Cumulative Impacts and Natural Resources Community of Practice

Project Abstract:
Natural resource extraction at different spatial and temporal scales has cumulative effects on ecosystems that are not yet well understood. Furthermore, the lack of baseline measurements, long-term monitoring and knowledge of ecological thresholds prevents us from understanding how cumulative impacts affect ecosystem health and resilience. There is a need to increase awareness and knowledge on the cumulative impacts of activities such as forestry, grazing and land conversion from, mining, oil & gas development, urban development and other industrial activities on ecosystems. Additionally, there is as yet no community of practice within the realms of research, policy and natural resource management that addresses cumulative impacts. This issue has been identified as a priority area in the new FORREX 2009-2014 Ecosystem Management and Conservation Biology Extension Program, building on some of the key findings of the recently released report "Taking Nature’s Pulse: The Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia" (Austin et al, 2008), and following the strategic direction offered by the Forest Investment Account/Forest Sciences Program Sustainability Program Advisory Committee Extension Priorities 2008-2009, the FORREX Board Think Tank 2008 and the Ecosystem Management and Conservation Biology 2008 Working Group. Within this context and by means of this project, the conservation biology extension specialist will provide extension products and services relating to cumulative impacts of the development of natural resources in BC on species and ecosystems.

For further information on this project, please contact Pedro.LaraAlmuedo@forrex.org.