Accumulated Effects

No doubt billions of dollars of development projects will have a major impact on where we live - individually, and more importantly, collectively. SNCIRE is one of many groups calling for government to start assessing and measuring the cumulative impacts - social, environmental, economic and cultural - of proposed projects, rather than impacts on a project by project basis.

SNCIRE is circulating a discussion paper regarding the need for assessment and management of regional accummulated effects and benefits in Northwest BC. The paper identifies gaps and expresses the concerns of Northwest BC residents and stakeholders regarding the lack of an assessment and management process that addresses the potential cumulative effects and benefits of proposed mega-projects.

We hope the document will stimulate discussion and action among stakeholders (including government agencies) and ultimately result in the gap being addressed through creation of new provincial legislation.

Here's what other groups with similar thoughts are saying and doing...

"In the Board's view, the need to improve the management of the cumulative effects of all resource development is one of the most pressing issues facing British Columbia today."

–  Board Bulletin 13 in February 2013: The Need to Manage Cumulative Effects. Forest Practices Board.

"We need to move beyond a piece meal approach and ensure that we are taking a comprehensive, strategic look at the cumulative impacts of all of these proposed LNG projects on the things British Columbians value."

– Jessica Clogg, Executive Director and Senior Counsel. West Coast Environmental Law. August 22, 2013 media release

"A single stream crossing properly constructed may not have substantial impacts on fish and their habitat. However, cumulative effects may stem from the construction of multiple crossings of a river or stream system, or from frequent crossing construction within the same system. These effects join forces with cumulative effects from other stressors, including forestry, hydro-electricity, transportation, agriculture, mining, mountain pine beetle (which reduce tree cover), climate change, and other fossil fuel exploration. In some cases, the capacity of the system to recover from impact may be exceeded."

–  Request to federal government for a Strategic Environmental Assessment of LNG development in BC and
to BC government for a regional study of the effects of LNG development in northern BC. 
University of Victoria's Environmental Law Centre
Northwest Institute for Bioregional Research

"It's time for us to restart the conversation about cumulative impacts ..."

– Sharon Glover, CEO's Report July-August 2013 BC Forest Professional. Association of BC Forest Professionals.

"Cumulative effects ... was a key topic at Resources North Association's most recent conference...Effects need to be examined at the landscape level, across all values, and over time ..."  

–  Resources North Association Letter in September-October 2013 BC Forest Professional Magazine. 

“The BVRC is committed to creating an ongoing dialogue about cumulative effects in the region. Our intention for this event (Adding It All Up Conference, Nov. 14-16, 2012) was simply to start the conversation. It’s not about simply saying ‘no’ to development, it’s about creating a collaborative environment where we can all have that conversation.”

– Rick Budhwa, Research Program Manager. August 28, 2012 media release. Bulkley Valley Research Centre.