Migratory birds environmental assessment guideline

Background

The importance and vulnerability of migratory birds was recognized nationally and internationally as early as 1916 with the signing of the Migratory Birds Convention between Canada and the United States. Since then, and particularly in more recent years, conservation or monitoring programs for all types of migratory birds in Canada have been developed. For example, waterfowl of conservation concern are addressed under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, important sites for shorebirds are identified through the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, seabirds of concern have species-specific conservation and management plans, and landbirds are currently being addressed under the Canadian Landbird Conservation Program (also known as Partners in Flight — Canada).

Despite these programs, pressures on migratory bird populations and their habitat continue. Careful planning of projects can reduce these pressures. In particular, environmental assessment offers an opportunity to assess the potential environmental effects of proposed projects on migratory birds so that informed decisions can be taken that result in the least disruption to these birds and their habitats.

The Migratory Birds Convention of 1916, which was implemented by the Migratory Bird Convention Act (MBCA) in 1917, provides for cooperation between Canada and the United States in the protection and management of migratory birds. A 1995 protocol to amend the Migratory Birds Convention between Canada and the United States emphasizes the need to provide for and protect necessary habitat for the conservation of migratory birds. This is consistent with existing approaches, such as the establishment of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries pursuant to the MBCA and National Wildlife Areas pursuant to the Canada Wildlife Act (CWA). The CWA also provides for coordination of wildlife programs and policies that involve birds not protected under the MBCA.

Photo: Corel

Maintaining healthy migratory bird populations and diversity requires an ecosystem management approach that considers the interrelationships among wildlife, habitats, and human activities. Several international and Canadian resource management policies are based on an ecosystem approach. For example, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy commit Canada to the conservation of biological diversity (including ecosystems) and sustainable use of biological resources. A Wildlife Policy for Canada defines wildlife as all wild organisms and their habitat. Together, they address the need for integrated approaches to maintaining populations of wild species, biodiversity, and habitat, while maintaining human activities.

The Convention on Biological Diversity specifically addresses the application of environmental assessment to biodiversity. It identifies environmental assessment as a process that will help to ensure that proposed projects are undertaken with a "view to avoiding or minimizing" significant adverse effects on biological diversity. The Canadian Biodiversity Strategy echoes the need for the use of environmental assessments to determine potential environmental effects on biodiversity, including ecosystems.

In recognition of the need for an ecosystem management approach to correctly address the needs of migratory birds while balancing the need for sustainable development, this guideline focuses on a habitat approach to incorporating migratory bird concerns into environmental assessments.

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