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| Table of Contents: | Introduction | Background |
| Conference Goals and Objectives | Program Overview | Who Should Attend? |
The
2002 Annual Meeting of the Western Division of the American Fisheries Society (WDAFS)
will be held in Spokane, Washington on April 27 to May 1, 2002.
The meeting, which will be convened jointly by the WDAFS, the
Transboundary Group (which is comprised of a number of government, tribal, and
non-governmental organizations with an interest in the transboundary portions of
the Columbia River Basin), the Lake Roosevelt Forum (LRF), the Sustainable Fisheries Foundation, and the North
Pacific International Chapter-AFS (NPIC), is tentatively entitled Toward
Ecosystem-Based Management: Breaking Down the Barriers in the Columbia River
Basin and Beyond.
This
conference represents the third in a series of meetings that have been exploring
new ways of cooperatively managing transboundary water, fish, and wildlife
resources, primarily utilizing ecosystem- and watershed-based approaches.
The
Toward Ecosystem-Based Management conference is intended to provide a major international forum for exchanging
information and engaging in technical debates on a wide variety of issues
related to transboundary management of natural resources in the Columbia River
Basin and elsewhere in western North America.
More specifically, this conference will enable participants to
share new information, to report on the progress that has been made on the
transition toward ecosystem-based management and salmon recovery, to build the
partnerships needed to implement effective strategic planning processes, and to
renew our shared commitment to sustainability. Importantly, the
conference will also provide opportunities to identify the factors that are
contributing to the success of resource management initiatives, describe the
challenges that we are facing in terms of fully implementing relevant programs,
and develop recommendations for further improving and coordinating such efforts
in the future.
The Columbia River Basin in Canada and the United States provides a wide range of benefits to residents in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to enormous economic benefits associated with mining, timber harvest, urban development and hydroelectric operations, the importance of traditional, in-stream (i.e., fish and aquatic life) and recreational uses of the river have increased dramatically in recent years. While many of these land and water uses are mutually compatible, conflicts over the use of water resources have occurred with increasing frequency in the basin. We believe it is time to consider ways to better balance the needs of diverse stakeholder groups to achieve sustainability in the Columbia River Basin.
Addressing the challenges that we are facing in the Columbia River Basin will necessitate the development and implementation of creative solutions that involve all stakeholders. The conference, Toward Ecosystem-Based Management: Breaking Down the Barriers in the Columbia River Basin and Beyond, is the third in a series of transboundary workshops and conferences (with the first two convened in 1994 and 1998) and is intended to provide a major international forum for exchanging information and engaging in technical debates on a wide variety of issues related to transboundary management of water and other natural resources in the Columbia River Basin. More specifically, the third transboundary conference will enable participants to share new information, to report on the progress that has been made on the transition toward ecosystem-based management, to build the partnerships needed to implement effective strategic planning processes, and to renew our shared commitment to sustainability in the Columbia River Basin.
The Transboundary Group, Western Division - AFS (WDAFS), Lake Roosevelt Forum; North Pacific International Chapter - AFS (NPIC), and the Sustainable Fisheries Foundation are pleased to invite you to participate in this conference (which is also the Annual Meeting of the WDAFS and NPIC) and to help build the solutions needed to facilitate cooperative, transboundary resource management in the Columbia River Basin. By working together, we can move toward ecosystem-based management and, in so doing, help shape the future of aquatic resource management within this important river system. Please join us in this exciting endeavor.
Don MacDonald
John Harrison
Program Planning Committee
Resource managers in Canada and the United States have recognized that efficient and effective information sharing can help to create an atmosphere that fosters the understanding and resolution of land and water use conflicts. For this reason, the Canada/United States Technical Workshop on the Upper Columbia River Basin: An International Dialogue was convened in November, 1994 to encourage information sharing among First Nations, conservation groups, resource managers, policy makers, scientists, and concerned citizens. The initial workshop was an unqualified success, attracting over 300 participants and addressing such issues as water quality monitoring and management, contaminants, watershed management, fish and fish habitats, limnology, hydroelectric facilities, air quality, and human and environmental health.
Four years later (April, 1998), a second international workshop, entitled Toward Ecosystem-Based Management in the Upper Columbia River Basin, was convened to foster information exchange and cooperation among the many groups with an interest in this river basin. The workshop, which was held in Castlegar, B.C., consisted of plenary sessions, technical presentations, exhibits, and work group sessions. This design was used to provide delegates with opportunities to explore a wide range of technical, environmental, and community issues and to develop recommendations for fostering proactive aquatic resource management in the entire basin. The four-day workshop was attended by some 400 delegates located throughout the basin on both sides of the border.
Building on the success of the 1994 and 1998 meetings, the Toward Ecosystem-Based Management conference will represent an opportunity for community groups, First Nations, Tribal Organizations, policy makers, scientists, resource users and concerned citizens to share information on ecosystem-based management initiatives, with a focus on the management of water, fish, and wildlife resources within the Columbia River Basin. Conference delegates will be encouraged to identify the factors that are contributing to the success of these initiatives and to describe the challenges that we are facing in terms of fully implementing these programs.
The goal of this conference is to foster information exchange and facilitate the development of cooperative resource management strategies for aquatic ecosystems in the Columbia River Basin. The conference will address scientific, environmental, social, economic and governance issues of concern to people in the basin. The lessons learned in the Columbia River Basin will provide important sustainable resource management models that can be applied in other regions of North America. The conference will:
The Toward Ecosystem-Based Management conference will be convened over a five day period in April and May, 2002. The workshop will comprise number of integrated components, including:
The conference will also include a number of common luncheons, socials, and a special banquet that will be hosted by the Columbia Basin First Nations and Tribes. With an anticipated attendance of over 500 participants and an outstanding program, this is one meeting that you will not want to miss! Note: The conference program will be posted on the conference web site and updated periodically as the program develops.
This technical workshop will be of interest to a wide range of individuals who are concerned about the future of the Columbia River Ecosystem, including:
Concerned Citizens; Policy Makers; Conservation and Environmental Groups; Public Utilities; Recreational Groups; Conservation Districts; Resource Managers; First Nations and Tribal Organizations; Scientists; Sport Fishing Associations; Government/Agencies; Watershed Councils; Land Owners; Wildlife Associations; Industrial Interests; Other Interested Groups
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