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Between: The members of the COALITION OF NATIONAL/REGIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL
CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS
And FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA
WHEREAS, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is responsible
for the conservation and protection of Canada’s marine and freshwater fish and fish
habitat resources from the impact of human activities, and assumes this legislative
authority through the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act and the
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and is also guided by the "Policy for
the Management of Fish Habitat" and other related regulatory and policy documents;
WHEREAS, the mandates of conservation for non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) direct them to undertake direct habitat conservation programs,
public policy development, science and research, education, marketing and communications
activities that support Canada's wild species, including waterfowl and fish stocks
as summarized in Annex 1;
WHEREAS, the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF), the Canadian
Wildlife Federation (CWF), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), Nature Canada (NC), Nature
Conservancy of Canada (NCC), Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF), Trout Unlimited Canada
(TUC), and Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC), and National Watershed Stewardship
Coalition (NWSC) have formed a Coalition, heretofore ‘the NGO Coalition’ to
facilitate their working together with DFO to promote sustainable development through
more effective and efficient protection of fish habitat;
WHEREAS, the members of the NGO Coalition represent and advance
the interests of their provincial and local member organizations and supporters
in carrying out their conservation mandates; and
WHEREAS, DFO recognizes that the success of national efforts,
including the development and implementation of policies and programs for an effective,
efficient, and consistent Habitat Management Program, requires that it cooperates
with a variety of organizations across the country, including non-governmental conservation
organizations;
THEREFORE, each of the members of the NGO Coalition and DFO
(the Parties) agree to establish a cooperative working relationship through this
"Memorandum of Understanding" (NGO Coalition – DFO MOU), whose purpose is to establish
a forum that:
- Promotes the stewardship of fish habitat (whose details are
spelled out in annual workplans);
- Provides advice on issues and policies impacting on the stewardship
of fish habitat; and
- Enables the leveraging of resources to support the stewardship
of fish habitat.
In order to achieve this purpose, the Parties agree to the following
provisions:
Management of the Agreement:
- Establish by appointing a representative from each party
to a Steering Committee that will manage the MOU in accordance with the Terms
of Reference laid out in Annex 2:
- Draw initial priorities for collaboration from the Framework
for Workplaning found in Annex 3.
- Convene an annual meeting and additionally if required, of
the Deputy Minister of DFO and the Presidents of the NGOs, to provide advice
on issues and policies impacting on the stewardship of fish habitat.
Membership:
- Criteria for membership in the NGO Coalition are found in
Annex 4.
- The MOU will be left open for additional signatures of other
interested national/regional non-governmental conservation organizations upon
approval of the Parties, as well as to other government agencies, industry and
other sectors.
The Parties further agree to the following:
- The scope of the MOU is freshwater and estuarine systems.
- That they will make contribution of the expertise of their
staffs and their related program documents.
- That nothing in this MOU implies or commits the Parties to
specific financial liabilities or responsibilities.
- To explore the interest of other sectors of Canadian society
in establishing a mechanism to foster cross-sectoral exchange and collaboration
(i.e. industry; provincial and municipal governments; Aboriginal groups; advocacy
organizations), including through the Parties to other bilateral habitat management
agreements that DFO has established/establishes.
Dispute Resolution:
The Parties will resolve issues regarding the implementation
of this MOU in a timely manner, first through the Steering Committee and if necessary
through the Deputy Minister of DFO and Presidents of the NGOs meetings identified
above.
Term and Amendment:
- The signatures of the Parties will initiate this MOU.
- The MOU may be revised or terminated through the mutual agreement
of the Parties at any time, and upon written notice any Party may opt out of
the MOU at any time.
- The MOU will be reviewed by the counterparts to the signatories
of the agreement or their delegate three years after the date of its coming
into force to evaluate its effectiveness and to make appropriate mutually acceptable
adjustments as required.
- The MOU can be amended at any time with the approval of the
Parties.
Signed, March 26, 2007:
_____________________
Loyola Hearn
Minister, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
_____________________
Bill Taylor
President, Atlantic Salmon Federation
_____________________
Colin Maxwell
Executive Vice-President, Canadian Wildlife Federation
_____________________
Gordon Edwards
Executive Vice President, Ducks Unlimited Canada
_____________________
Julie Gelfand
President, Nature Canada
_____________________
John Lounds
President and CEO, Nature Conservancy of Canada
_____________________
Paul Kariya
Executive Director, Pacific Salmon Foundation
_____________________
Doug Cressman
CEO, Trout Unlimited Canada
_____________________
David Brackett
President, Wildlife Habitat Canada
_____________________
Dennis O’Grady
Secretary
National Watershed Stewardship Coalition
ANNEX 1
Summary of the Mandates of the National / Regional Non-Governmental
(NGO) Conservation Organizations
Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF)
The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is an international organization that promotes
conservation and wise management of wild Atlantic salmon and its environment and
plays a key role in restoring salmon runs, through working with governments and
industry, research, regulatory/legislative advocacy, education and public awareness
programs. ASF takes part in conservation, habitat restoration and community watershed
plans. The ASF headquarters is in St Andrews NB with seven Regional Councils, 150
river associations and 40,000 volunteers.
Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF)
Since 1962, CWF has advocated the protection of Canada's wild species and spaces.
Representing over 300,000 members and supporters, the federation is one of Canada's
largest non-profit, non-governmental conservation organizations. CWF is dedicated
to fostering awareness and enjoyment of our natural world. Their objectives include:
- encouraging an understanding of the impact of human activities on the environment;
- promoting the sustainable use of our natural resources;
- conducting and sponsoring research relating to wildlife and the environment;
- recommending legislative changes to protect wildlife and its habitats; and
- cooperating with organizations and government agencies with similar objectives.
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC)
DUC’s conservation vision guides programming to support and produce waterfowl,
through direct habitat programs, public policy development, science and research,
education, marketing and communications, and the protection of nearly 25 million
acres of habitat. The DUC headquarters are in Oak Hammock, MB, with three Regions,
offices in all provinces, 350 employees, 150,000 supporters, 8000 volunteers, and
30,000 in the youth program.
Nature Canada (NC)
NC’s mission is the protection of nature, its diversity and the processes that
sustain it, with four guiding principles on strong relationships between humanity
and nature. They operate in four program areas: 1) wildlands and seas to establish
and protect parks and marine conservation areas; 2) bird conservation; 3) endangered
species; and 4) education. The NC headquarters are in Ottawa, with provincial naturalist
federations and local naturalist clubs throughout Canada as a Canadian Nature Network.
Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)
The mission of the Nature Conservancy of Canada is "A Nature Legacy through Partnership."
To achieve this mission, NCC will lead, innovate and use creativity in the conservation
of Canada’s natural heritage by securing ecologically significant natural areas
through purchases, donations, conservation agreements, or other mechanisms, and
by achieving long-term stewardship through management plans and monitoring arrangements.
NCC‘s National office is in Toronto and it has regional offices in British Columbia,
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF)
The PSF vision is the long term healthy survival of Pacific Salmon populations
within their unique habitats by supporting local stewardship, watershed planning,
and long-term science based recovery initiatives. There are three main programs:
the Community Salmon Program that supports 90 - 120 local projects per year; the
Strategic Salmon Recovery Program with seven watershed regions and local delivery
groups; and the Partnerships Program encourages corporations to invest in habitat
restoration activities. Starting in 2006, a major targeted strategy focused on the
protection, conservation and restoration of Fraser River salmonids is being launched
with government, First Nations, NGO and local partners. The PSF headquarters are
in Vancouver, BC. Over 30,000 volunteers have been harnessed via PSF programs.
Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC)
TUC’s long range goal is to promote and protect, conserve, and restore freshwater
ecosystems and watersheds through education, consultation, hands-on habitat projects,
working with volunteers and supporting projects through fundraising. The TUC headquarters
are located in Calgary, AB, with Provincial Councils, chapters and regional offices,
a strong membership and a core of professional staff.
Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC)
WHC champions wildlife habitat conservation by supporting effective stewardship
practices and policies. WHC works through partnerships with communities, landowners,
governments, non-government organizations, and industry to find effective solutions
to complex environmental problems facing wildlife habitat. WHC allocates funds for
a vast range of activities, in all regions of the country from wetland conservation
in agricultural regions to wildlife habitat conservation in coastal areas. The WHC
headquarters are in Ottawa.
National Watershed Stewardship Coalition (NWSC)
NWSC represents seven leading watershed stewardship organizations from across
the country that joined together in 2003 to form the NWSC. As outlined in the National
Watershed Stewardship Report, produced by the NWSC, the Steering Committee aims
to identify key lessons learned in implementing watershed stewardship activities
and use these lessons to develop comprehensive policy recommendations and actions
for expanding and strengthening watershed stewardship in Canada. Currently in
2007, organizations comprising the Steering Committee span the five regions of Canada
and include the Clean Annapolis River Project (part of the Atlantic Coastal Action
Plan ) ; Atlantic Salmon Federation; Quebec Zones d’intervention prioritaires;
Conservation Ontario; Alberta Land Stewardship Centre of Canada; Manitoba Conservation
Districts, Saskatchewan Network of Watershed Stewards, Stewardship Centre for B.C; and
Langley Environmental Partners Society.
ANNEX 2
Terms of Reference of the Steering Committee</p>
- Convene on a regular basis to draft and manage the implementation
of an annual workplan and budget that has been approved by the Deputy Minister
of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Presidents of the Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs).
- Establish working groups as required that include local Coalition
members/staff and DFO Regional staff, on the individual elements of the work
plan. (An initial framework for workplaning to guide the steering committee
is found in Annex 3.)
- Collaborate to seek out new resources for the stewardship
of fish habitat.
- Convene an annual operations level workshop as required of
local Coalition members/staff and DFO regional staff and relevant others, to
review progress, discuss specific concerns, and define priorities for the coming
year’s work plan.
- Foster exchange and collaboration across the sectors of Canadian
society.
- Prepare and deliver a draft annual report on results achieved
under the agreement for approval by the Deputy Minister of DFO and the Presidents
of the NGOs. The results will also be identified in the Parties’ Annual Reports,
including DFO’s Annual Report to Parliament on Habitat Management.
ANNEX 3
Initial Framework for Workplanning
1. Stewardship and Public Outreach
While restoration of past damage to fish habitat is often necessary, prevention
of damage is less costly. To this end, habitat management requires the awareness,
support and active involvement of all Canadians. All NGO Coalition members
have identified stewardship as a priority, referring to those activities that engage
their provincial and local member organizations, their individual members, other
non-government conservation organizations, government agencies, landowners, private
companies, aboriginal communities and other citizens in working together to sustain
natural ecological functions of habitats and to discourage the interference with
these ecological functions. NGOs play a key role in helping Canadians make conscious
decisions every day to act responsibly in conserving, protecting and restoring fish
habitats. NGOs use the best scientific information to guide these stewardship activities.
The following broad areas of potential collaboration will guide work planning:
- Strengthen and advance stewardship partnerships, programs, procedures and
practices, for fish habitat.
- Exchange information on:
- Public awareness and recognition programs that have been effective in
encouraging stewardship behavior
- Skill development to organize volunteers to take part in stewardship
activities
- Transfer of knowledge and application of stewardship programs
- Development and sharing of tools and methods.
- Develop joint public education materials and programs about fish and fish
habitat protection, conservation and restoration.
- Exchange prepared materials and permit use of anything applicable to other
organizations’ activities, and share information and expertise on communications,
awareness and training programs.
- Inform the public, industry and other sectors of Canadian society,
on joint initiatives and current information concerning fish habitat conservation,
protection and restoration.
2. Integrated Watershed Planning
Integrated watershed plans address both habitat management prevention and restoration
priorities by providing solutions that have scientific merit and are environmentally,
socially and economically sustainable. This theme recognizes that single issue resource
management decisions and actions that do not take into account other aspects of
the watershed are often not sustainable and that it is essential to create opportunities
for collaboration among stakeholders in the watershed planning process, consider
the effects of fish habitat management on other aspects of the watershed, and the
effects of other water and land uses in the watershed on fish habitat management.
The following broad areas of potential collaboration have been identified to
guide work planning:
- Work proactively with the other stakeholders, including provinces and territories,
the National Resource Industry Associations, other industries and communities,
to develop, or augment existing integrated watershed management plans.
- Share information on the successes and challenges of integrated watershed
management plans and programs.
- Develop and implement a set of design and planning tools, methodologies and
procedures which can assist in integrated watershed planning.
- Develop a framework for classifying freshwater habitats for use in integrated
watershed planning processes.
3. Research and Monitoring
The NGO Coalition and DFO recognize the importance of research and monitoring
to help guide effective conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat. A
few of the NGO Coalition members and DFO have significant research and/or monitoring
capabilities, including "citizen science" initiatives, that can be used through
an adaptive management approach to strengthen or advance new programs, policies
and techniques.
The following broad areas of potential collaboration have been identified to
guide work planning:
- Exchange research, monitoring and other scientific information related to
fish and fish habitat.
- Develop standardized user friendly monitoring techniques, mapping protocols,
and databases related to fish and fish habitat.
- Partner on fish habitat research and monitoring projects.
4. Compliance with the Fisheries Act and the Species
at Risk Act
When NGOs undertake projects that affect fish and fish habitat, they are bound
by legislations that protect those resources - federally mainly under the Fisheries
Act and the Species at Risk Act, provincially under relevant provincial
legislation, and locally by municipal and sometimes watershed-level bodies.
The following broad areas of potential collaboration have been identified to
guide work planning:
- Promote a clear understanding and interpretation of legislation, policies,
guidelines and best management practices designed to protect, conserve, and
restore fish habitat.
- Develop and operate under a more cooperative and partner-like working relationship
with respect to the interpretation and authorization of activities associated
with existing legislation, towards a new level of trust and respect between
DFO and the NGOs. This could include working together to establish protocols
with respect to referral systems, develop operational statements, guidelines
and best management practices, and define roles and responsibilities.
- Provide input to the formative stages of new policies and legislation that
may affect fish habitat management and promote progressive legislative and policy
changes that advance fish habitat management.
ANNEX 4
NGO Coalition Membership Criteria
The following are the criteria for membership in the NGO Coalition:
- A working interest in fish habitat,
- A track record of working on issues that would protect, conserve and restore
fish habitat,
- A national or regional mandate,
- An ability to contribute financially to the process of establishing the NGO
coalition and developing the MOU and work plan with DFO, and
- A Corporate entity with an institutional capacity, such as staff and resources,
to deliver on-the-ground programs and projects.
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