states 35 years ago. Now its recovery symbolizes how the nation can solve its ecological problems experts said. The 
     
     government is also in the process of de-listing the peregrine falcon and the Aleutian Canada goose. (adapted from 
     
     The Gazette (Montreal) 17 Jun/99 page A21 in CNF’s Conservation News June 17 daily summary by Tom Balint ) 
     
    

    
     A first page article in the Moncton Times and Transcript reported that for the second year in a row, a 
     
     controversial experiment aimed at studying the impact of a free-flowing Petiteodiac River has failed to get off the 
     
     ground. The provincial Department of Environment announced yesterday that it has canceled the Petiteodiac River 
     
     trial gate opening for this year. The Petiteodiac gates will be closed, allowing the adjacent head pond to once again 
     
     fill with water. A dry spring and lack of water nmofi‘ was cited by the study monitoring group as the reason for 
     
     calling off the experiment. (Moncton Times and Transcript, June 2, 1999, Page A1) 
     
    

    
     A survey released by Environment Canada, The 1996 Survey on the Importance of Nature to Canadians, 
     
     that in 1996 a staggering 3/4 of Canadians aged 15 and older took part in “nature-related activities" ranging from 
     
     snowshoeing and climbing to nature viewing on television. They spent $11 billion on these activities. 639,000 
     
     nature lovers ventured outdoors for some form of “wildlife viewing" (feeding pigeons counts) and 537,000 went 
     
     fishing. The average yearly spending by participants “in nature-related activities" in BC. was $767, compared with 
     
     $1,052 in the Yukon, $616 in third-place Alberta and $271 in Prince Edward Island. BC. had above-average 
     
     participation in most of 17 specified outdoor activities, but Yukoners and Albertans were more likely to go 
     
     sightseeing, picnicking, camping, hiking, photographing, climbing, horseback riding and even skiing. Manitobans 
     
     spent the most time at the beach, Ontarians lead in motorless boating, Quebecers are the top cyclists and 
     
     Newfoundlanders excel at berry-picking and off-road vehicle use. (Shane McCune, Vancouver Province, June 3, 
     
     1999, Page A3) 
     
    

    
     Efforts to return farmland to a wildlife marsh in the Lake Apopka area north of Orlando, Florida led to the 
     
     death of over 1,000 white pelicans. Dieldrin and Toxaphene pesticides moved from the soil to the water and then up 
     
     the food chain through fish to the pelicans reported the Florida Audubon Society. The marsh has been drained to 
     
     prevent further kills (adapted from June 9 Conservation News excerpt from The Saskatoon StarPhoenix, June 9/99, 
     
     article by Kim McNaim). 
     
    

    
     Environment Canada and the Canadian Space Agency are chipping in to equip two North West Territories 
     
     peregrine falcons with satellite transmitters that will monitor their migration paths over the next year. In addition, 
     
     polar bears from northern Ontario and the east coast's leatherback turtle will have transmitters installed. Astronaut 
     
     Bob Thirsk came up with the idea as a way of demonstrating to the public the value of space technology, says 
     
     Canadian Wildlife Service scientist Geofi‘ Holroyd. Mr. Holroyd helped capture and equip the falcons from nests in 
     
     Wood Bufialo National Park in northern Alberta. The technology on the Peregrines will give scientists information 
     
     about the location of the birds, the landscape they fly over, and the weather they are up against. The Canadian 
     
     Wildlife Federation is to set up a web site in October to track their movements. (Ed Struzik, Edmonton Jorunal, June 
     
     23 & Aug. 9, 1999, Page B5)[from Weekly Media Analysis by CNF June 19-25 and August 9th.] 
     
    

    
     The British Columbia government introduced legislation that permanently protects 1.4 million hectares of 
     
     British Columbia parkland. Premier Glen Clark said the parkland, is more than twice the size of Prince Edward 
     
     Island. Many of the parks were announced previously, but the legislative amendment results in their permanent 
     
     protection as parkland. The legislation will result in the establishment of 35 class—A parks totaling 1.3 million 
     
     hectares. (Victoria Times Colonist, June 23, 1999, Page A3) from Weekly Media Analysis by CNF June 19-25 
     
    

    
     An ancient sea turtle, nearly half the size of a full grown steer, was rescued near the Verrazano Narrows 
     
     Bridge in New York Harbour, the US. Coast Guard said Tuesday. Coast Guard officers who rescued the turtle, 
     
     estimated to weigh 270 kg and to be nearly a century old, spotted it on Monday during an inspection of the 
     
     245-metre Cyprus-flagged tanker Loucas. The turtle had snagged its left fin on a line attached to a lobster cage near 
     
     the bow of the tanker and was weak from trying to keep afloat with one free fin. “This is an unusual case," said 
     
     coast guard officer Don Wagner, who said the coast guard chose to return the animal to the sea rather than take it to 
     
     an aquarium. “It has been doing well for a hundred years, so it was better to let it go," said Wagner. The Atlantic 
     
     Green turtle, an endangered species and one of the largest sea-going turtles, nests in Florida but can be found 
     
     throughout the world in tropical and sub-tropical oceans. (Adapted from Conservation News Aug. 11/99)