the places where nature is flourishing in our absence. Some of the only truly feral cattle in the world wander a long-abandoned island off the northernmost tip of Scotland. A variety of wildlife not seen in many lifetimes has rebounded on the irradiated grounds of Chernobyl. A lush forest supports thousands of species that are extinct or endangered everywhere else on earth in the Korean peninsula's narrow DMZ. Cal Flyn, an investigative journalist, exceptional nature writer, and promising new literary voice visits the eeriest and most desolate places on Earth that due to war, disaster, disease, or economic decay, have been abandoned by humans. What she finds every time is an "island" of teeming new life: nature has rushed in to fill the void faster and more thoroughly than even the most hopeful projections of scientists. Islands of Abandonment is a tour through these new ecosystems, in all their glory, as sites of unexpected environmental significance, where the natural world has reasserted its wild power and promise. And while it doesn't let us off the hook for addressing environmental degradation and climate change, it is a case that hope is far from lost, and it is ultimately a story of redemption: the most polluted spots on Earth can be rehabilitated through ecological processes and, in fact, they already are

  • Author:
    Hitchcock, Susan Tyler
    Summary:

    For millennia, trees have offered renewal and inspiration. They have provided for humanity on every level, from spiritual sanctuary to the raw material for our homes, books, and food. In this beautiful and revealing book, National Geographic combines legendary photography with cutting-edge science to illuminate exactly how trees influence the life of planet Earth--from our personal lives to the weather cycle. Beautifully illustrated essays tell the stories of the world's most remarkable trees, from Tane Mahura in New Zealand, the ancient Maori "lord of the forest," to Pando, a single aspen spreading over 100 acres: Earth's largest living thing. You'll also discover how an astronaut carried tree seeds to the moon and back; the reason "microdosing" on tree gas is a sure way to boost your immune system; and why playing in the dirt boosts serotonin, happiness hormone. For nature and science enthusiasts, as well as photography lovers, Into the Forest is a beautiful and edifying gift to give or cherish.

  • Author:
    Schlossberg, Tatiana
    Summary:

    Cataloging the complexities and frustrations of our carbon-intensive society with a dry sense of humor, Schlossberg makes the climate crisis and its solutions interesting and relevant to everyone who cares, even a little, about the planet. She empowers readers to think about their stuff and the environment in a new way, helping them make more informed choices when it comes to the future of our world.

  • Author:
    Oakes, Lauren E.
    Summary:

    The award-winning and surprisingly hopeful story of one woman's search for resiliency in a warming world Several years ago, ecologist Lauren E. Oakes set out from California for Alaska's old-growth forests to hunt for a dying tree: the yellow-cedar. With climate change as the culprit, the death of this species meant loss for many Alaskans. Oakes and her research team wanted to chronicle how plants and people could cope with their rapidly changing world. Amidst the standing dead, she discovered the resiliency of forgotten forests, flourishing again in the wake of destruction, and a diverse community of people who persevered to create new relationships with the emerging environment. Eloquent, insightful, and deeply heartening, In Search of the Canary Tree is a case for hope in a warming world.

  • Author:
    Guiochon, Cécile, Alonso, Bernard
    Summary:

    Human Permaculture is a forward-thinking guide that adapts permaculture principles for complete life redesign to align with the planet's available resources. Offering step-by-step instructions, it explores permaculture concepts, personal niches, efficient teamwork, and our vital links with the natural world.

  • Author:
    Gooley, Tristan
    Summary:

    Nobody wakes up in the morning and decides to shut down their senses and stumble through each day in an oblivious bubble, and yet some people end up having much richer experiences than others. In this guidebook, natural navigator Tristan Gooley strives to reawaken our senses to help us understand and deepen our personal experience of nature. His message is to connect-however we can and to whatever draws us in. Some listeners will find they have a knack for predicting rain or, after ten minutes of trying to draw a tree, that they will never look at trees the same way again. For others, the landscape will come to life once they see everything from butterflies to bears as locked in a Darwinian struggle for survival. By pairing his philosophy-that there's much more to nature than meets the eye if we know where and how to look-with fifteen simple get-out-the-door exercises, Gooley invites readers who have shared his previous adventures to go out and make their own discoveries.

  • Author:
    Gates, Bill
    Summary:

    In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical - and accessible - plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe.
    Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal. 
    He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. Drawing on his understanding of innovation and what it takes to get new ideas into the market, he describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions, where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively, where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete, practical plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions - suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers, and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise. 
    As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but if we follow the plan he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach. 
    This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF of charts, graphs, and pictures from the book.

  • Author:
    Roy, Sumana
    Summary:

    Drawn to trees' wisdom, their nonviolent way of being, their ability to cope with loneliness and pain, Roy explores the lessons that writers, painters, photographers, scientists, and spiritual figures have gleaned through their engagement with trees. Blending literary history, theology, philosophy, botany, and more, this audiobook will prompt listeners to imagine a reenchanted world in which humans live more like trees.

  • Author:
    Kelsey, Elin
    Summary:

    Hope Matters boldly breaks through the narrative of doom and gloom to show why evidence-based hope, not fear, is our most powerful tool for change. Kelsey shares real-life examples of positive climate news that reveal the power of our mindsets to shape reality, the resilience of nature, and the transformative possibilities of individual and collective action. And she demonstrates how we can build on positive trends to work toward a sustainable and just future, before it is too late.

  • Author:
    Morton, Alexandra, Proctor, Bill
    Summary:

    Originally published in 1998, this updated edition has a brand-new cover and new foreword by Alexandra Morton. Billy Proctor was born in 1934 and has spent his entire life in a remote coastal community called Echo Bay, BC on an island off northern Vancouver Island. Proctor has always done the time-honoured work of generations of upcoast men—hand-logging, fishing, clam digging, repairing boats, beachcombing. But Billy eventually began to notice that the thriving runs of Pacific salmon, oolichans, and herring that he remembers from his early years were vanishing—some to near extinction—and he understood that it was time to take action. Heart of the Raincoast is the fascinating story of Billy Proctor’s life, and the wealth of knowledge and understanding that can only be gained from living in such close proximity to nature. The writing is funny, touching and honest—and offers an engaging insider’s view not only of the salmon, whales, eagles and independent people who populate Canada’s wild and lovely coastal rainforest, but on what we need to do to keep it as nature intended.

  • Author:
    Cannings, Richard, Cannings, Sydney, Nelson, JoAnne
    Summary:

    This book tells the story of the province’s geology and the history of its living creatures. The first edition of Geology of British Columbia,, with its accessible but rigorous science, struck a chord with readers. Since it was first published, theories about plate tectonics and the geological history of British Columbia have evolved, and this new edition reflects the current thinking. This book also features updated content throughout, seven new maps, and a number of new photographs. A brand new appendix lists and describes key geological sites in British Columbia, adding a field-guide component to this informative book that will engage readers and compel them to go see these rocks for themselves.

  • Author:
    Wray, Britt
    Summary:

    An impassioned generational perspective on how to stay sane amid climate disruption. Climate and environment-related fears and anxieties are on the rise everywhere. As with any type of stress, eco-anxiety can lead to lead to burnout, avoidance, or a disturbance of daily functioning. In Generation Dread , Britt Wray seamlessly merges scientific knowledge with emotional insight to show how these intense feelings are a healthy response to the troubled state of the world. The first crucial step toward becoming an engaged steward of the planet is connecting with our climate emotions, seeing them as a sign of humanity, and learning how to live with them. We have to face and value eco-anxiety, Wray argues, before we can conquer the deeply ingrained, widespread reactions of denial and disavowal that have led humanity to this alarming period of ecological decline. It's not a level playing field when it comes to our vulnerability to the climate crisis, she notes, but as the situation worsens, we are all on the field—and unlocking deep stores of compassion and care is more important than ever. Weaving in insights from climate-aware therapists, critical perspectives on race and privilege in this crisis, ideas about the future of mental health innovation, and creative coping strategies, Generation Dread brilliantly illuminates how we can learn from the past, from our own emotions, and from each other to survive—and even thrive—in a changing world.

  • Author:
    Kimmerer, Robin Wall
    Summary:

    Living at the limits of our ordinary perception, mosses are a common but largely unnoticed element of the natural world. Gathering Moss is a beautifully written mix of science and personal reflection that invites listeners to explore and learn from the elegantly simple lives of mosses. Robin Wall Kimmerer's book is not an identification guide, nor is it a scientific treatise. Rather, it is a series of linked personal essays that will lead general readers and scientists alike to an understanding of how mosses live and how their lives are intertwined with the lives of countless other beings, from salmon and hummingbirds to redwoods and rednecks. Kimmerer clearly and artfully explains the biology of mosses, while at the same time reflecting on what these fascinating organisms have to teach us. Drawing on her diverse experiences as a scientist, mother, teacher, and writer of Native American heritage, Kimmerer explains the stories of mosses in scientific terms as well as in the framework of indigenous ways of knowing. In her book, the natural history and cultural relationships of mosses become a powerful metaphor for ways of living in the world.

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