• The global map depicting mammal movement between protected areas
• An Ocean Bridge participant recounts their experience as an immigrant to Canada while taking part in this Ocean Wise program
• Our biweekly wildlife roundup featuring sturgeon, polar bears, lady beetles and more!
• Bid on a cruise through the Great Bear Rainforest in the RCGS Silent Auction
• A Canadian Geographic Adventure exploring Bolivia with George Kourounis 

When it comes to preserving biodiversity through the creation of protected areas of vital habitat, size matters. But so, too, does connectivity.

The reason is simple: all wildlife needs a lasting natural environment to thrive, but medium and larger mammals also need room to roam.

That’s why the international “30 by 30” initiative — which seeks to designate 30 per cent of the Earth’s land and ocean as protected areas by 2030 — completes only half the puzzle. Equally important is maintaining or creating wildlife corridors between protected areas to allow wildlife to travel from one protected area to another to find food, water, refuge and, critically, diverse mating opportunities to maintain healthy gene flow across the landscape.

A recent study — creating the first global map of where mammals are most likely to move between protected areas — shows that Canada is both a world leader in connectivity and home to many areas critical to animal movement.

In May 2022, 14 Canadian youth aged 18–30 came together in the St. Lawrence region for a 10-day learning journey as part of Ocean Wise’s Ocean Bridge program, where they discovered the region’s marvels while learning from local Indigenous knowledge-keepers and conservation experts. Ocean Bridge aims to empower young people to make an impact on ocean conservation by giving them the tools and confidence to lead educational and service projects in their communities.

As a 12-year-old immigrant to Canada, I was anxious to find environments that resembled what I loved back home in Ecuador. Almost immediately after moving to Toronto for good, my family and I were introduced to Wasaga Beach, Ont., which became a place we enjoyed and interacted outdoors with our newfound Ecuadorian family friends. Our conversations often revolved around how much we missed the charm of the Pacific Ocean and how we could not shake the feeling that Wasaga lacked the magic of the beaches back home. Although Ecuador and other South American countries are blessed with epic landscapes, from the Amazon rainforest to the Andes mountains, I felt that cityscapes were our preferred environment.

Scientists were left puzzled last month after 11 giant sturgeons mysteriously died within days of each other.

The first sturgeon body was discovered in early September by the fast-flowing Nechako River located in British Columbia. Days later, 20 others were found floating in a 100 kilometre stretch of the river. 

Before the deaths, sturgeons were listed as a federal species at risk. Over the last century, the number of sturgeons in the Nechako River has dropped from roughly 5,000 to 500. These ancient fish have been studied and monitored for the last three decades and all 26 remaining species of sturgeon are now at risk of extinction. 

While there was no sign of trauma, chemical exposure, disease, or angling-induced death, one theory is that high water temperatures may have contributed. 

There are no roads here. Instead our weeklong odyssey explores the fjords, archipelagos and estuaries of this 6.4 million hectare region. View bears and other wildlife with our expert guides, explore the rich marine world where whales and seabirds benefit from abundant fish, and walk the ancient rainforest and beaches.

With over 25 years of trip research and operation here, our local crew and guides introduce you to the world of the Great Bear Rainforest and to life on the coast -- from the guides' knowledge of navigation and nature, to their Indigenous culture, to how to cook with local foraged food. Depending on the state of pandemic protocols in the time of this trip, we may again visit coastal Indigenous communities.

All on-trip experiences, accommodations, meals and snacks, beverages (including wine and beer), shore trips, guiding, permits, admissions, fees and the use of onboard gear from the start of the trip to the end are included. Guests may book a Category 1 stateroom on Cascadia, a 42-metre catamaran (summer or fall), or Swell, a 27-metre tugboat (spring/summer), or the Maple Leaf, a 28-metre heritage schooner (spring, summer, or fall). Start: Kitimat or Bella Bella. Return: Kitimat or Bella Bella.

largest on the planet! This exciting journey is a comprehensive three-day 4WD adventure that reveals Bolivia’s eye-catching multi-colored lagoons, cacti islands, and spouting geysers. In stark contrast to the incredible nature, visit the vibrant cities of Sucre, Potosi, and La Paz whose history and culture run deep with the Incas and the Spanish Conquistadores. To finish your adventure wind down with a night in an eco-lodge on the Isla del Sol overlooking the deep, tranquil waters of Lake Titicaca – surrounded by snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real.

Your RCGS Travel Ambassador on this trip is George Kourounis, renowned National Geographic explorer, filmmaker, photographer, TV personality, daredevil, and Chapter Chair of the Explorers Club. Whether it’s swapping travel and expedition stories from across the globe, learning about Kourounis’ thrilling adventures and expeditions, or gaining tips and training on photography techniques this epic adventurer will be there every step of the journey to share his expertise.

Meet your ambassador

Check out these other upcoming trips:

- Annapurna Sanctuary Photography trek with Javier Frutos
- Ultimate British Columbia with Brian Hodgson
- Salish Sea Expeditionwith Emily Choy