Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Enhancing Planning Capacity for the Sustainable Development of Arctic Coastal Communities  

Outline
The impacts of a rapidly changing climate will have direct and indirect implications for the health and well being of demographically and economically growing communities throughout the Arctic. In order to maintain the resiliency of these dynamic communities, already adapted to extreme environments, innovative northern community planning strategies will need to be developed. Therefore, the desired outcome of this project is for traditional knowledge and scientific research on climate change impacts to be used in an integrated fashion to improve community planning capacity for Arctic coastal communities. It will be achieved using deliberative processes that involve Inuit, other First Nations/Aboriginal groups, northerners, community planners, and scientists in different regions throughout the Arctic. The regions to be studied will include the western Canadian arctic, eastern Canadian arctic and western Greenland. In each region a community pilot study will be established in collaboration with Territorial and municipal governments and other stakeholders. Pilot study locations will be strategic and based on the combination of community needs and ability of scientific expertise to contribute to the knowledge of the area. Scientific research will focus mainly on the impacts and implications of sea-level rise and permafrost melting. In each pilot study a local research group will be established. Each group will work to determine what potential changes may mean for the environmental, economic and social integrity of the community and region, develop a process to enhance local planning, and create tools that improve local and regional community planning capacity. Community monitoring systems will be developed to efficiently capture local concerns and incorporate them into long term plans and scientific research. Possible tools may include a process for how to provide knowledge on climate change impacts to local councils, community planners, training and course materials for local planning and land administrators, and technical assistance for infrastructure development, land use management that addresses flood risk mapping and permafrost melting. Acquisition of LIDAR imagery to create high resolution DEMs of the land surface will assist with both community monitoring and tool development.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project provides significant advances in relation to several IPY themes. They include 1) the development of a structured process for interaction between scientists, planners, and traditional Inuit knowledge to enhance sustainable local decision-making, 2) a planning tool legacy for Arctic coastal communities. Tools will increase the resiliency and sustainability of local communities and incorporate cultural, historical, social and scientific processes, and 3) linked traditional knowledge and scientific datasets that help understand past and present environments and contribute to future land development and infrastructure needs of Arctic communities.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International collaboration in this project will be between the Government of Canada, Government of Nunavut, Greenland (Government of Denmark), and the University of Oxford (England). Work and testing will be conducted in Canadian and Greenland communities

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Proposed field work will be conducted in Nunavut and Greenland.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/07 – 10/07      06/08 – 06/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Logistical support required for this project includes a fixed wing aircraft to conduct a LIDAR survey, a research ship to conduct a multi-beam survey, and satellite imagery. Note - we are open to sharing facilities with other IPY activities.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
This project will leave a legacy of planning tools and processes that will help local governments and planners to incorporate climate change impacts into planning the future growth and sustainable infrastructure in Arctic coastal communities.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
Commercial operator
Own support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No - This project is being submitted to both national and international levels for endorsement.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?


This project will be a component of a program within the Earth Sciences Sector of the Department of Natural Resources Canada. This program will extend until March 2009.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Strategic direction will be provided from a Steering Committee comprised of principle investigators. This group will be responsible for determining pilot study communities, guiding the creation of local research groups, hiring local research assistants, consultants, etc. Regional/community based direction will be provided to the Steering Committee from the local research groups. These groups will provide local knowledge and expertise needed to determine planning capacity, develop methodologies to build on it, and create tools required to enhance it. A Terms of Reference that outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Steering Committee and Working Group will be drafted and approved at the beginning of the project. 100 words max

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education, outreach and communication to Arctic communities and decision-makers are incorporated into this project. Materials developed for planning tools will be useable for the general public and secondary school children and local councils and community planners. This project will be able to take advantage of two separate EOC proposals that have been submitted. 50 words max

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management will follow IPY requirements. The Department of Natural Resources Canada data management system will be used for this project.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
This project will be funded by the Earth Sciences Sector of Natural Resources Canada and the Government of Canada.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Scientific Communications Officer David Mate
Natural Resources Canada 9860 West Saanich Rd.
PO Box 6000
Sidney, BC
V8L 4B2
Canada

Tel: 250-363-6589
Mobile: 250-858-4486
Fax: 250-363-6565
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation