coastal coalition of nova scotia presentation to provincial deputy ministers march 27, 2007
TRANSCRIPT
Coastal Coalition of Coastal Coalition of Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Presentation to Presentation to
Provincial Deputy Provincial Deputy MinistersMinisters
March 27, 2007March 27, 2007
PRESENTATION OUTLINEPRESENTATION OUTLINE
A. About UsA. About Us
B. The Need for a Coastal B. The Need for a Coastal
Management StrategyManagement Strategy
C. Moving ForwardC. Moving Forward
THE COASTAL COALITION THE COASTAL COALITION OF NOVA SCOTIAOF NOVA SCOTIA
GrassrootsGrassroots
Multi-stakeholder Multi-stakeholder
MultidisciplinaryMultidisciplinary
Community, economic development, Community, economic development, tourism, resource and tourism, resource and environmental environmental groups, individuals groups, individuals and and research research organizationsorganizations
WHY ARE WE HERE?WHY ARE WE HERE?
To inform you about the CCNS and its workTo inform you about the CCNS and its work
To outline why we think a Coastal To outline why we think a Coastal Management Strategy is needed for Nova Management Strategy is needed for Nova ScotiaScotia
To explore ways the Coastal Coalition and To explore ways the Coastal Coalition and coastal communities can work with you coastal communities can work with you constructively, towards the sustainable use constructively, towards the sustainable use and stewardship of our coastal areasand stewardship of our coastal areas
OUR MISSIONMISSION
To work towards the preservation, To work towards the preservation, restoration and sustainable use of the restoration and sustainable use of the physical, biological, and cultural physical, biological, and cultural heritage of Nova Scotia’s coastal heritage of Nova Scotia’s coastal ecosystemsecosystems
OUR GOALSOUR GOALS
Promote the development of Promote the development of coastal coastal planning and planning and managementmanagement
Monitor activities that impact Monitor activities that impact on on coastal ecosystemscoastal ecosystems
Challenge activities that Challenge activities that threaten threaten coastal access, coastal access, coastal habitat coastal habitat and wildlife, and wildlife, and responsible and responsible resource useresource use
ACCOMPLISHMEACCOMPLISHMENTSNTS Information and Information and
AwarenessAwareness
Research and Research and AnalysisAnalysis
Networking, Support Networking, Support for communities and for communities and Capacity-buildingCapacity-building
KEY FINDINGSKEY FINDINGS
Nova Scotians value the coast Nova Scotians value the coast economically, socially, intrinsically and economically, socially, intrinsically and environmentallyenvironmentally
Rules (laws, regulations, by-laws) lack Rules (laws, regulations, by-laws) lack direction, coverage and coherencedirection, coverage and coherence
Lack of coordination, implementation Lack of coordination, implementation and enforcementand enforcement
There is a pressing need for a more There is a pressing need for a more coordinated approach, which includes coordinated approach, which includes roles for municipalities and communitiesroles for municipalities and communities
A COMPLEX LEGAL AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
MunicipMunicipalal
RegulatioRegulation of land n of land use, use, Municipal Municipal planning planning strategiestrategies, bylawss, bylaws
FederalFederal
DFO: DFO: Fisheries ActFisheries Act, , Oceans ActOceans Act
Parks Parks CanadaCanada
Transport: Transport: navigable navigable waterswaters
Environment Environment Canada: Canada: clean clean water, pollution water, pollution preventionprevention
CEAA CEAA
ProvincialProvincial
DNR: DNR: Crown land management, Crown land management, protected beaches, species at riskprotected beaches, species at risk DEL: DEL: watershed management, water watershed management, water quality, wetlands, environmental quality, wetlands, environmental assessment, wilderness protection, assessment, wilderness protection, nature reservesnature reserves DA&F: DA&F: inland fisheries, inland inland fisheries, inland waters, aquaculturewaters, aquaculture TC&H: TC&H: Nova Scotia’s coastal Nova Scotia’s coastal landscape and history, a marketing landscape and history, a marketing “brand”“brand” DTPW: DTPW: infrastructureinfrastructure DOE: DOE: wind, tidalwind, tidal SNSMA: SNSMA: Municipal Government ActMunicipal Government Act ED: ED: coastal enterprises, aquaculture, coastal enterprises, aquaculture, fish processingfish processing Finance: Finance: ROI, taxationROI, taxation
Piecemeal approach and lack of focus on Piecemeal approach and lack of focus on sustainable development and environmental sustainable development and environmental protection in coastal areasprotection in coastal areas
Conflicts arise due to lack of planning, Conflicts arise due to lack of planning, appropriate framework/ strategy and are dealt appropriate framework/ strategy and are dealt with in an ad hoc basis with in an ad hoc basis
The need to balance provincial and local concerns The need to balance provincial and local concerns
Gaps in research and sharing information and Gaps in research and sharing information and resourcesresources
NAVIGATING THE MAZENAVIGATING THE MAZE
CHALLENGESCHALLENGES
NATURALNATURALClimate Climate changechangeSea-level riseSea-level riseStorm eventsStorm events
HUMANHUMANCoastal pollution Coastal pollution
OTV use OTV use Public accessPublic access NATURAL/HUMANNATURAL/HUMAN
Flooding and Flooding and Infrastructure Infrastructure Damage Damage Ad hoc and Ad hoc and inappropriate inappropriate developmentdevelopmentLoss coastal habitat Loss coastal habitat Natural resource Natural resource extraction/processinextraction/processingg
There is a window of opportunity for There is a window of opportunity for sustainable coastal developmentsustainable coastal development
There are issues that can only be dealt There are issues that can only be dealt with a coherent frameworkwith a coherent framework
• Accelerated coastal developmentAccelerated coastal development• New uses (wind and tidal power)New uses (wind and tidal power)• Rising costs and liability Rising costs and liability • Climate change impacts and sea level riseClimate change impacts and sea level rise• Growing number of local conflictsGrowing number of local conflicts
Nova Scotians want leadership on coastal Nova Scotians want leadership on coastal issuesissues
WHY A COASTAL WHY A COASTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK NOW?NOW?
Sea-level risk in the Atlantic Sea-level risk in the Atlantic ProvincesProvinces
Source: Modified from the GeologicalSurvey of Canada
Nova Scotia
NewBrunswick PEI
Newfoundland
Québec
N
Risk:
High
Medium
Low
Source Sensitivity of Coastline to Climate Change in Nova Scotia,: Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Options; Province of Nova Scotia & Environment Canada Atlantic , Sept.2005
Sea-levelSea-level change: Halifaxchange: Halifax
Year A.D.
Mean
yearl
y t
idal
heig
ht
(mm
ab
ove
zero
datu
m)
y/x = 3.29 mm/year
r2 = 0.93
POSITIVEPOSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS DEVELOPMENTS
Internal provincial coordination - coastal and ocean Internal provincial coordination - coastal and ocean “lens” (PON)“lens” (PON)
Acquisition of coastal private land Acquisition of coastal private land
Municipal planning increasingMunicipal planning increasing
Environmental Goals & Sustainable Prosperity Bill Environmental Goals & Sustainable Prosperity Bill
Salt marsh restoration Salt marsh restoration
Heritage task force reportHeritage task force report
A PROVINCIAL COASTAL A PROVINCIAL COASTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY WHICH…WHICH…
Avoids unnecessary and costly conflicts for governmentAvoids unnecessary and costly conflicts for government
Reduces risk to public safety and property from sea level rise, Reduces risk to public safety and property from sea level rise, storm events and climate changestorm events and climate change
Reduces avoidable liability and costs to public purse Reduces avoidable liability and costs to public purse
Fosters the sustainability of coastal communities Fosters the sustainability of coastal communities
Provides for sustainable use of the physical, biological and Provides for sustainable use of the physical, biological and cultural heritage of Nova Scotia’s ecosystems including cultural heritage of Nova Scotia’s ecosystems including beaches, headlands and coastal wetlandsbeaches, headlands and coastal wetlands
Protects ecologically sensitive coastal ecosystems Protects ecologically sensitive coastal ecosystems
Provides for regulatory clarity for property owners and Provides for regulatory clarity for property owners and investorsinvestors
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CCNS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CCNS ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT Assessing best practices and lessons learned from other Assessing best practices and lessons learned from other
jurisdictionsjurisdictions
Sharing issues of common concernSharing issues of common concern
Focusing/assembling NGO/community knowledge and Focusing/assembling NGO/community knowledge and resources and scientific expertiseresources and scientific expertise
Conducting research and analysisConducting research and analysis
Participating in advisory processes (e.g. Colin Stewart Participating in advisory processes (e.g. Colin Stewart Forest Forum)Forest Forum)
Engaging public dialogue (e.g. coastal futures forum)Engaging public dialogue (e.g. coastal futures forum)
KEY OBSERVATIONS AND KEY OBSERVATIONS AND QUESTIONSQUESTIONS
Coastal management and development issues are Coastal management and development issues are mounting; the provincial government is being looked to mounting; the provincial government is being looked to for leadership.for leadership.
The PON is an important step towards providing an The PON is an important step towards providing an internal focal point for coastal policy development.internal focal point for coastal policy development.
However, engagement in coastal policy development must However, engagement in coastal policy development must extend beyond government.extend beyond government.
Multi-stakeholder approaches are being undertaken Multi-stakeholder approaches are being undertaken elsewhere to address conflicts and ensure long term elsewhere to address conflicts and ensure long term economic and environmental sustainability (offshore economic and environmental sustainability (offshore Eastern Scotian Shelf).Eastern Scotian Shelf).
The CCNS offers to play a more significant role in The CCNS offers to play a more significant role in advancing sustainable coastal management in Nova advancing sustainable coastal management in Nova Scotia.Scotia.
We welcome your views on how we can participate. We welcome your views on how we can participate.