Links - Government Organisations

Provincial Organisations

British Columbia
British Columbia Parks: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
- A good site for an introduction to West Coast conservation issues; includes access to research as well as easy to use educational materials
- Conservation topics addressed include local species and their habitats, preservation of provincial biodiversity, specific cases of minimizing damage from invasive species, conservation policies and acts
- Materials available for younger children introducing concepts of protected areas
- A program entitled, “Protected Areas: Preserving Our Future”, for older children exploring these themes more in depth
Highlights:
- Conservation pages: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/ourwork/l
- Kid’s Pages: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/kids/l
- Educational program: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/info/employ/l
- Training links: BC Institute of Technology: Park and Campground Operation training courses and Forestry Continuing Studies - Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessment
Recommended by Elizabeth Hood

Manitoba
Manitoba Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Preservation Branch: www.gov.mb.ca/ourwork/wildlife
- Biodiversity, species at risk, endangered species and habitats
- Informative, access to research and data collection, some access to programs and activities from young students
- The site itself is interesting and a good read, however is prone to shut down or freeze
Highlights:
- Species at risk: www.gov.mb.ca/ourwork/wildlife/managing/species_at_risk/l
- Educational Programs: www.gov.mb.ca/ourwork/wildlife/education/index/l
- Related Links: www.gov.mb.ca/ourwork/wildlife/links/l
- Biological Conservation Data Centre: web2.gov.mb.ca/ourwork/cdc/
Recommended by Elizabeth Hood

Ontario
Ontario Parks: www.ontarioparks.com
- Species at risk, biodiversity conservation, recovery programs, provincial protection acts and status ratings for provincial rare and endangered species
- Links to all provincial parks which have a wide range of programs for adults and children
- An excellent resource to get an overview of biodiversity and conservation issues from a provincial government perspective
- Information is general, one may have to look else where for specifics and for actual program ideas
Highlights:
- Introduction to species at risk: www.ontarioparks.com/english/sar-intro/l
- Recovery strategies: www.ontarioparks.com/english/sar-recovery/l
- Links to other sites: www.ontarioparks.com/english/sar-link/l
Recommended by Elizabeth Hood

Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre: www.accdc.com
- Provides glossary definitions for a number of terms on biodiversity, species at risk, endangered species, and specifically explains the concepts of ecosystem, community and habitat
- A good site for regionally significant information; use other provincial or national sites to round out research, and for getting program ideas
Highlights:
- Excellent glossary of terms: www.accdc.com/glossary/
- Atlantic species profiles: www.accdc.com/products/profiles/index/l
- ‘NatureServe’ a North American native species search program: www.accdc.com/NatureServe/
Recommended by Elizabeth Hood

Federal Organizations

Natural Resources Canada : www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/inter/index_e/l

Natural resources of Canada (geology, forests, energy, etc.)
Environmental Issues (sustainable development, climate change, etc.)
Informative youth section: edu-kits available for educators & parents
Huge site, lots of information available, design is simple and easy to navigate
Useful links sections, interesting games

Kids Section : www.rncan.gc.ca/kids/index_e/l
Subsites : www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/inter/subsites_e/l
Canadian Forestry Service : www.nrcan.gc.ca/cfs-scf/index_e/l
Subject list : www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/inter/subject_e/l
Products and services : www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/inter/products_e/l

The Green Lane : www.ec.gc.ca

Site offers a wealth of important environmental information and addresses a broad audiences (including educators) on topics such as: nature, plants, animals, pollution, water, air, soil, climate change, biodiversity etc.
Section "Action and learning" has a very useful list of educational links.
publication section is a good source for educational resources.
Site is part of the enormous Environment Canada site that contains a lot of very important information.
While there is no site plan, it’s useful to search the site using key words.

Themes : www.ec.gc.ca/environment_e/l
Publications : www.ec.gc.ca/pands_e/l
Environmental Emergencies : www.ec.gc.ca/ee-ue/index/home_e.asp
Nature : www.ec.gc.ca/wild_e/l
Action and learning : www.ec.gc.ca/envact_e/l

Committee on the Status of Endangered Species in Canada (COSEWIC) : www.cosewic.gc.ca
- Detailed information on specific species at risk, the process, selection and the function of status designation
- Many PDF documents available free of charge on the site
- The site is simple, well designed and easy to navigate.
- There is not a kids section, however the information is quite accessible for secondary and post-secondary students and adults.
Highlights:
- List of Species : www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct0/index_e.cfm
- Data Base : www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct1/index_e.cfm
- Operational Procedures : www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct6/sct6_5_e.cfm
- FAQ : www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct8/index_e.cfm

Canadian biodiversity Information Network : www.cbin.ec.gc.ca/issues/default_e.cfm
Kids section: www.cbin.ec.gc.ca/kids/default.cfm?lang=e
Forum : www.cbin.ec.gc.ca/forum/Orchestra/default.cfm?lang=e