Feedback on the draft biodiversity management framework for the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan – https://www.elc.ab.ca
Review by the Environmental Law Centre from 2016
Healthy ecosystems and environment is a key outcome from the Land-use Framework (2008). Included in this is biodiversity – the assortment of life on earth.
Environmental management frameworks are developed as part of regional plans to manage long-term cumulative effects on various factors within the environment, including air, water and biodiversity. Biodiversity management frameworks are being developed for the Lower Athabasca and South Saskatchewan regions.
A draft for the biodiversity management framework for the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan was released in November 2015. The Environmental Law Centre reviewed the draft biodiversity management framework in 2016.
Praises for the framework
The environmental management frameworks provide a process to manage cumulative effects, including biodiversity. This represents a significant development in managing cumulative effects compared to previous approaches. The management actions are considered a best practice and “the monitoring approach is generally acceptable.”
Concerns for the framework
The draft biodiversity management framework lacks a few best practices for cumulative effects management, such as measurable objectives, clear limits, mandatory action and proactive actions. When the framework is put into action, there are concerns that it will result in uncoordinated decision making and continue the approach of patchwork legislation. The framework is high-level, broad and does not offer clear processes – an issue identified in Alberta’s regional plans.
The Environmental Law Centre concludes that “the draft framework is unlikely to achieve the environmental outcomes of the Land-use Framework.”
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