Activists and demonstrators have tried unsuccessfully for years to stop construction of the controversial TransMountain oil pipeline in western Canada. According to The Guardian, one tiny hummingbird has succeeded where others have failed. Due to one tiny bird, the construction of the multibillion-dollar project was suspended for the next four months.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has ordered work to be suspended until August 21 after finding a nest of hummingbirds (species – Anna’s Kalipta) on a tree felled during pipeline construction.
The migratory bird is not endangered but is protected by federal law, and community groups in southern British Columbia have raised the alarm that TransMountain is cutting down trees in vulnerable nesting areas.
“Cutting down vegetation and trees or performing other destructive actions such as bulldozing or using chainsaws and heavy equipment in close proximity to active nests is likely to disrupt or destroy these nests,” the department said in a statement, adding that due to breeding seasons “migratory birds are especially vulnerable”.
Worried locals are keeping a close eye on construction near the town of Burnaby. They are concerned that the protection of birds and their nests is being ignored by the company as it moves ahead with construction.
“Our members have confirmed that there are eight active nests in this section, but there are hundreds, and possibly thousands, of bird nests on the 1,500 km of the pipeline route. Yet construction continues without adequate government oversight or protection, ”said Sara Ross of Community Nest Finding Network in a statement.
TransMountain, which was acquired by Justin Trudeau’s government in 2018, said the cease-work order applied to the 900-meter plot of land, but did not affect the planned completion date in late 2022. The company also plans to continue construction.
Due to cost overruns in recent months, the C $ 12.6 billion ($ 10 billion) project will triple the capacity of the existing pipeline, with 890,000 barrels of crude going to the Pacific Ocean every day upon completion.
The company said in a statement that it is trying to cut trees outside of critical nesting seasons, but admitted that “this is not always possible.”