Spectacular and bountiful, the Georgia Basin encompasses an inland sea and the land around it. Made up of Puget Sound, the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca, this sea and its shores provide vital habitat for the millions of birds that migrate each year along the Pacific Flyway. More waterbirds and raptors winter here than anywhere else in Canada, and five species of salmon use the Basin’s waters as the gateway to their spawning grounds.
More and more people are choosing to make this ecologically diverse region their home. In the past 25 years, the Georgia Basin’s population has more than doubled. If this rate of growth continues, the pressures on wildlife, migratory birds and fish, and the habitats these species require in order to survive, will need to be carefully managed to ensure the overall well-being of the ecosystem.
Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative
To protect, restore and conserve this unique ecosystem, the federal and provincial governments launched the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative (GBEI) in 1998. Due to the interconnection between the Georgia Basin and Puget Sound ecosystems, the Joint Statement of Cooperation on the Georgia Basin and Puget Sound Ecosystems was signed by Environment Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency in January 2000.
Between 1998 and 2003, the GBEI has brought together federal, provincial and state agencies, local governments, community groups, Coast Salish First Nations and industry representatives. Working collaboratively, these partners are taking an ecosystem approach to address the Georgia Basin’s environmental needs. Building from a vision of healthy and sustainable ecosystems and communities, the GBEI focused its support on actions which protect ecological values, and mitigate and reverse the harmful impacts that can result from human activities. Partnerships through local government agencies, First Nations and community groups, industry associations, conservation groups and other non-profit organizations have lead to actions on growth management strategies, included the formation of many community round tables throughout the Georgia Basin.
Over its five-year mandate, the GBEI accomplished many of its key objectives, and communicated these to its partners and audiences through annual public reports and milestone announcements. Public and stakeholder steering committee meetings were also instrumental in relaying progress, as were gatherings like the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference.
Georgia Basin Action Plan
The Georgia Basin Action Plan builds upon the work of the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative
The Action Plan is built upon a vision of “healthy, productive and sustainable ecosystems and communities in the Georgia Basin” that is shared by Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, the BC Ministry of Environment and the Coast Salish First Nations. In support of this vision, these partners are collectively applying their mandates, values and resources to address the challenges confronting the Georgia Basin ecosystem and are providing an opportunity and invitation to others to join in the Action Plan.
These partners have agreed to a “Framework for Collaboration” which establishes the principles, strategies, goals and priorities that will guide the delivery of shared, cooperative actions to achieve specific results
