Weber, M., N. Krogman, and T. Antoniuk. 2012. Cumulative effects assessment: linking social, ecological, governance dimensions. Ecology Society 17(2): 22. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-04597-170222

Various modeling efforts have been conducted to evaluate ecosystem services (ES) of agricultural conservation practices but typically these models are too complex for stakeholders use. This research developed a cloud-based WebGIS tool communicating integrated ES stakeholders. The was by linking farm economic, watershed hydrologic, and soil carbon within spatial optimization framework identifying minimize economic costs subject multiple targets including water quality improvement benefits....

Il faut s’attendre a ce qu’un changement des conditions climatiques modifie les possibilites de production qui se presentent aux agriculteurs. Des etudes globales visant determiner consequences du climatique sur l’agriculture semblent indiquer un effet benefique pour le Canada. Les resultats d’etudes menees au Canada ont tendance etre plus pessimistes; cependant, la plupart ces concernent regions specifiques et concentrent recoltes specifiques, en particulier cereales oleagineux. Notre...

Water and forests are inextricably linked. Pressures on from population growth climate change increasing risks to their aquatic ecosystem services (AES). There is a need incorporate AES in forest management but there considerable uncertainty about how do so. Approaches that manage such as fiber, water carbon sequestration independently ignore the inherent complexities of responses actions, with potential for unintended consequences difficult predict. The ISO 31000 Risk Management Standard...

Cumulative effects management requires understanding the environmental impacts of development and finding right balance between social, economic, objectives.We explored use choice experiments to elicit preferences for competing ecological outcomes in order rank land resource options.The were applied Southeast Yukon, a remote rich region Northern Canada with relatively large aboriginal population.The case study addresses two issues concern cumulative management: willingness discount future...

This study uses experimental economic methods to examine the efficacy of reverse auctions generate efficient nutrient abatement from livestock operations. The parameters were benchmarked a specific beneficial management practice in Manitoba watershed and used three bid-selection rules two pricing rules. results suggest that targeting with performed almost as well levels at farm level. Auctions maximized participation producers fared poorly on both environmental outcome measures....

Abstract Mitigation and offset programs designed to compensate for ecosystem function losses due development must balance from affected ecosystems with gains in restored ecosystems. Aggregation rules applied functions assess site equivalence are based on implicit assumptions about the substitutability of among sites can profoundly influence distribution landscape. We investigated consequences aggregation wetland offsets Beaverhill watershed Alberta, Canada. considered fate 3 functions:...

The Canadian boreal forest is primarily public land, owned and managed by provincial governments on behalf of the interest. Boreal governance consists a complex patchwork federal legislation, policies, tenures, delegated authorities designed to achieve multiple (and often conflicting) social, ecological, economic objectives. We examine implications arrangements for sustainable management ecosystem services. paper shows how current multi-level that evolved from Canada’s Constitution Act are...

In this paper we introduce tradable land-use rights (TLRs) as a potential economic instrument for cumulative environmental effects management on public lands. TLRs allow the regulator to implement thresholds habitat loss while maximizing benefits of development. By allowing criteria drive configuration development activities in region, risk biodiversity may be reduced given cost. Alberta's Boreal Forest Natural Region is used case study examining TLRs. Implementation issues, particularly...

The literature that supports assigning economic value to ecosystem services (ES) has been identified as a topic for discussion. challenges of valuation is pressing issue, yet the knowledge and barriers associated with them are equal significance. Specific policy mechanisms may be used ES provision examined in this work. It also acknowledged legal constitutional create obstacles moving forward toward market-based policies. Furthermore, touch upon political controversies, explore details...

The boreal zone, a vast region with abundant natural resources and related industries, has both provisioning nonprovisioning ecosystem services that draw some people, while warding off others. It is an area arguably affects many Canadians in different ways represents wide range of tangible intangible values. Changes demographic patterns over time shed light on the development social-ecological landscape elucidate potential changes future. Using past current data, we explore population size,...

This paper compares the economic and environmental performance of a share versus prior allocation system for managing water in Alberta’s South Saskatchewan River Basin. Currently, is allocated on priority basis, moving to would involve significant political legal challenges. In absence trading, both initial systems result poor outcomes, but performs particularly badly. Efficiency improves with trading as licensees respond opportunities reallocate higher value uses. However, under allocation,...

The legitimacy of wetland decisions depends on how science and values are integrated reflected in management decisions. Natural capital ecosystem services (ES) have become integral to we think about however there is no consensus these concepts should be applied management. Through the example Alberta’s policy, show policies designed mainstream natural ES decision-making aligned with liberal governance arrangements that emerged nineteenth century. There a gap between individual collective...

SUMMARY To conserve biodiversity on forest landscapes, it is necessary to understand how incentives in an offset market affect the dynamics of habitat loss and restoration. In this study, a model firm behaviour temporary developed impact rules land use policy costs benefits for Alberta's boreal forest. Policy treatments include eligibility restoration versus avoided loss; time lags crediting benefits; geographic trading restrictions. The analysis highlights assumptions trade-offs embedded...

A survey of Alberta beef producers was conducted at sites overlapping with a province-wide network permanent biodiversity monitoring plots to characterize focal pastures and their management, including estimates stocking rates. Overall, greater rates were reported in the boreal compared parkland grassland natural regions, coinciding an increased reliance on tame forage relatively small land areas largely deeded land. Higher also associated earlier starting dates grazing season, higher mean...

Cumulative effects management requires understanding the environmental impacts of development and finding right balance between social, economic, objectives.We explored use choice experiments to elicit preferences for competing ecological outcomes in order rank land resource options.The were applied Southeast Yukon, a remote rich region Northern Canada with relatively large aboriginal population.The case study addresses two issues concern cumulative management: willingness discount future...