Your Chapter is busy preparing for next year’s Annual Meeting, March 12-13, 1999 in Nisku Alberta, across from the Edmonton International Airport. Look in this issue for meeting information, Call for Papers, and the Student Paper and Poster Awards. Mark your calendar today!

Beth MacCallum President 865-3390 865-4906 865-4906 bighorn@ycs.ab.ca

Ian Ross Past President - 217-8215 - iross@canuck.com

Mike Dorrance President-Elect 467-4396 467-4396 436-9540 mathdorr@telusplanet.net

Jon Jorgenson Secretary-Treasurer 678-2373 949-4311 678-5505 jjorgens@env.gov.ab.ca

Dave Hobson Director, Newsletter 723-8518 865-3246 723-8502 karendav@telusplanet.net

Arlen Todd Director , Nominations 778-7115 778-4066 778-7234 -

Steve Brechtel Director, Membership 422-9535 438-7259 422-9685 sbrechte@env.gov.ab.ca

Doug Collister Director , Conservation 246-2697 240-1635 246-2697 collis@telusplanet.net

The Natural Resources Communication Workshop will be held at California State University, Chico from January 11-15, 1999. The week-long workshop is designed to help natural resource workers more effectively communicate with the general public through personal presentations using good visual aids—especially 35mm slides. Since many of the problems in natural resources management are people oriented, more effective communication can significantly improve many management programs. The hands-on workshop is practical oriented and enhances participants’ communication skills in planning, preparing, presenting, and evaluating presentations. A variety of topics are covered including selecting communication strategies for specific audiences, creating graphics, and handling equipment problems. A special session entitled "Verbal Victories" provides hints for handling difficult, or even hostile, audiences. This year’s workshop will be expanded to 5 full days (from the previous 4 ½ day format). This new format gives participants more "hands-on" lab time for creating graphics, especially computer-generated graphics. As a special bonus, participants will receive a copy of "Effective Slide Presentations- A practical Guide to More Powerful Presentations", a recently published book by the course instructor. The workshop has been sponsored by the Western Section of The Wildlife Society for 28 years. Application deadline is October 30, 1998. On letterhead, applicants should describe (1) their current position within their agency/organization, (2) how they would use the training, and (3) any special reasons whey they feel they should be chosen as a participant. Participation is limited to 16 people. Course fee is US$595. For more information, contact Dr Jon K. Hooper, ph 530-898-5811, jhooper@facultypo.csuchico.ca

This document evaluates the well being, or soundness, of wildlife populations found in Alberta. (See Status of Alberta Fish for a list of the 12 fish species "of concern.") It does so primarily by reviewing the current state of knowledge of key criteria such as abundance, breeding distribution, security of habitats, status in other jurisdictions, and current population trends for each wildlife species in the province. This review allows the determination of status for all amphibians (10), reptiles (8), mammals (91), and birds (374) that occur in Alberta. A clear understanding of status for individual species is a key element in wildlife conservation. It permits sound planning and decision making for conservation and protection programs, and it provides a critical step in setting wildlife management priorities. Moreover, this procedure focuses attention on taxa that have life-history or demographic characteristics which may pre-dispose them to population declines. Status determination acts as an important first step in identifying candidate species for designation as Endangered or Threatened animals under Alberta's Wildlife Act.

There are 51 native species of fish in Alberta and 8 exotic species, plus the introduced smallmouth bass. This website contains a list of the 12 species whose status as viable species in the province are of concern to Alberta Environmental Protection. The populations of the remaining fish species in this province are considered to be healthy.

The Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre (ANHIC), one of over 80 centres in an international Natural Heritage Network, was established in 1996. The centre provides accurate and accessible biodiversity information necessary for making informed decisions concerning conservation, natural resource management, and development planning. The ANHIC collects, continually updates, analyzes and disseminates information about the location, condition, status, and trends of selected elements, including species and ecological communities.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) determines the national status of wild Canadian species, subspecies and separate populations suspected of being at risk. COSEWIC bases its decisions on the best up-to-date scientific information available. All native mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, molluscs, lepidopterans (butterflies and moths), vascular plants, mosses and lichens are included in its current mandate. Three lists are maintained: Species at Risk (species designated in the extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened, or vulnerable categories), Not at Risk (species that have been evaluated and found to be not at risk), Indeterminate (species for which there is insufficient scientific information to support a risk or not at risk designation)

Sustaining Alberta’s Biodiversity: An Overview of Government of Alberta Initiatives Supporting the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy

In late 1995 the government of Alberta, along with the governments of other provinces, territories and Canada, committed itself to using the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy as a guide for conserving biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of biological resources. The Government of Alberta has established and implemented many programs over the years that benefit biodiversity in a variety of ways. Many activities carried out as part of these programs are done in partnership with individuals, organizations, the private sector and other governments. The report, Sustaining Alberta's Biodiversity, highlights recent and ongoing Government of Alberta policies and programs conserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable development within the goals of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy.

The Resource Data Division was established in April 1995. It is composed of four branches: Data Acquisition , Data Management, Client Services, and Director of Surveys. Prior to the reorganization, the Division was known as the Land Information Division and was composed of five branches: Resource Information Development, Resource Information Management, Geodetic Survey, Land Survey and Provincial Mapping. It also manages the Natural Resource Information System project. The core RDD functions are the collection, management and distribution of information for land and resource management. The Division's responsibilities include the administration and development of provincial standards for land and resource information. In particular the Division participates with its clients in the planning, coordination and delivery of complete solutions combining data and information technology. The Division fosters and facilitates the collecting and sharing of corporate data.

October 1-3, 1998, St. John's, Newfoundland

The 1998 CSEB Annual Meeting is being designed to constructively review environmental assessment goals, processes, achievements, and failures. It is hoped that results of the meeting will contribute to an increased understanding of the topic areas and improvements in the processes. Sessions will consist of both invited and contributed papers as oral or poster presentations.

Contact: www.freenet.edmonton.ab.ca/cseb/meet98.html

October 26 - 28, 1998, Nelson, British Columbia

The goal of the symposium is to raise awareness of what ecosystem management is and how it can benefit forest resource managers. Implementing ecosystem management principles in an operational environment will require infrastructure changes for agencies involved in resource management and cultural changes in the minds of practitioners.

November 1-6, 1998, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

The goal for this Symposium is to build on the best science and technology available to assure that the data and information produced in future inventory and monitoring programs are comparable, quality assured, available, and adequate for their intended purposes, thereby providing a reliable framework for characterization, assessment, and management of forest ecosystems in North America.

November 2- 4, 1998, Calgary, Alberta

This conference has been organized by representatives from government, industry and non-profit organizations who would like to see an increase in native plant material to meet the demand created by reclamation and restoration projects. The conference is designed to be a forum for the exchange of information that will address the current challenges facing both producers and users of native species.

Contact: Heather Gerling, Phone 403-427-4658, Fax 403-422-4244, heather.gerling@agric.gov.ab.ca

NALMS' mission is to forge partnerships among citizens, scientists and professionals to foster the protection and management of lakes and reservoirs for today and tomorrow.

Contact: Brian Kotak, Phone 403-525-8431, Fax 403-525-8095, kotak@compusmart.ab.ca, www.biology.ualberta.ca/alms/1998.htm

January 11-15, 1999, Chico, California

This week-long workshop is designed to help natural resource workers more effectively communicate with the general public through personal presentations using good visual aids—especially 35mm slides. Application deadline October 30, 1998; course fee US$595.

February 20-22, 1999, Penticton, British Columbia.

Graduate students from all universities in Western Canada and the United States are strongly encouraged to attend and present their research findings. The registration fee has been set at $90 (CDN). This covers the conference, accomodation for two nights, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday.

March 3- 4, 1999, Calgary, Alberta

This conference will look at various topics (vegetation control and management, forestry, fish & wildlife, reclamation and project planning) that have impacted the vegetation management industry over the last 21 years and how the industry is preparing for the millennium.

Contact: Kevin Ellis, Phone 403-290-7237, kevin.ellis@pipe.nova.ca

March 12 & 13, 1999, Nisku, Alberta

June 28 – July 2, 1999, Gödöllö, Hungary

Themes for the five-day congress are (1) Sustainable Development and Wildlife Conservation; (2) Landscape Linkages: Ecosystem Science and Management; (3) Issues in Wildlife-Human Conflicts; (4) Education, Outreach, and Human Dimensions in Wildlife Conservation; and (5) Techniques for Monitoring Wildlife.

Wayne Lynch Presentation