Resource+management3

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT · Resource Management is seen as two-part process a) Technical b) Political Part (a) involves · Scientific assessment (understanding the problem, seen here as assessing the implications of developing the Great Whale  project); and · Risk analysis (what are society ‟ s options, given demand for electricity: What is appropriate technology for supply. Trade-  off between risks associated with different supply options, e.g.  nuclear vs. hydro vs. fossil fuel) Part (b) involves · Public education (explain options to public, gauge values); and · Political action (use values to make choice)

Final step is evaluation (monitoring and learning; make sure problem is addressed). These steps were necessary in the decision making and management of Hydro-Quebec projects. Scientific assessment has been legislated for large-scale projects as the environmental assessment process (EA) · BC EA Act · Federal EA Act Mulrennan states: // The guidelines for the EA are most ambitious ever issued for a // // development project in Canada. They…... embrace concepts of // // sustainable development, ecosystem integrity, cumulative impacts, // // and transboundary effects. // // They call for a reconceptualization of ecosystems to include, human // // activity, and require that cultural relativism be employed in evaluating // // environmental impacts…..the proponent was required to meet the // // challenge of integrating western “science” and local knowledge of // // socio-environmental impacts within the framework of EA (p.27). //

By following this Resource management protocol, the environment where the proposed Great Whale project was located was saved from huge development. When conducting this protocol, one must weigh both the economic, ecological, and social impacts of the proposed development. In a world that is run by money, sadly, many projects don't follow this type of protocol, or they do quite loosely, and economic gain is the only concern. In terms of risk analysis for the proposed projects the impacts where outlined very clear and was the main reason why the project never went through. Leaving Quebecs energy supply to remain depandant on importing oil which potentially has more problems associated with it than developing hydro power. The political aspect of resource management felt strong opposition by the public, it was clear after gauging their values that the public opposed the development of the dam and prefer supplying their energy from traditional methods.