Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #58: Conservation Data Centres in Northern Canada: Supporting Sustainable Development Planning and Global Forecasting  (CDCs for Northern Canada)

Outline
In the face of global climate change, increasing development pressures and other environmental perturbations, our ability to detect, analyze, and understand changes to the biosphere depends upon the establishment of centres of expertise in Northern communities throughout the Arctic region. We propose to substantially increase local expertise and infrastructure for data management and analysis to detect changes in species distributions, vegetation patterns, and to monitor trends within ecosystems. A consistent approach to assembling and managing biodiversity information across Canada’s North is needed. Much useful information already exists, but it resides in a wide variety of disassociated institutions and organizations. This project builds upon the proven model of the Yukon Conservation Data Centre (NatureServe Yukon) recently established as a collaboration among the Territorial Government, the Canadian Federal Government, and The Nature Conservancy of Canada. NatureServe Yukon manages geo-referenced information on the occurrences of biodiversity within the Yukon, especially for species and ecosystems considered to be rare or at risk. It is part of a NatureServe network of similar centres throughout North and Latin America; all of North America is represented, except for NWT and NU (www.NatureServe.org). During IPY we will complete the NatureServe network in the NWT and Nunavut; capturing the diverse array of existing biodiversity information and making it available for local/territorial decision making as well as for broad forecasting; and providing local capacity for maintaining and using the information for scientific and social development. Key Expected Results • Creation of self-sustaining Conservation Data Centres for NWT and NU managed as broad collaborations of local, government and other interests. • Development of a locally-managed database on biodiversity for “North of 60” using consistent internationally accepted protocols. • Data capture from a broad array of sources including both Traditional Ecological Knowledge and institutions in the “south”. • Capacity Development for northern Aboriginal Peoples through direct participation in Data Centre development, operations and policy. • Identification of principal data gaps (species and geographic) for the north (including Alaska, Yukon, and the provinces north of the line of discontinuous permafrost) and intensive survey/inventory efforts during IPY to address those gaps. • Provision of Internet accessibility subject to constraints related to data security for sensitive species or culturally sensitive information. • Capacity for use of best available information on species, habitats and ecosystems for predicting impacts of global climate change, for screening proposed developments, and for conservation planning. • Development of a vegetation classification, mapping and monitoring system for northern ecosystems.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Status: Accepted standards will be used to create baseline information documenting the status of poorly known arctic organisms including invertebrates and lichens. Change: Local access to the best available data will facilitate environmental monitoring and scientific investigations to forecast impacts of global climatic change on biodiversity. Global Linkages: Global markets in natural resources (diamonds, oil) impact polar biomes. The Centres will monitor impacts of these market forces. Human Dimensions: Centres will “repatriate” biodiversity data from many sources so that they are accessible locally, and to others via the Internet. They will incorporate traditional ecological knowledge, and engage Aboriginal organizations in their governance.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Alaska already has a similar data centre. Consistent methods and database protocols are used throughout the NatureServe network – enabling linkage to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. . The potential for linking to other countries within the circumpolar region is good, especially via the Internet. Enhanced capacity within the broad Aboriginal community will also facilitate their own international collaborative efforts.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The project would create new Conservation Data Centres in Yellowknife and in Iqaluit (or other location chosen by the territorial governments), and would provide for enhanced field surveys to address identified data gaps throughout northern Canada, including the northern areas of many provinces.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 03/07 – 03/09; ongoing            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
1) Creation of Conservation Data Centres for the NWT and for Nunavut, with resources for the staff required to maintain them. 2) Installation of the necessary computer equipment, servers, and acquisition of the necessary data management systems and software including Oracle, GIS mapping (latest version available as of 07), and Biotics 5 (NatureServe’s data management system) 3) Support for the engagement of northern Aboriginal people in project 4) Logistical support for field data collection – helicopter and aircraft support, space on research vessels, etc. We see this as an expansion and enhancement of the support offered at present through the Polar Continental Shelf Project. 5) The data management resources of the Centres can be used to organize and disseminate all data on species and ecosystems of conservation concern.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Data Centres and Databases: An ongoing source of authoritative, geo-referenced data on the occurrences of biodiversity and on locations of ecologically significant ecosystems which will serve as legacy for the north. Institutional Linkages: Local governance, including the meaningful engagement of Aboriginal people, will provide capacity and expertise and effective linkage to the scientific community

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Another national polar operator
National agency
Own support
Other sources of support

It is expected that the proposed data centres would be supported financially by each of the two territorial governments, by NatureServe and NatureServe Canada, by federal agencies (Parks Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, and potentially others), by NGOs including WWF Canada and The Nature Conservancy of Canada, and by others.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project has official support from NatureServe, an international, non-government organization that supports development, management and analysis and distribution of biodiversity data. All CDCs in Canada and Alaska have endorsed this project. It also has support from some key NGOs, and interest from governments. This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Virtual Infrastructure

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?
Expansion

The project is a component of the activities of the NatureServe network, ensuring consistent methodology and data architecture. However, without a catalytic infusion of funding during IPY, it would be difficult to initiate, to assure sustainability, and to realize the full range of benefits the project addresses.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Each Data Centre will be managed by the NWT and NU territorial governments, with its own ongoing management and advisory teams. Wildlife Management Boards and Aboriginal organizations would be engaged from the outset in the design and operation of each Centre. This collaboration and planning would occur before the start of IPY (using funds from partners), and the process of identifying and capturing biodiversity data from distributed sources would begin. The data would be initially managed on a NatureServe Canada server, and migrated to NWT and NU as part of IPY. Data management and methodology support would be provided by NatureServe.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Communication and outreach would need to occur at both the local level (and in the appropriate languages) and nationally through NatureServe Canada, as well as internationally. Local efforts will include workshops with interested parties. National and international efforts will include participation in recognized information portals (e,g, GBIF).

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Prior to the IPY the data will be housed on a NatureServe Canada server, and then downloaded to each proposed Data Centre when the IPY project has established sufficient local infrastructure. Data will be accessible via NatureServe Explorer and GBIF within 1-3 months of entry into the data system, subject to constraints imposed by culturally sensitive data.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding would follow and expand upon the NatureServe Yukon model. Each Territorial Govt. would provide some operating funds and staff resources; Parks Canada Agency and the Canadian Wildlife Service and potentially other federal agencies would also contribute, as would Nature Conservancy of Canada and WWF Canada. Other funding partners (in-kind and otherwise) are likely and will be approached. New funding will be required for the initial establishment of each Centre, for a concerted field survey effort, for completion of vegetation and ecosystem classification and for other supporting maps and information for geographic data layers.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
IPY support would focus on the New Funding components addressed in 3.5. Ensuring the proposed CDCs are self-sustaining and can serve as focal points for biodiversity information for the north is critical to the success of initiative, and to creating trust and confidence in the Centres.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Mr Steven Curtis
K.W. Neatby Building, Room 2091, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ontario


K1A 0C6
Canada

Tel: (613) 759-1861
Mobile: no
Fax: (613) 759-1701
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation