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Vision & Goals

Vision:

To lead a unique collaboration of partners that incorporate both traditional and western perspectives in order to foster a healthy and productive Bras d’Or Lakes watershed ecosystem.

The vision to be achieved through CEPI has been formed through various workshops and planning studies concerning the Bras d’Or Lakes over the past 30 years and specifically articulated through the two large CEPI workshops held in Oct. 2003 and 2004.

Purpose:

To develop an overall management plan for the ecosystem of the Bras d’Or lakes and watershed lands and to facilitate its implementation by governments and other relevant stakeholders.

The management plan seeks to address the existing environmental issues, and to anticipate and plan for the prevention of other issues that may effect this unique and valued environment. The term ‘Management plan’ is used here to include all planning stages including development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Part of this work is to ensure that the diversity of efforts underway in this area are better coordinated and supported.

Objectives:

A balance of environmental, social, cultural, and institutional objectives will be pursued to ensure the health and sustainable use of the Bras d’Or lakes watershed ecosystem.

Environmental:

  • Improve or maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems;
  • Improve or maintain healthy terrestrial ecosystems;
  • Improve or maintain water quality (marine, freshwater, drinking water); and,
  • Evaluate the effects of climate change.

Social/Cultural:

  • Ensure multi-stakeholder participation (especially youth and Elders);
  • Promote increased communication, education, and awareness; and,
  • Foster integration of traditional and western knowledge and perspectives.

Institutional:

  • Support a process to develop and implement an overall management plan;
  • Build capacity for UINR to facilitate management;
  • Provide financial and in-kind support for UINR as facilitators of management planning; and,
  • Foster decision-making that considers “seven generations”.

Economic:

  • Ensure sustainable use of natural resources;
  • Reduce economic losses from invasive species, habitat destruction, pollution, etc