Ecosystem-based+management

ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT Sustainability goal achieved via ecosystem management.

Human-Nature Fit: How do Quebecers carry out acceptable economic activity within the ‘Taiga Shield’ ecosystem (//in brown//), currently “undeveloped” and home to aboriginals?

Components of ecosystem approach • Hierarchical context – Everything is interconnected • Ecological boundaries – Use ecological boundaries for analysis • Ecological integrity – Protecting natural diversity in landscape • Monitoring – Provides basis for learning • Adaptive management – Management as learning experience (monitoring is key) • Interagency cooperation – Within and between governments, addressing conflicting legal mandates and management objectives • Humans in nature – Humans part of, rather than separate from, nature • Values – Approach recognizes scientific and traditional knowledge

All of the above have relevance in managing this project, but particularly the //values//component. Mulrennan states: // …which knowledge [scientific or traditional] becomes the basis for // // policy decisions, and whose social goals and values will be supported // // by that knowledge, will be heavily influenced by the relative power of // // the competing groups (p.29) //

Ecosystems managed based on the needs of the natural environment rather than the needs of humans. A system that is put in place to build the balance between humans and nature.

Protecting the local environment proved to trump economic interests the case of the Great Whale project. However, this decision was due to the efforts of NGO's and Native claim to land title that saved the local environment from being developed. Without these efforts, it is obvious the project would have went through, and hydro Quebec could have potentially made billions of dollars. There likely would have been little benefit to local communities. The promise of lots of Jobs is always the propaganda used by big companies when really there is no social equity. Hydro Quebec would have never managed the ecosystem correctly but rather they would have destroyed it. Achieving the human-nature fit in this area is impossible when considering all the impacts it will have on the environment.