Towards Collaborative Adaptive Approach to Watershed Management An update on progress towards a new way of doing SMART business Les Stanfield Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources November 22, 2012
Outline Issue Analysis The vision Update on Progress Next Steps..
Statement of Problem: The only effects that matter are cumulative effects! Protection/restoration done piecemeal no capacity to consider Cumulative Effects And Cumulative effects models require extensive, comparable datasets and high quality spatial information And require Access to both the models and the data to validate the models in a system that facilitates scenario testing and also must Fit within an existing policy framework for implementation But there is some good news!
Solutions: SMART Networks Collaborating on monitoring, protocol development and study designs Working towards an integrated information management system Developing Tools to quantify Cumulative Effects from development on Ecological indicators
Butttttt.. Only Beginning to discuss implementation strategies Stable Resources/Funding for: Coordination Information Management Communication Integration with other disciplines is rare Access to engage citizens/politicians is limited
Slaying the Dragons of inaction is hard! Especially in a democracy
Towards Solutions. SMART Networks CWN CEA Proposal Natural Heritage Strategies Near shore ELC Vegetation sampling modeling Lake Simcoe Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
Towards Solutions. SMART Networks CWN CEA Proposal Natural Heritage Strategies Near shore ELC Vegetation sampling modeling Lake Simcoe Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
Solution: An Ecosystem Services (ES) Monitoring Network to... Facilitate and coordinate an adaptive management framework with the community of practice Facilitate the development of Tools to quantify Cumulative Effects from development on ES Development of an integrated information management and decision support System to facilitate science based decision making on ES Stable funding system to support the process that is user pays based Strong Linkages to Health!
Solution: An Ecosystem Services (ES) Monitoring Network to... Facilitate and coordinate an adaptive management framework with the community of practice Facilitate the development of Tools to quantify Cumulative Effects from development on ES Development of an integrated information management and decision support System to facilitate science based decision making on ES Stable funding system to support the process that is user pays based Strong Linkages to Health!
Strategy Expand EXISTING networks to better integrate with Universities, private sector & NGO s Better match needs to strengths More opportunities for stable funding Better potential for implementation of change
Ecosystem Services Monitoring and Research Teams Self Organizing. With a little help Address local priorities Linked through data sharing Flexible to accommodate different needs of agencies Build on SMART Networks Baby Steps..
VISION Transparent Reporting Participation in monitoring Clear Targets Indicator State identified Engaged Citizenship Sustainable Living Space/Society -Vision setting based on needs and potential - User pays - participatory - Integrated Monitoring & Science Transparent feedback Adaptive management Information Access Land/water use planning Accountability comes from transparency
VISION Engaged Citizenship Sustainable Living Space/Society Integrated Monitoring & Science Land/water use planning Policy Framework to Support the Process
Implementation.Imagine Eco-health Services Network Planners Decision Makers Politicians & Public State of Resource CEA Iterative Model Targets for indicators User Pays Taxes Decision Support System Property level Assessments Stewardship, Water Levees
Examples: It can be done! Chesapeake Bay Report Card 14 Canadian Municipalities implemented user pays Stormwater Utility program (600 in US!) LDI by property boundary. Polygons!!!!! Property ID 123fish Area (ha) 1234 Storm Water value 15 Connectivity (Terrestrial) 1 Connectivity (Aquatic) 0 Natural Heritage Features 10 Local Food 0 Soil Conservation 15 Ecosystem Goods & Services Score 36 TEEB score for tax evaluation 22
Implementation 1. Exploring for interested collaborators. 2. Develop Prospectus of vision 3. Workshop to scope implementation strategy 4. Develop Generic Funding Proposal Implement in Demonstration Area 5. Save world by 2020!
Progress to Date Meetings/Conversations with Interested Parties : What are your needs to help Implement Change? CVC, TRCA, LSRCA University of Guelph; Waterloo; Toronto; York; McMaster; Ottawa; Carlton; Trent Greenland Consulting Computer Systems Group and CoMap MOE/MNR Shared Vision with: Network for Ecosystem Sustainability and Health Canadian Water Network Lake Erie Millennium Network Preparing for potential calls for proposals (e.g., NRCAN) Excitement. And Trepidation
From Universities We want to be involved in something that could invoke change and engage our students!
Next Steps Continue Scoping the Prospectus Compiling list of potential collaborators Including private sector (Google, IBM, RBC, IBAC, BILD, etc.,) Winter workshop Opportunistic funding proposals
The Vision Integrated Monitoring, Science, Health and Planning &.. Engaged Citizenship making decisions on how to lower property taxes, the environment and improve health!!!! A real mechanism to mitigate cumulative impacts