Clayoquot Green Economic Opportunities Project
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS
a. Background: In the fall of 2002 Friends of Clayoquot Sound proposed to Clayoquot Biosphere Trust a project to research opportunities for conservation-based economic development in Clayoquot Sound. One of five projects supported by the Trust in 2002, Friends of Clayoquot Sound formalized a partnership with Ecotrust Canada and Simon Fraser University's Community Economic Development Centre to conduct the research.
The goal of the research project was to provide a list of conservation-friendly small business opportunities that are: viable, increase community employment to levels more closely resembling national rural averages, provide alternatives to activities which threaten biological diversity, and lead towards an environmentally responsible economy in Clayoquot Sound.
Given that social equity is a key goal of sustainable development and that rural, First Nations communities within the region have not benefited significantly from the resource extraction economy the study was designed to focus specifically on opportunities appropriate for these communities. An agreement was developed with Ahousaht First Nation to allow the research team to examine economic opportunities with a particular emphasis on those that might best support the needs and priorities of their community.
The work with Ahousaht, to plan and develop appropriate economic activities for their community and membership, continues beyond the conclusion of this research report.
The research and report is intended to benefit tribal, municipal, and provincial decision-makers, entrepreneurs, "green" investors and funders who are interested in crafting a sustainable economy in Clayoquot Sound. It provides tangible information for integrating socio-economic needs into conservation decision-making and for attracting investment. It is our hope that report findings will help allay fears of a transition to a sustainable economy; fears that present barriers to change and to harnessing the amazing opportunities offered by the region's natural, economic, social and cultural wealth. This report challenges the region and its community leaders to meet their commitment as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and to pursue these opportunities in a manner that protects options for future generations of Clayoquot residents.
b) Report Layout
The report is presented in two parts.
Part One includes:
- a summary of the project, its genesis, methods and objectives
- the definition of sustainable community development
- a critique of the Clayoquot Biosphere Regions 'readiness' to embark on a greener economy
- a summary of the sectors that were identified as appropriate
- a series of recommendations for action that will, if implemented, move the region closer to realizing its stated objective of becoming a conservation economy
- a demographic analysis of the communities that comprise the Biosphere Region
Part Two of the report, bound as a separate document, contains detailed information about thirteen sectors that the authors believe could form the foundation of a conservation economy for this region. Each sector analysis includes:
- the historical and current context of the industry,
- the relevance of this industry for the Biosphere Region,
- an analysis against the SCED screening criteria and
- a summary including opportunities for action.
c) What is Sustainable CED?
Sustainable CED is about creating an economy that maximizes local control of processes and resources while making a positive contribution to the natural environment, social equity and quality of life. In the Clayoquot Biosphere Region, achieving sustainable CED has the added dimension of respecting and supporting the traditions and objectives of the Nuu-chah-nulth people.
d) Critique of the Landscape for SCED in the Biosphere Region
The UNESCO Biosphere designation in 2000 issues a challenge to the Clayoquot Biosphere communities to actively engage in the development of an economy that embodies these values and is a model for the world.
The challenge is not to pursue just any economy, and the jobs and revenues it provides, but to use this opportunity to create an economy that speaks to agreed upon long-term values of ecological sustainability, social equity, economic well-being and a recognition of the inherent rights of the region's First peoples.
e) Opportunities for Success
Unlike most coastal communities in British Columbia, the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve communities have some unique attributes and advantages that can work in their favor as they move towards a more diversified and sustainable economy. But it also has some barriers that are the result of history and geography. The research clustered these strengths and weaknesses into the following categories.
Factors Working in Favor of the Region
There are four important ingredients that will assist the Clayoquot Biosphere Region to achieve its vision:
- A creative, talented and committed population
- A world-renowned and scientifically important ecosystem
- Access to a ready market and ready money
- The opportunity to increase local control over adjacent resources through treaty settlement
Potential Barriers to Success
Directing the development of a community economy requires not only an identification of community strengths and assets but also a candid assessment of barriers and a commitment to clear them out of the way. The barriers identified in this research for the Clayoquot Biosphere communities can be summarized in five key 'issues':
- Human resource capacity
- Community relationships
- Infrastructure limitations
- Financing challenges
- Governance changes, both municipal and tribal
f) Sectoral Analysis of Opportunities
A total of 13 green industry sectors with potential for the Clayoquot Biosphere region have been identified. For each, a preliminary analysis of industry characteristics and trends (local and provincial), opportunities and barriers/challenges was undertaken. Finally, we assessed each sector according to established criteria for sustainable CED. This assessment is summarized below according to six key criteria: employment creation, wealth generation (profitability), investment required, opportunity and suitability for development in Nuu-chah-nulth communities, leadership in the region and ecological benefit.
Assessment findings show the following sectoral opportunities, in order of priority, to be the best 'fit' with SCED criteria and also to have the highest potential chance of developmental success in the region: shellfish, arts and culture, value-added wood manufacturing and green products and services. Fisheries, green energy and, in some categories, research and education also ranked highly. While fisheries (and other resource sectors) face barriers related to government policy and green energy high levels of required investment the authors feel that over time these opportunities can also be realized. A successful SCED strategy will combine several of these sectors of opportunity with capacity building measures that address barriers to development in the region.
g) Results and Recommendations:
In achieving the designation of the Clayoquot Biosphere Region the Clayoquot communities defined their ideal future, a future that provides ecological, social and economic sustainability. The findings of this report set the stage for developing the economic component of this vision.
This report is a foundation piece that pulls together the available research and information relating to 13 sectors of opportunity that we believe could constitute the region's conservation economy.
The report addresses the following questions:
- What is the context for development in the region?
- What are the opportunities appropriate for development in the Biosphere Region?
- What are the challenges faced in pursuing these opportunities?
The region now has to decide if and how they chose to capitalize on these opportunities. This information can be used by individual businesses, sector-by-sector, community-by-community or by the Clayoquot Biosphere region as a whole. Economic planning is important at each of these levels. The Biosphere Reserve region does not have a plan for developing a conservation economy. We believe this is essential if the mission of sustainability in the region that the designation sets out is to be achieved.
Based on our finding elements of such a plan should include:
1. Establish incentives for greener business
2. Reflect conservation economy objectives in community planning and decision-making
3. Develop a tourism strategy for the biosphere region
4. Encourage the return of value-added processing industries
5. Establish a research and education agenda
6. Design education and training programs that develop skills appropriate to the 'new' economy
7. Continue to assert community rights to adjacent resources
8. Encourage and reward green building design/construction and the use of energy saving and waste reducing alternative technologies
9. Conduct a region-wide industrial waste audit as the basis for planning for business development in this sector
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