Jonathan Sharpe, NL EHJV Program Manager

Transcription

1 Wildlife/Habitat Stewardship in Newfoundland and Labrador: The Stewardship Association of Municipalities i Inc. Wilson Hoffe SAM President Wilson Hoffe, SAM President Jonathan Sharpe, NL EHJV Program Manager

2 Stewardship Association of Municipalities Inc (SAM) A Brief History: Stems from Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program (Jon) Membership (from our Constitution) Membership is open to all municipalities who enter into formal agreement with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador under the Municipal Stewardship Program. Founding municipalities: Whitbourne Gander Come By Chance Carmanville First jointly met in 1994 as a group of committed municipalities looking to submit joint funding proposal surrounding wildlife habitat restoration. Met regularly thereafter and expanded as additional municipalities have become involved in municipal habitat stewardship agreement signed with the province. (Current membership 18 municipalities) Early focus was solely on joint funding applications to implement conservation actions. Formally incorporated as a non-profit entity

3 Stewardship Association of Municipalities Inc (SAM) Vision Statement (from our Constitution): exists to work in partnership with the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture in Newfoundland and Labrador to secure, enhance and restore important wildlife habitat.found within municipal planning boundaries. network of communities who practice environmental stewardship...contributes to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity in the Province.

4 Current Activity: Meet twice a year hosted by various member municipalities. Provides a forum in which member municipalities can share knowledge, experiences and resolve wetland stewardship issues. These activities go a long way in promoting a sense of cooperation and camaraderie between stewardship communities. Joint/individual implementation of habitat/wildlife conservation and education initiatives. Goal of moving towards sustainable land-use planning.

5 The Role of SAM in Newfoundland and Labrador Stewardship Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted in one s care.

6 NAWMP (North American Waterfowl Management Plan) NAWMP is the most wide range land use and wildlife habitat program in the world. In the mid 1980 s, Canada, the United States, and Mexico, signed the Plan a truly continental approach! GOAL: To restore waterfowl populations in North America by conserving and/or enhancing wetland and upland habitat.

7 Implementation via Joint Ventures ~21 across North America Eastern Habitat Joint Venture: Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia Newfoundland and Labrador

8 NL EHJV Contributing Partners The NL EHJV program has been administered by the Wildlife Division The NL EHJV program has been administered by the Wildlife Division (Department of Environment and Conservation) since 1989

9 Goals of the Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program Empower communities to take ownership of protecting wildlife habitat within their municipal jurisdiction. Assist communities in identifying areas for stewardship and wisely conserving these lands. Maintain or increase wildlife use of habitat. Increase public awareness of the value of natural areas.

10 Municipal Habitat Stewardship Program Success Stewardship Agreements: Secured over 33,000 acres wildlife habitat (no loss areas) Influenced over 400,000 acres wildlife habitat (wise use areas) 18 municipalities (wetland) 6 municipalities (coastal) 6 municipalities (SAR) Several private landowners 2 corporations (IOC, CBPPL)

11 Wetland Stewardship Agreement Process: Creating Stewardship! ON THE FIRST DAY Conduct site visits to wildlife habitat near your town

12 ON THE SECOND DAY Work with your Town to identify areas for conservation: The intent is that these areas should be managed to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of the habitat and its associated wildlife populations.

13 ON THE THIRD DAY Draft a proposal and send it to the Town council for review. This proposal outlines the details of the program, the proposed boundaries of the Management Unit(s), and a working draft of the Stewardship Agreement. Feedback from the general public will also be encouraged.

14 Hawke s Bay agreement signing ON THE FOURTH DAY A formal Stewardship Agreement is signed between the Town and the Province during a public ceremony. Th T i d i t d t t th i The Town receives a road sign to demonstrate their commitment to stewardship.

15 ON THE FIFTH DAY A Habitat Conservation Plan is developed jointly between the Town and the Wildlife Division. This plan identifies conservation and enhancement strategies for the future.

16 AND ON THE SIXTH DAY STEWARDSHIP! Stewardship - The careful and responsible management of something entrusted into one s care. (Both individual and joint responsibility) Green Team Bay Roberts / Spaniard s Bay

17 Day Six Actions Incorporate the Habitat Conservation Plan into the town s Municipal Plan (zoning) Town will ensure that Management Units are protected from destruction or degradation, and contact EHJV staff in a timely manner when developments/activities are proposed that may impact these areas. Implement, often in partnership, enhancement measures over time. It i d d th t T k t th i t d th It is recommended that Towns seek to manage their agreement and the implementation of the Conservation Plan via a formal committee of council (e.g. environmental committee or wetlands committee ). By involving local individuals, a greater sense of ownership is fostered.

18 Conservation & Enhancement Strategies Waterfowl/Wildlife Habitat Enhancement: Cavity nest boxes (e.g. common goldeneye) Osprey yplatforms Artificial nesting islands/platforms Wetland habitat restoration (e.g. planting eel grass, stabilization of river banks) Litter cleanups Habitat Restoration Stephenville Crossing Municipal Stewardship Agreement Nesting Structures Artificial Nesting Island Litter Cleanups Municipal Stewardship Agreement Bay Roberts/Spaniards Bay Involving local people is the true strength of a Municipal Wetlands Stewardship Agreement! Conservation and education strategies are only limited by your own imagination.

19 Conservation & Enhancement Strategies Other Structures: Water control structures Bird blinds Walking trails Interpretative signage Upper Humber CBPP Corporate Stewardship Agreement Interpretive sign Gander Municipal Stewardship Agreement Bird Blinds Grand Falls Windsor Municipal Stewardship Agreement Interpretative t ti signage St. John s Lundrigan Marsh Walking Trial Winterland Municipal Stewardship Agreement

20 Education Programs Presentations to schools and colleges Development of wetland related youth education programs and activities National Wildlife Week Drawing Contest Interactive displays at festivals and fairs (e.g. World Wetlands Day, Annual Forest Fair, National Wildlife Week ) Waterfowl Monitoring Program Annual Forest Fair Corner Brook School Field Trip Bay Roberts/ Spaniards Bay Elementary school Whitbourne Wildlife Day

21 Educational Programs

22 Waterfowl Monitoring Program Codroy Valley with CNA Students

23 Participation in SAM Inc. (Stewardship Association of Municipalities) A province wide organization of municipalities which have signed Stewardship Agreements throughout the province. Formed to help reinforce a community s commitment to wetland and wildlife conservation; provides an opportunity to share experiences with wetland stewardship.

24 Numerous Benefits Increased environmental sustainability in municipal planning Opportunity to partner with various conservation organizations A mechanism through which community and environmental partners could develop educational campaigns to promote stewardship of the natural environment. Resident understanding and support reduces need for expensive enforcement activities. Create positive effects on tourism and the local economy Maintain and enhance the outstanding habitat for waterfowl, seabirds, and shorebirds Increase visitor and resident experiences through interpretive signage, walking trails, ecotourism, sustainable recreational activities, etc. Habitat stewardship can provide economic and cultural benefits while also ensuring the long term sustainability of these habitats

25 Thank You! Eastern Habitat Joint Venture Wildlife Division Dept. of Environment and Conservation 117 Riverside Drive Corner Brook, NL, A2H 7S1 Tel: (709) Tel: (709)

26 Bay Roberts/Spaniard s Bay

27 Carmanville

28 Port aux Basques

29 Come By Chance

30 Gambo

31 Gander

32 Grand Falls Windsor

33 Happy Valley Goose Bay

34 Hawke s Bay

35 Labrador City / Wabush

36 Springdale

37 Stephenville Crossing

38 St. John s

39 Torbay

40 Whitbourne

41 Winterland

42 Possible Concerns Loss of hunting and trapping opportunities, and other traditional activities? The Municipal Wetland Stewardship Agreement in no way inhibits hunting or other traditional activities within management units instead, it encourages that these practices continue to be sustainable. The Wildlife Division encourages hunting that is done according to current laws and regulations. Loss of land base? Designation of a specific, agreed upon area as a Management Unit under a stewardship agreement protects it from future development, so it will remain there in the future. An insurance plan it ensures that future town councils will not allow development of degradation of these valuable wildlife areas.

43 Roles of the EHJV Help jointly produce a Habitat Conservation Plan and provide the Town with technical advice Review developments within Management Unit(s) that may impact wetlands. Assist Town in carrying out wetland education initiatives Support community conservation groups in jointly implementing the Stewardship Agreement and Habitat Conservation Plan (Committee of Council)

44 Roles of the Municipality Contact EHJV staff in a timely manner when activities are proposed that may impact the Management Unit(s) Ensure Management Unit(s) are protected from destruction or degradation Incorporate the Stewardship Agreement and Habitat Conservation Plan into its next Municipal Plan draft or revision with the assistance of EHJV staff Educate (with help from EHJV) residents and development planners about the stewardship program and their responsibilities Implement over time the Habitat Conservation Plan recommendations in the community at large (Committee of Council) Participate in the Stewardship Association of Municipalities Inc. (SAM), a Participate in the Stewardship Association of Municipalities Inc. (SAM), a province wide organization made up of municipalities which have signed Stewardship Agreements.