Ecological Data Update and Conservation Plan

Innovative Research | Engaged Communities | Healthy Landscapes

Guy Greenaway, Greg ChernoffMiistakis Institute

CMP Implementation & Servicing Steering CommitteeJune 11, 2015 - Cochrane Ranchehouse

An Update on Current Work and Next Steps

Outline• Ecological Data Update

Progress report Upcoming work (help!)

• Ecological Conservation and Protection Plan

Summary of workshop feedback Current work Next steps

INTRODUCTION

ECOLOGICAL DATA UPDATE

Land Use Intensity Time Series:

• How has human use of this landscape changed?

• Important foundation for future work

• All background work now complete

• Next steps:

• Need help assigning intensity “scores” (workshop)

• Aggregate to hexagon grids

• Measure and map change!

• Pass data on for widespread sharing/use

MAPPING LAND USE CHANGE

MAPPING LAND USE PLANNING

Land Use Zoning study:

• How have land use designations (zones) changed over time?

• How does this (objectively) compare to CMP?

• Have generalized land use zones map from c2009, and CMP layers

• Need current land use zones from all municipalities in the region

• Developing a systematic, repeatable method for generalization to regional scale

ECOLOGICAL CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION PLAN

THEME

MEASURE

ECOLOGICAL CONSERVATION PLANNING PROCESS

TARGET

STRATEGY

IMPLEMENTATION

SUITE OF CONSERVATION

THEMES

Focuses conservation planning, and links with other CMP priorities

DATA-DOABLE MEASURES OF THE

THEMES

Links ‘aspiration’ to ‘management’, and adds data pragmatism

WHAT WE WANT ECOSYSTEM TO

LOOK LIKE

Focuses implementation and allows for coordinated planning

HOW WE WILL GET THERE

Provides practical, applied tools & approaches usable at regional & municipal level

DO IT !!

Lays out tasks, coordination, timing, responsibilities for partners and partnership

Ecological Functionsand Services

• Watershed health

• Ecological infrastructure

• Open space

• Food production

Drivers of Potential Change in Ecological

Functions and Services

• Transportation networks

• Rural residential development

• Urban expansion

• Employment lands

• Industry lands

• Resource development

• Growth outside priority growth areas

Proposed Themes

ECOLOGICAL DATA AND PLANNING THEMES

Question 1: The Initial Feedback

• Greater clarity is needed on the themes; how are they defined, what are the components; especially open space and ecological infrastructure

• Missing themes include connectivity, air quality and floodways

• Food production and environmental protection not always congruous

• Data collection needs to be objective; specificity in requests will aid this

FEEDBACK SUMMARY

Question 2: Where to go for support in refining themes

• Municipal strategies: City of Calgary BiodiverCity plan, Chestermere Wetland Strategy, Airdrie Ecological Inventory

• Provincial strategies: Environmental Significant Areas, species protection plans, public lands policies (grazing, energy, OHV), Wetland Policy

• NGOs: Bow River Basin Council, Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, Calgary Region Airshed Zone

• Provincial agencies: AESRD monitoring, Alberta Health, Human Services, Culture

• Potential implementation strategies: Transfer of Development Credits

FEEDBACK SUMMARY

Question 3: What might be barriers

• Language – terms like ‘ecological infrastructure’ are jargony, need direct language

• Each member (and non-member) will have different priorities and opinions

• Multiple ‘publics’ exist (developers, landowners)

• Potential conflict between ‘sprawl’ and protection of open spaces

• Difficulty will exist in showing how it will be implemented at the ‘local’ level, what are the consequences

• Risk in poorly identifying stakeholders

FEEDBACK SUMMARY

Overall Observations

• Lack of clarity on purpose / role of the Ecological Conservation Plan, and how it will be used by / useful to member municipalities / partnership

• Strong commitment to principles of conservation as articulated in CMP, but how those principles will put into practice is unclear

• Linkages at the conceptual level are well supported, but not operational level (i.e., between conservation and other CRP priorities, between the CMP and municipal plans, between planning and data development, between CRP and GoA plans)

• Communication (clarity, engagement) will be a paramount issue in developing the data tools and conservation plan

FEEDBACK SUMMARY

Reviewing plans and written materials

• Using direction from workshop

• Municipal documents Municipal Development Plan, Land Use Bylaw,

Parks/Open Space Plans, Sustainability Plans, Biodiversity Plans, Relevant Bylaws, Utilities Master Plans, Growth Management, Social Well-Being, etc.

• CRP plans and background reports

• Looking for what you are already doing, and how you are already measuring it

CURRENT WORK

June to September

• Continue review of plans and strategies

• Connecting with member municipalities

• Develop proposed Themes and Measures

• Work with Advisory Committee

• Bring Themes to Steering Committee for approval

NEXT STEPS

Phone: 403-440-8444Emails: guy@rockies.ca

greg@rockies.caWeb:www.rockies.caTwitter: @Miistakis

Guy Greenaway and

Greg Chernoff