Dennis Minty
No matter where biologist and environmental scientist Dr. Mark Mallory travels in Canada, he finds evidence that the environment is under siege.
Through his work as a biologist, expedition guide and Canada Research Chair he feels the call to connect people to nature. There's no substitute for first-hand experience and given the increasing fragility of our natural environment, the need for a responsible approach to travel has never been greater.
"To me, as a conservationist and environmentalist, responsible travel means going," Dr. Mallory says. "I firmly believe that there are more benefits than there are costs to taking people to remote places. I think the more we get information out, the more likely people will care."
Dr. Mallory says that companies like Adventure Canada do a lot to encourage passenger respect for the places they visit on their expedition cruises and small group tours.
That's why he says he signed on with the company in 2007. He and his wife Carolyn Mallory, a field biologist, work on board and off, sharing their expertise with passengers as members of Adventure Canada's on-board resource staff – experts hired to accompany passengers on voyages to far-off places such as Greenland, Antarctica, Labrador and Sable Island, or through the Northwest Passage.
"Adventure Canada does it right," says Dr. Mallory. "They follow the rules for permits, reporting and local consultation, which is what everyone should do, but not everyone does.
"Its staff is diligent about ensuring that they work closely with the communities they visit. In the Arctic, we have lots of northerners on board as part of our teams. Responsible travel means going to places and ensuring you operate in a respectful manner, both culturally, for those who live there, and environmentally, to protect the wildlife."
That's why the company has a "No touch, no pick up, no disturb" policy, with nothing being allowed back on the ship. Not a feather, rock or bone is to be removed from where it is found.
Technical experts will point out and discuss interesting specimens with passengers, but every precaution is taken not to interfere with the local ecosystem.
That even means no food or bagged lunches are to be eaten on shore at remote sites to minimize the chances of introducing anything foreign, from seeds to bacteria, into the local environment.
From plastics washing ashore to contaminants in the water, even the most remote places in the country are facing environmental challenges. Dr. Mallory has seen the effects.
"There are archeological sites that are falling away into the ocean," says Dr. Mallory, who is the Canada Research Chair in coastal wetland ecosystems at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., where he studies coastlines of the Maritimes and the Canadian Arctic.
"They used to be well back from the shore, but now some of those sites are being eroded away."
Dr. Mallory blames melting permafrost, increased storm intensity and rising water levels owing to climate change.
"It's really unfortunate. Some really spectacular archeological sites may be gone in my lifetime."
Photo credit: Andrew Stewart
The impact on bird and sea life is also evident.
Rising ocean temperatures have started a chain reaction, Dr. Mallory says, forcing some species – such as cold-water fish – to relocate farther north.
Peak feeding season for sea birds has also shifted, which has thrown off the timing of their egg-laying and threatened their ability to feed their chicks – putting at risk their survival.
While many species have been able to successfully adapt over hundreds of thousands or even millions of years, Dr. Mallory says the accelerating pace of climate change is making it harder than ever for species to keep up.
"And now there are all of these other stressors putting pressure on them – contaminants, industrial activity and increasing human populations," he adds.
The improper disposal of garbage, especially plastic, is having a devastating impact on oceans worldwide. "It's not at all uncommon to land by Zodiac [inflatable boat] on what appears to be a pretty remote beach and there will be plastic that has floated in," Dr. Mallory says. "There's always a part of me that's sad. The way the ocean currents work, you can now find plastics anywhere."
Dr. Mallory's work aboard includes presenting guests with the blunt facts of climate change and pollution – helping them become informed stakeholders and ambassadors for remote and sensitive regions, cultures and species.
He says he remains hopeful, in part because the passengers he's met often return home from their expeditions wiser and more dedicated to environmental causes.
"After their trips, many become active – donating to organizations involved in cultural preservation, protection and conservation, and posting information on social media, moving awareness efforts forward," Dr. Mallory says. "That's why I think these voyages are a very good way of getting the message out."
UP CLOSE WITH DR. MARK MALLORY, BIOLOGIST
How did you come to work for Adventure Canada?
My wife and I lived in Iqaluit, Nunavut in the early 2000s. I was working for Environment Canada issuing permits for access to the sanctuaries and wildlife areas in Nunavut. Adventure Canada would contact me for theirs. Then in 2006, when one of their expeditions was in Iqaluit on the way to Resolute Bay, I met Cedar Swan [Adventure Canada's chief executive officer] after their ship was fogged in. We hosted a couple of passengers for the night, had dinner and watched a presentation on sea birds I had put together. The next morning, the couple told Cedar about us and suggested we'd be a good fit for Adventure Canada. A year later, we got a call asking if we wanted to join one of its expeditions.
When you were a student, did you ever imagine you'd become a biologist?
I grew up in Ottawa and spent most of my summers down near Kingston, [on] our family farm. I always knew I was interested in birds from very early on. Then I ended up at Queen's University in Kingston for my undergrad in biology. I didn't really think I would be able to be a government biologist. I was hoping to be a park manager!
I never thought I'd be working in the Arctic. I never thought that I'd be a professor, let alone a Canada Research Chair or a biologist aboard expedition cruises. I guess now I've got in many ways a dream job.
Professor Dr. Mark Mallory is a biologist and environmental scientist and Canada Research Chair in Coastal Wetlands Ecosystems at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S.
ADVENTURE CANADA: THE FLOATING UNIVERSITY
Adventure Canada offers more than a dozen cruise itineraries that provide well-rounded travel experiences in the Arctic, Antarctica, Canada's east and west coasts, and several wilderness destinations.
Learning and connecting people to bona fide local experiences are key priorities for this Mississauga-based company, which specializes in adventure travel to extraordinary places. Thanks to its expert team of professionals who are highly regarded in their chosen field – be it storytelling, art, history, sciences or archeology – guests enjoy enriched journeys on as well off the expedition ships.
With anywhere from 20 to 198 passengers, the ambience on board is welcoming, inviting and warm, and the ships are small enough to access waterways and destinations that typically cannot accommodate larger vessels. A fleet of Zodiac landing craft enables guests to visit even the most remote places.
Adventure Canada, which was founded in 1988, is a family-run, award-winning company with staff who can share first-hand knowledge about what makes their communities special, from wildlife and scenic spots to music, literature and cultural traditions.
Adventure Canada's cruises have adopted the key principles behind travelling with purpose – embrace the joy of learning, explore with a sense of adventure and believe in the transformative power of nature.
As well, guests can expect the following:
• authentic travel experiences
• meaningful cultural exchanges
• on-board meals and fun, informative lectures
• warm hospitality and personalized service
• a safety-first policy
• a corporate sustainability approach
• a perspective based on giving back to communities
• respect for the environment.
For more information, visit adventurecanada.com or call 1.800.363.7566
This content was produced by The Globe and Mail's Globe Edge Content Studio, in consultation with an advertiser. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.