[All] Major NEWS re: Jefferson Salamanders

Fri Sep 18 23:25:52 EDT 2009

This is EXTRAORDINARY and EXCELLENT news.

Dr. Jim Bogart speaks out on VIDEO on the need to secure further data regarding Jefferson Salamanders in Hanlon Park in Part II of the recent videos releases by the Hanlon Park group known as LIMITS. Please visit the following website and check out the story for the two You Tube web links. This is excellent and courageous work by Mr. Bogart. Very admirable.

http://hcbpoccupation.wordpress.com/

Below I sent an email to bring Norah and LIMITS up to speed regarding further Jefferson Data and related legislation. Norah has an upcoming meeting with Mayor Farbridge in a couple of days so I was just bringing her up to speed on tools she could use. 

I will get intouch with Jim Bogart and the MNR regarding the BC ruling and coyotes and we'll see how it goes from there. Things are changing for the good in leaps and bounds today with an overwhelming bursts of truth coming out from many officials not only Mr. Bogart but the GRCA reps at the Watershed Forum. 

HUGE strides being made by Mr. Peter Emmerson who is a man who today has earned my undying support. It is only with the truth can we responsibly advance together into the future and we're finally, as members of the public, getting the real picture, uncensored, unedited right from the experts. This is wonderful. The boil of silence is finally lanced and now we can see the gunk enough to start a meaningful healing process. I've been waiting for this moment for years. Major break through folks. Instead of spending all our power just digging for the damn facts, we can finally, FINALLY start to channel our energy on actually solving the problems. Thank God! 

Waterforum report coming soon.

Lulu :0)

HI Norah!

Here's some handy info for you regarding Jeffersons. I'm sending this off to Neil Taylor as well as Matt from LIMITS for their reference. 

This court finding is highly relevant to your case. The MNR cannot "reasonably" permit any land or water augmentation in the area unless they have first deliniated the habitat for this animal. That is not possible to do unless proper studies have been done.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/09/10/bc-nooksack-dace-supreme-court-ruling.html

In the attachments is the affidavit of Dr. Dean Fitzgerald as used during the West Side Lands OMB process. The affidavit shows the MNR was incapable of determining the suitable habitats of Jefferson Salamanders in the past due to lack of knowledge regarding the proper methodologies required to properly conduct studies for this specific species. Review sections 24 on and glean what you can from it. 

( the Guelph MNR have come a long way in the science of finding these animals. During the West Side Lands OMB process, the Guelph MNR helped secure the protection of Vernal Pond 12 in Waterloo. Not even roof runoff is allowed to go into the creek area)

The Value of Jefferson Salamanders 

Jeffersons are increasingly being used as indicators of environmental heath. Salamanders have no lungs. They breath through their skin and require moist habitats, that's why they are often found in recharge areas. 

Salamanders have also proven to be valuable tools in examining various problems in disciplines such as evolution, ecology, animal behavior, physiology, and genetics. Probably most important to the human population is the medical research on salamanders. This includes research to understand the basis for limb and tissue regeneration in vertebrates. Salamanders have extraordinary regeneration ability. They are one of the view vertebrates in the world that can regenerate skin, bone, nerves and muscles. They are used in the study of genetic disorder inheritance, and research exploring the possible therapeutic value of toxic skin secretions in treating human diseases such as cancer (Petranka 1998).

Risks of Increased Predation 
If there are coyotes in the area, they act to controll Raccoon and skunk populations. If these animals are driven away it puts the Jeffersons at an increased risk of over predation. By reducing wild spaces around the pond habitats, it also increases the densitity and chances of predation. 

Pileated woodpeckers are needed to support the habitats of Jefferson Salamanders. The woodpeckers help dying trees to fall on the forest floor faster creating habitats for the animals.

According to the new Ontario Endangered Species Act 2007, both the coyotes and pileated woodpeckers are considered as"habitat" and are therefore protected. Here is the exact passage you can use to support this.

Endangered Species Act, 2007 
S.O. 2007, CHAPTER 6 

“habitat” means, 
(a) with respect to a species of animal, plant or other organism for which a regulation made under clause 55 (1) (a) is in force, the area prescribed by that regulation as the habitat of the species, or 
(b) with respect to any other species of animal, plant or other organism, an area on which the species depends, directly or indirectly, to carry on its life processes, including life processes such as reproduction, rearing, hibernation, migration or feeding, 
and includes places in the area described in clause (a) or (b), whichever is applicable, that are used by members of the species as dens, nests, hibernacula or other residences; (“habitat”) 

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_07e06_e.htm 

By protecting the coyote and pileated woodpecker, in essence you protect the Jefferson salamander. By protecting the larger species, you also protect a larger area of land. 

Also consider the deer. If the deer cannot graze in the meadow, they will graze upon young sapplings and the bark of trees which will inhibit the regrowth of the forest area. Entire forests can be destroyed if there are too many deer. Yet another reason to keep coyotes and meadows in the area. The presence of a species like Jefferson Salamanders is a sign of a high quality forest ecosystem. 

Other relevant legislation to protect this animal are: 

The Species At Risk Act 2002 
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/ShowFullDoc/cs/S-15.3//20090918/en 

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act 
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_97f41_e.htm 

Hope this helps you! 

Lulu :0)
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