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Conservation Area Evaluation

ECOSTEM has completed multiple conservation area evaluations. In some cases, this has involved evaluating whether a site or area meets the criteria for conservation. In other cases, it has involved evaluating whether and how a large project would affect a conservation area or conservation network.

Examples of areas of expertise:

  • Principles and application of conservation biology and landscape ecology.
  • Spatial software.
  • Evaluation methods for UNESCO World Heritage sites.
  • Effects of a project on a protected area element or network.

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Example Projects

Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Nomination

A 29,000 km2 area extending from the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg into northwestern Ontario was put forward for inscription as a World Heritage Site by the Pimachiowin Aki Corporation. This Corporation is a partnership between four local First Nations and the governments of Ontario and Manitoba. Parks Canada sponsored the UNESCO nomination.

Pimachiowian Aki Nominated Site

ECOSTEM was retained to complete an ecosystem analysis to determine whether the nominated site could meet the UNESCO World Heritage criteria for natural outstanding universal value. Following a positive desktop review for criterion ix, ECOSTEM completed a formal evaluation and written report which was submitted to IUCN (the technical review body) and UNESCO. Material from the report was incorporated into the nomination document.

Key activities conducted for the evaluation included:

  • Develop an evaluation methodology for the comparative analysis;
  • Complete comparative analyses for the global boreal biome and the North American Boreal Shield;
  • Compile, screen and develop global spatial datasets for the ecosystem analysis;
  • Complete non-spatial and GIS data analyses;
  • Complete a report for inclusion in the nomination package; and,
  • Provide written contributions to the nomination document.

The evaluation methodology for the comparative analysis was novel.

UNESCO inscribed Pimachiowin Aki as a World Heritage Site by in 2018.

In their written reviews, IUCN and UNESCO commended the quality of the natural comparative analysis, and stated that the methodology could potentially serve as a model for criterion (ix) analysis.

Fisher Bay Provincial Park

Various areas were being considered and promoted by CPAWS Manitoba for the creation of a new provincial park. On behalf of CPAWS, the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) completed a technical report. ECOSTEM supported CIER’s work by determining, identifying and mapping regionally rare and unique vegetation types in the Fisher Bay Park Reserve and Fisher River Cree Nation use areas.

Rare Vegetation Types in the Fisher Bay Study Area