Protected Areas Initiative
Establishing Protected Areas
To determine areas
that are of special interest to the Protected Areas Initiative (PAI), an
analysis of the enduring features of Manitoba has been conducted.
Enduring features are combinations of soils and surficial geology
that are used to represent the biodiversity within Manitoba’s 18
natural regions (areas that are differentiated from one another by
their geographic, climatic and vegetative features). All biological
organisms share a connection to the landscapes in which they are
found. The soil and landforms that create these landscapes however,
endure and are more stable over time than the organisms themselves.
As a result, it is easier to identify these more permanent enduring
features than it is to attempt to assess the biological diversity of
a natural region over time. Representing enduring features in a
system of protected lands therefore, serves as a useful way of
protecting the biological diversity of a natural region. Enduring
features analysis allows for the identification of Areas of Special
Interest (ASIs) and aids in prioritizing which areas are most
critical for protection.
ASIs are further
refined into protected areas proposals through a review process led
by Manitoba Conservation with participants from Water Stewardship
and Industry, Economic Development, and Mines. This process
involves intensive data analysis using a Geographic Information
System (GIS) to arrive at the best design to maximize the ecological
integrity of the proposal within existing resource constraints.
Cross-departmental teams, an Integrated Science Advisory Committee
(ISAC) and regionally-based integrated technical teams participate
in this process. ISAC is responsible for providing ecological and
conservation-based analysis of selected ASIs. They identify
ecological features important for the technical teams to consider
when planning and designing protected areas proposals.
Protected areas
proposals are reviewed through the PAI consultation process with the
forestry and mining sectors, First Nations and Aboriginal
communities, and other stakeholders. These consultations are an
integral aspect of the program because they form a foundation of
general agreement upon which a protected area can be granted
permanent protection. Comments and concerns generated from these
consultations are used to finalize boundaries of the proposed
protected area.
Over
the last number of years various groups have become interested and
involved in understanding and contributing to the identification,
establishment and management of protected areas. If you would like
specific information on how to become involved with a particular
industry, community or interest group, please choose one of the
following interest areas.
Agro-Manitoba
Environmental
Interests
First
Nations & Northern Communities
Forest
Industry
Mining/Energy
Industry
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