Harmony, Balance and our Future are in our Nature
Partnering to Secure Our Sustainability: Bras d’Or Lakes Watershed A Vision The communities within the Bras d’Or Lakes Watershed have
identified issues threatening their integrity. The social and economic
health of these communities is dependent on the health of the Bras
d’Or. Our intent is to build on and support the collaborative
initiatives currently active in the Bras d’Or while respecting
the existing legislative responsibilities of various government departments
and First Nations Treaty Rights. Existing management approaches are
failing and in this regard, we need to look at fresh new approaches
and relationships, so that working together we can strengthen the
work to restore balance, harmony and quality of life for us now,
and for future generations. We are but a small part in the web of
life. Significance The Bras d’Or Lakes and surrounding watershed are recognized
by many as one of the greatest assets on Cape Breton Island. They
provide recreational opportunities in the summer months, including
cottaging, boating, hiking, and fishing, and host numerous cultural
activities throughout the year. These activities attract thousands
of tourists annually who contribute significantly to the island’s
economy. A local commercial fishery, as well as other primary and
secondary industries, provide a source of livelihood for Bras d’Or
residents. In addition, there are many areas surrounding the lakes
that have historical, cultural and spiritual significance to its
first inhabitants, the Mi’kmaw people. The Bras d’Or Lakes are also a rich marine ecosystem with
water chemistry, energy inputs and animal life unique from the adjacent
ocean or freshwater ecosystems. This uniqueness, including its circulation
patterns and slow flushing rate, makes it vulnerable to human activities.
These activities have led to declining quality of the Lakes, and
as a result, of the quality and way of life for the communities living
there. The health, prosperity and stability of these communities
is inseparable from the health of the Lakes; a fact shared by First
Nations and non-First Nations alike. Issues There are a number of issues in the Bras d’Or Lakes affecting
the quality and way of life of its residents and visitors. Examples
of these issues include:
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Fish stocks that are in decline;
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Sewage (from faulty or absent treatment systems, farm runoff
and recreational boating);
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An economy that is being impacted by the closure of contaminated
shellfish growing areas;
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Human health that is at risk from sewage based bacteria, viruses
and pathogens;
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Tourism and recreational opportunities vulnerable to changes
in the actual and perceived quality of the environment;
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Wildlife habitats (terrestrial, freshwater and marine) being
destroyed from forestry and other land development practices;
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Workforce education and skill upgrades that require support;
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A fishery impacted by invasive species, such as the oyster
parasite MSX and Green Crab;
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Growth and diversity of the local economy are being affected
by many of these issues, resulting in high unemployment, lack
of meaningful employment, and out-migration of youth.
Due to the severity and complexity of these issues, an overall
coordinated approach to deal with their environmental, social and
economic dimensions is required. Coordination must include efforts
among various government, First Nations, non-government, and industry
groups. What is being done now In addition to the many municipal, provincial and federal government
departments with active programs addressing social, economic and
environmental needs within the Bras d’Or, there are also a
number of groups and organizations formed and working to address
significant sustainability issues. These groups include First Nations,
NGO’s, industry associations, and community groups, as well
as municipal, provincial and federal departments that recognize the
need to work collaboratively to achieve their goals. Successes through
these broader partnerships are starting to be realized in areas such
as sewage treatment, education and awareness, inclusion of Traditional
Ecological Knowledge (TEK), mapping, and others. Examples of key
groups undertaking some of this work include:
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Unama’ki
Institute of Natural Resources (UINR), representing the
five First Nations Communities in Cape Breton;
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Nova Scotia Sustainable
Communities Initiative (SCI) Bras d’Or Lakes Field
Team, composed of representatives of First Nations, federal,
provincial and municipal government departments and agencies;
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The Pitu’paq
Committee, composed of Municipal and First Nations leaders;
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The Bras d’Or Partnership Committee, lead by representatives
of First Nations and composed of federal and provincial governments,
a variety of community and interest groups, and industry;
-
The Science
for the Integrated Management of the Bras d’Or Lakes (SIMBOL)
group, a partnership of scientists from the Department of Fisheries
and Oceans and the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources;
-
The Bras d’Or Stewardship
Society, a citizen based, lake-wide organization; along
with
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Many local organizations active and engaged in a wide variety
of issues within specific areas.
The formation of these groups represents an important milestone
in the overall approach to managing the Bras d’Or. Each group
has been formed with a specific mandate, draws on a range of participants,
and communicates and is supported in a variety of ways. Together,
these groups form a loose network with similar objectives and many
overlaps. One of the challenges for both participants within these
groups and those outside of them is to gain an appreciation of who
is working in the Bras d’Or, what they are trying to achieve,
and if they are supportive of one another or can be better supported.
The overall sustainability of the Bras d’Or will depend on
the coordination of these groups, as well as ensuring that gaps between
the mandates of these groups and existing government programs are
identified and addressed. To this end efforts are underway to enhance
existing networking and stewardship efforts by developing a collaborative
planning process for the Bras d'Ór. Why is a collaborative planning process necessary? Collaborative planning is fundamentally about increasing the efficiency
of existing players in the Bras d’Or. This is achieved by linking
these players together in various ways. Rather than adding a layer
of bureaucracy, collaborative planning aims to increase the sharing
and coordination between all involved and foster complimentary actions.
This is done while respecting existing legislative and regulatory
responsibility of various government departments and First Nations
Treaty rights. Specific elements to be shared and coordinated among
the many groups and agencies involved include:
Sharing of: |
Coordination of: |
Vision(s) |
Communications |
Issue Identification |
Enforcement |
Limited human and financial resources |
Policies |
Information and Expertise |
Objectives |
Decision-making processes |
Responsibilities |
Planning |
Public Engagement |
Research |
Monitoring |
The establishment of an overall collaborative planning process
for the Bras d’Or could:
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Strengthen existing initiatives;
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Address gaps that exist between them;
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Reduce duplication of effort;
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Establish a framework for problem solving;
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Stretch existing financial resources; and,
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Build partnerships to overcome the fragmentation of responsibility
inherent in our system of government.
To undertake more collaborative planning in the Bras d’Or,
eventually an organizational structure (model) through which it can
take place will need to be agreed to. This model will serve to clarify
linkages between existing groups, agencies and communities, and help
direct the roles and responsibilities of each in undertaking planning
for the Lakes and watershed lands. While many examples of models
exist, the challenge will be to develop one that is appropriate to
the context of the Bras d’Or Lakes and its communities. Advancing discussion on the issue of collaborative planning in
the Bras d’Or requires the input of all players. A two-stage
process has been initiated to help government and First Nations come
to some agreement before the broader public is engaged: Step 1:
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A workshop for municipal, provincial and federal government
agencies and First Nations was held in October 2003. The objectives
of this workshop were to:
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Develop a shared vision of how to better manage the Bras d’Or;
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Seek agreement on the scope of issues and their urgency in
the Bras d’Or that can and should be addressed;
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Explore the concept of Collaborative Planning;
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Foster dialogue on strengthening partnerships within the Bras
d’Or;
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Explore the next steps to advance collaborative solutions.
Step 2: Having developed a common understanding and approach among the
three levels of government and First Nations regarding collaborative
planning, this discussion will be extended to the broader public
including NGO’s, industry, communities, and others. This broader
engagement will help refine approaches and build a partnership base
to move forward. |