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Carbon Neutral LiVE 88.5 FM Grows Forest

Canada’s first and only carbon neutral radio station continues in its efforts to plant trees and maintain its efforts to offset carbon emissions.

In 2016, Ottawa’s LiVE 88.5 FM will ensure another 5,700 trees are planted in the southern Ottawa area to offset the carbon dioxide produced annually through normal station operation. This brings their total to 34,200 since they decided to go carbon neutral in 2011.

“We are excited to offset the carbon that we produce on an annual basis,” said Dan Youngs, Program Director at LiVE 88.5. “The LiVE team is proud to be associated with a local solution to a global concern.”

“We are excited to offset the carbon that we produce on an annual basis,” said Dan Youngs, Program Director at LiVE 88.5. “The LiVE team is proud to be associated with the RVCF who have been a great partner in helping us find a local solution to a global concern.”

The amount of carbon dioxide equivalent produced by the work of the 48 full time and 19 part time employees in the LiVE broadcast centre on Antares Drive in Ottawa was calculated through the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation’s (RVCF) Carbon Neutral Program. Staff commuting and travel, office heating and cooling, energy consumption of all kinds was tallied using energy bills for a one-year period. Once the total energy consumption was known, a formula converted it into the number of trees needed to absorb or “offset” that same amount of carbon dioxide.

Over the next 80 years, these trees will absorb the same number of tonnes of carbon dioxide that the employees of the station inadvertently produce each year. The growing trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air taking greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere and locking it in the wood for up to 80 years.

“Planting trees to solve our carbon dioxide emissions is not an expense; it's an investment,” says Jason Kelly, RVCF Chair. “We are very grateful to the commitment and support of the LiVE 88.5 team. Their decision to go carbon neutral is a great gift to the community.”

The Foundation’s Carbon Neutral Program offers planting options suitable for business, events and families. “We continue to see a range of people stepping forward and going carbon neutral,” says Kelly. “I think people are surprised at how affordable it is to do such a good thing.”

The LiVE Forest will cover almost 43 acres of land. In addition to carbon abatement, each LiVE 88.5 tree is a little environmental cleaning station providing huge environmental goods and services to the people of Ottawa. The trees absorb greenhouse gas, produce life-giving oxygen, clean our water supplies, provide wildlife habitat, buffer noise and wind, improve the soil and reduce soil erosion. Collectively, they make the Ottawa area less vulnerable to the worst effects of unpredictable and unseasonal heavy storms and increasing summer droughts.

LiVE 88.5 FM is one of two local affiliates of Newcap Radio Inc. headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Newcap is one of Canada’s largest radio companies employing over 800 radio professionals across the country. Newcap holds 63 FM and 18 AM licences and is heard by millions of listeners each week throughout Canada.

Time to Take Root — Dollars Available to Plant Trees

Money is available to landowners interested in planting trees. The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority offers private landowners tree planting programs that help them get technical advice, planting plans and funding for trees.

“We have numerous community-minded partners providing funding to projects to help reduce landowner costs,” says Scott Danford, RVCA Forestry Program Manager. “We offer planting programs that make it easy and affordable for landowners.”

To be eligible, landowners need at least one acre of land and are willing to plant a minimum of 500 trees. If you have the space, RVCA can help get trees growing on your land for 15 cents a tree. Since 1983, RVCA has planted over 5 million trees on private property for landowners.

“The RVCA provides professional reforestation services including the site preparation, planning and planting,” says Danford. “We also ensure success, with post planting visits and follow-up operations. It is a great deal at 15 cents a tree.”

Now is the time to book a free site visit where RVCA staff will meet to discuss the landowner’s objectives and to evaluate the best way to reforest the land.

Tree planting is one the most practical ways to take care of our watershed and the wider environment. Trees improve local biodiversity by providing shelter for birds and wildlife, while at the same time providing us with windbreaks, screening and shade. Forests act as a major filter and cleansing system for water that soaks into the ground and feeds our wells and underground water systems. The newly planted trees take a little tender loving care in their early years, but once they are “free-growing”, they provide all of these advantages for up to 80 years or more. Trees are vital for a healthy and sustainable future; start planning now for planting next spring.

The program is made possible thanks to the RVCA’s 18 member municipalities, the City of Ottawa’s Green Acre Program, the Province of Ontario’s 50 Million Tree Program, Forest Ontario and numerous private businesses and watershed residents who donate to the tree planting program.

To get more information or to book a free site visit, contact Scott Danford, RVCA Forestry Program Manager at 613-692-3571 or 1-800-387-5304, ext. 1175. Now is the time to take root and grow a green legacy

RVCA Celebrates 50 Years of Conservation

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) Board of Directors formally acknowledged the 50 year anniversary of the Conservation Authority’s formation at their meeting last night.

“We are delighted to celebrate 50 years of conservation,” announced RVCA Chair Lyle Pederson as he unveiled the Authority’s special 50-year logo. “This will be a year to share our successes and how they have made a significant contribution to the health and prosperity of our watershed.”

Covering 4,241 square kilometres, the RVCA was officially formed on March 31, 1966. The conservation movement in Ontario began in the early 1940s as community leaders expressed concerns about the condition of the environment and managing natural resources. This resulted with the Province of Ontario passing the Conservation Authorities Act in 1946. Conservation Authorities began to form throughout the province. The legislation was considered innovative and farsighted, responding to growing concerns that land uses and deforestation were contributing to deteriorating water quality, flooding and soil erosion. It empowered municipalities to address these issues through a single collaborative agency based on a watershed. Today, Conservation Authorities continue to respond to local issues and conditions and are accountable to their municipal partners.

Over the past 50 years, the RVCA and its many partners has had a positive, cumulative impact on our local watershed. Successes include:

• 9 million dollars of grants distributed to landowners undertaking stewardship projects
• 5.7 million trees planted on private lands equaling 24 square kilometres of new forest
• 2,800 hectares of sensitive lands acquired and protected
• 186,450 water quality samples taken
• 16.5 kilometres of shorelines naturalized and buffers planted
• 9,650 kilometres of streams surveyed
• 17,500 butternut seedlings planted
• 29,000 volunteer hours invested in watershed health
• 42 kilometres of trails created for outdoor recreation at local conservation areas
• 23,700 Planning Act application reviews completed
• 6,475 permits processed under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act
• 250 Environmental Assessment Act reviews
• 4.5 million dollars fundraised by the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation
• 62,000 visitors annually to our conservation areas including 10,000 students
• 14,950 septic approvals issued, plus 3,600 re-inspections along lakes

“The work done has laid a strong foundation for a healthy and sustainable future,” said RVCA General Manager Sommer Casgrain-Robertson. “But there is lots left to do and we look forward to working with our many partners and landowners to achieve our goals for a healthy watershed for all.”

Those interested in more details on the history of the RVCA can visit www.rvca.ca/timeline for an online walk through the years since 1966. An infographic highlighting the RVCA’s achievements is also available on the website. Be sure to follow the RVCA on Facebook and Twitter to see interesting highlights over the year (#RVCA50).