Planning for a Sustainable Future:
A Federal Sustainable Development Strategy for Canada
2013–2016 - Consultation Paper

Sustainable Development Office
Environment Canada

February 2013

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Annex 3: Theme III: Protecting Nature

• 4. Goal: Conserving and Restoring Ecosystems, Wildlife and Habitat
• 4.1. Target: Species at Risk
• 4.2. Target: Migratory Birds
• 4.3. Target: Terrestrial Ecosystem and Habitat Stewardship
• 4.4. Target: Improving the Health of National Parks
• 4.5. Target: Marine Ecosystems
• 4.6. Target: Invasive Alien Species
• 4.7. Target: Environmental Disasters, Accidents and Emergencies
• 5. Goal: Biological Resources
• 5.1. Target: Sustainable Fisheries
• 5.2. Target: Sustainable Aquaculture
• 5.3. Target: Sustainable Forest Management

 

Implementation Strategies

Enabling Capacity

• 4.1.1. Fulfill Canada's obligations under the Species at Risk Act by listing and protecting those species in critical need of conservation action. (EC)
• 4.1.2. Fulfill Canada's obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora by helping to ensure that the status of no species is threatened by international trade. (EC)

Advancing Knowledge and Communications

• 4.1.3. Maintain a public registry in order to facilitate access to documents relating to matters under the Species at Risk Act (as required by the Act). (EC) (IMPROVED)
• 4.1.4. Continue to support the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada assessments and re-assessments, to understand and communicate progress in species survival and recovery. (EC)
• 4.1.5. Continue to lead and cooperate under the National Recovery Program (RENEW) with provinces and territories, consistent with the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk. (EC)

Demanding Performance

• 4.1.6. Enhance the implementation of Species at Risk Act within DFO and EC to protect and recover species at risk relative to their respective mandates. (DFO, EC)
  
• 4.1.7. Develop action plans for all protected heritage areas with five or more species at risk by March 2016. (PC) (NEW)
• 4.1.8. Work with the U.S.and Mexico under the auspices of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation to strengthen wildlife enforcement. (EC) (NEW)

Implementation Strategies

Enabling Capacity

• 4.2.1. Fulfill Canada's obligations under the Migratory Bird Convention of 1916 between Canada and the U.S. as implemented in Canada under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 by ensuring that migratory bird populations are managed and conserved. (EC)

Advancing Knowledge and Communications

• 4.2.2. Ensure that all conservation plans for the 12 Bird Conservation Regions are publicly available. (EC)

Demanding Performance

• 4.2.3. Develop and implement a management regime to address the incidental takes of migratory birds in accordance with the purpose of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994. (EC)
• 4.2.4. Implement recommendations of the review of migratory bird monitoring programs. (EC)
• 4.2.5. Carry out actions for priority migratory bird species as indicated by Bird Conservation Regions plans. (EC)

Implementation Strategies

Enabling Capacity

• 4.3.1. Ensure the protection and conservation of important habitats for wildlife by facilitating an integrated landscape management approach. (EC)
• 4.3.2. Manage National Wildlife Areas, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and Marine Wildlife Areas to protect wildlife habitat, and unique and productive ecosystems either directly and/or through partnership arrangements. (EC)
• 4.3.3. Implement the Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement, and continue to work with the Government of the Northwest Territories (NWT) on the NWT Protected Areas Strategy, to contribute to the further establishment of National Wildlife Areas in NWT and Nunavut. (EC)
• 4.3.4. Maintain the incentives for the protection of Canada's ecologically sensitive land, including habitat used by species at risk, through ongoing tax assistance for donations of ecologically sensitive land under the Ecological Gifts Program. (FIN)

Advancing Knowledge and Communications

• 4.3.5. Determine resilience of National Protected Areas network in the face of climate change and other anthropogenic stressors. (EC)
• 4.3.6. Develop and apply models for economic valuation of ecosystem services to support sustainable development decision making. (EC, StatCan)
• 4.3.7. Secure, protect, improve and/or restore important and ecologically sensitive habitat to enhance the survival of wildlife, in particular, species at risk and migratory birds. (EC) (NEW)
• 4.3.8. Maintain the Conservation Areas Reporting and Tracking System. (EC)

Demanding Performance

• 4.3.9. Enhance enforcement in Environment Canada Protected Areas (Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and National Wildlife Areas). (EC)
  
• 4.3.10. Work with the U.S.and Mexico under the auspices of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation to foster biodiversity conservation. (EC) (NEW)

Implementation Strategies

Demanding Performance

• 4.4.1. 80% of active management targets to improve ecological integrity are met by March 2015. (PC) (IMPROVED)
• 4.4.2. Make demonstrable progress on a yearly basis towards establishing national parks in two unrepresented regions. (PC) (NEW)

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Implementation Strategies

Enabling Capacity

• 4.5.1. Develop a federal-provincial-territorial network of Marine Protected Areas. (DFO)
• 4.5.2. Adopt integrated management approaches for ocean activities. (DFO)
• 4.5.3. Identify indicators and develop draft monitoring protocols for existing Marine Protected Areas. (DFO)
• 4.5.4. Establish a national framework for reporting on Canada's marine estate. (DFO) (NEW)

Advancing Knowledge and Communications

• 4.5.5. Undertake research to improve understanding of marine ecosystems and support initiatives to identify and characterize vulnerable marine ecosystems. (DFO, EC)
• 4.5.6. Provide advice to decision-makers on potential impacts on migratory birds, species at risk and ecological risks associated with specific high-priority ocean activities. (DFO, EC)

Demanding Performance

• 4.5.7. Make demonstrable progress in protecting ecologically significant marine areas. (DFO)
• 4.5.8. Make demonstrable progress on a yearly basis towards establishing national marine conservation areas in two unrepresented regions. (PC) (NEW)

Implementation Strategies

Leading by Example

• 4.6.1. Help governments, agencies and industry manage risks to natural resource sectors, infrastructure and human health by providing scientific knowledge on forest disturbances, including pests. (NRCan) (IMPROVED)

Enabling Capacity

• 4.6.2. Decision-makers and legislative authorities have science information and tools to manage aquatic invasive species domestically and internationally. (DFO) (IMPROVED)
• 4.6.3. Implement conventions and guidelines of the International Maritime Organization relating to reducing the risk of aquatic species invasions into domestic regulations. (TC) (IMPROVED)
• 4.6.4. Implement the vessel-related invasive species provisions of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement through policy, regulations, research and enforcement actions. (TC) (IMPROVED)

Advancing Knowledge and Communications

• 4.6.5. Use preserved and living biological collections to support identification, characterization, risks assessment and management strategies for invasive alien species. (AAFC)

Demanding Performance

• 4.6.6. Cooperate with U.S.and international regulators to inspect vessels to ensure compliance with Canadian regulations. (TC) (IMPROVED)
• 4.6.7. Prevent the introduction and rapid dispersal of invasive species and disease into Canada via land, air and marine ports of entry, thus reducing potential deleterious effects to ecosystems, economies and society. (CBSA)

Implementation Strategies

Leading by Example

• 4.7.1. Evaluate, validate and/or improve the Government of Canada's hazard emergency management plans, procedures and protocols through exercises. (PS) (NEW)
• 4.7.2. Coordinate Canada's response to ensure critical services are delivered to Canadians and to recover operations of federal government institutions. (PS) (NEW)
• 4.7.3. Coordinate Canada's response to events affecting the national interest. (PS) (NEW)

Advancing Knowledge and Communications

• 4.7.4. Develop spill and dispersion models, analysis methods, fate and behaviour algorithms, measurement and remote sensing capabilities, decontamination protocols, and countermeasures used during incidents. (EC)
• 4.7.5. Provide scientific and technical advice on weather, sea state and the behaviour and effects of chemicals, sampling and analysis, countermeasures, sensitivity mapping, trajectory, modelling, and operation of the 24/7 National Environmental Emergencies Centre in Montreal. (EC)
• 4.7.6. Ensure other levels of government, private sector and professional organizations involved in emergency management in Canada have access to accurate hazard information and hazard mitigation knowledge products for decision making (e.g. in the event of landslides, tsunamis, and radiological and nuclear incidents). (NRCan) (NEW)

Demanding Performance

• 4.7.7. Promote compliance, track and report number of environmental emergency plans in place as required by section 200 of the Environmental Emergency Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, (1999). (EC)

 

Implementation Strategies

Enabling Capacity

• 5.1.1. Deliver an integrated fisheries program that is credible, science-based, affordable, effective and contributes to sustainable wealth for Canadians. (DFO)

Advancing Knowledge and Communications

• 5.1.2. Undertake research to improve understanding of marine ecosystems and knowledge of straddling stocks and highly migratory species such as tuna, swordfish and Greenland halibut. (DFO)
• 5.1.3. Increase knowledge of fisheries resources, their productivity and the ecosystem factors affecting them. (DFO)

Implementation Strategies

Enabling Capacity

• 5.2.1. Deliver an efficient federal-provincial regulatory management regime that is developed consistent with regulatory best practices. (DFO)

Advancing Knowledge and Communications

• 5.2.2. Facilitate implementation of certification initiatives and support standards development.
  (DFO)
• 5.2.3. Develop and release reporting to Canadians on aquaculture sustainability. (DFO)

Demanding Performance

• 5.2.4. Increase the science knowledge base needed to support informed ecosystem-based environmental regulation and decision making, especially that of regulatory-based programs such as Aquaculture Management. (DFO)

Implementation Strategy

Advancing Knowledge and Communications

• 5.3.1. Provide scientific knowledge of Canada's forest ecosystems to industry and non-governmental organizations, with the view of enabling the establishment of practices to mitigate the environmental impact of natural resource development. (NRCan) (IMPROVED)

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