Summary of Selected Projects

Cooperative Management | Collaborative Management

Dovetail has assisted various levels of governments and NGOs in building cooperative relationships in the management of protected areas.

• Dovetail conducted research and provided advice to Fisheries and Oceans Canada on issues in co-management of fisheries with First Nations, and assisted the First Nations Fisheries Council and the Fraser River Aboriginal Fisheries Secretariat with analysis and research on fisheries co-management themes.

• Dovetail assisted the Ktunaxa Nation Council and the Environmental Stewardship Division of BC Ministry of Environment, Kootenay Region, to develop a framework for collaborative stewardship of Provincial Parks.

• Dovetail undertook research and prepared a draft guide for park management bodies to conduct a self-assessment of their governance system, and delivered a two-day course on this topic at the Fifth World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa, for Parks Canada and the International Conservation Union.

• For a workshop on the co-operative management of parks Dovetail lead the facilitation, prepared a discussion paper on Best Practices for First Nations Co-operative Management of Protected Areas, and prepared the proceedings and a report on co-operative management after the workshop. Dovetail also delivered a paper on this experience at a conference in Tucson, Arizona: "Building Native Nations: Environment, Natural Resources, and Governance" sponsored by the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy.

• Working with Round River Conservation Studies, Dovetail was commissioned by the Government of Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism to prepare a review of best practice for the collaborative management of protected areas.

First Nations Land and Marine Planning

Dovetail works on a range of land and marine planning projects with First Nations clients.  Recent projects include the following:

• For more than a decade, Dovetail has provided technical and facilitation support to the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. Dovetail assisted in the development of a community-based land plan for TRTFN (2003), and continues to provide support for long term stewardship capacity building. Most recently, Dovetail provided strategic and technical support for government-to-government negotiations with British Columbia over a joint planning process for the Atlin-Taku region that will culminate in a jointly approved land use plan for the region and a pioneering Government-to-Government Agreement.

• Dovetail assisted the Allied Tsimshian Tribes of Lax Kw'alaams to develop a community-based land and sea resources plan for their traditional territory on the north coast of British Columbia. Following on this work, Dovetail was hired to help the Lax Kw’alaams Band produce a co-management plan for the Lax Kwaxl Cultural and Natural area (Dundas Island Provincial Park).

• From 2006-2007, Dovetail supported the Rights and Title Department of the Sechelt Indian Band in the preparation of a strategic land use plan for their territory.

• From 2007-2008, Dovetail provided strategic coordination and technical support to the Sechelt, Sliammon, Klahoose and Homalco First Nations who were working together and negotiating with British Columbia over a proposed strategic land and resource planning initiative for the Sunshine Coast Forest District.

• Dovetail developed and implemented a community consultation process to identify treaty land entitlements (TLE) for the Blueberry River First Nation. Dovetail continues to provide technical support to the BRFN for TLE negotiations.

• Dovetail assisted the Sliammon Treaty Society in the development of a strategic land use plan for the traditional territory of the Sliammon First Nation.

• Working collaboratively with Ecotrust Canada, Dovetail provided support to the Heiltsuk First Nation, on the Central Coast of BC, in the development of a land use plan for their traditional territory.

• Dovetail worked with the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group (HTG) to develop a Hul'qumi'num Shared Decision Making Model – a new institutional arrangement for joint governance and management of lands and resources in HTG territory. Prior to this, Dovetail helped the HTG to develop a strategic land use plan for their traditional territories on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Dovetail also facilitated and drafted a vision for Valdez Island for one of these Nations – the Lyackson.

• In 2001, Dovetail helped the Squamish Nation produce a land use plan for the forests and wilderness of their traditional territory, called the Xay Temixw (Sacred Land) Land Use Plan. Dovetail continues to provide planning and technical expertise to the Squamish Nation.

• Dovetail facilitated a series of meetings in New Brunswick and drafted terms of reference for the establishment of an Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Ocean Management body for the Bay of Chaleur area (for Eel River Bar First Nation with Fisheries and Oceans Canada funding).

• In 2006, Dovetail developed Terms of Reference for the Ktunaxa Nation Council and the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources to further work towards cooperative resource management. In 2007 Dovetail developed a framework for collaborative stewardship of Provincial Parks for Ktunaxa Nation Council and Environmental Stewardship Division of BC Ministry of Environment, Kootenay Region.

Marine Protected Area (MPA) Policy and Planning

Building on many years of academic research, Dovetail has been providing writing and facilitation services on MPA topics to a variety of clients.

• Dovetail facilitated a group of leading Canadian MPA scientists and provided writing and editing services to assist them in generating guidelines for MPAs and MPA networks.

• From 2007 to 2009, Dovetail prepared reports for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) on issues in the establishment of a national network of marine protected areas, and on first nations concerns about marine protected areas. One such report documents challenges in Canada's progress towards its 2012 target for a national network of Marine Protected Areas.

• In 2007, Dovetail prepared a Draft Management and Operational Plan for the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area.

• Dovetail has undertaken research on MPA policy and planning for Parks Canada Agency and the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS). For Parks Canada, we assessed governance arrangements for multiple use Marine Protected Areas to assist with feasibility study for the Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area. For CWS, we prepared a report on International Experience with Marine Protected Areas: An Overview of Success Factors and a Compendium of Examples.

• Dovetail prepared a report on coldwater coral and sponge conservation, and in 2007 and 2009 designed, facilitated and reported on a multi-stakeholder workshops on a coral and sponge conservation strategy.

• From 1999 through 2002 Dovetail assisted the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) with discussion papers and meetings seeking to coordinate and improve MPA planning and management in Canada, the US and Mexico. Information on CEC marine projects can be found on the CEC website. The CEC is the environmental arm of NAFTA.

• Dovetail has facilitated workshops on First Nations and MPAs on the coast of BC, and produced a report, First Nations and Marine Protected Areas: An introduction to First Nations Rights, Concerns and Interests Related to MPAs on Canada's Pacific Coast

• We also assisted Parks Canada with an internal workshop on technical aspects of MPAs associated with implementing new legislation.

Organizational Development and Team Building

Dovetail has recently provided organizational development support, team-building or professional coaching support for individuals within a variety of organizations, including:

• Child and Nature Alliance
• Forest Ethics
• Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Division
• Whistler Centre for Sustainability
• Vision Vancouver
• Tides Canada

Species at Risk Recovery Planning

Dovetail has facilitated several workshops and collaborative or consultative processes related to species at risk, including:

• Facilitation of, and reporting on an international expert meeting on sea ice-associated species in relation to climate change, for the Arctic Council working group on the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna.

• Facilitation of a process to support a Eulachon recovery strategy for the Oweekeno (Wuikinuxv) Kitasoo Nuxalk Tribal Council.

• Facilitation and reporting on community meetings in five BC coastal communities to discuss an Action Plan for sea otter recovery, and facilitation of public meetings for first draft of Sea Otter Recovery Strategy.

• Facilitation of workshops on guidelines for whale watching to protect killer whales.

• Facilitation of Recovery Team drafting process for a Right Whale Recovery Strategy, and for a Recovery Strategy for the Pacific Leatherback Turtle.

Strategic Planning and Workshop Facilitation

Strategic Planning Support

Dovetail has recently provided strategic planning support for a number of leading edge organizations, including:

• Coastal First Nations
• Forest Ethics
• Mountain Equipment Coop
• Vision Vancouver
• West Coast Environmental Law
• Whistler Centre for Sustainability
• Tides Canada

Strategic Facilitation for Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board

The Muskwa Kechika Management Area (MKMA) in the Northern Rockies was established following the completion of the Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Mackenzie Land and Resource Management Planning (LRMP) processes, and is recognized as one of Canada’s leading models of integrated land and conservation management. The MK includes both special management zones and protected areas, and covers an area of approximately 6.3 million ha. The MK Management Area Act (1997) also established an Advisory Board to guide management in the MK, and a Trust Fund that provides funding for special projects in this remarkable area of the North. Dovetail served as the facilitator for the Board from its inaugural meeting in 1998 until 2007, and provided strategic planning and technical support on an occasional basis throughout that period.  (For more information on the MK and the work of the Board, please see www.muskwa-kechika.com or http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/lup/lrmp/northern/mk/index.html. 

Strategic Facilitation for Northern Nations Alliance

In January 2004, 14 Nations in Northern BC and Yukon rejuvenated an agreement committing them to collaboration on issues related to aboriginal rights and title, land use planning and other aspects of community development. The Northern Nations Alliance (NNA) formally signed a Treaty Declaration at the First Nations Summit in June 2004 and is proceeding with a number of initiatives related to treaty negotiations, land use planning and capacity building. From 2004 to 2007, Dovetail served as the facilitator for the NNA, and also prepared the Strategic Plan as well as an internal Memorandum of Understanding related to operations and decision-making. Dovetail also assisted with the design, planning and facilitation of the NNA’s Land Use Planning Workshop in April 2005, and provided technical support on wildlife management, leadership training and government-to-government negotiations. For more information on the NNA, contact see www.northernnations.ca.

Regional Conservation Initiative in Namibia

In cooperation with Round River (www.roundriver.org) Dovetail assisted with the development of a regional conservation initiative in the remote desert area of Kunene in NW Namibia, Southern Africa - home to the last free ranging population of desert-adapted Black Rhino. This initiative included regional ecological analyses, capacity building, and a multi-party planning process led by Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET; see www.met.gov.na). The project also involved a strategic planning exercise for one of the NGO partners in the region, Save the Rhino Trust (SRT; see www.rhino-trust.org.na).

Programme Evaluation

Dovetail has conducted evaluations of many government and non-government programs, policies and agreements, including the evaluation of:

• Consultation Process Agreements (BC-Treaty 8 First Nations)

• BC Hydro’s Water Use Planning collaborative process

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s performance on its conservation mandate (for the David Suzuki Foundation)

• the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative (for Environment Canada)

• the Interior Wetlands Program (for Ducks Unlimited Canada)

• the Greenhouse Gas Forum (for the Air Resources Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks)

• the Naturescape British Columbia program (for the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund)

• the Interior Wetlands Program (for Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service)

• the Conservation Potential Review collaborative process (for BC Hydro/Power Smart)

• B.C. Hydro's public involvement processes (for BC Hydro)

• the B.C. Energy Council’s public involvement processes and operations

• the State of the Environment Report for British Columbia

Wild Salmon Conservation Research and Planning

Dovetail undertook in 2008-09 a research project for the Watershed Watch Salmon Society and the David Suzuki foundation on integrating various frames of knowledge in the implementation of the Wild Salmon Policy, Strategy 4. The report is instructive for those interested in integrating scientific, traditional/aboriginal and other resource user knowledge in fisheries management generally. In 2009 and 2011 Dovetail assisted Fisheries and Oceans Canada with internal workshops on implementing Strategy 4, integrated strategic planning for salmon conservation. Dovetail also facilitated multi-stakeholder workshops for DFO on Wild Salmon Policy implementation.

Dovetail has completed two major studies related to the conservation of wild salmon in BC for the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (www.fish.bc.ca). In 2003, the report Making Sense of the Salmon Aquaculture Debate: Analysis of Issues Related to Netcage Salmon Farming and Wild Salmon in British Columbia helped to clarify perspectives and evidence behind impacts of salmon farming on wild salmon. In 2004, Making Sense of the Debate about Hatchery Impacts: Interactions Between Enhanced and Wild Salmon on Canada's Pacific Coast  played a similar role with respect to impacts of hatcheries on wild salmon.

Multiple Dovetail reports by Julie Gardner were used as exhibits in the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River in 2011.