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MaPP launches new partnership with Coast Funds

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Supporting the next wave of collaborative marine stewardship on the North Pacific Coast

Kayakers in Xaana Kaahlii (Skidegate Inlet) Photo by Shayd Johnson. Read more about respectful marine tourism around the shores of Haida Gwaii

Healthy, thriving communities and marine ecosystems along British Columbia’s North Pacific Coast matter to us all. As of Spring 2024, the Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP) strengthens its role in marine stewardship by joining with Coast Funds, an Indigenous-led organization created to support First Nations’ stewardship and sustainable development projects in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

“MaPP’s decision to partner with Coast Funds is a significant step toward embracing integrated approaches to multiple marine stewardship initiatives in the region. This partnership moves us forward on reconciliation through Coast Funds’ model of Indigenous-led conservation financing.” – Xaad xyaalaa Christine Smith-Martin, CEO, Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative

With a mandate directly aligned with MaPP’s focus on an ecosystem-based management approach to marine planning and management, Coast Funds – which will support the MaPP Partners with fund administration, investment management, and financial reporting – provides the ideal financial home for MaPP.

“At Coast Funds we are inspired by the work of the MaPP partners and look forward to working together to deliver durable, long-term financing that supports the partners to collaborate on the stewardship of the North Pacific Coast”. – Eddy Adra, CEO, Coast Funds

Since 2011, MaPP has been supported by MakeWay Charitable Society through an innovative, shared services platform that has empowered local leaders and built deep and meaningful relationships with communities and MaPP Partners. Through their commitment to empowerment and reciprocity, MaPP and Coast Funds will build on this progress and carry on the evolution of collaborative marine governance.

“Coast Funds has supported First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii for 15 years to help achieve their conservation, stewardship and economic development goals. We are looking forward to their involvement as we continue to work with our First Nations partners through MaPP to protect coastal ecosystems and advance sustainable economic opportunities in the Great Bear Sea.” – Hon. Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Through this exciting new strategic partnership with Coast Funds, the MaPP Partners remain well-positioned to nurture healthy, thriving communities and ecosystems along British Columbia’s North Pacific Coast.

 

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MaPP

The Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP) is a co-led initiative between 17 First Nations and the Government of British Columbia that has developed and is implementing marine plans for B.C.’s North Pacific Coast, now and into the future.  MaPP continues to demonstrate the leading-edge power of collaboration between First Nations and the Province to implement marine plans that balance sustainable economic development with environmental stewardship.

Coast Funds

Coast Funds, created in 2007 as part of the Great Bear Rainforest agreements, is a globally recognized Indigenous-led conservation finance organization entrusted to manage funds for First Nations’ stewardship and economic development priorities. Through investments with Coast Funds, First Nations are strengthening community well-being and protecting the ecological integrity of the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii regions of British Columbia, Canada. Since its inception, Coast Funds’ board of directors has approved $118.2 million towards 474 stewardship, conservation, and sustainable economic development projects led by First Nations.

 

A first in Canada: Indigenous Guardians given same powers as BC Parks rangers

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The Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony.

“It’s something we’ve always been working towards.”

Those are the words of Ernie Tallio, Guardian Watchmen Manager for the Nuxalk Nation on BC’s Central Coast. He’s talking about an agreement between the Nuxalk and Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nations and BC Parks to share compliance and enforcement responsibilities within provincial protected areas in the Nations’ territories. The Shared Compliance and Enforcement Pilot Program officially launched in July 2023 with five Nuxalk and six Kitasoo Xai’xais Guardians receiving park ranger appointments.

“It’s exciting to be part of this initiative… to be part of something that’s a first in Canada,” said Ernie. “It’s taken several years to get to this point and a lot of collaboration with BC Parks. We were often told by government agencies we work with that we didn’t have any authority but now we do.”

Guardians with their bootcamp certificates.

The 11 Guardians with park ranger appointments have the same powers under the Park Act as park rangers employed by BC Parks in more than 40 protected areas, including Tweedsmuir Park, the Fiordland Conservancy, Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy and Dean River Conservancy. They can give warnings or issue tickets for infringements of the Act. Among other training, each has taken BCIT’s BC Parks Law and Its Administration course and participated in a two-week ranger bootcamp at Manning Park.

The agreement between BC Parks and the Nuxalk and Kitasoo Xai’xais is a recognition that these Central Coast Nations have sustainably managed resources in their territories for thousands of years.

Kitasoo Xai’xais Guardian in the field.

“This is an incredibly important step towards reconciliation,” said Dana Holtby, an advisor with the BC Parks’ Indigenous Relations Team and part of the technical working group for the pilot. “It’s a unique moment when the Crown has recognized the authority, capacity, and capability of the Guardian programs. It’s a recognition of the role Guardians have played in stewarding their territories for generations. People in these communities are incredibly proud of the work the Guardians are doing.”

Nuxalk Guardians and BC Parks rangers.

BC Parks has been collaborating with both Nations for two decades, working side by side on park management planning and through joint training and patrols. MaPP has also played an important role in creating space to allow a strong and trusting relationship to grow. The organization hosted a communication workshop for BC Parks operational staff and Guardians in 2018 as well as joint training to foster a more collaborative approach to monitoring the Central Coast. Another communication and collaboration workshop was held in 2019 and MaPP also funded Guardians to take part in BC Parks ranger training in Williams Lake.

Nuxalk and Kitasoo Xai’xais Guardians with their park ranger badges.

MaPP is committed to providing ongoing coordination and support for compliance and enforcement. This contributes to numerous objectives and strategies of the Central Coast Marine Plan including improving marine-based compliance monitoring, and minimizing current and potential ecological impacts of logging-related activities. Over time, MaPP expects the pilot project will build First Nations’ capacity for compliance and enforcement, increase respect for the authority of First Nations’ Guardian programs, improve understanding, communication, and collaboration between provincial agencies and First Nations, and ensure compliance with marine laws on the Central Coast. Collaborative stewardship will result in improved Central Coast Marine Plan outcomes. MaPP also hopes the program will serve as a path for other Nations seeking greater authority to manage and make decisions regarding their territories.

Kitasoo Xai’xais Guardians.

“This work is serving as an inspiration for other Nations,” said Ernie. “I attended an Indigenous Leadership Initiative gathering in Ottawa in spring 2023 and there was definitely interest in what we’re doing.”

“There are a lot of eyes watching this pilot,” added Dana. “We’re excited to continue to build the partnership between BC Parks and the Kitasoo Xai’xais and Nuxalk Nations, and to see where this pilot leads us.”

Navigating the waters of Haida Gwaii’s growing ecotourism

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Kayakers in Xaana Kaahlii (Skidegate Inlet) Photo by Shayd Johnson

Each year, ecotourism brings recreational kayakers from all over the world to the spectacular shores of Haida Gwaii, with many poised to visit Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Marine Conservation Area and Haida Heritage Site in the southern half of the archipelago.  However, through implementation of the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP), the Council of the Haida Nation (CHN) and Province of British Columbia (BC) are exploring ways to encourage and manage respectful marine tourism in other locations around Haida Gwaii. One example is the development of a marine trail (or kayak route) in Xaana Kaahlii Skidegate Inlet, a narrow channel between the archipelago’s two largest islands that effectively splits Haida Gwaii’s landmass in half.

The stunning and diverse landscapes and marine life of Xaana Kaahlii provides ample opportunities for accessible day trips for entry-level paddlers as well as challenging multi-day adventures by more experienced kayakers. However, there are currently limited resources, infrastructure and management measures to support kayakers to plan trips safely and sustainably. Over recent years, MaPP partners have worked with BC Marine Trails to identify opportunities and management needs of kayak sites within the area with the aim of developing a kayak route that mitigates cultural, ecological or social harm while promoting safety and sustainability.

“The inlet offers world-class kayaking,” said Cameron Dalinghaus, BC Marine Trails’ First Nation Liaison, “but it is also full of culturally and ecologically sensitive sites and has been an area of significance for Haida people for time immemorial. We need to balance the preservation of these sites so that visitors access them in ways that are respectful.”

Kayakers in Xaana Kaahlii (Skidegate Inlet) Photo by Marty Clemens.

Indigenous Nations have worked for decades on communicating proper protocol to visitors of their territories, however, Cameron acknowledges that some tourists still assume they are allowed to go wherever they want. He says a model of visitation is needed that respects Indigenous governance and management of territories, and that cultural awareness needs to be top of mind for visitors.

Gaahlaay Lonnie Young, Hereditary Chief of the K̲aayahl ‘Laanaas clan, who’s territory includes parts of Xaana Kaahlii, speaks to his community’s hesitation with Haida Gwaii’s growing popularity among visitors; pointing specifically to past disrespect tourists have shown to Haida villages such one of his clan’s villages in Xaana Kaahlii, Xaayna Llnagaay:

“In the past, visitors came to Xaayna and removed significant artifacts, even headstones from the graveyard. Experiences like that sour some of our people about letting others go there,” said Gaahlaay. “We have reservations about ecotourism because we know operators cannot police their clients all the time. We’d like to show people what happened at Xaayna. It would be educational for visitors to witness what was done without consultation or permission. Having watchmen at the village would allow the clan to support the kayak route. I’m all for people coming and visiting if they are respectful, [but] trust has to be earned.”

Together, the project partners have worked with local paddlers to develop a list of potential sites that may be part of the route and are consulting with Haida knowledge-holders and subject-matter experts to identify and assess cultural, archeological and ecological sensitivities within the area. Management strategies are being developed collaboratively, grounded in respectful and responsible stewardship.

This project also aims to amplify local initiatives for visitors to follow Haida laws and values during their stays, such as the Haida Gwaii Pledge and Visitor Orientation. The partners will continue to work on site and route planning in the coming months, with expectation to start rolling out guidelines for kayaking in Xaana Kaahlii ahead of the 2024 tourism season.

Community harvesting grants assist First Nations’ access to resources and food security

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Kitsumkalum First Nations members harvesting seaweed. Photo credit: Kitsumkalum annual MaPP reporting 2023)

Numerous industrial activities are creating development pressure on B.C.’s North Coast. These projects, along with human activities and climate change, are having a profound impact on the core values of First Nations in the region. To address this concern, the North Coast Cumulative Effects Program (NCCE Program) offers community harvesting grants to six Nations: Gitga’at First Nation, Gitxaała Nation, Haisla Nation, Kitselas First Nation, Kitsumkalum First Nation, and Metlakatla First Nation. The intent of the grants is to offset the loss of resources from past and ongoing development by addressing a commonly identified barrier from community-based research.

The Kitselas First Nation has applied for and received these grants each year since they were first offered in 2021. Cindy Barwell is the Senior Resource Stewardship Officer with the Kitselas Lands & Resources Department.

“Our first two grants were for a community-led, education-based traditional foods harvesting program that provided Kitselas Elders and households with food fish”. said Cindy.

Kitselas First Nation members processing food fish

She noted that Kitselas members find it increasingly hard to access and secure traditional foods due to pressures associated with time, capacity, industrial development, and competition. Funding like this provides an opportunity to start to address some of the issues associated with food security and access to traditional resources.

The Kitselas First Nation has also used the grant program to fund a fishwheel feasibility study. Access to food fish and food fishing locations has been identified as an issue for the Nation. The feasibility study was essential for the community to make an informed decision about the value of repairing old fishwheels.

Smoking salmon on the Kitselas First Nation.

Cindy recently applied for a grant for a food fish instructional booklet and video.

“This booklet and video will provide people with step-by-step instructions on how to catch and process food fish, taught by fellow community members and elders who hold knowledge and expertise. Previous grants have added to Kitselas’ sovereignty and presence within their Traditional Territory. This grant adds to a myriad of programs that are assisting Kitselas members with their food security and sovereignty priorities.”

The nearby Kitsumkalum First Nation has also received community harvesting grants since the program’s inception. Quinton Ball is the Nation’s Strategic Lead for Environment Lands and Referrals.

“Our first grant allowed us to buy an open fishing jet boat for getting community members out on the water,” he said. “It’s been super successful and allowed members to harvest food fish and get back on the water safely.”

The Kitsumkalum First Nations boat purchased with an NCCE Program community harvesting grant enjoying the beautiful upper Kitsumkalum River (Beaver River).

The following year the Kitsumkalum First Nation used its grant money to purchase a trailer for transporting fish from Prince Rupert to Terrace and the year after that invested in ice machines and additional totes for storage.

“One of the barriers we have is with so many of our members working on LNG or other projects it’s become hard to collect harvest and then process fish fast enough.” said Quinton. “This leads to wastage. Having ice available helps with food preservation, which helps facilitate better use of our resources.”

Kitsumkalum First Nations members harvesting oolichan.

Quinton’s goal with these and other grants is to help put the community back in charge of their own food harvesting.

“The ability to get back out on the water and the land and do traditional harvests is huge,” he said. “Everyone from Terrace and beyond hunts right up our valley. There’s logging that has occurred heavily right through our valley. There’s not much left on what will soon become treaty lands, so we need to be able to access all areas of our Traditional Territory to harvest food and medicine.”

The aims of the community harvesting grants align with MaPP’s goal of sustainable economic development and healthy communities. MaPP’s North Coast subregion and the Environmental Stewardship Initiative joined forces to create the NCCE Program, which funds the grants. The shared desire is to develop and implement a cumulative effects framework to continuously monitor, assess, and manage the impacts of development in the North Coast on core coastal and marine values.

Reconciliation through Indigenous Cultural Tourism

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Figures walking along an old clam garden beach. Photo by Barb Dinning

If 2023 was any indication, tourism in BC is bouncing back from the COVID-19 lockdown. Domestic and international visitors are starting to come back to the world-renowned landscapes of our beautiful province, all with their own ideas of what they’ll find, and what they’ll go looking for. For many, connecting with local cultures rates high on their list.

Indigenous cultural tourism offers travellers opportunities to connect with the original stewards of these lands, to experience the cultures that have shaped, and been shaped by, BC’s environment. North Vancouver Island is rich in cultural history, and many First Nations are, in turn, looking to engage the people who are visiting their homelands. As a potential hub for Indigenous cultural tourism there is a unique opportunity to strengthen local economies and build relationships that foster meaningful reconciliation.

In November 2023, MaPP hosted a workshop to strengthen the tourism sector in North Vancouver Island and lay the groundwork for growing Indigenous Cultural Tourism. Members of the tourism industry met in Campbell River, collaborating to chart a path forward.

Research from Destination BC and Destination Canada shows that Indigenous cultural tourism is the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry, projected to grow from $1.78B to $6B in direct contributions to the Canadian GDP over the coming years. This research highlighted that visitors want deeper connections with the place they’re visiting and the people who live there. It also emphasized that there’s a fine line to walk.

Houseposts. Photo by Barb Dinning

Nations want tourists to learn and be engaged, but not at the expense of cultural sites, or the very cultures they’re looking to engage with. According to Brian Collen, General Manager of Knight Inlet Lodge, there’s a “fine line between an authentic Indigenous experience and an exploitative one”. For that reason, it’s critical that Indigenous communities are directly involved in these tourism operations. Collen believes that successful cultural tourism is built on “real partnerships between tourism operators and leadership within the Nations”.

Megan Humchitt agrees. As an Indigenous Tourism Specialist at Indigenous Tourism BC, she spends a great deal of time building these kinds of healthy partnerships. “These collaborations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders are key to building a sustainable tourism industry.”

Alongside partner organizations, MaPP is working to support the re-growth of NVI’s tourism economy post-pandemic. At their workshop in the fall, the MaPP partners learned that this re-growth relies on having a prepared tourism sector, with the capacity to build strong partnerships. According to Humchitt, it all starts with “picking up the phone,” but there are still some gaps in the resources available to tourism operators and First Nations alike.

In the coming months, the MaPP partners will be working with the tourism industry to develop those resources and build bridges between First Nations with tourism operators. This is just one of the recommendations from the workshop—those who are interested can contact Nanwakolas Council for the full list of recommendations in the recent report.

Ultimately, Indigenous Cultural Tourism is an opportunity for reconciliation. According to Humchitt, cultural tourism can “open a safe space for education, dialogue, and respectful exchanges.” That is where the rubber meets the road. By strengthening relationships, MaPP hopes to support tourists and locals alike to engage more deeply with the territories they find themselves on. In-turn this can empower Nations to share their stories and lead the way to a future of sustainable tourism in the region.

Getting Their Geoducks in a Row: MaPP-Inspired Research Helps Central Coast Nations Explore Shellfish Aquaculture Potential

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Desiree Lawson, former MaPP Implementation Coordinator for the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance (CCIRA), shows off a robust geoduck harvested near her home in Bella Bella, Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) territory. “The first time I saw one, I was impressed with how heavy and massive it was, and I imagined how many people one geoduck could feed,” she said

A research partnership is helping Central Coast First Nations get the data they need to evaluate opportunities in the vibrant international seafood market for Panopea generosa — or geoduck, as this species of burrowing clam is more commonly known.

A traditional food for coastal Indigenous people, geoduck can live more than 140 years, and a single female geoduck can produce 5 billion eggs over the course of her life. The clams are described as having a sweet, clean ocean taste and a texture that’s squid-like with a bit of crunch. Since the 1970s, B.C.’s geoduck industry has grown into a multi-million-dollar business. Today, about 3 million pounds are harvested annually by divers in waters up to 30 metres deep, and by people digging them up at low tide. More than 90 percent of this harvest is flown fresh to Asia, where it can fetch $30 a pound.

For First Nations that are part of the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP), the burning question is whether geoduck clams can be profitably cultivated to become a sustainable business.

“It is a very hot commodity right now, and there is a lot of interest in cultivating [geoduck] in both subtidal and intertidal zones,” observes Dr. Myron Roth, an aquaculture and marine fisheries expert at the Ministry of Agriculture & Food. “But we don’t really have the numbers yet to show how lucrative it will be. On paper it looks really good, but nobody grows fish on paper!”

“This industry is very much in its infancy,” adds Sally Cargill, a marine planning specialist at the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, and the provincial co-lead for MaPP implementation. “There’s quite a bit of investment required up front to start a commercial operation, so the feasibility of it needs to be looked at very closely.”

That’s why Central Coast MaPP partners, the Heiltsuk and Kitasoo Xai’xais Nations, have teamed up with North Island College (NIC) on a five-year research project to explore the viability of intertidal geoduck aquaculture in the region. During the summer of 2023, juvenile geoduck were planted at study sites on the Central Coast, selected based on the Nations’ knowledge of geoduck in the area, key habitat parameters, and other factors. “You need that ‘Goldilocks zone’,” explains Logan Zeinert, a research technician from NIC’s Centre for Applied Research, Technology & Innovation and Project Lead. “A good sandy site with a deep enough substrate that the geoduck clams can bury themselves.” Over the next two years, geoduck survival and growth at these sites will be carefully monitored and compared to determine optimal production conditions. The resulting data will be useful both to researchers and the communities evaluating the commercial viability of geoduck aquaculture at these sites.

Out-planting geoduck seeds at low tide at one of four study sites on the Central Coast. The seeds are planted in Vexar mesh tubes to protect them from predation. Photo: Logan Zeinert.

“I hope geoduck aquaculture can deliver financial benefits and employment for our Nations,” says Heiltsuk Nation Aquatics Manager Mike Reid from his home in Bella Bella. “The bigger point is that it could provide more sustainable, low-impact food source, especially as other sources, like salmon, are not doing well.” Reid says the Heiltsuk and other coastal peoples have long harvested geoduck for food, even in subtidal zones, using ingenious methods that predated technologies used by today’s underwater harvesters.

Santana Edgar, Marine Planning Coordinator for the Kitasoo Xai’xais, is also looking forward to research insights. “Can we successfully grow geoduck, and do we have enough suitable intertidal habitat to achieve the economies of scale to create meaningful employment for our people?” she asks. “Kitasoo Xai’xais have been engaged in finfish aquaculture since the 1990s and have always wanted to expand operations into shellfish aquaculture. This can be a low impact way of benefiting from our surrounding ocean.”

In the right conditions, baby geoduck clams like these can grow to a harvestable size of a few pounds each within six to ten years—but they can live more than 140 years. Photos: Logan Zeinert (left) and Geneviève Reynolds (right).

Core funding for the project comes from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP), with additional funds and in-kind contributions from CCIRA, the Central Coast Commercial Fisheries Association (CCCFA), the Province of B.C, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

New article published about Marine Zoning for the Marine Plan Partnership

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Marine zoning for the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) in British Columbia, Canada is a new article published in the journal, Marine Policy, in February 2023. 

 The authors of the paper are Charlie Short, Joanna L Smith, John Bones, Steve Diggon, Aaron Heidt, Chris Mcdougall, and Kylee A  Pawluk.

 Abstract

A zoning framework was developed for the Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP) in order to provide guidance for decisions regarding coastal and marine economic development, marine resource management, and marine protection or conservation across the MaPP region, the Northern Shelf Bioregion, British Columbia, Canada. The MaPP Zoning Framework was developed over an 18-month period at the beginning of the marine spatial planning (MSP) process with stakeholder consultation and incorporated lessons learned from other planning efforts in British Columbia and globally. The three main requirements for the Framework included that it was applicable and flexible for use across the MaPP regional boundary, which included four sub-regions that had diverse priorities and marine activities, that guiding principles for zoning would provide consistency for policy and other decisions within the MaPP regions, and that zone categories synergized with existing policy and legislation. A stakeholder advisory process was used to develop the Framework which resulted in three zone categories to achieve the goals of MaPP: Protection Management Zone (PMZ), Special Management Zone (SMZ), and General Management Zone (GMZ). Zone identification included numerous factors such as species and habitat diversity, cultural values, existing uses and activities, and priorities for sustainable economic development and conservation. The Framework was effectively used to zone 102,000 km2 of the MaPP region during the MSP process for more than 15 different sectors that were within the scope of the MaPP partners’ jurisdiction. Importantly, the Framework was successfully adapted across the four distinct MaPP sub-regions and consistently applied for an effective regional approach to decision making and management for both First Nations and provincial governments.

Map of the MaPP study area showing the four sub-regions (Haida Gwaii, North Coast, Central Coast, and North Vancouver Island) and the zones developed using the Framework during the planning process.

Kelp Monitoring Training Videos: Strength in Data Diversity

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A series of kelp monitoring training videos has been produced.

Learn the approach MaPP First Nation Partners are using to study canopy kelp (the uppermost layer of a kelp forest) in the MaPP Region. First Nations are applying a standardized methodology to collect and analyze data in the four sub-regions to find out:

  1. Where the kelp is;
  2. How kelp is changing;
  3. What is causing the kelp to change; and
  4. What else is affected by these changes to kelp.

With canopy kelp functioning as a canary in the coalmine, research is necessary to address the First Nations’ observations that significant declines have occurred in recent years in the distribution, abundance and quality of kelp in their territories. The training videos were produced in collaboration with the Tula Foundation and feature tools, techniques and protocols being used to support standardized kelp monitoring in the MaPP region. The methods shown in the videos are accompanied by a detailed Kelp Monitoring Methods protocol document.

Together with community-based local and Indigenous knowledge, MaPP is generating a bigger picture of kelp historically, today and for future scenarios, as illustrated in our Regional Kelp Monitoring Storymap. As culturally and ecologically significant species, kelp conservation and restoration are essential for food, habitat, improved shoreline protection and increased marine nutrients. Kelp monitoring information, therefore, will be used to inform future management recommendations about protected areas, ecosystem health and marine use.

View the video playlist here.

A Decade of Collaborative Marine Planning

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On June 1, Nature United hosted a celebration for the 10-year anniversary of the world’s first co-led marine planning effort with Indigenous Peoples.

mapp-group-shot

MaPP 10 year celebration, group shot. June 1, 2022. © Allison Penko

When people come together under a common vision, they can accomplish wonderful things. And the Marine Plan Partnership—or MaPP—is truly a wonderful thing.

The truth is, I’m not sure many people fully appreciate just how significant it is to have 17 different First Nations working collaboratively with a crown government to advance ecosystem-based management. MaPP has been successfully doing this for 10 years.

It’s unprecedented. It’s something we should celebrate. It’s something that should be supported into the future.

Building on the world-renowned agreements for conservation and land use in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, the Province of British Columbia and 17 First Nations collaboratively developed the world’s first collaborative large-scale marine planning initiative.

A Shining Example

Ten years later, MaPP is still a leading partnership model for governments working together on complex collaborative marine spatial planning. Integrating healthy ecosystems, economies and people, this partnership represents the kind of conservation that’s possible through bold collaboration.

It was wonderful to have the chance to celebrate this milestone in person. On June 1, 2022 Nature United hosted an event where First Nations MaPP partners from up and down the coast came together with B.C. government MaPP partners to celebrate 10 years of working together. The celebratory energy in the room was palpable.

“This partnership is a shining example of how First Nations and the provincial government collaborate to find solutions to difficult problems, all in the interest of maintaining the health of coastal marine ecosystems and fostering sustainable development opportunities,” said Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship Josie Osborne in remarks at the event. “The partnership is strengthened by everyone who contributes to its ongoing development.”

CELEBRATORY ENERGY During a celebration of the 10 year anniversary of the Marine Plan Partnership, a performance by the Numwayut Culture Group welcomed the attendees. © Allison Penko

 

BOLD COLLABORATION Placards highlighting the key outcomes of the Marine Plan Partnership. © Allison Penko

Modeling Reconciliation

MaPP has been, and continues to be an important model and success story—one that  First Nations and the government of B.C. can look to as they move forward on reconciliation and implementing B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People’s Act.

In 2021, MaPP received an inaugural British Columbia Reconciliation Award, which celebrates exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in B.C.

MaPP is in fact the world’s first co-led Marine Spatial Plan between Indigenous Governments and Crown Governments. Since it was signed, it has provided inspiration to other countries developing marine plans with Indigenous peoples in places like New Zealand, Indonesia and Costa Rica.

Jenn Burt of Nature United hosted the MaPP 10-year celebration. © Allison Penko

MaPP is in fact the world’s first co-led Marine Spatial Plan between Indigenous Governments and Crown Governments.
JENN BURT
Marine Program Lead

Lasting Impact

This co-led planning process means the results of MaPP will last for generations to come. With stronger Indigenous governance and more agreement on priority issues, these comprehensive plans have made tangible outcomes possible.

In the last 10 years, MaPP has:

  • enhanced ecosystem monitoring, including kelp, estuaries, invasive species and much more;
  • compiled a huge foundation of data on the species, habitats, cultural resources, and human activities within the waters of Northern B.C.;
  • piloted projects for sustainable economies, like shellfish and seaweed aquaculture and recreational trail development;
  • identified 4 million acres of protected management zones, many of which  are now prospective sites for federally legislated Marine Protected Areas;
  • created efficiencies for coastal tenure authorizations, ensuring sound placement, environmental compatibility, and monitoring compliance; and
  • worked closely with sector stakeholders, community experts, and local knowledge holders to identify planning needs and advise actions.

In his remarks at the celebration event, Dallas Smith, board president of the Na̲nwak̲olas Council; said: “We are breaking the cycle here. This is something that was built together, and we are implementing together and that’s the key.”

Guests at the MaPP 10-year celebration. © Allison Penko

Guests at the MaPP 10-year celebration. © Allison Penko

The collaborative governance structure and planning frameworks of MaPP are considered a “global gold standard” for marine planning.
JENN BURT

Global Impact

Working for an organization that is a global leader in Marine Spatial Planning, I can convey that the benefits of MaPP extend well beyond the boundaries of B.C.

The collaborative governance structure and planning frameworks of MaPP are considered a “global gold standard” for marine planning.

Recently my global colleague was speaking with the president of Palau and a high minister of the Marshall Islands in the western central Pacific. They are interested in regional marine planning, but feel challenged by the multiple countries, governments, and priorities within the prospective planning region. My colleague suggested that a model existed to overcome these challenges—and she pointed to MaPP.

In MaPP, individual marine use plans were developed within four separate subregions, each with different and multiple governments, cultures, and priorities for their marine space. But they are unified under a Regional Action Framework, which outlines the collective vision, overarching priorities, a pathway for working together.

Looking Forward

We all know that we need to protect the land, air and water that we rely on to survive and thrive and that this needs to be done by working in partnership with the Indigenous Peoples who have been stewards of this land since time immemorial.

Year after year, the results of MaPP are influencing  decisions about B.C.’s coast and coastal waters and in doing so are improving the alignment of marine uses with First Nations’ values and vision for their territories.

I’m very proud to be supporting this awesome achievement, and look forward to what the future of MaPP will bring.

Thanks to Jenn Burt, British Columbia Marine Program Lead, Nature United | June 08, 2022 | Source

 

MaPP Launches the Kelp StoryMap

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First Nation and provincial partners of the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) are excited to announce the launch of an innovative communication tool, Regional Kelp Monitoring on the North Pacific Coast: A Community-Based Monitoring Initiative to Inform Ecosystem-Based Management, a StoryMap, to share information about their ongoing work to learn about kelp in Haida Gwaii, the North Coast, Central Coast, and North Vancouver Island.

Because kelp is such an important component of the marine ecosystem – culturally, economically, and ecologically – MaPP developed a Regional Kelp Monitoring Project. Each summer since 2017, Guardians have mapped the extent of kelp beds, collected data on kelp density, and assessed the condition of the kelp. The data can be used to inform kelp management as well as other research both locally and globally such as studies on the impacts of climate change.

Visit Regional Kelp Monitoring on the North Pacific Coast: A Community-Based Monitoring Initiative to Inform Ecosystem-Based Management, a StoryMap to learn about the importance of kelp, the MaPP kelp monitoring framework including how kelp is monitored, sub-regional highlights, collaborators supporting data collection, lessons learned, and the vision for the future. Some unique elements of the StoryMap include the First Nations names for different species of kelp, stories from each of the sub-regions about the focus and achievements of the Guardian crews, along with maps and research results.

The StoryMap is expected to be updated annually to share the most recent findings and accomplishments.

The Nature of Things features the work of NVI Guardians

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A recent episode of The Nature of Things on CBC features First Nation Guardians of the MaPP North Vancouver Island Sub-region.

Titled Ice and Fire: Tracking Canada’s Climate Crisis, the documentary describes how citizen science and community-based research is being used to assess how climate change is impacting different parts of Canada. Off the coast of Vancouver Island, First Nations have partnered with the Hakai Institute to monitor and understand the impacts of climate change on kelp. The Tlowitsis and Wei Wai Kum Guardians discuss the MaPP kelp monitoring program, which is also being implemented by Guardian crews in Haida Gwaii, the North Coast and Central Coast sub-regions.

In Knight Inlet, on the BC mainland coast, Dallas Smith, president of Nanwakolas Council, describes salmon habitat restoration efforts to counter the impacts of forestry and climate change, in order to increase salmon populations, and to help grizzly bears survive in the inlet. Guardians of the Da’naxda’xw and Awaetlala First Nations are featured in this work.

Watch the 45-minute documentary by clicking here.

MaPP featured in latest Coastal Zone Canada Newsletter

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We are pleased to announce that the Winter 2022 issue of THE ZONE, the newsletter of the Coastal Zone Canada Association, features a comprehensive overview of the Marine Plan Partnership, titled On the MaPP. The article, authored by Berry Wijdeven (provincial co-lead for the Haida Gwaii and North Coast Marine Plans), was written for an international audience of marine planning practitioners and students.

Coastal Zone Canada is an organization that facilitates the sharing of research, policy, news and management of coastal habitats all over the world. Its biennial conferences attract hundreds of attendees who exchange information about their programs and forge new collaborations to improve Integrated Coastal Zone Management practices across the globe.

Read On the MaPP here: https://www.coastalzonecanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/CZCNewsletter-Winter-2022.pdf

MaPP Selected as a UNESCO Ocean Decade Project

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The Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) is pleased to confirm it has been endorsed as a UNESCO Ocean Decade project. This is a unique opportunity to partner with scientists and policy makers around the world to address the decline in ocean health and to support the sustainable development of the ocean.

MaPP was recognized as a project that can support the Ocean Decade mission to “catalyse transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and the ocean, in order to achieve the Ocean Decade vision of the science we need for the ocean we want” (UNESCO).

The Ocean Decade runs from 2021-2030. During the next decade, MaPP Partners intend to participate with international scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop scientific knowledge and forge partnerships to advance ocean science.

Features of the MaPP initiative that qualified it for the status of Ocean Decade project include our initiative’s commitment to ecosystem-based management, that it is a co-led approach by First Nations and B.C., the inclusion of stakeholders and local governments in the planning process and implementation of marine plans, the focus on sustainability, the vast geographic area covered, and the already-established collaborations with other researchers.

Leaders of the MaPP initiative look forward to exploring opportunities in support of the vision of the Ocean Decade.

For more information, visit https://ioc.unesco.org/ocean-decade

and

https://www.oceandecade.org/actions/marine-plan-partnership-for-the-north-pacific-coast-mapp/

New article published about stakeholder and public engagement to develop the MaPP marine plans

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Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast: Engagement and communication with stakeholders and the public, is a new article published in the journal, Marine Policy, in July 2021.

The authors of the paper are Gord McGee, Josie Byington, John Bones, Sally Cargill, Megan Dickinson, Kelly Wozniak and Kylee Pawluk.

Abstract:
A key requirement for success in marine spatial planning is a meaningful stakeholder engagement process. During the planning phase of the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) initiative, the Partners (the B.C. provincial and 18 First Nations governments) employed, what was termed, an advisory approach to engagement. This advisory approach committed the Partners to engage meaningfully with stakeholders and the public, consider their feedback, work towards balanced solutions, and incorporate what was found to be agreeable. However, it did not require a consensus among participants in order for advice to be accepted or acted upon. Planning occurred over a three-year period in four sub-regions encompassing 102,000 square kilometers of coastal and marine waters on the North Pacific Coast of Canada. Engagement spanned more than 10 sectors of special interest and 22 coastal communities throughout the planning area and included interested members of the general public. Upon plan completion, there was broad stakeholder support for the final sub-regional plans and the Regional Action Framework. The purpose of this paper is to describe from the MaPP governance partners’ perspective, the components of the MaPP advisory-based stakeholder engagement policy and key lessons learned about the factors contributing to the success of its approach. The paper draws upon analysis of MaPP Partner discussions and reflections during and after the planning process, and includes the results of an internal evaluation of stakeholder engagement by independent consultants who surveyed the MaPP team, stakeholders, and the public.

NC-MPAC

North Coast Sub-region Marine Planning Advisory Committee and MaPP Team members (photo credit: Gilian Dusting)

A Family of Graduates

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Nanwakolas Guardians Graduation 2021. Photo credit: Angela Davidson.

Nanwakolas Council Guardians Graduation 2021. (Photo credit: Angela Davidson)

Nanwakolas Council recently published an article describing the graduation of students from the Vancouver Island University Stewardship Technician Training Program. Since 2016, the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) has supported the Nanwakolas Guardian program to implement objectives and strategies in the NVI Marine Plan.

Collaboration Advances Cumulative Effects Management on North Coast

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Warren Bolton, photo credit Quinton Ball

DEVELOPING LOCAL EXPERTISE: Warren Bolton, a Kitsumkalum band member, GIS technician, and drone operator, undertakes eelgrass survey work near Ridley Island on the North Coast. Bolton’s involvement with MaPP’s CE project dovetailed perfectly with formal studies in the sciences. Photo credit: Quinton Ball

Marine plan implementation on the North Coast is getting a boost thanks to collaboration between the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) and the North Coast Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI) —a B.C. government initiative that was created to address First Nations’ environmental concerns around resource development.

In 2017, the two groups informally merged into one team to accomplish a shared goal: Technically build out and fully implement a cumulative effects framework to monitor, assess, and manage the impacts of industrial and non-industrial development on the North Coast. Cumulative effects are the changes in environmental, social, economic, health and cultural values as a result of the combined effect of present, past and reasonably foreseeable human actions or natural events (MaPP, 2016). The project team includes representation from North Coast First Nations (Gitga’at, Gitxaala, Haisla, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, and Metlakatla) and the Province of B.C.

A convergence of MaPP and ESI work on cumulative effects on the North Coast began in 2015. MaPP had already begun implementing its North Coast Marine Plan. Federal agencies (such as Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada) and provincial resource ministries (such as the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development) were responding to the need for cumulative effects monitoring and deeper involvement of First Nations in decisions about coastal development projects—particularly, liquefied natural gas. With so many of the same people involved in related discussions, it made sense to bring them together.

Maya Paul, Program Director of Cumulative Effects Strategic Initiatives for the North Coast-Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society, co-manages the integrated MaPP and ESI North Coast Cumulative Effects Program. According to Paul, a key consideration for the North Coast Nations’ engagement in monitoring and assessment projects was their desire for the work to lead to decision-making and action. “North Coast First Nations knew cumulative effects were important but were approaching it independently. They knew they needed to work together, and with other governments, to achieve stronger and more meaningful outcomes.”

Team members are thoughtfully incorporating relevant learnings to support monitoring, assessment, and management of cumulative effects on core values of common importance. They’re currently focused on four values that were prioritised as a starting point: Aquatic Habitats (Estuaries, with a focus on the Skeena Estuary); Salmon; Food Security (with a focus on harvested foods); and Access to Resources (for social and cultural uses). Rebecca Martone, a provincial marine biologist on the North Coast Cumulative Effects project team, notes how important it is to assess interconnected indicators for the values they’re working on. “By developing and selecting indicators in parallel for habitats, key species, cultural values, and human wellbeing, we really start to understand the complexities in the methodologies required to assess cumulative effects, and how indicators can inform more than one value and thus create efficiencies for how those factors are considered in decision-making.”

Marine biodiversity photo credit Maya Paul

MARINE BIODIVERSITY IN THE NORTH COAST: Abalone, otherwise known as sea snails, are a species at risk of extinction and are just one of many marine species that rely on healthy kelp forests in the North Coast. Photo credit: Maya Paul

Continued effort and dedication of team members has resulted in steady progress on each of the values. For example, a North Coast data management system has been developed to enable project team members to contribute, house, aggregate, analyze, and visualise a wide range of regional monitoring data to support decision-making. In addition to identifying a suite of indicators for the Aquatic Habitats (Estuaries) and Food Security & Access to Resources values, the Project Team has developed protocols that will set the procedures and standards for conducting assessments of the condition of the value now and in the future. They’ve developed a suite of indicators and implemented a survey to gather insights from North Coast First Nations community members on the Food Security & Access to Resources values. Quinton Ball, a Terrace-based environmental scientist contracted by Kitsumkalum Nation, explains: “Good indicators should serve as meaningful metrics that can be used to measure and understand change and enable affordable collection of standardised data that are useful for a variety of purposes.” Adds Ball, “Good indicators reveal important changes before we notice them.”

A current condition assessment of the Skeena Estuary value and a cumulative effects assessment of Food Security & Access to Resources values were completed in early 2021, which led to the development of a suite of interim recommendations that the team has begun to implement this year. A field monitoring project, designed to support assessment of the Skeena estuary, is now into its fifth year. The field program has realized many accomplishments, including training and engaging First Nations technicians in the marine environment, leveraging and building capacity in First Nations’ stewardship offices and improving the effectiveness of monitoring by utilising local knowledge in the design of the program. This has resulted in the collection of four years of data to serve as a beginning baseline for assessments. The team has also framed the scope of the initial assessment of the salmon value and began work on it at the end of 2020.

Heather Johnston, with the Environmental Stewardship Initiative Branch of the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation, co-manages the integrated Cumulative Effects program. She feels the project’s value extends far beyond the North Coast region. “It’s part of implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, where First Nations have a real say in what’s going on in their traditional territories.”

Members of the North Coast Cumulative Effects Project team speak highly of each other’s qualifications and commitment to the work. “The level of professionalism and desire among agencies to collaborate—I just don’t think it’s been done at this level before,” says Ball. And Ball loves seeing new passions for science ignited among First Nations community members who get involved in monitoring work and then go on to explore science-related careers.

Development in NC photo credit Maya Paul

DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTH COAST: Sustainable economic development in the North Coast is just one of the priorities being addressed through collaborative efforts between the Province of B.C. and several North Coast First Nations, through the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) and the North
Coast Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI). Photo credit: Maya Paul

MaPP Receives British Columbia Reconciliation Award

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On April 26, 2021, the Marine Plan Partnership received the British Columbia Reconciliation Award.

 

 

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the BC Achievement Foundation Announce Inaugural Reconciliation Award Recipients

 The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, in partnership with the BC Achievement Foundation, is honoured to announce the recipients of the inaugural British Columbia Reconciliation Award. The award recognizes nine extraordinary individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province of British Columbia, or inspired others to continue Reconciliation efforts.

Individual Recipients:

  • Dawn Drummond
  • Doris Paul
  • Corey Payette
  • Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
  • David Suzuki
  • Corporal Christopher Voller

Organization Recipients:

  • Carrier Sekani Family Services
  • Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast
  • xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ (Many Ways of Doing the Same Thing) Research Team

“Being part of establishing the Reconciliation award program and serving on the inaugural selection committee has been heart-warming and empowering. Reviewing all the nominations has shown me the power of Reconciliation and how it can change people and community’s lives for the better.” said BC Achievement Foundation board member Kekinusuqs, Judith Sayers. “It shows we can live together and achieve great things if there are willing people working towards a vision of Reconciliation.” The BC Achievement Foundation has several established programs honouring excellence and inspiring achievement throughout British Columbia, including the Indigenous Business Award and the Fulmer Award in First Nations Art.

“The inaugural recipients of this award are shining examples of those in British Columbia who have demonstrated the many approaches to furthering Reconciliation through meaningful action. It is humbling and inspiring to read of their stories, their incredible impacts in their communities, and to learn from their perspectives on Reconciliation. I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to partner with the BC Achievement Foundation and the selection committee to develop this award and to recognize these exemplary individuals,” says Austin, “Reconciliation must take root in our hearts, within families, between generations, and throughout our communities. I invite all British Columbia to join us in celebrating these champions, to learn from their stories, and to strive to build relationships with each other across cultures.”

The Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, has chosen Reconciliation as one of the key priorities of her mandate. This commitment includes participation in promotion of public awareness of the ongoing journey of Reconciliation.

The British Columbia Reconciliation Award draws inspiration from the work of the Honourable Steven Point [Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl], 28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and a founder of the Award. His hand-carved red cedar canoe, Shxwtitostel, currently on display at the BC Legislature buildings, was created as a symbol of reconciliation, with the understanding that “we are all in the same canoe” and must “paddle together” to move forward. In honour of this legacy, this year’s recipients will receive a print of a canoe paddle painted to commemorate the award by Kwakwaka’wakw artist Cole Speck.

The selection committee for the 2021 British Columbia Reconciliation Award, including representation from Indigenous Elders and leadership, is:

  • T’esóts’en, Patrick Kelly – Leq’á:mel First Nation
  • Nicole McLaren – Métis Nation
  • Chief Sophie Pierre – Ktunaxa Nation
  • Kekinusuqs, Judith Sayers – Hupacasath First Nation
  • T,lalisam, Kim van der Woerd – ’Namgis First Nation

Members of the selection committee, along with the Honourable Steven Point, led in the creation and design of the BC Reconciliation Award, ensuring the award was founded on the principles of Indigenous culture and knowledge.

Links:

New article about the Marine Plan Partnership

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“The Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast – MaPP: A collaborative and co-led marine planning process in British Columbia” is an article published in the journal Marine Policy in June 2020.

The authors of the paper are Steve Diggon, John Bones, Charlie Short, Joanna Smith, Megan Dickinson, Kelly Wozniak, Karen Topelko and Kylee Pawluk.

Abstract: For more than a decade, marine spatial planning has been used around the world to advance objectives for conservation, economic development, and ecosystem-based management. Ecosystem-based management (EBM) in British Columbia began with the development of land use plans in the 1990s to address coastal and land use issues related to terrestrial land management. Managing marine resources is challenging on Canada’s Pacific coast because of multiple, overlapping jurisdictions, unceded indigenous territories, and lack of coordination amongst governments in the region and their agencies. The Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP) was formed in 2011 and was a co-led partnership between 18 First Nations’ and the Province of British Columbia governments. The purpose of the MaPP Initiative was to develop and implement marine plans for 102,000 square kilometers of coastal and offshore water in northern British Columbia. A co-led governance framework included the member First Nations and the Provincial government structured into multiple levels of decisions making, conflict resolution, and technical support. Integral to the planning process was broad and continual stakeholder engagement through multiple advisory committees as well as public engagement. The planning process made use of multiple information sources including traditional, scientific, and local knowledge and was completed in 3.5 years. The result was the development and signing into policy of four sub-regional marine plans (one for each of the four MaPP sub-regions: Haida Gwaii, North Coast, Central Coast, and North Vancouver Island) and a Regional Action Framework. The sub-regional plans delineate protection, special, and general management zones for multiple objectives and will inform future policy decisions for marine protected areas, tenures, resource management and coastal development through an EBM approach. The plans will inform permits for marine tenures including aquaculture, offshore renewable energy siting, contribute to Canada’s marine protected areas network, and improve coastal infrastructure. The Regional Action Framework highlights activities to occur across the entire region through five main activity areas (Regional Governance, Ecological Integrity and Human Well-being, Compliance and Enforcement, Cumulative Effects Assessment, and Zoning Recommendations). Funding for planning was through a public-private model that also supported the development of the plans and decision support tools (e.g. planning and mapping portal). Discussions regarding implementation began during the planning phase to ensure long-term commitment from the Partners and continuity to improve decision making and management within the MaPP area. The process design and methodology created by MaPP can be a model for planning in areas that involve multiple authorities, complex geographies and jurisdictional arrangements that can be scaled up for regional, cross border, and transboundary marine spatial planning.

Article

Marine planning brought to life in new MaPP video

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On, over, and under the waters of the North Pacific Coast, a new video from the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) takes you on a magnificent journey into the heart of its work. Travel along as coastal guardians gather data and monitor environmental conditions. Visit the towering kelp forests that support a wide array of biodiversity, including ecologically and culturally important species. Witness young people connecting with their marine heritage. Hear from First Nations and provincial leaders who are working together to protect, conserve, and manage this precious shared resource.

MaPP – The Benefits showcases the spectacular nature of the North Pacific Coast. It also demonstrates that the work conducted during MaPP’s first phase has created a strong foundation. Data collection, fact finding, habitat monitoring, stakeholder engagement, pilot projects, and contributions to other planning processes that are critical to successful future implementation have been established.

MaPP is now poised to move into its second phase of implementation with the goal of creating positive change in coastal communities and ocean health.