Ecological Monitoring Committee for the Lower Athabasca: Program Development and Implementation Presentation to the Alberta Environmental Monitoring Panel, May 6, 2011

Program Purpose Deliver a coordinated, rationalized regional biodiversity and wildlife monitoring program that is effective, efficient and credible Improved monitoring of wildlife and biodiversity Information on the status and trends of species, the effects of human activities, and the success of mitigation efforts Better information available for environmental management in the Lower Athabasca region

Background Industry requirements for biodiversity and wildlife monitoring in approvals under Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) – Not designed for regional picture – Not standardized ABMI operates a provincial biodiversity monitoring program – Additions to ABMI could address region-specific priorities Agreement in 2009 to seek improvements to current system through a coordinated approach

Desired Improvements From:To: Focus on site and place monitoring onlyIntegrated monitoring program with emphasis on ecosystem level Scattered and variable approach to monitoring at the project level Standardized and systematic approach with ABMI as the foundation for the integrated monitoring program Project level approach to biodiversity issues and questions Regional to sub-regional programs designed through a collaborative process Voluntary funding support for ABMIFull and equitable participation in funding the ABMI Diverse reporting frameworksConsistent reporting framework in support of public and compliance reporting Inability to report on regional ecological healthAbility to report on regional ecological health Proprietary control over regional dataFull and timely access to regional data through a central repository All monitoring in EPEA approvalMonitoring situated for best effect

Program Development 2010 Industry-Government Joint Working Group to address – Monitoring system design – Governance – Funding and 2011 Program outline Recommendations issued August 2010 Fall 2010 – GoA, Oilsands Developers Group and ABMI build agree to build new monitoring program

Governance Rationalize EPEA approval requirements meet public interest expectations effective regional monitoring Ecological Monitoring Committee for Lower Athabasca (EMCLA) includes: Government – federal and provincial Oil sands industry Scientific support and coordination -- ABMI

Work Plan Process Objectives defined Annual activities and deliverables established Long term planning Scientifically defensible Monitoring Program – Subject matter science experts project team project advisors Peer review – Participants – governments and academia

Project Participants Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute Alberta Innovates Technology Futures University of Alberta Royal Alberta Museum Bird Studies Canada Devonian Botanical Garden Alberta Conservation Association Environment Canada Beaverhill Bird Observatory Boreal Avian Monitoring Project Strix Ecological Consulting Alberta Tourism, Parks, and Recreation Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Al-Pac Forest Industries

Annual Reporting EMCLA annual report – Summary of the year’s work – Achievements – Variances from the work plan – Highlights of ongoing and completed projects ABMI annual update commissioned by EMCLA – Summary of work in Lower Athabasca Region Workplan for the coming year and three-year vision: – Details on the timing of projects – Scope of work – Study design

Transparency Data and reports publicly available through ABMI Peer reviewed Scientifically credible analysis Addresses issues raised through regulatory processes of project reviews and approvals

2011 Program Design and implementation of monitoring programs – Planning – Execution – Reporting Three programs in development – Rare Plants – Select Animal Species – Effects of Linear Development on Caribou

Rare Plants Design and implement an informative and appropriate rare plant monitoring program Credible information on the abundance and distribution of plant species that are rare or of conservation concern Information on threats to individual species and habitats

Select Animal Species An effective, long-term animal monitoring program to address gaps in ABMI monitoring Provides data to address specific research and management questions Feasibility assessments for Yellow Rails, owls, and amphibians selected as the priority for 2011

Effects of Linear Development on Caribou Assessing the influence of aboveground pipelines and associated linear features on movement Determine whether mitigations are effectively improving caribou conservation

Learning Process 1. Address regional monitoring needs relevant to industry, government, public concerns 2. Use a broad definition of user Resource and environmental managers – industry and government Decision makers Interested and affected parties 3. Adaptable but with firm base Expect change. Ensure design can detect change and adapt as appropriate Protect monitoring core when adapting 4. Leverage existing systems to create value ABMI Industry monitoring

Recommendations to AEMP Biodiversity Monitoring 1. Incorporate program elements from EMCLA 2. Maintain Leverage of ABMI and industry programs 3. Address regional issues 4. Assess cumulative effects