ARCHIVED - Sustainable Development

Report on Plans and Priorities 2011-2012
Electronic Layer of Reporting
Elements of NRCan's Sustainable Development Strategy

FSDS Target 6.3 - Marine Ecosystems

Improve the conservation of ocean areas and marine ecoystems by 2012.

FSDS Implementation Strategy

6.3.5 Provide advice to decision-makers on potential environmental impacts and ecological risks associated with specific, high-priority ocean activities. (DFO, EC, NRCan)

You will find below details about NRCan’s activities that contribute to this implementation strategy:

Environmental Geoscience

This activity is nested within NRCan’s Program Activity Architecture (PAA) as follows:

• Strategic Outcome 2 - 
  Environmental Responsibility
  
  
  • Program Activity 2.2 - 
    Ecosystem Risk Management
    
    
    • Sub Activity 2.2.3 - 
      Environmental Geoscience
      
      

Description

Governments and Industry require a variety of assessments rooted in sound geoscience in order to develop, monitor and maintain resources responsibly, and to assess risks. Under Sub Activity - Environmental Geoscience (PAA 2.2.3), NRCan delivers expertise, information and data to other government departments and industry, enabling clear understanding of environmental risks and opportunities, which in turn supports environmental responsibility in the development and use of Canada’s natural resources. Under this Sub Activity is a key Sub Activity that contributes to this FSDS implementation strategy:

• Sub Sub Activity - Environmental Stewardship (PAA 2.2.3.1): As required by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, NRCan provides geoscience information and expertise in reviews of projects undergoing federal environmental assessment, including public assessments of non-renewable mineral and energy resources as required for the creation of National Parks and National Marine Protected Areas.
  
  Developing major projects in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner requires in-depth knowledge of the potential impacts of resource development on the environment. NRCan provides scientific research and assessments as a foundation in decision-making and approval processes for project development, and the development of mitigation strategies in existing projects. This includes environmental assessments as required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and in response to obligations for all federally-regulated projects, such as quarries, deep waters and pipelines to receive approval.

Relationship to FSDS Target

Geoscience information is used to ensure environmental impacts and ecological risks area known in order to provide federally-regulated projects, such as deep water and pipelines approval, which contributes to ecosystem and habitat conservation. Thus, NRCan’s efforts under Sub Activity - Environmental Stewardship, under Sub Activity - Environmental Geoscience, contribute indirectly to FSDS Target 6.3 - Marine Ecosystems.

Non-Financial Performance Expectations

Expected Result and Indicator (Sub Activity 2.2.3)

NRCan’s geoscience supports the development and management of resources in an environmentally responsible manner.

• Percentage of federally-regulated major development project feasibility studies using NRCan geoscience (reported annually, beginning in 2011-2012).

Expected Result and Indicator (Sub Sub Activity 2.2.3.1)

Assessments and scientific knowledge and expertise are readily available to governments, regulatory bodies and industry.

• Assessments (including Environmental Assessments (EA) and Mineral and Energy Resource Assessments (MERA)), are produced and readily available to governments and industry (reporting annually, beginning in 2011-2012).

Other FSDS Linkages

Sub Activity - Environmental Geoscience further contributes to FSDS Target 6.3 - Marine Ecosystems through two implementation strategies:

• 6.3.1 - Develop a federal-provincial-territorial network of Marine Protected Areas;
• 6.3.8 - Complete feasibility assessments for two potential national marine conservation areas.

This Sub Activity also contributes to FSDS Target 3.1 - Freshwater Quality through one implementation strategy:

• 3.1.9 - Manage/deliver Great Lakes results federally-provincially, between the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario.

This Sub Activity also contributes to FSDS Target 4.1 - Water Resource Management and Use through the following implementation strategies:

• 4.1.4 - Improve the knowledge of water, its nature, extent, availability, sector use and best management practices such as Integrated Watershed Management to Canadians;
• 4.1.5 - Provide web and print based information on the science and knowledge of water to Canadians in a comprehensive and timely manner to enable responsible decision;
• 4.1.9 - Continue the development and implementation of Water Availability Indicators;
• 4.1.10 - Complete 15 assessments for Canada’s 30 key regional aquifers and produce a national groundwater inventory to help Canadians better understand and manage underground water resources.

This Sub Activity also contributes to FSDS Target 6.2 - Terrestrial Ecosystem and Habitat through the following implementation strategy:

• 6.1.13 - Establish one new national park by March 2013; complete feasibility assessments of five other potential national parks and one proposed expansion.