A large part of our work is sharing information that enables others to make informed decisions. From best practices to tools that track and share data, or educational activities, we hope our resources are of use to you as you live, work and play in the region.

Tools

A number of region-specific tools are available that both amalgamate and disseminate data, as well as provide you with educational opportunities. We also provide links to sites for the reporting of information that can help other organizations manage marine and land use activities.

 

Marine Reference Guide

The interactive Marine Reference Guide, produced by the Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative, lets you explore hundreds of data layers and reports that describe Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound’s aquatic ecology, biophysical environment, administrative boundaries, and human uses. Continually updated, this map is the most useful data tool on the region’s marine environment there is.

 
 

Marine Debris Resources - what to do

Wind, currents and winter storms create an ongoing inventory of garbage on the water and shoreline, from very small to large. Eyes on the water are helpful for early detection and action before the situation worsens. There are a growing number of resources available for people to action. The Marine Debris Reporting Form (Marine Stewardship Initiative) helps share photos and track the location. Download this resource guide that is a comprehensive list for: reporting; disposal; data visualization/mapping; reference documents; marine debris; legal; local waste management plans; cleanup funding; relevant organizations/groups; education & advocacy.

iNaturalist & Seek

Contribute to the iNaturalist Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere Region Project and help build a picture of the species in the area. As of March 2023, around 4400 species have already been identified.

If you need some help identifying species, you can download the Seek app to your phone. Powered by AI and INaturalist, it identifies species and lets you upload directly to INaturalist where other users can agree or suggest another species. Take up challenges and collect badges as you go. For birds, the Merlin or eBird apps are also very useful.

 

Whether to report issues, contribute to citizen science data gathering or just peruse known data, there are several tools for the region:

Educational activities;

Research Reports

As our biodiversity and habitat conservation projects progress, we will be posting final reports and other relevant project resources here as well as on their individual project pages.

Useful Documents

We aim to share information around best practices and research that can be of use to planning activities in the region, from industry to property owners to organizations. Some of these resources have resulted from our research projects.

We are fortunate to be working in a region and time period where there are a wealth of strategies, frameworks and plans to support the return of the marine and terrestrial areas of Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound toward a healthier ecosystem.

As our biodiversity and habitat conservation research projects progress, we will gather their reports here (in addition to individual project pages).

Staying Safe Outdoors

We encourage connecting to nature but doing so in a way that keeps you, and the ecosystem, safe. The following resources may help in your planning.

Webinars

View topical and educational webinars we have hosted and co-hosted in collaboration with regional partners on our YouTube Channel along with a collection of Howe Sound related videos.