Rochelle Baker
Journalist | Quadra Island |
English
About Rochelle Baker
Rochelle Baker is the Quadra and Cortes Islands reporter for Canada's National Observer, thanks to a grant from the Local Journalism Initiative of the Government of Canada. Rochelle has worked as a newspaper reporter and photographer in BC's Lower Mainland for over 10 years.
B.C. misses the mark with old growth update, critics contend
The province's progress report and latest action plan to reform forestry is a hollow effort with none of the needed steps, specific details, or deadlines urgently required to keep what little old growth remains from being cut down, say environmental groups.
Ocean mud is mighty when it comes to tackling climate change
It's not always the easiest sell, but the 'thick, gloopy mud' that is often found on ocean floors is what really needs protecting, according to Graham Epstein, a researcher with the Canada Blue Carbon project.
Endangered orca habitat sullied by Canadian cruise ship pollution
Cruise ships using dirty scrubber systems on Canada's West Coast spewed out nearly half of the 88 million tonnes of acidic wastewater and toxic metals generated and dumped into the ocean in 2022, new data sparked by a Stand.earth complaint shows.
Scientists scramble to unearth new flora and fauna during island BioBlitz
Dozens of scientific experts and scores of students clambered over rocks and under logs, squelched in mud and tidal pools and dove into frigid water in a race to discover, photograph, collect and document thousands of species during the recent Quadra Island BioBlitz.
Coastal cleanup groups worry federal funding cuts will sink efforts to tackle ocean plastics
Coastal cleanup groups are worried because the federal Ghost Gear Fund — which sunk nearly $60 million into 139 projects to alleviate the problem of ocean plastics — isn’t outlined in the recent federal budget.
Pierre Poilievre aims to turn B.C. coast blue at NDP’s expense
The federal Conservative Leader is targeting the NDP's rural ridings on the B.C. coast where his party typically runs a close second and is courting the People's Party far-right, libertarian vote to get his candidates past the post.
West Coast Indigenous-led marine conservation area gets global spotlight
The Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation's Gitdisdzu Lugyeks Marine Protected Area is getting international recognition but is being overlooked at home in Canada, falling victim to foot-dragging by the federal government.
B.C. farmers determined to get out in front of drought
The B.C. government is pairing up with agriculture groups in a bid to help ranchers and farmers prepare early as the province anticipates a second year of extreme drought as the climate crisis advances.
A parasite tied to bleaching in global coral reefs has infected B.C. marine life
University of British Columbia researchers have discovered a parasite associated with the bleaching of tropical coral reefs is prevalent in their cold-water cousins like sea anemones on the West Coast.
Why is B.C.’s carbon tax suddenly so toxic?
A non-issue for voters over the past 15 years, B.C.’s carbon tax is taking centre stage for people increasingly concerned about affordability and swayed by federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's populist messaging.