Conservation Events
Summaries of current/upcoming political decisions and
events you can act on or participate in to benefit the environment and
conservation. Scroll for: Political Actions, Education/Train-ing/Service, Citizen Science/Projects, Have Fun To Help Conservation
(Including Youth Events). Most items are in date order (soonest first) and
linked to details or websites. CLICK CAPITALIZED TITLES
for more info. (NOTE: Inclusion of news from other groups does not constitute
endorsement. Use common sense in dealing with unfamiliar groups.) Long-term
conservation info and action options have been moved to Conservation
Resources/Options.
POLITICAL, LEGAL & ECONOMIC ACTIONS
For political points of contact, click here.)
MAYOR
HARDBERGER FAREWELL — Una Gran Despedida for Mayor Phil and Mrs. Linda Hardberger
is planned by the San Antonio Parks
Foundation & the San Antonio Museum of Art to honor their support for arts
and parks in San Antonio. It will take place in SAMA's Luby Courtyard and the
new Beretta Hops House Terrace overlooking the Riverwalk extension, Sunday, May 31, from
Proceeds will be divided
between SAMA and the Parks Foundation.
SA LAUNCHES
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWSLETTER — The City of
PETITION
DRIVE FOR RECYCLING IN APARTMENTS AND CONDO UNITS — In
CURRENT ZONING
HEARINGS — Permanent section for
impending hearings with special conservation implications. No
current posting! In addition, AGUA (Aquifer Guardians in
Urban Areas) maintains an on-line
map of pending zonings. Go to http://www.aquiferguardians.org/blog
and click on WHIMBY (What’s Happening In My Backyard)
at top of web page.
EDUCATION/TRAINING/SERVICE/AWARDS
SPECIAL EARTH DAY PREMIERE — Solar
OTHER LOCAL EARTH
DAY EVENTS —April will host a plethora of Earth Day related events. Check
link for some.
BANFF FILMS —
Whole Earth Provisions has announced the
NATIVE
PLANT CERTIFICATION — The San Antonio and Boerne Chapters of the Native
Plant Society are working with San Antonio city arborist Debbie Reid, Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department biologist Judit Green and other native-plant experts to
develop a class to educate master naturalists, builders, realtors, developers,
architects, landscapers and the general public in identifying and learning the
use of native plants in their landscapes. The course will have four
levels.
SPRING
VEGETATION SURVEYS AT WILDFLOWER CENTER —
INTERNATIONAL
“MONARCH SISTER PROTECTED AREA NETWORK” WORKSHOP — U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is inviting state parks and wildlife management areas to join the
Monarch Sister Protected Area Network to monitor the Monarch butterfly. The network
consists of 13 federal sites. While Balcones Canyonland NWR is the only
official
POW WOW — 30th Annual Texas Wilderness
POW WOW will be April 25, at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area,
TCEQ ENVIRONMENTAL
TRADE FAIR AND CONFERENCE — Of
special interest to engineers, lawyers, drinking water managers, waste
managers, water rights buyers, pollution preventors, air quality managers,
radioactive waste "disposers," and geoscientists. Make plans now to
attend the TCEQ's Environmental Trade Fair and Conference May 12-14, at the
FIRST
SATURDAYS AND SECOND
SATURDAYS – San Antonio’s natural-areas parks host an interpretive hike on the
first Saturday of each month and a natural-history educational program on the
second Saturday of each month.
MITCHELL LAKE
EVENTS —
UPCOMING SIEMPRE
SUSTAINABLE NETWORK PROGRAMS —
BIRDWATCH RADIO
— Birdwatch Radio is a new audio podcast about birds, birders and conservation.
Two full-length programs a month feature some of birding’s top people. Current
program has interview with John Riutta about his birding blog, his birding
adventures and his time at Leupold optics designing binoculars for children.
SOUTH TEXAS
NATIVES RESTORATION MANUAL — Now available is a manual to instruct land
owners and land managers in the various methods of restoring native plant
communities.
VOLUNTEER/FINANCIAL
SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES
H-E-B TEAR-PAD
CAMPAIGN BENEFITS ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS — H-E-B has selected Earth Share of
HELP GREEN
SPACES ALLIANCE AT QUARRY BUSINESSES —Wednesday, April 22, Green Spaces
will be the beneficiary of Whole Foods' Eco Fashion Show showcasing
environmentally friendly fashion designed by students from the University of
the Incarnate Word. (See details in item below.)
ECO FASHION
SHOW —- Eco-friendly, wearable art in a fashion show at Whole Foods Market.
The designs are created by UIW students and then auctioned off with proceeds
benefiting Green Spaces
WILDLIFE RESCUE
& REHABILITATION THRIFT STORE — Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation is
opening a thrift store “The Squirrel's Nest” in Boerne and seeks public
donations of merchandise such as clothing, furniture, kitchenwares, books and
videos, jewelry, children's toys, knick-knacks, etc.. All proceeds will be used for animal-care needs here at the
sanctuary.
CALLING ALL
CARPENTERS & OTHER VOLUNTEERS — Green Spaces
VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS -- Volunteer workdays are held in Natural
Areas including
CITIZEN SCIENCE &
CONSERVATION PROJECTS
2009 COMMUNITY
GARDENS GRANTS — Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, Lattner Family
Foundation, and Les Dames d'Escoffier have generously funded creation of eight
to 12 new community gardens in 2009. Green Spaces
HELP WRITE A BIRD BOOK — A book entitled The Ultimate Bird Lover: Stories and Tips on Our Feathered Friends, atHome
and in the Wild, will be published in November by Health Communications,
Inc. The Ultimate Bird Lover will feature
true stories from beginning birders to those who consider themselves
experienced ornithologists and have loved birds for years, celebrating what’s
good, challenging, and downright funny about these angels with wings. Deadline
for story submissions is June 15. The attachment contains a link to a website
with details on format, etc.
CASH PRIZE FOR BEST VEGETATED
ROOF — Bexar Audubon Society offers cash prizes for two best vegetated
roofs constructed in its area by June 30, 2009. NOTE: extended deadline date.
“AMERICAN
STORIES ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING" — Union of Concerned Scientists is
soliciting citizens’ essays for a new online book, Thoreau's Legacy: American Stories about Global Warming. To
participate, write a 200- to 500-word first-person account of global warming
that relates to your life or the world around you. Best submissions will be
included in Thoreau's Legacy, which will be published online in spring 2009 and
in a limited-edition hardcover version.
BLUE WATER
PROJECT COMMUNITY ACTION GRANT — Royal Bank of Canada has announced the
third and final component of its Blue Water Project grants pool for 2008.
Community Action Grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each, up to a total of
$200,000 for 2008, are
available to support local and community projects in
HAVE FUN TO HELP
CONSERVATION
(INCLUDING YOUTH EVENTS)
SPECIAL EARTH DAY PREMIERE — Solar
OTHER LOCAL EARTH
DAY EVENTS —April will host a plethora of Earth Day related events. Check
link for some.
BANFF FILMS —
Whole Earth Provisions has announced the
GRAND
OPENING OF RIVER MUSEUM REACH — San Antonio River Authority is planning the
San Antonio River Improvements Project-Museum Reach Grand Opening. This is a
two day event on May 30-31. The 30th will include a morning ceremony with an
afternoon of activities, live music and food.
Stakeholders along this segment of the river will have events in their
areas. The 31st the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and they will have
their Walk and
Roll on the River (link to more info) that Sunday. This event is a time for
walkers, runners and bicycle riders to help promote healthy alternative modes of
transportation. This year’s routes will be along the new section of the River
ending at the new
CHILDREN'S
VEGETABLE GARDEN — Help kids live a
healthier lifestyle by growing their own veggies in the Children's Vegetable
Garden program at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. The spring program begins
Saturday, Feb. 21, and runs through June 6. Classes meet each Saturday
ECO FASHION
SHOW —- Eco-friendly, wearable art in a fashion show at Whole Foods Market.
The designs are created by UIW students and then auctioned off with proceeds
benefiting Green Spaces
POW WOW — 30th Annual Texas Wilderness
POW WOW will be April 25, at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area,
WILD! WEEKS
— Make plans for your child to attend the Wild! Week half day
ecology camp at
FIRST
SATURDAYS AND SECOND
SATURDAYS – San Antonio’s natural-areas parks host an interpretive hike on
the first Saturday of each month and a natural-history educational program on
the second Saturday of each month.
BOTANICAL
GARDEN EVENTS — Garden blooms for winter/spring.
MITCHELL LAKE
EVENTS —