Engaging a Community of Practice in Ecosystem based Management for Coastal British Columbia

Project Abstract:
The Ecosystem Based Management Working Group (EBM WG) is a technical committee co chaired by the province and First Nations involved in the Central Coast and North Coast plan areas which together encompass approximately 6.5 million hectares (ha) of British Columbia. The purpose of the EBM WG are to: 1) develop recommendations on EBM research priorities and on the application of research results to the implementation of EBM; 2)oversee research related to uncertainties or knowledge gaps in EBM implementation; and, 3) coordinate and manage data. A contract Director and appointed working group volunteers representing the breadth of interest in EBM implementation on the north and central coast and oversee this work.

The Provincial Forest Extension Program delivered by FORREX envisions a society of continuous learners making decisions that support sustainable ecosystems and communities. The Program exists to fill the gaps in the innovation continuum, from problem identification through community based research, technology development, knowledge exchange and management, extension education, and application. Working with and leveraging the knowledge capital from over 48 partner organizations in government, First Nations, research institutions, academia, and resource industries, FORREX facilitates the development of knowledge based solutions to multidisciplinary sustainable natural resource management challenges.

Activities in this project will help to develop collaborative and innovative science based solutions for EBM implementation. Activities include:

1. Workshop design and facilitation
2. Innovative approaches to problem solving
3. Needs assessment design and implementation
4. Community based research project scoping, development, and oversight
5. Metadata and information management
6. Document, peer review and publishing where appropriate
7. Website development and maintenance
8. Multi media communications
9. Outreach

For further information on this project, please contact society@forrex.org.