The Campaign to Create a Future for Howe Sound: the Partnership Path

• Main Author: Foster, Stephen
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Western CEDAR 2016
• Subjects: Fresh Water Studies; Life Sciences; Marine Biology; Natural Resources and Conservation; Copper Mine; Pink salmon
• Online Access: https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2016ssec/protection_remediation_restoration/46

Howe Sound is presently faced with unprecedented developmental challenges, with a proposed LNG facility, a large gravel mine and several new residential communities currently underway. This is happening just as the overall ecosystem, devastated historically by pulp mills, a copper mine, logging, a chlor-alkali chemical plant, has seen a remarkable recovery. Whales, dolphins, pink salmon and herring have returned. A new collective has come together to better plan for the future of Howe Sound. This presentation will describe the work of the David Suzuki Foundation in building working partnerships with Squamish Nation and the Vancouver Aquarium within this larger collective. In an era of smaller government, we will hear how local communities and NGOs have organized to seize the moment. About new initiatives to collect the science, citizen science and knowledge about Howe Sound ecosystems. About the effort to galvanize all the municipalities, regional governments, Islands Trust and UBCM to collectively pass motions calling for comprehensive marine and land planning for the sound. And about the lead being taken by Squamish Nation in that effort.