The long road to protecting critical habitat for species at risk: The case of southern mountain woodland caribou

Conservation Science and Practice, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 2(7)

Опубликована: Май 28, 2020

Abstract Identifying habitat that is essential to the recovery of species at risk, known as critical habitat, a major focus risk legislation, yet there has been little research on degree which these areas are protected. Here, we first review provisions for protecting non‐federal lands within Canada's Species Risk Act (SARA). Next, use declining southern mountain population woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ) in British Columbia, Canada case study show identification does not guarantee its protection lands. Our analyses 909 km 2 identified provincial were logged 5 years after it was legally under SARA. Existing legislation and policies have provided incomplete federal government exercise authority SARA could protect areas. In absence nondiscretionary combination alternative mechanisms, involving all levels government, Indigenous people, industry, will be help recover risk.

Язык: Английский

---

The time is now to improve the treatment of biodiversity in Canadian environmental impact statements

Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 86, С. 106504 - 106504

Опубликована: Ноя. 20, 2020

Язык: Английский

---

The biodiversity crisis in Canada: failures and challenges of federal and sub-national strategic and legal frameworks

FACETS, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 6, С. 1044 - 1068

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2021

Negative biodiversity trends are evident in Canada, spite of its ecological and economic wealth high governance capacity. We examined the current implementation Canada’s national strategy—the planning instrument to United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity—through existing legal framework. did this by evaluating biodiversity-related strategies plans 201 federal, provincial, territorial laws. found that while most jurisdictions claim dedicated attention biodiversity, there is little evidence an integrated approach within provinces territories across federation. Biodiversity conservation led governments underscores need for considerations species ecosystem services be mainstreamed into development decision-making. Key challenges include unusual degree decentralized constitutionally ascribed authority over natural assets historical continued emphasis extraction resources—a conflict interest jurisdictions. Transitioning scale-appropriate decision-making can address pressures causes Canada will require transformative change. Law reform, necessary, not succeed unless accompanied a whole-of-government approach, shift bio-centric mindset, innovative (particularly Indigenous-led conservation), federal leadership with strong levels financial investment.

Язык: Английский

---

Efficacy and ethics of intensive predator management to save endangered caribou

Conservation Science and Practice, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 4(7)

Опубликована: Май 21, 2022

Abstract Lethal population control has a history of application to wildlife management and conservation. There is debate about the efficacy practice, but more controversial ethical justification methods killing one species in favor another. This situation facing conservation woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ) Canada. Across multiple jurisdictions, large numbers wolves Canis lupus ), lesser extent bears Ursus americanus coyotes C. latrans are killed through trapping, poisoning or aerial shooting halt reverse continued declines caribou. While there evidence support effectiveness predator as stop‐gap solution, questions remain which this activity can make meaningful contribution long‐term recovery. Also, myriad objections lethal removal predators, even if that name Debates management, just numerous invasive actions for maintaining caribou, made complex by conflation ethics efficacy. Ultimately, solutions recovery require governments stop delaying difficult decisions address real causes decline, habitat change.

Язык: Английский

---

A new model for selecting valued components in environmental assessment: Lessons from an Indigenous-led cumulative effects management program

Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 106, С. 107519 - 107519

Опубликована: Май 1, 2024

Valued components (VCs) are at the core of impact assessment (IA), cumulative effects management (CEM), and other environmental planning processes. However, research that exists on VC selection identifies major conceptual methodological flaws in conventional approaches used most project-based IAs, including poor understanding, inadequate guidance, insufficient engagement with local stakeholders Indigenous communities, failure to incorporate perspectives, knowledge, values decision-making. To address these flaws, this paper proposes a new community-based method for selecting VCs, which was developed Indigenous-led CEM program Metlakatla First Nation (located northwest coast Canada). The is grounded informed by knowledge as well scientific research. It uses six-step approach identify VCs prioritize them, based clear decision-making criteria, deliberative community dialogue, explicit consideration implementation constraints. high-priority their program, but could also be adapted use IA processes improve selection. A comparison results application Program recent proponent-led large industrial project territory shows addresses many deficiencies model generates substantially different set better reflect knowledge.

Язык: Английский

---

Why are projects rarely rejected in environmental impact assessments? Narratives of justifiability in Brazilian and Canadian review reports

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 64(11), С. 1940 - 1962

Опубликована: Янв. 6, 2021

Projects that undergo environmental impact assessment (EIA) are rarely rejected. Online registries and anecdotal evidence suggest authorities approve almost all proposed assessed projects, though often with mitigation requirements. The objective of this study was: 1) to identify the rules or criteria reviewers must observe when considering acceptance rejection projects; 2) understand how rare cases decisions justified by reviewers. Data were collected through literature regulatory reviews, content analysis review reports related five Canadian seven Brazilian rejected projects. Reviewers from Canada Brazil adopted similar approaches decision-making based on qualitative reasoning. Rejection recommendations reasons, such as significance biophysical impacts, sensitivity locations community values. influence reviewers' final remains unknown. highlights practical implications calls for greater transparency rigor in EIA decision-making.

Язык: Английский

---

Advancing the consideration of ecological connectivity in environmental assessment: Synthesis and next steps forward

Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 40(6), С. 451 - 459

Опубликована: Ноя. 2, 2022

Язык: Английский

---

Years late and millions short: A predictive audit of economic impacts for coal mines in British Columbia, Canada

Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 100, С. 107074 - 107074

Опубликована: Фев. 21, 2023

Язык: Английский

---

The So-called Modern ‘Sustainable Forestry’ Destroys Wilderness, Old-Growth Forest Landscapes and Ecological Services Worldwide: A Short First-Hand Review and Global Narrative on the Use of ‘Growth-and-Yield’ as a Destructive and Even Impossible Goal

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2022

Old-growth forest wilderness areas are on a rapid global decline. Science-based sustainable management (SFM) is practised worldwide but here we show with ground-truthed examples across the world that it not finite landmass: encroaches in areas, employs road network, has negative energy budget, makes landscape-scale vegetation younger, and destroys old-growth forests, besides other impacts. The 'modern' concept of managed forests promoted tree plantations to sequester carbon quickly produce timber presented meta-analysis from over 15 nations first-hand accounts by authors as standing full conflict promotion welfare all their ecological services planet. Policies concepts exposed used agencies, institutions NGOs promote neoliberal plantations, harming ancient forested landscapes associated human cultures societies well atmosphere well-being.

Язык: Английский

---

No statistical support for wolf control and maternal penning as conservation measures for endangered mountain caribou

Biodiversity and Conservation, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 29(9-10), С. 3051 - 3060

Опубликована: Июль 14, 2020

Abstract Mountain caribou, a behaviourally and genetically distinct set of ecotypes the Woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ) restricted to mountains western Canada, have undergone severe population declines in recent decades. Although broad consensus exists that ultimate driver these has been reduction habitat upon which mountain depend, research policy attention increasingly focused on predation. Recently, Serrouya et al. (Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 116:6181–6186, 2019) analysed dynamics data from 18 subpopulations British Columbia Alberta, subject different treatments ‘controls’, concluded lethal wolf control maternal penning provide most effective ways stabilize declines. Here we show this inference was based an unbalanced analytical approach omitted null scenario, excluded potentially confounding variables employed irreproducible alteration metrics. Our reanalysis available shows ecotype identity is better predictor trends than any adaptive management considered by Disparate behavioural characteristics responses industrial disturbance among suggest it may be incorrect assume strategies might benefit one are transferable another.

Язык: Английский

---