Forrest Hisey

Hisey et al.: Fears and Fences: Bison on the Canadian Prairies — The Rural Reconciliation Project In Fears and Fences: Social and Material Barriers to Plains Bison on the Canadian Prairies , auth ors Forrest Hisey, Melissa Heppner (both Geography, Geomatics, and Environment, Univers ity of Toro...

Check out our digest of ‪@fhisey.bsky.social‬, Melissa Heppner, and Andrea Olive’s qualitative study on how social acceptance and material resources complicate the return of bison to the Canadian plains. Read more on how land, animals, and history intersect:

Our Executive Director caught a fish with a selenium style gill deformity in Crowsnest river a few years ago. It made her wonder...

Why are First Nations closing B.C. parks? | The Narwhal Two popular parks have been closed in B.C. and the public backlash is missing the point: Indigenous Rights

Recently, two parks in B.C. announced temporarily closures so First Nations can access the land — and some people are angry about it. @michellecyca.com considers the history of public parks, their imperilled present and whether you have anything to be mad about. thenarwhal.ca/bc-parks-fir...

- Env NGOs were heavily involved in lobbying for CEs across each province.
- CEs were supported across ALL political parties. Basically no evidence of polarization or pushback from left, centre, or right parties

Key findings:
- Canadian policy is MESSY. Our Federalism landscape creates opportunities for change in every province.
- Fed Gov was enticing provincial/territorial govs by supporting private land conservation with tax breaks + financial support + recognition for landowners

Provincial diffusion, national acceptance: the transfer of conservation easement policy in Canada Conservation easements (CEs) are a private land conservation (PLC) tool, with landowners voluntarily selling property rights to an outside entity (governmental or nongovernmental). Pioneered in the US...

New research on Canadian conservation easements!

I tracked easement legislation across Canada, finding unique opportunities from Canadian policy arenas and pressures from above & below subnational govs to increase private land conservation.

www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/...

Ford government can now overrule conservation authorities | The Narwhal The Ontario government has new rules for how and when it can permit development, overstepping conservation authorities tasked with watershed protection

Doug Ford’s government started 2025 off by giving Ontario's minister of natural resources broad powers to overrule conservation authorities in development decisions. via @fatimabsyed.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/new-year-new...