The Beaver Hills Initiative Recognized for Environmental Excellence
Cooperative efforts of multi-jurisdictional approach to land management ensure ecological health of Beaver Hille/Cooking Lake Moraine
The Beaver Hills Initiative [BHI] is proud to be a finalist of the 2007 Alberta Emerald Award nominees for environmental excellence. BHI was recognized for effectively developing multi-jurisdictional land management tools and approaches to ensure ecological health, the compatible growth, development and sustainability of a very unique ecosystem, the Beaverhills/Cooking Lake Moraine south east of the City of Edmonton; one of Canada’s fastest growing metropolitan areas.
Initiated in 2000 by Elk Island National Park, this collaborative venture, whose partners include five rural municipalities and 17 partner agencies, have shared science-based information and analyzed policies and legislation, natural resources, and future demands on the area. Partners recognize that land management activities must collaboratively build understanding of the shared assets, of natural capital, social capital, and their sensitivity to development.
“The planning tools we’ve developed and are currently evaluating, are proving useful for our entire municipality, not only the Beaver Hills area,” said Jim Kallal, Councillor, Beaver County, “and several recommendations have been adopted in our new Municipal Development Plan.”
The Beaver Hills Initiative’s mission is to work together for a sustainable region, through shared initiatives and coordinated action. Accomplishing this mission is not without its challenges. “Municipal decision makers in Beaver, Camrose, Lamont, Leduc and Strathcona Counties recognize these challenges and the ultimate benefits of integrating expertise of the partners, reducing costs by sharing resources, and leveraging funding opportunities,” said Glen Lawrence, Councillor, Strathcona County.
The Beaver Hills are distinctly different from the surrounding prairie lands in terms of their soils, terrain, climate and biodiversity. These bio-physical features contribute to a unique sense-of-place that is valued by both area residents and visitors. Like other areas in the Province of Alberta, the Beaver Hills are experiencing unprecedented development pressures for various land uses. Integrated land management and compatibilities between development pressures and conservation of areas of important ecological function must be found. Decision makers realize the importance of meeting the needs of present generations, while safe guarding resources for the future.