Integrated Landscape Management An Overview Bob Demulder, ILM Program Manager, Alberta Chamber of Resources Alberta Environment Conference April 20, 2005.

Integrated Landscape Management Integrated Landscape Management An Overview An Overview

Bob Demulder, ILM Program Manager, Bob Demulder, ILM Program Manager,

Alberta Chamber of ResourcesAlberta Chamber of Resources

Alberta Environment Conference Alberta Environment Conference

April 20, 2005April 20, 2005

Intro ACR & ILM ProgramIntro ACR & ILM Program

ACR - Resource industry organization focused on ACR - Resource industry organization focused on strategic cross sectoral issuesstrategic cross sectoral issues– Land management (ILM), Aboriginal relations / issues, Land management (ILM), Aboriginal relations / issues,

Watershed management, Workforce development, Watershed management, Workforce development, Climate Change.Climate Change.

ILM Program, 2001 –ILM Program, 2001 – Cumulative Effects – Green Cumulative Effects – Green Area (Public Lands)Area (Public Lands)

Business, Policy & Science componentsBusiness, Policy & Science components ACR, U of A ILM Industrial Research ChairACR, U of A ILM Industrial Research Chair

– Dr. Stan Boutin - ScienceDr. Stan Boutin - Science

ACR ILM Program ManagerACR ILM Program Manager– Bob Demulder – Business & PolicyBob Demulder – Business & Policy

The Green AreaThe Green Area 51% of province and finite51% of province and finite Forests, wildlife & water Forests, wildlife & water

prioritiespriorities No true land manager – SRD No true land manager – SRD

primary agency but energy, primary agency but energy, environment, EUB agriculture environment, EUB agriculture and others allocate and and others allocate and regulate.regulate.

Multiple use principlesMultiple use principles Minimal planningMinimal planning Industry and public use growth Industry and public use growth

mandates!mandates! Increasingly Busy Place!Increasingly Busy Place!

Multiple Land Use Policy & Resource AllocationMultiple Land Use Policy & Resource Allocation

Agriculture: Grazing Leases. Licenses, permits

Water: Surface Water License

Fur: Traplines (RFMAs) Cabins

Trees: FMA’s & Timber Quotas

Peat Moss: Surface Material License Infrastructure: Roads, power lines, pipelines

Recreation: Parks, trails, OHV’s, hunting, lodges

Municipalities: Communities

Gravel: Surface Material License

Gas: Lease, license

Oil: Lease, license

Coal & CBM: Lease

Bitumen: Lease

Minerals: precious metals, diamonds

Ground Water: License

Peat MossGravel

FurTrees

Surface & Ground Water

Natural Gas

Conventional & HeavyOil

Oil Sands/Bitumen

Coal

Minerals

Cattle

Surface

Subsurface

seismic

Disturbing Signals – Habitat ChallengesDisturbing Signals – Habitat Challenges

The System Challenge & Cumulative EffectsThe System Challenge & Cumulative Effects Uncoordinated incremental development (industrial & Uncoordinated incremental development (industrial &

societal) & multiple use policiessocietal) & multiple use policies

Ecological Ecological – threats to other values that require – threats to other values that require management or protectionmanagement or protection– Increased number of endangered species (caribou, grizzly etc.)Increased number of endangered species (caribou, grizzly etc.)– Increased risk to biodiversity, environmental integrity, water, etc.Increased risk to biodiversity, environmental integrity, water, etc.

Social Social – erosion of public confidence– erosion of public confidence– Reduced confidence in government and regulatory systemsReduced confidence in government and regulatory systems– Increased ENGO advocacy (i.e.- Boreal Campaign, provinces Increased ENGO advocacy (i.e.- Boreal Campaign, provinces

reputation in international markets) reputation in international markets) – Erosion social license to operateErosion social license to operate

EconomicEconomic – resource access, increased business costs – resource access, increased business costs– Increase in the regulatory burden to deal with social and ecological Increase in the regulatory burden to deal with social and ecological

issuesissues– More conditions, restrictions, delays or longer approvals, or More conditions, restrictions, delays or longer approvals, or

potential for loss of investment after the allocation has been made potential for loss of investment after the allocation has been made

ILM Program Strategy Phase I – “Mechanics”ILM Program Strategy Phase I – “Mechanics”

““Raise the Profile of ILM” focus on Raise the Profile of ILM” focus on “Low Hanging Fruit” “Low Hanging Fruit”

Build cross sectoral relationships Build cross sectoral relationships (energy & forestry – largest users)(energy & forestry – largest users)

Remove traditional barriers to Remove traditional barriers to cooperatecooperate

Identify & promote business Identify & promote business solutions that save time & money solutions that save time & money by:by:• Reduce Size – e.g., Narrow Seismic

Programs etc.

• Reduce Duration – e.g., Reclamation to trees etc.

• Reduce Intensity – e.g., Coordinated Access etc.

• Improve Stewardship – e.g., Stream crossings association etc.

ILM vs BAU

0255075

100

0 10 20 30 40

Time

Fo

otp

rin

t

BAU

ILM

4 years of operational ILM at Al-Pac4 years of operational ILM at Al-Pac Area impact reduction Area impact reduction (coordinated (coordinated

access, integrated harvest, reclamation, access, integrated harvest, reclamation, narrow seismicnarrow seismic))– 10,000 ha (1 yr harvest area or 25% 10,000 ha (1 yr harvest area or 25%

improvement)improvement) $ saved $ saved (joint road, TDA rebates, (joint road, TDA rebates,

information sharing etc.)information sharing etc.)– Energy - $40 millionEnergy - $40 million– Forestry - $15 million (plus fibre)Forestry - $15 million (plus fibre)

1/3 of Al-Pac’s harvest volume 1/3 of Al-Pac’s harvest volume (or (or 800,000 m800,000 m33 /yr. – or 3500 ha) /yr. – or 3500 ha) for the for the next 3 years is planned through next 3 years is planned through integrated harvest plans integrated harvest plans

Better stewardship for all sectorsBetter stewardship for all sectors ILM Profile raised! ILM Profile raised!

Do ILM Mechanics Work ?Do ILM Mechanics Work ?

HoweverHowever

The Science shows that the The Science shows that the “Triple E” Approach to land “Triple E” Approach to land use is running into limitationsuse is running into limitations– EverythingEverything– EverywhereEverywhere– Every timeEvery time

Science clearly shows that Science clearly shows that “ILM Best Practices or “ILM Best Practices or Mechanics” can only be part of Mechanics” can only be part of a solutiona solution

Trade-offs are inevitableTrade-offs are inevitable The Land ManagementThe Land Management System System

is the challengeis the challenge

Convergence Convergence

The science and business components of ILM are The science and business components of ILM are both pointing to the need to improve the current both pointing to the need to improve the current short comings of the current land governance short comings of the current land governance systems assystems as . .

Through the ILM Program and other related Through the ILM Program and other related initiatives the land governance challenge or the initiatives the land governance challenge or the need for need for “A New Land Strategy for Alberta”“A New Land Strategy for Alberta” is is also on the governments radar screen also on the governments radar screen – Federal interestFederal interest– Alberta Throne speechAlberta Throne speech– Department business plansDepartment business plans– Various ReportsVarious Reports

So where and when do we startSo where and when do we starton this better system or strategy?on this better system or strategy?

I would suggest we have already I would suggest we have already started!started!

Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring ProgramAlberta Biodiversity Monitoring Program The variety of life in all its formsThe variety of life in all its forms An indicator of how well our land and An indicator of how well our land and

water systems are functioning – (Ecosystem water systems are functioning – (Ecosystem health)health)

Conserving biodiversity is the most Conserving biodiversity is the most practical way to ensure that ecosystems practical way to ensure that ecosystems function effectivelyfunction effectively

An increasingly important consideration for An increasingly important consideration for resource management policy and practiceresource management policy and practice

Supports international commitments, land Supports international commitments, land management & business needsmanagement & business needs

World leading, credible, efficient data World leading, credible, efficient data collection systemcollection system

Operational May 2007Operational May 2007 www.abmp.arc.ab.cawww.abmp.arc.ab.ca

Foothills Stream Crossing AssociationFoothills Stream Crossing Association

Before After

Foothills Stream Crossing AssociationFoothills Stream Crossing Association

Existing crossings, Watershed Existing crossings, Watershed level, cross sectoral & gov.level, cross sectoral & gov.

Standardized assessment protocolsStandardized assessment protocols– Water flow / passageWater flow / passage– Deleterious SubstancesDeleterious Substances– Fish passageFish passage– Safety (public / employee)Safety (public / employee)

Economies of scaleEconomies of scale– Assessments and maintenanceAssessments and maintenance

Better stewardship of an issue Better stewardship of an issue based on risk, something not very based on risk, something not very well managed in the pastwell managed in the past

Consistent with the Water Consistent with the Water StrategyStrategy

Pilot for a the rest of the province.Pilot for a the rest of the province.

(X(X

$T

$T%a

(X

(X

$T

$T$T

$T

%a$T

%a

$T

%a

%a%a

%a

(X$T

(X$T

$T

%a

(X

C99080

C99090C99092

C99096

C99098

C99104

C99106

C99108

C99112C99114

C99119

C99121

C99125

C99127C99129

C99131

C20253

C20237

C20233

C20238

C20235

C99082C99086

C99110

C20236

C20140

Watershed boundaryRailwaysErith roads

Crossing status$T Passable(X Potential partial barrier%a Not passableö Not assessed

Probability of fish captureHighMediumLow

Legend

4 0 4 8 12 Kilometers

N

EW

S

So how might this all fit together So how might this all fit together to make a better land to make a better land

management systems?management systems?

Possible Components of a Better SystemPossible Components of a Better System

Vision•Desired outcomes•Objectives provincial, regional

Land Information•Standardized, biophysical, dispositions•Real time, spatial, internal or externally managed

Land Planning *

•Primary use concepts, zoning•Economic, social, environmental advocates

•Tools – NES / SES Pilots

Allocations Decisions•Spatial, temporal allocation, New Tenures?•Trade offs, thresholds, cumulative effects•City Council Model? Value decisions

Operational Plans•Industrial , public use, access

•ILM mechanics

Enforcement of Plans Regulations, Incentives, Staff, FSCA

Measure (filters & scale)•Environment – ABMP•Social – Quality of Life?•Economic – GDP?

Adjust

•Science & Research

Yellow – being worked on

Systems BasedSystems Based

The critical point is that this is a systems The critical point is that this is a systems based process / concept.based process / concept.

Sections or components can be developed Sections or components can be developed separately – separately – But it is critical But it is critical that they know that they know and clearly understand how they relate to and clearly understand how they relate to one another.one another.

Consistent with Sustainable Resource & Consistent with Sustainable Resource & Environmental Framework presentation Environmental Framework presentation

Let’s take a closer look at one of the Let’s take a closer look at one of the components of this theoretical components of this theoretical

system. system.

Dominate Land Use Zoning

Water, Recreation, Protection

Residence, Commerce

Energy, Oilsands

Caribou, protection

Consider This…Consider This…

AirAir WaterWater LandLand

Standard Standard Measurement Measurement MetricsMetrics

YesYesParticulates, Particulates, Nox, Sox etc.Nox, Sox etc.

YesYesTSS, AOX, etcTSS, AOX, etc

NoNo

Public ResourcePublic Resource YesYes YesYes Not alwaysNot always

Relation to Relation to Public HealthPublic Health

DirectDirectClean AirClean Air

DirectDirectClean WaterClean Water

Indirect at bestIndirect at best

GovernanceGovernance Yes – Yes – EnvironmentEnvironment

Yes – Yes – EnvironmentEnvironment

No No

We’ve tackled Air and Water - Is it any wonder why we’ve left land to last - let alone try to bring them all together?

So what’s in the future for the So what’s in the future for the ILM Program?ILM Program?

ILM Future – Business / MechanicsILM Future – Business / Mechanics

Result in efficiencies (money, time and better Result in efficiencies (money, time and better land stewardship) and are still part of the land stewardship) and are still part of the solutionsolution

Build cross sectoral business understanding Build cross sectoral business understanding (energy / forestry business 101)(energy / forestry business 101)

Build cross sector business relations Build cross sector business relations (stump & (stump & pump)pump)

Address and remove traditional barriers between Address and remove traditional barriers between sectorssectors

Encourage policy that promotes cooperation and Encourage policy that promotes cooperation and maintains business advantagesmaintains business advantages

ILM Future - The System ChallengeILM Future - The System Challenge Get involved with the “Land Use Strategy” Get involved with the “Land Use Strategy”

discussions that will (are) taking place.discussions that will (are) taking place. Scoping a better system (CWF)Scoping a better system (CWF)

– what might be a better system, what might be a better system, – what are the components, how do they fit together to what are the components, how do they fit together to

support the systemsupport the system– what is doable politically, practically and financially what is doable politically, practically and financially – who does it and whenwho does it and when– manage expectations!manage expectations!

There is and will be lots to work on – thus the There is and will be lots to work on – thus the ILM program will likely focus on a few areas ILM program will likely focus on a few areas where we can add value e.g., Land Information where we can add value e.g., Land Information systemsystem

Take Home MessagesTake Home Messages• “The Land Supports Us All” – to coin a phrase from the

Agriculture sector.

• The resource sectors that use land are the backbone of the economy and provide for our quality of life.

• If we don’t look at land management systems and the cumulative effects challenge proactively it will likely be forced (e.g., caribou and SARA legal challenge)

• ILM promotes better practices, mechanisms and systems thinking regarding land use / management. Everyone has a role

• The “better system” will likely never be perfect, but that shouldn’t stop us from trying to improve it.

• It’s a complex and long term challenge.

Thank You

Questions & discussion

Bob Demulder

ILM program Manager

(403) 233-3050

Bob.Demulder@ConocoPhillips,com