CTS 10-12: Environmental Stewardship: Conservation

Information from the Government of Canada about environmental indicators on air, climate, water, nature, and human influence

Conservation Magazine is all about discovering and connecting with the people and research that impact the conservation of Alberta’s fish, wildlife and the places they call home.

The RASC has developed formal guidelines and requirements for three types of light-restricted protected areas: Dark-Sky Preserves, Urban Star Parks and Nocturnal Preserves.

Ducks Unlimited is now the world's largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization.

This is a section on the Ducks Unlimited site filled with resources for educators and students. You will find lesson plans, programs and activities.

Scroll down to explore an overview (with images) of grasslands, including why these ecosystems matter, current threats to Canada's grasslands and action being taken to conserve this ecosystem.

Students will view a series of videos that explore topics such as wind energy and hydraulic fracturing. Guiding questions that encourage critical thinking are included.

Students will conduct their own home energy audit to evaluate the degree of energy efficiency in their own homes as well as take stock of their individual conservation behaviors.

Resources for exploring climate change, the availability of freshwater, land management and more — in middle and high school science classrooms.

The One Square Inch Project was started by Gordon Hempton, who began traveling around the country looking for places that met the criteria of 'quiet places'.

Indigenous peoples have wide-ranging knowledge of the land and its ecology. Through collaboration with Indigenous partners, Parks Canada benefits from traditional knowledge systems

Lands inhabited by Indigenous Peoples contain 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity. Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge and knowledge systems are key to designing a sustainable future for all.

Federal and provincial governments exist temporarily and have a short-term view of environmental protection.
Indigenous Peoples on the other hand who do not come and go, and they place a high value on protecting the environment.

A PhD candidate at the University of Alberta is encouraging the government and other agencies to consider a pathway through climate change using the thoughtful approach of Indigenous knowledge for conservation and resource management.

Parks Canada conserves and restores ecosystems on land and in water. Learn about these initiatives through this government portal.

Explore the world's national parks, wilderness areas and world heritage sites. Use the interactive map to explore different areas of the world. This was created through a UN partnership with the International Union of Conservation of Nature, as well as other organizations.

Silence just might be on the verge of extinction. In “Sanctuaries of Silence,” join Gordon Hempton on an immersive listening journey.

The deep connection between STEM and Native Americans started with understanding on how the environment worked and experimentation. Now, that relationship is still being fostered today.

Explore what makes trees a vital part of cities, and how urban spaces throughout history have embraced the importance of trees.

On this site, you will find a series of lessons on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, or TEK

This video explains what International Dark Sky Parks are and the reasons why dark skies deserve protection.

WCS Canada saves wildlife and wild places in Canada through science, conservation action, and by inspiring people to value nature.

Learn more about wildfires and monitor the wildfire situation in Alberta. There are a number of resources here (including videos) about wildfire prevention, management and status.

This interactive map provides information about forest fire hotspots in Canada, as well as areas of low to high risk for forest fires.

Before removal from their traditional lands, Indigenous Peoples used controlled burns to manage forests and rangeland.

For millenia, fire was integral to many Indigenous peoples’ way of life. Fire was a tool that promoted ecological diversity and reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Prescribed fire is a colonial adaptation of cultural burning practiced by many different Indigenous groups in Canada. Learn about the differences.

Prior to contact, indigenous peoples used fire to modify the landscape. The "untouched, pristine" wilderness of North America was the result of the Indigenous use of fire, creating an mosaic of grasslands and forests across North America

The Native American practice of cultural burning — or ‘good fire’ — can help our forests thrive. Listen to this discussion about cultural burning leading the way.

This video explains some of the benefits of wildfire. Due to the way they grow, some trees (like lodgepole pines) need fire to survive. Learn about how wildfires contribute to the ecosystem. Related Lesson

Bees are the world’s greatest pollinators, and they help with the pollination of one-third of the food we consume. They are also a massive part of our global economy. But there isn't just one type of bee, to truly understand bees you need to be able to distinguish between the most common types of bees.

Students can learn why bees make honey, about the colony and different bees in the colony. Along with colourful images, this site has additional information about bees and sustainability.

This animated TED video takes a look at the disappearance of honey bees, colony collapse disorder, possible causes and effects to our food supply.