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New Agreement Will Benefit Bras d’Or Lakes Environment
Freshwater samples are taken as part of a shoreline survey. Shoreline surveys in the Bras D'Or Lakes are an important part of the cooperative shellfish water quality protection program, which is a partnership between Environment Canada and the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission. |
The Unamaki Institute of Natural Resources and Environment Canada recently signed an agreement to work together to monitor, study, conserve and protect the environment of the Bras d’Or watershed.
The new agreement will build on the strengths of the two organizations. The Unamaki Institute is already working to actively study, protect and enhance the Bras d’Or Lakes. Environment Canada’s goal is to make sustainable development a reality. It has a mandate for environmental protection, migratory bird management, biodiversity, conservation, weather and environmental prediction.
"We already had an excellent working relationship with the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission through the work we have done together on shellfish water quality monitoring. But this new agreement with Unamaki opens the door to so many new possibilities for cooperation, and collaboration," says Garth Bangay, Regional Director General for Environment Canada in the Atlantic Provinces.
An interesting and important aspect of the agreement is the potential for each partner to learn from the other. Environment Canada, as a science-based department, can help and encourage the Unamaki Institute build its science capacity. The Unamaki Institute can provide Environment Canada with a wealth of traditional ecological knowledge.
The Cape Breton population of the American Marten is endangered. The work of the Unamaki Institute of Natural Resources, in collaboration with governments, will help ensure a healthy and increasing population of this tree-dwelling predator.
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"We are pleased that Environment Canada recognizes the benefit of making decisions based on both scientific and traditional knowledge. Our staff know the local ecosystem extremely well, and will be a real asset in terms of building environmental awareness in the local communities," says Membertou Chief Terry Paul, president of the Unamaki Institute.
The new agreement also shows that each organization knows how important it is to understand how the environment is affected by the complex relationships between land, water, air, wildlife and human activities.
Each year, Environment Canada and the Unamaki Institute will cooperatively identify priority issues, and make a work plan. Some areas of cooperation will include: water quality monitoring, compliance with environmental regulations, biodiversity monitoring and conservation (including migratory birds and species at risk) and meteorological monitoring.
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