Categorías: Todo - connectivity - farming - heritage - biosphere

por John Rodgers hace 8 años

325

Biosphere Strategic Plan

Efforts to maintain and enhance the biosphere include several strategic initiatives focusing on various environmental aspects. Notable achievements include a successful program addressing Phragmites and strong efforts to improve forest and terrestrial connectivity.

Biosphere Strategic Plan

Biosphere Strategic Plan

Management

Accounting
Can we make accounting integrate with reporting?
succession planning

cyclical life-line/evolution of any organization; where are we in maturation?
Succession planning/leadership to match evolutionary phase/needs?


what is best - a larger monolithic body or a more dispersed, fragmented and multi-stakeholder constellation under the BPBA umbrella?

strategic choices

Growth?
Shrink

Return the the After Supper Gentlemans Discussion Group on the Environment

Stay the same

Are we sustainably funding RE: Personnel

Can we Fund the Organization as it Currently Exists

Have we Met the Currrently Identified Needs?

Grow

Growth Needs to Be Cautious?

What Needs are not Being Met?

Managing Changing Composition of Use of the Peninsula

Needs for Volunteer profile

Stu didn't know we existed

Expand the Functions

Enforcement

Reguations

Guidelines

Advice

Public Education

AN Elderhostel Group

Advocacy

Example: Where do we fit in for the quarry?

Example: Advocate for policy change

Evaluation

Monitoring

Landscape Level Monitoring

Shoreline Hardening

Example: Karst Monitoring

The owners (eg NCC) often do this

Demonstration

Physical Things Change Attitudes

Research

Tough to get researchers

Tough to attract funding

Understanding What we are affecting

eg GLASI

Expand the Foci

Policy

Exampe: Provincially Significant Alvar Policy

Conservation Concerns

Connections/Ecosystem Functioning

Stuff that's Polluting

septics

Forests/Connectivity

Channels

Two Stage Channels

Shorelines

Alvars

Geographically?

Southern Bruce

Sean is Still Bitter

Northern Bruce

Lay of the Land is Different

Big Enough

SWOT

THREATS
Spreading too Thinly?

If we grow, how do we prevent doing a bad job of everything

Chaging Demographics

Absentee Farmers

Cottages to Rentals- No seasonal Residents

Focus on environmental and little on sustainability

Opportunity to bring in businesses inputs to BPBA?

Cash flow problems constantly jeopardize the accomplishment of our goals and objectives.

Donors withholding 10% or not flowing funding before summertime when the bulk of work must be done.

Donor agencies may not fund the legitimate administrative costs of projects undertaken

Perceived threat/stepping on toes of BPEG.

Can BPEG and BPBA amalgamate to increase involvement/interest of more residents on peninsula?

Difficulties?
-images/perceptions of two groups by public
-functions/actions/decision-making...

Bruce County Conservation Authority seeking to subsume BPBA?

Threat or opportunity?

OPPORTUNITIES
Welcome Wagon
Ted Talks

Time Committment

Make Something Regular

Hedgerow Walks

OR do we gear it towards action

Forest Festival

This is like what BPEG does?

Partner for Awards
Partner for a space
Job Creation?

Consuting for things like green rooves

Branding

Traditional Skills and Products

Food systems

Social Enterrises

Social Enterprise as a Volunteer Driver
Managing Offsets
Funding possibilities from organizations (e.g. Bruce Power) which may conflict with BPBA goals?

Does BPBA support (and seek funding support), fight against or remain neutral regarding wind farms on peninsula of 175 turbines?

Opportunity to improve closeness of relationship with Birders? Expand as an important aspect of environmental protection.
Things We Could Do in the Future?

Cooperation and Consultation

mutual public exposure

Parks Bioblitz extremely well planned and great content but very poor response/attendance: need to better get the word out

eg: Bruce Trail Otter Lake Acquisition


Hi Elizabeth,This was a great event, so well planned and organized and attended, and the weather was perfect. I introduced myself, brought greetings from the Biosphere Association; took a 1 1/2 hour walk with their Biologist on staff and ten other folks; talked my head off to anyone who listened about the Biosphere because most did not know about the Six Streams or Phragmites or Dark Skies. The acquisition is huge with 19 acres reserved by the current owners to live on. A glorious fen, bog, lake some wooded areas and some token alvar, rich with plants and wildlife. Gorgeous! I will bring the handout page to our next meeting for you. FYI Jan tells me the Parks are planning a BioBlitz in early August and she is going to the meeting to drum up interest tomorrow at 9:00am at the Parks.

Conservation Action Plan for Bruce Peninsula

SOK is currently involved in a SWOT

Do we become consultants?

who else is better resourced or has the mandate to do this? are we to charge for such services as a revenue generating stream? if so, who will do the work? can we attract allied antrepreneurs and generate work for better communitysustainability?

Can we create a business that is a consultant centre for all the individual consultants on Peninsula?

Money maker?

Woodlot management?

Phragmites control?

Cattle Waterers?

Opportunities for Engagement

Information Sharing with Interested Groups



do workshops? ‘train’ Sue’s group to spread information/interest? Local gardens include one we toured on a septic-top, perhaps a chance to generate greater awareness of septics/water care?)
 Jarmo’s list:

Universities or Colleges

Research Opportunities Centre

Researcher Awareness/Recruitment

Research Site Identification and Landowner co-ordination

Identification of Rsearch Opportunities/Needs

Dark Skies Research Institute: multidisciplinary astronomy, mental & physical health, nature, photography/art(s)- the Bruce as a living laboratory

Re: Dark Skies impact/research avenues, see Aug 8, 2016 CBC Radio One, 9:00am "The Current", R. Dick of Royla Astronomical Society of Canada and Roberta Bondar.

See also "The Messenger" doc. film about songbirds includes light disrupting migratory routes & thus attendant value of Dark Skies and BPBO.

Western’s many noted astronomers & have a now light-engulfed lovely old observatory; boundary layer wind tunnel; medical research. (UWO as potential partners?)


First Nations?

other cultures/nations interested in experiencing and learning about our Biosphere corner of the world and all it encompasses, including sharing with First Nations: all attracting international attention, cultural tourism, potential research and shared projects.

Canada's 150th: Colaboration/Cooperation



 Stuart Reid the new director of the Community Foundation of Grey Bruce yesterday met with me and Beth Breen of the Tobermory Truth & Reconciliation group and then attended our meeting. 

His outline of modest matching special grass-roots community grants for Canada's 150th (this is not the Canada 150 big pot from the Feds, but an additional/separate allocation to Coummunity Foundations to encourage local projects) gave me a thought: might this be an opportunity to do something special/commemorative such as 'anniversary alvars' that might attract new interest/donors?
Max is $15K, no minimum, matched with $, volunteer time and any donated goods/services, apply on line by September 30 deadline, get funds in late October, must use the $ in 2017 & do a report by Jan. 31, 2018: "150 Alliance and Federal Comunity Fund".
I thought of the alvars because of your mentioning this in an email, and I know Jan Pugsley is very interested in them, ( as is Jarmo and perhaps many others?). When I and Jan hiked the Bruce Trail Conservancy new Otter Lake property on Sunday, some folks were talking excitedly about alvars, even though there was just a very small representative area on the trail of this primarily wetland.
Should I do more thinking/talking about this with you and perhaps Jan? Test the waters? Maybe even do the application if it comes to that? As usual, getting ahead of myself.

Raffle Tickets: More than a Fundraiser?


Some success with sales when I emailed my ‘network’ of friends & family & those I do business with, but included information about BPBA’s specific activities and noted prize that was targeted as most attractive to specific individuals. Circle Arts declined to sell them due to huge workload demands in season, so alternate ‘marketing’ good unless prizes offered can be displayed at donors’ retail outlets where they get the benefit of exposure too and are motivated. Attached information/reason/use of funds helps! Maybe identify a broadly appealing & specific project destination of funds raised to facilitate sales?

Facebook


 FYI Jeremy, I have invited all my friends to LIKE your Facebook page and added a comment about the Raffle, but the last posting is dated November 27, 2015 so might you do a quick, perhaps a single new item update, for when my folks visit your page?

Informal volunteer opprtunities



 some people want to help, but not on a structured/demand basis, more an informal insertion in daily interests/events as may occur or be reminded of: Arlene to ‘activate’ a number, including Jan Pugsley (on PAC) and Glenda Clarke (Steward of Lindsay Alvar for Ontario Nature)

Be visible at related events

Megan Myle's Lion's Head hostel is attracting youth and potential residents - clients attracted by BPEG too she says

Regulation

Are we at the point of advocacy?

Alvars? and Karst?

Do we expand our geographic area

Would this stretch us too far?

when/time line, if possible or desireable?

What value would we be adding?

Are we able to do this?

limited resources: where is the focus?

Support Sustainability by creating local businesses for maintaining solar waterers and other devices implemented by Biosphere.

Involve local Chamber of Commerce in looking for opportunities to improve 'sustainability'?

UNESCO asking what new areas to add as biospheres.

How about Bruce Peninsula stand on its own (not subsumed into Niagara Escarpment Biosphere)?

WEAKNESSES

Knowledge isn't Distributed Well

Its concentrated in Elizabeth's Head

The continuity Issue Affects Grants

Succession Planning

What would we do if people leave?

Forest Connectivity Strategy as a Proof of Concept

Overstamping? Does a Strategy complicate things?

No Natural Hertiage system

Consistent Funding

Bookeeper vs accountant

Human Resources

Limited funders supporting current staff vs hiring techs on contract

Temporary contract employees, fluctuation in availability; continuity; resources to hiring and orientation

BA consists of relatively few members/people involved; too few people to do too much work. Need to increase 'membership'

Without a greater membership 'base' to spread work around evenly, will existing or future projects' accomplishment be delayed or not started fore lack of human resources?

Need a regular meeting where more people than just those performing tasks for the BA attend. Topics/speakers of interest.

Need a "membership" base from which Board Members can be recruited

Biosphere Reserve Concept isn't understood

People wonder if Sean is a Municipal Employee

How do we engage volunteers: Stu

DO people know we're here

Lack of specific location/office/information centre

STRENGTHS
Neutral Approach

Non-Environmental Group Approach

Governance

Board Comosition

Diverse

Involved Board

Committees

Monthly Meetings

Policies and Procedures

Research and Planning

Citizen Science

Culverts Mapping

Dark Sky

Salamader Monitoring

Karst

Significant Stuff Here; Hydrology Report for Judges Creek area

Inventories

Ontario Streams

Jarmo

Water Quality Measurements

Forest connectivity Strategy

Subwatershed Plans

Envoronmental Network

Conservation and Stewardship Plans

Financial

Network of Funders

Foundations

Trillium

trusts

Subtopic

Dal-Glish

Gosling

Federal

Provincial

Regularly Audited

Multiyear Funding is in Place

Resources Exist

Human Resourcesl

Partnerships

Environental Network

Local Businesses

Rydals

Stewarts

Mike Pedlar

AJ Arps

Governement

OMAFRA

Jackie, Jake

Ted and Greg

Academic Partnerships

ALUS

Kieth Ried

Biosphere Reserve Network

SOK

Bird Observatory

Property Owners Association

Information sessions

Forest through Forest Festival

Septic System Management

Shoreline Stewardship

Biodiversity Features

NEC

Forests

Municipality

NCC

BPEG

Outreach

National Park

Skilled Board of directors

Committed Volunteers

Skilled Professional Staff

Communications

Good Marketing Collateral

Facebook for bayside

Social marketing

presentaation

workshops

Regional Phragmites Management Plan

Bruce Press Articles

Signage

Pasture Meetings

Website/Producers Club

Conservation and Stewardship Plan

Pamphlets

Forest Connectivity

Septic Resources

Shoeline Stewardship

videos

Image

BPBA is doing 'good science' (supporting data) in accomplishment of our goals. Very practical goals.

BPBA has earned a very positive, progressive image in NBP and beyond.

Dark Sky program receiving very positive recognition.

Tourist draw; can it be expanded to other BPBA areas too?

Resources we protect/improve that can be tourism focus?

QR videos very well done and can be used to improve appreciation of BPBA's improvements.

Planning

Parking Lot

How do we compare to Conservation Authorities (cost?)
Sustainability
Granting Organizations
Private funders?

Bruce Power?

Are they looking for something with a permanent stamp?

How do we determine our prioirites?
Conservation and Stewarship Plan

Or are we able to acheive grants to move the agenda forward?

Are we driven by grants?

Things We Do Now.
Natural Heritage System

Physical

Karst: springs, sinks, groundwater, surface waters

Biological

Species Inventories

Dark Skies

Bayside

Ongoing support needed for continuing PM and other yearly costs/improvements

Promotion of dar sky friendly lighting - businesses and residiential

Six Streams

Can we sell them?

Are we done?

Yes

Septic Systems becomes Municipal responsibility

Farmers take over fencing and watering systems; new systems for farmers they purchase from Association

No

Farming BMPs implementation especially low till

Shoreline Improvements: natural shoreline vegetation, dehardening, abandenned dock removal/seasonal docks

Is this/should this be a separate area?

Septic System: inspection/pump outs, subsidies

Broaden to shoreline cottage areas

Is this a separate area?

Stream Restoration: still needed in areas where no riparian buffer, in areas where buffer could be improved; prominence of drains/straight channel segments, need for natural stream course

Is this a separate area, perhaps fitted with Forest Cconnectivity?

Cattle Exclusion: fencing, waterers for streams still needed

sustainability of Waterers

Can we find ongoing support for 2-3 years that would allow time for farmers to accept responsibility and maintenence (perhaps with new installs of waterers) results in creation of a separate new business

Can we sell Them

Forest /Terrestrial Connectivity

Strong praises for cnnectivity efforts

Phragmites

This has been a successful program to ate

What Is Our Mandate?
When will we Know we aren't needed anymore?