Evaluating the “Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation” framework: A case study of the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable management plan

The Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable is collaboratively developing a watershed management plan for the lower Coquitlam River, using the “Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation” framework. Developed by the Conservation Measures Partnership (a group of international NGOs), this framework is intended to guide the design and implementation of conservation projects using an integrative approach and an adaptive management cycle. Although the Open Standards framework is being used to develop conservation projects in several settings in North America, it remains unknown whether the framework will successfully achieve the goals of sustainable water resource management and address uncertainty when implemented at the watershed scale by community-based organizations. The purpose of this research is to determine if the application of the “Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation” framework by the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable will achieve the goals of the roundtable and the goals of sustainable water resource management. This research project will benefit the City of Coquitlam as results will lead to a set of recommendations geared towards improving the draft watershed management plan. Recommendations will assist the roundtable in the development of a sustainable watershed management plan which will encourage integration, innovation and improve the capacity of the Coquitlam River watershed to respond and adapt to unpredictable challenges, threats, and opportunities posed by climate change.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Murray B. Rutherford

Student:

Gillian Fielding

Partner:

City of Coquitlam

Discipline:

Environmental sciences

Sector:

Management of companies and enterprises

University:

Simon Fraser University