Sometimes being in first place is a bad thing. Consider, for instance, reports that Canada’s now ranked number one in the world at hacking apart pristine forests.
Recently released satellite mapping from global forest watch shows that since 2000, Canada’s led the way on splintering the planet’s last remaining “intact” virgin forests, thanks in large part to oil and gas development.
Add to that the increasing ferocity of climate-change-linked wildfires ripping up Canada’s canopy and threatened species like the woodland caribou are at greater and greater risk.
Check out the maps at globalforestwatch.org.
Honey makers sue chemical corps over bee losses
Canadian beekeepers are fighting to recoup major losses they say have been brought on by bee-killing neonic pesticides. Last week, two of ontario’s largest honey producers launched a proposed class action lawsuit against pesticide makers Bayer CropScience and Syngenta AG Canada.
In court documents, plaintiff Sun Parlor Honey explains it should be able to make 300,000 pounds of honey from its 2,000 hives, but between 2006 and 2013, it had losses of over $2 million in beehives and honey thanks to damage from neonicotinoid pesticides. The second plaintiff, Munro Honey, says it’s lost over $3 million in hives and honey.
They’re suing for $450 million in damages on behalf of all of Canada’s apiarists.
Health Canada has acknowledged current neonic use isn’t “sustainable” but it has so far sidestepped calls from beekeepers to ban the pesticides.
ecoholic@nowtoronto.com | @ecoholicnation
