Research

Environmental stewardship

Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation Rosenberg International Forum: The Mackenzie River Basin is the report of the forum's workshop on transboundary relations in the Mackenzie River Basin, held in September 2012. The workshop was hosted by SFU's Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT), with some support from the Real Estate Foundation. (2013)
Institute for Environmental Learning The Social Art of Architecture: involving youth in the design of sustainable communities is an online youth manual for teachers and youth leaders. It is being used to involve youth in real-world planning issues. (2013)
City of Prince George The Natural Areas Project included mapping of sensitive environmental areas; assessing climate change impacts on natural areas; simplifying ecosystem mapping for general use; and developing management strategies. Case study: Prince George Natural Areas and the Effects of Climate Change. (2012)
Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team GOERT delivers education to local governments, First Nations, and land use professionals to help them create and implement Garry Oak friendly policies, plans, and management practices.
Fraser Basin Council Rethinking Our Water Ways: A Guide to Water and Watershed Planning for BC Communities in the Face of Climate Change and Other Challenges was published in October 2011. Subsequently, the Foundation supported a series of regional workshops to facilitate dialogue and build capacity around water and watershed planning. Workshop report and presentations. (2012)
Community Resource Centre for the North Thompson The North Thompson Watershed Atlas includes interactive maps of the watershed's social, environmental, cultural, economic, and infrastructure assets, resources, and values. (2012)
Tides Canada The Give Green Canada toolkit provides free templates and resources for environmental non-profits to start a legacy fundraising program. (2012)
Stewardship Centre for British Columbia Society Establishing a Conservation Fund in British Columbia is a manual for local governments and community organizations on how to create a dedicated source of funding to support conservation efforts. (2012)
Waterlution The Future of Water Workshop Series is aimed at young leaders aged 18-35 years, which explore critical issues and locally relevant topics in water management. (2011)
Ecotrust Canada Ecotrust is working with First Nations communities to create homes that combine best practices and current technologies as well as cultural elements and traditions. (2011)
Grasslands Conservation Council of BC The Planning for Change initiative created tools and information for municipal, regional, provincial and First Nations' governments on planning in areas within grasslands, including mapping data and conservation strategies. (2011)
Fraser Valley Conservancy The Fraser Valley Regional Biodiversity Strategy is an ongoing multi-stakeholder strategy to conserve and protect biodiveristy in the Fraser Valley. (2011)
Comox Valley Conservation Strategy Community Partnership This regional conservation planning framework collects and shares information about Comox Valley ecosystems to help politicians, planners, developers, community groups, and residents to make decisions about land and water use which respect those ecosystems. Presentations, maps, and reports are available online. (2011)
DreamRider Theatre Zero Heroes is a musical play for children on reducing consumption and keeping things out of the landfill. (2011)
SFU Adaptation to Climate Change Team The Climate Change Adaptation and Water Governance summary report has short, medium, and long-term recommendations. ACT's research concluded that effective water management planning and serious water conservation measures are necessary to reduce the risk of water scarcity. Background and full reports also available. (2011)
Wildsight The Lake Windermere Project's "project highlights" include documents produced from 2004-2011: initial lake use survey, monitoring program, Integrated Lake Management Partnership, shoreline management guidelines, etc. (2011)
Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning at UBC Local Climate Change Visioning and Landscape Visualizations for the city of Kimberley - Executive Summary I Guidance Manual | Slide Presentation (2010)
South Okanagan-Similkameen Conservation Program SOSCP's Land Use Planning & Guidelines pages have resources for land developers and planners regarding sustainable land use. (2010)
West Coast Environmental Law A New Climate for Conservation: Nature, Carbon and Climate Change in British Columbia reports on the scientific and technical literature on climate change and biodiversity in BC suggests the need for a new way of structuring the laws and land tenure system. (2010)
BC Ground Water Association The provincial Ground Water Wells and Aquifer Database provides water supply information relevant in the purchase and sale of property. It is useful for land owners, buyers, developers and others. (2010)
Green Bricks Education Society Green Bricks develops and facilitates curriculum-linked educational programs for youth on sustainable land and water use. (2010)
Pacific Parklands Foundation Natural Capital in BC's Lower Mainland: Valuing the Benefits from Nature measured the value of ecosystems in the southwest region of the province. It found the top three benefit values provided are climate regulation, water filtration, and flood protection and water regulation. The total economic value of these ecosystem services is estimated to be $5.4 billion per year. (2010)
University of Waterloo Building Towards Water Efficiency: Policy Innovation and Education in New and Existing Homes examines the role of real estate brokers and builders in delivering more water-efficient homes in BC, Alberta, and Ontario. (2009)
Invasive Plant Council of BC (now Invasive Species Council) Economic Impacts of Invasive Plants in BC seeks to understand the impact of invasive plants in the absence of management action. It also presents a cost-benefit analysis of alternative invasive plant management strategies. (2009)
Cariboo Regional District Quesnel and Horsefly Lakes Lakeshore Development brochure I Quesnel/Horsefly Lakes Residential Land Assessment report identifies the environmental, social, and economic "carrying capacity" of the area as a planning and development tool. (2009)
Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm Cultivating Place: The South Campus Academic Plan is a strategic plan that addresses myriad ways the UBC Farm works with, and acts as a resource for, the surrounding community. (2009)
Light House Sustainable Building Centre The Sustainability At Home toolkit provides information and resources to help BC residents make more energy and materials-efficient choices in their daily lives. Produced in partnership with The Natural Step Canada. (2009)
Mid-Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society This community-based groundwater research and education program is building knowledge and understanding about the interaction between groundwater and surface water in the Englishman River watershed. (2008-ongoing) Report part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | map | videos
Fraser Basin Council Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process is a multi-agency planning process for Shuswap and Mara Lakes, which began in response to pressure from property development, watewater discharge, and conflicting recreational demands. (2007)
BC Water & Waste Association Convening for Action on Vancouver Island (CAVI) has involved many projects, including the Bowker Creek Initiative, Nanaimo water pricing workshop, and Comox Valley learning lunch series. Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Implementing a New Culture for Urban Watershed Protection and Restoration in British Columbia was informed by CAVI. (2006-ongoing)
BC Water & Waste Association The Water Balance Model is a watershed hydrology modeling tool to help land use professionals and other decision makers create neighourhoods that integrate good planning and innovative engineering designs. (2004-ongoing)
Habitat Acquisition Trust The HAT Manual: Protecting Natural Areas in the Capital Region is a reference document that looks at such things as the state of natural areas; tools available for ecosystem protection; and the role of local government politicians in land use decision making. (2004)