Adapting for ecological resilience

Since 2017, Raincoast has been collaborating with the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, West Coast Environmental Law, and the Martin Conservation Decisions Lab at the University of British Columbia to explore pathways that foster long-term ecological resilience. This has focused on examining Indigenous-led and community-driven governance for ecosystem-based management of the Lower Fraser River and estuary, benefiting the species and people that rely on it.

Whilst it is easy to talk about collaboration, in practice it takes dedicated time and sustained effort. In September 2020, Raincoast played a leading role in bringing together over 30 conservation groups collectively working to support ecological resilience of the Lower Fraser River.

We have now launched the Adapting for Ecological Resilience Network to act as a mechanism for increased communication, coordination, and collaboration among these conservation groups. Working groups were created to focus conversations on key topics, such as collaborative data and information sharing methods, and determining how we can collectively accelerate the implementation of nature-based solutions within the Lower Fraser Region.

In late November, research led by our partner Tara Martin at UBC charted a road map for recovery of 100 species at risk in the Fraser Estuary. The findings, published in a journal and developed into a Conservation Prospectus for the Fraser Estuary, found that combining a range of actions and implementing them through collaborative governance is not only cost effective, it also gives these species the best chance of long-term resilience.

Read more at Tracking Raincoast into 2021.