Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #107: Vulnerability of Human Communities to Environmental Change across the Arctic  (Human Community Vulnerability)

Outline
The proposal is to develop and apply a robust conceptual framework to structure a comprehensive synthesis and comparison of knowledge about community vulnerability, adaptive capacity and sustainability across the Arctic in light of changing environmental conditions, including climate change. The framework draws on existing models of vulnerability to climate change, and provides a template for compiling and comparing information on the changing environmental conditions to which Arctic communities are sensitive and on the adaptive strategies employed to deal with such conditions. The documentation of vulnerability across a range of Arctic communities provides a basis for assessing the effectiveness of management strategies and for estimating the capacity of communities to deal with changing conditions. It will identify successful strategies, and analyze the opportunities and constraints on the capacity of people and communities to maintain their livelihoods in the face of changing environmental conditions. The project will involve collaborations with researchers and community stakeholders throughout the Arctic. It will build on several vulnerability assessments underway across the Arctic, and provide a means for integrating them. It is strongly interdisciplinary and will draw heavily on traditional knowledge and western science, and will actively involve northern peoples and their organizations.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Human Dimensions: This project investigates the human implications and adaptations to changing environmental conditions in circumpolar societies. The research integrates scientific findings with traditional knowledge to document the processes that influence the sustainability of Arctic communities, and to identify ways of enhancing the adaptive capacity of Arctic societies. The generic conceptual framework provides a consistent basis for connecting and comparing insights from communities across the circumpolar region. Change: The project will characterize the social and natural processes and conditions that represent vulnerabilities to Arctic communities, will show how these have evolved over time, and will assess their expectations for the future.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The program will have three types of collaboration: Researcher collaborations will involve scholars from natural and social sciences working together from several countries to develop a widely applicable framework. Community collaboration will involve representatives from northern communities in several Arctic countries. Stakeholder collaboration will involve representatives of indigenous organizations and communities in the design of the program and its implementation.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Field work will be undertaken by the participating researchers and community collaborators in the selected locations in each of the participating countries. Subject to identification and agreement, it is expected to include Canada, USA, Finland, Norway, Russia, Greenland and Iceland.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Arctic1 : 06/06 – 12/08            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
a) a meeting of key researchers/partners from across the participating Arctic regions b) logistic support for facilitating community participation and community fieldwork

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own support
Other sources of support

Funding for logistics will come from national initiatives. Communities themselves will be participants in the logistic arrangements (meetings, workshops.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The innovative focus of this proposal is consistent with needs identified by the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment; the Inuit Circumpolar Conference; the Arctic Council; and needs identified at Canadian Arctic IPY consultations during 2004. 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: Healthy and Sustainable Communities: Sustainable Communities

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?
New

This is a new proposal that builds on various existing and expected local initiatives underway in Canada (ArcticNet), Finland (Keskitalo, University of Lapland), and others.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Subject to funding: • Project Director and administrative assistant • Project Advisory Board, with representatives of the major stakeholder organizations • Project Steering Committee, with one researcher representative from each country • Quasi-independent research teams in participating countries, most with own funding for the research

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
By its substantive involvement of community residents including indigenous peoples and other stakeholders, this project includes communication with communities (including through community avenues such as town meetings and K-12 schools) by definition. Beyond this, the project will draw upon existing networks (such as C-CIARN North in Canada) for assistance with outreach and communication.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Field data collected will be returned to communities (in the form of workshop presentations, published reports and controlled access web pages) for feedback before being made public.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Each participating research group will seek to acquire funding for field research from respective national funding organizations. In the case of Canadian researchers, funding will be sought from SSHRC (Standard Research Grants and Strategic Northern Research Development Grants), the Northern Scientific Training Program (for junior researchers) and similar programs.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Barry Smit
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario


N1G 2W1
Canada

Tel: (519) 824-4120 x53279
Mobile: no
Fax: (519) 837-0811
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation