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Survey of Canadian Ramsar Site Managers

Survey of Canadian Ramsar Site Managers. Clayton Rubec and Pauline Lynch-Stewart November 1, 2008 Ramsar COP10, Changwon, Korea. Why this Survey?. Last direct survey of Canadian site managers 1990

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Survey of Canadian Ramsar Site Managers

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  1. Survey of CanadianRamsar Site Managers Clayton Rubec and Pauline Lynch-Stewart November 1, 2008 Ramsar COP10, Changwon, Korea

  2. Why this Survey? • Last direct survey of Canadian site managers 1990 • Current manager contacts not updated since 2000 and information on site management last updated 1996 • Impetus from USA - survey of 22 sites (Gardner and Connolly, Environmental Law Review News and Analysis Feb 2007) • Audit of Canadian Ramsar Program by Office of Canada’s Auditor General

  3. Approach • Survey period March 13-28, 2007 preceded by several weeks of research/analysis of format • Designed to be rapid, low cost, efficient • English and French versions undertaken simultaneously • Each manager was contacted in advance to ensure access and instructions • Used “Vovici” on-line survey software to establish data base to collect replies • Responses from 37 managers (100%) achieved

  4. Advantages of Web-based Survey • Rapid access to results • Built-in support for structuring of questions and follow-up analysis • Easy tracking of replies • Exportable data • Facilitated sharing of results with all 37 site managers

  5. Results • Updated site manager contacts • Updated profile of each site and information on site management • Listened to managers’ opinions on value of Ramsar site designation • Solicited views on options for improved national program • Compared results with 2006 USA survey

  6. Profile of Canadian Ramsar Sites • 37 sites covering 13 million hectares • Sites vary in size from 240 to over 6.1 million ha • Sites exist in all our 10 provinces and 3 northern territories • Shared land tenure: 77% federal gov’t, 21% provincial/municipal gov’t, 1% aboriginal, and 1% other private including churches • Over 90% lies inside existing protected areas (parks, wildlife areas, etc.)

  7. Canadian Ramsar sites have other conservation designations

  8. Most (62%) of our Ramsar sites have up to 20,000 visitors/year; 9% have over 100,000 visitors/year

  9. Top four benefits associated with Ramsar sites • Passive recreation (88%) • Scientific research (88%) • Education and awareness (82%) • Local economic benefits (66%) Lac St. Pierre, Quebec

  10. 68% of our sites have management plans • 68% of Canadian Ramsar sites have a management plan in place or under revision • Several sites have a management plan under development • Plans for several sites in Nunavut Territory remain undeveloped in the absence of implementation resources for some elements of the 1999 Federal-Nunavut Benefit Sharing Agreement

  11. Some of our managers do not feel engaged with the Ramsar program • Limited interaction with existing information resources for Ramsar site management • No consensus on priorities for future support (such as coordinated information exchange, training, fund raising, outreach) • Issues include requirement for financial and human resources • No National Ramsar Committee now in place in Canada Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Nunavut

  12. Two-thirds of our sites publicly identify with the Ramsar Convention • Compared with “almost all” of USA Ramsar sites • 53% of our sites feature signs or displays (at or near the site) (54% in the USA) • Some have brochures or other publications that identify the designation • Other site Ramsar tools include websites, tours, management plans, teaching resources and workshops or clinics • Lack of resources is cited as a barrier in improving communications, education and awareness mechanisms for the Ramsar designation

  13. 90% of our managers want more promotion of awareness of the Ramsar designation • Of the 11 (of 37) managers who responded that they do not publicly identify with Ramsar in any way, 10 said that the designation should be better promoted • Lack of resources cited as a barrier in better promoting the Ramsar designation. • Some concerns related to promoting the site • For example, “an increase in promotion without commitment to resources to manage the area would result in degradation of the site.”

  14. Our Ramsar site managers think the designation is valuable • Helps tomaintain the ecological character (65%) • elevates site importance, influences planning, and improves quality of management • Helps topromote wise use (53%) • conveys pride, awareness and influences decisions Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia

  15. About 34% report changes in ecological character Mainly due to natural factors: • invasive species • change in water regimes • climatic variability • increased waterfowl populations But also human induced factors: • on-site land use and activities

  16. Ramsar site managers think designation helps protect ecological values • Of the 13 respondents who reported change in ecological character of the wetland, 10 responded that the Ramsar designation had helped to maintain the ecological character of the site. • Implies that change in the ecological character of these important wetlands would have been greater in the absence of the Ramsar designation.

  17. Designation associated with benefits and problems Most valuable benefits: • protection of site and surrounding lands/waters • public awareness of wetlands Problems: • lack of funding • lack of resources for local activities • poor communications Big Quill Lakes NAWMP site, Saskatchewan

  18. Comparison of Canada-USA national views on designation

  19. Path Forward • Need to develop recommendations that respond to the issues identified: • more resources for site management • a National Ramsar Committee • leadership and network support • site management training opportunities • Ramsar site information sheets, maps and management plans are noted as out-of-date by Canadian managers and the Ramsar Secretariat in Switzerland • A flexible survey approach by more of the Ramsar community outside North America, tailored to national or regional management issues and the delivery of the Ramsar Strategic Plan, makes sense based on our experience

  20. Thank you! Presented by: Clayton Rubec Centre for Environmental Stewardship and Conservation (CESC) Ottawa, Canada Web: www.ceschabitat.ca Email: clay.rubec@ceschabitat.ca Phone: +1 (613) 725-0456 Alaksen National Wildlife Area, British Columbia

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