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A Collaborative Approach to Assessing Regional Cumulative Effects in the Transboundary Crown of the Continent
Guy Greenaway, Danah Duke, Michael Quinn |
Encompassing the shared Rocky Mountain region of
Montana, British Columbia and Alberta, the ‘Crown of the
Continent’ ecosystem is one of North America’s most
ecologically diverse and jurisdictionally fragmented
ecosystems. The long-term ecological viability of the
region is currently threatened by disjointed
jurisdiction-based management, and by dramatic increases
in all areas of human activity.
Recognizing the need to explore ecosystem-based ways of
collaborating, more than 20 government agencies from
across the Crown began meeting in 2001, eventually
forming the Crown of the Continent Managers Partnership
(CMP). Their workplan describes “Addressing cumulative
effects of human activity across the ecosystem” as one
of their highest priorities.
The Regional Landscape Analysis Project is a multi-year
effort to 1) identify drivers and barriers to advancing
a cumulative effects process in the region, and develop
a framework for its implementation; 2) compile
region-wide spatial, metric and trend data sets for all
major land uses and natural disturbance regimes in the
Crown region; 3) conduct modeling to simulate future
landscape conditions based on current land use patterns
and expert-determined trends; and 4) iteratively explore
acceptable thresholds and possible mitigation strategies
with participating agencies. |
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