Eecom june 2011, lu vca, barry - ee, conservation, aucca, csr (gary's modified - blue)

CONSERVATIONCONSERVATION EDUCATION:EDUCATION:Local Example (s)Local Example (s)

- presented by Barry Mitschke , LuVCA- presented by Barry Mitschke , LuVCA (retired teacher/educator, Past-President (retired teacher/educator, Past-President

SOEEA, Dad/Papa, curriculum director, SOEEA, Dad/Papa, curriculum director, columnist, conserver, volunteer)columnist, conserver, volunteer)

- @EECOM June 2011, University of - @EECOM June 2011, University of ReginaRegina

- - [email protected]@sasktel.net ; 306-731-3681 ; 306-731-3681

CONSERVATIONCONSERVATION

Elements (consult O. S. Owen. Elements (consult O. S. Owen. Natural Natural Resource ConservationResource Conservation (Editions 5-10): (Editions 5-10):

- preservation- preservation - restoraton- restoraton - benefication (upgrading a resource)- benefication (upgrading a resource) - substitution- substitution - maximization- maximization - reusing and recycling- reusing and recycling - integration- integration

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (EE)(EE)

Comprehensive!Comprehensive! Everyone can do it!Everyone can do it! - formally (educational institutions)- formally (educational institutions)

- non-formally (government programs)- non-formally (government programs)

- informally (organizations & individuals)- informally (organizations & individuals)

MANY EXAMPLES! (See hand-out!)MANY EXAMPLES! (See hand-out!)

A U C C AA U C C A An EE /lifestyle An EE /lifestyle

process/strategy/philosophy!process/strategy/philosophy! - - AWARENESSAWARENESS - UNDERSTANDING- UNDERSTANDING - CONCERN- CONCERN - COMMITMENT- COMMITMENT - ACTION- ACTION (Reflect/Assess & Repeat!)(Reflect/Assess & Repeat!)

1.1. LuVCALuVCA - Formed in 2006, - Formed in 2006, due to concerns regarding due to concerns regarding public access to the Valley public access to the Valley and the limited attention and the limited attention being given to the being given to the preservation of intact natural preservation of intact natural areas and historical sites. areas and historical sites.

2.2. CS Report CS Report - Our response to - Our response to the lack of attention to the lack of attention to conservation issues in the conservation issues in the early stages of the RM Plan early stages of the RM Plan review. review.

Developed by Gary Howland, President, Lumsden Developed by Gary Howland, President, Lumsden Valley Community Association (LuVCA); presented Valley Community Association (LuVCA); presented @University of Regina@University of Regina Environmental Seminar Series Environmental Seminar Series (Feb. 15, 2011)(Feb. 15, 2011)

Gary is also presenting at the invitational Canadian Plains Gary is also presenting at the invitational Canadian Plains Research Centre (CPRC) Seminar “Balancing Research Centre (CPRC) Seminar “Balancing Conservation & Development Planning in Saskatchewan”, Conservation & Development Planning in Saskatchewan”, June 16, 2011June 16, 2011

PurposePurpose

Key Principles and ConceptsKey Principles and Concepts

Details of the Strategy Details of the Strategy

Present general arguments for the importance of Present general arguments for the importance of a conservation strategy a conservation strategy – 1. ecosystem services; – 1. ecosystem services; 2. psychological and spiritual wellbeing 2. psychological and spiritual wellbeing (biophilia); 3. precautionary principle, due to our (biophilia); 3. precautionary principle, due to our ignorance of natural systems.ignorance of natural systems.

Demonstrate the Demonstrate the need to identify the need to identify the conservation strategy prior to, or in conjunction conservation strategy prior to, or in conjunction with, twith, the he development strategydevelopment strategy, and to integrate , and to integrate the two.the two.

Develop a Develop a preliminary conservation strategy preliminary conservation strategy frameworkframework, rather than a detailed ‘blueprint for , rather than a detailed ‘blueprint for action’.action’.

Basic landscape ecology principlesBasic landscape ecology principles: 1. long-: 1. long-term, shared vision; 2. whole landscape included; 3. term, shared vision; 2. whole landscape included; 3. change explicitly considered; 4. maximum retention change explicitly considered; 4. maximum retention of native vegetative cover; and 5. integrated of native vegetative cover; and 5. integrated treatment of aquatic and terrestrial systems.treatment of aquatic and terrestrial systems.

Patches ModelPatches Model: views landscape patterns in terms : views landscape patterns in terms of patches and connecting corridors, supplemented of patches and connecting corridors, supplemented by stepping stones and special sites (Richard by stepping stones and special sites (Richard Forman, and others).Forman, and others).

Patch Selection CriteriaPatch Selection Criteria: minimum size of 480 : minimum size of 480 acres, extensive natural vegetation, limited acres, extensive natural vegetation, limited development, and some existing protection from development, and some existing protection from development, wherever possible. development, wherever possible.

Patch Tot. Area (ac.) Prot. Area (ac.)Patch Tot. Area (ac.) Prot. Area (ac.)

Valeport 3,350 2,500 – 75%Valeport 3,350 2,500 – 75% Little Arm 6,400 5,800 – 91%Little Arm 6,400 5,800 – 91% Sub-total – Valep/L. Arm 9,750 8,300 – 85%Sub-total – Valep/L. Arm 9,750 8,300 – 85% Disley/High Hill 3,600Disley/High Hill 3,600 649 – 18%649 – 18% Lower Wascana 600 200 – 33%Lower Wascana 600 200 – 33% Upper Wascana 600 0 - 0%Upper Wascana 600 0 - 0% Lower Cottonwood 500 450 – 91%Lower Cottonwood 500 450 – 91% Lower Boggy Creek 600 0 – 0%Lower Boggy Creek 600 0 – 0% Hidden Valley 3,500 320 – 9%Hidden Valley 3,500 320 – 9% West of Hwy. #6 3,000 0 – 0%West of Hwy. #6 3,000 0 – 0% Fairy Hill 8,300 800 – 10%Fairy Hill 8,300 800 – 10% Sub. Tot.–Exc. Valep/L. Arm 20,700 2 ,410 – 12%Sub. Tot.–Exc. Valep/L. Arm 20,700 2 ,410 – 12%

Total – All Patches 30,450 10,710 – Total – All Patches 30,450 10,710 – 35%35%

Natural Corridors – Riparian and UplandNatural Corridors – Riparian and Upland RiparianRiparian – SWA assessments in 03-04 from Craven west – SWA assessments in 03-04 from Craven west

concluded that “…riparian vegetation is very poor or non-concluded that “…riparian vegetation is very poor or non-functional…” – extensive restoration required.functional…” – extensive restoration required.

UplandUpland – fragmented in developed parts of the Valley – may – fragmented in developed parts of the Valley – may require some restoration; in excellent condition in undeveloped require some restoration; in excellent condition in undeveloped parts of the Valley – main challenge is to preserve connectivity parts of the Valley – main challenge is to preserve connectivity as development occurs. as development occurs.

Stepping Stones Stepping Stones - - The existing land use pattern rates very highly in this regard. The existing land use pattern rates very highly in this regard. Special Sites Special Sites - - A multitude of sites, with very little public access or protection A multitude of sites, with very little public access or protection

from development.from development.

TCT Lookouts – Deer Valley, NCC parcelTCT Lookouts – Deer Valley, NCC parcel Big ValleyBig Valley Last Mountain Lake/Qu’Appelle junction Last Mountain Lake/Qu’Appelle junction

– ‘Le Grande Fourche’– ‘Le Grande Fourche’ Kennel ChurchKennel Church Buffalo JumpBuffalo Jump Fairy Hill/Snoasis Fairy Hill/Snoasis Hidden ValleyHidden Valley

The RM and Town have submitted a grant The RM and Town have submitted a grant proposal to the Provincial Planning For Growth proposal to the Provincial Planning For Growth program, for assistance in doing further study program, for assistance in doing further study relating to conservation and its integration with relating to conservation and its integration with development .development .

The RM’s Proposed Final Draft of its revised OCP The RM’s Proposed Final Draft of its revised OCP includes all of our CS Report as Appendix 5, and includes all of our CS Report as Appendix 5, and incorporates several suggestions from our incorporates several suggestions from our Report, including, most significantly, the Report, including, most significantly, the addition of all of our ‘large patches’ and ‘natural addition of all of our ‘large patches’ and ‘natural corridors’ as ‘environmentally sensitive land’. corridors’ as ‘environmentally sensitive land’.

1(a) Natural systems generally run 1(a) Natural systems generally run through several to many municipalities, through several to many municipalities, particularly in a Province with many small particularly in a Province with many small jurisdictions.jurisdictions.

1(b) Proper 1(b) Proper design and monitoring design and monitoring of of conservation strategies thus requires a conservation strategies thus requires a multi – jurisdictional (i.e., regional) multi – jurisdictional (i.e., regional) approach.approach.

2(a) Natural systems are generally concentrated 2(a) Natural systems are generally concentrated within the less developed (i.e., rural) municipalities within the less developed (i.e., rural) municipalities of an urban region, whose fiscal and of an urban region, whose fiscal and administrative capacity is generally well below administrative capacity is generally well below what is required to implement a conservation what is required to implement a conservation strategy.strategy.

2(b) The benefits of a regional conservation 2(b) The benefits of a regional conservation strategy are shared by all parts of the region.strategy are shared by all parts of the region.

2(c) Therefore, from both a 2(c) Therefore, from both a financial/administrative and an equity perspectivefinancial/administrative and an equity perspective, , the costs should be borne by all municipalities the costs should be borne by all municipalities within the region. within the region.

3. Development and conservation 3. Development and conservation strategies must be integrated, which strategies must be integrated, which leads to the need for a leads to the need for a regional regional development framework development framework that sets the that sets the parameters for local development plans.parameters for local development plans.

4. This may result in municipalities with 4. This may result in municipalities with widely varying fiscal capacities, and widely varying fiscal capacities, and some form of some form of regional revenue sharing regional revenue sharing will probably be required. will probably be required.

The possibility of a significant change in Provincial policies to introduce regional The possibility of a significant change in Provincial policies to introduce regional planning frameworks, at least within the major urban regions, appears to be better planning frameworks, at least within the major urban regions, appears to be better than for some time. The reasons are as follows:than for some time. The reasons are as follows:

1. We appear to be entering a sustained period of economic and population growth, 1. We appear to be entering a sustained period of economic and population growth, which gives increased urgency to the need for comprehensive Provincial and which gives increased urgency to the need for comprehensive Provincial and regional planning frameworks.regional planning frameworks.

2. Statements of Provincial Interest (SPI) Initiative2. Statements of Provincial Interest (SPI) Initiative

3. City of Regina OCP Review3. City of Regina OCP Review

4. Inter-municipal Co-operation4. Inter-municipal Co-operation

5. The Alberta Example5. The Alberta Example

6. Sustainability Considerations6. Sustainability Considerations

Draft Statement circulated for public comment in Sept., 2010Draft Statement circulated for public comment in Sept., 2010 Identified 14 ‘Provincial Interests’, to be adopted as part of the Identified 14 ‘Provincial Interests’, to be adopted as part of the

Planning Act, 2007Planning Act, 2007 ‘‘Ecological Integrity’ identified as one of the ‘interests’, and Ecological Integrity’ identified as one of the ‘interests’, and

‘comprehensive and sustainable planning’ identified as an ‘comprehensive and sustainable planning’ identified as an essential principleessential principle

A A fundamental omission is the lack of attention to the fundamental omission is the lack of attention to the possibilitypossibility, , let alone the necessity, of regional entities to let alone the necessity, of regional entities to translate the Statements into meaningful actiontranslate the Statements into meaningful action. The promise of . The promise of ‘comprehensive and sustainable’ planning, to preserve ‘comprehensive and sustainable’ planning, to preserve ‘ecological integrity’ in natural systems, as well as other ‘ecological integrity’ in natural systems, as well as other objectives, is very unlikely to be achieved without attention to objectives, is very unlikely to be achieved without attention to this omission.this omission.

This initiative is the key to moving forward successfullyThis initiative is the key to moving forward successfully ..

Concerns relating to climate change, energy Concerns relating to climate change, energy and resource limits, and sustainability more and resource limits, and sustainability more generally argue strongly for a more co-generally argue strongly for a more co-ordinated and balanced response to ordinated and balanced response to development and conservation issues.development and conservation issues.

In addition to In addition to Enterprise SaskatchewanEnterprise Saskatchewan, , perhaps we need perhaps we need Conservation Conservation Saskatchewan.Saskatchewan.

How would the Regina region rate in an How would the Regina region rate in an ecological footprint analysis?ecological footprint analysis?

The value of conservation and development strategies prepared The value of conservation and development strategies prepared for individual municipalities will be seriously limited in the for individual municipalities will be seriously limited in the absence of a regional planning framework that is supported by absence of a regional planning framework that is supported by incentive/enforcement mechanisms.incentive/enforcement mechanisms.

The Province’s SPI Initiative is a promising start in this direction, The Province’s SPI Initiative is a promising start in this direction, and they should be encouraged to expand the current effort to and they should be encouraged to expand the current effort to include a thorough examination and public discussion of the include a thorough examination and public discussion of the implications of moving toward a more integrated regional implications of moving toward a more integrated regional planning framework.planning framework.

The academic and research community could play a decisive The academic and research community could play a decisive role in this process, through the organization of conferences, role in this process, through the organization of conferences, review of relevant research and experience elsewhere, and review of relevant research and experience elsewhere, and initiation of public discussion of these issues. initiation of public discussion of these issues.