Alchemy to reason: Effective use of Cumulative Effects Assessment in resource management

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 484-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Hegmann ◽  
G.A. (Tony) Yarranton
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Cumulative Effects Assessment ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Effects Assessment

EVALUATION OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ASSESSMENT INFRIENDS OF THE WEST COUNTRY ASSOCIATIONv.CANADAAND LAND USE PLANNING ALTERNATIVES

2002 ◽  
Vol 04 (02) ◽  
pp. 151-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATE M. LINDSAY ◽  
CLARK P. SVRCEK ◽  
DANIEL W. SMITH
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Federal Government ◽  
Environmental Assessment ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Court Decision ◽  
Cumulative Effects Assessment ◽  
Effects Assessment

In 1994, Sunpine Forest Products Ltd. sought permits from Alberta government to construct a permanent log hauling road and approvals from the federal government for construction of required bridges associated with the road. A concerned citizens group challenged the Federal Government's subsequent bridge approvals in court, claiming that cumulative effects assessment was not adequately conducted under Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The original Sunpine court decision agreed with the citizen group that the federal government erred in law by not including related projects and adequately considering associated cumulative effects, sending the approval back to the federal government for reconsideration. Government regulators, industrial foresters, and environmental groups across Canada awaited the appeal to the Sunpine federal court decision. The Sunpine Appeal reversed the original position with much relief from industry and government. The Sunpine case raises important issues about how federal and provincial authorities address environmental impacts, uncertainty in scoping assessments, factors to be considered, and cumulative effect assessments. This paper evaluates the cumulative effects assessment processes followed in the Sunpine case study under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act within an analysis framework of comprehensiveness, fairness, efficiency, and effectiveness. Land use planning models, like the British Columbia land resource management plans and Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, offer alternative approaches to legislated cumulative effects processes. Sustainability may be better realised with a combination of strategic environmental assessment tools, utilising environmental assessment at the project-level within the context of a regional resource planning process.

Stating the case for including Integrated Land Management within forest management plans: An opinion

2008 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan S Russell
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Integrated Resource Management ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Cumulative Effects Assessment ◽  
Effects Assessment

An increasing human population is exerting greater demands upon the earth for resource production and living space. Despite its large landmass, Canada is not immune to this pressure. On industrial forested lands, one response has been integrated resource management, whereby the forest supports multiple uses within the same space and time. Under the strain of increasing pressures, coupled with a concern for the maintenance of natural systems and processes, it has become evident that the current planning processes need to evolve to incorporate a new land management paradigm. This paper outlines the issues and presents for discussion a potential management paradigm based not only on the limited scope of industrial forested lands but on the broader expanse of land management in general. Supporting the proposed Integrated Land Management (ILM) approach, Millar Western Forest Products Ltd., an Alberta-based forest products company, developed a cumulative effects assessment to complement its forest management plan. This assessment demonstrates that as a proof of concept, ILM is technically achievable and can be scientifically based. Further, integration of diverse concepts and disciplines can be organized to produce functional plans. Key words: Integrated Land Management, Integrated Resource Management, forest management, cumulative effects assessment

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