Summary of Selected Projects

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:

• With Round River Conservation Studies, Dovetail provides technical and facilitation support to the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. Dovetail assisted in the development of a land plan for TRTFN, and continues to provide support for long term stewardship capacity building.  Most recently, Dovetail also provided strategic and technical support for government-to-government negotiations with British Columbia over a joint planning process for the Atlin-Taku region.

• 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.

• Dovetail is providing strategic coordination and technical support to the Sechelt, Sliammon, Klahoose and Homalco First Nations who are 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 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.

• 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).

• Through workshop facilitation, research and report preparation, Dovetail assisted the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Integrated Land Management Branch in the analysis of first nations land use planning in relation to Province of BC land use planning

Conservation Area Design (CAD) Initiatives

In collaboration with Round River Canada, Round River Conservation Studies (US), the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Institute for Resources and Environment at UBC, Dovetail assisted with the design and facilitation of a three-day workshop in November 2003 to review the science and application of Conservation Area Designs (CADs) in intact landscapes. This workshop included keynote addresses from Michael Soulé (Conservation Biologist, US), David Porter (Kaska Dena Nation), and Brendan Mackay (Conservation Biologist, Australia). A summary of the workshop and copies of the powerpoint presentations can be located at www.roundrivercanada.org

In collaboration with an international team of scientists from Nature Conservancy Canada (www.natureconservancy.ca) and Round River Conservation Studies (US),  Dovetail assisted with the development and implementation of a Conservation Area Design for the MKMA. For more information, visit the RRCS website at www.roundriver.org

Marine Protected Area (MPA) Planning on the West Coast of North America

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

• Currently, Dovetail is preparing reports for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society on issues in the establishment of a national network of marine protected areas, and on first nations concerns about 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 designed, facilitated and reported on a multi-stakeholder workshop 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 two workshops on First Nations and MPAs on the central coast of BC.

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

Species at Risk Recovery Planning

Dovetail has facilitated a number of processes for Species at Risk recovery planning under the federal Species at Risk Recovery Act for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. These include:

• Facilitation of multi-agency workshop and preparation of report on multi-species and ecosystem-based recovery planning under the Species at Risk Act.

• Planning, facilitation, and reporting on community consultations (three communities and written input) on the Resident Killer Whale Recovery Strategy and the Marine Mammal Regulations Amendments.

• Facilitation and reporting on community meetings in five BC coastal communities to discuss an Action Plan for sea otter recovery.

• Facilitation of Recovery Team drafting process for Right Whale Recovery Strategy.

• Facilitation and reporting on public meetings for first draft of Sea Otter Recovery Strategy.

• Facilitate a workshop to develop a Recovery Strategy for the Pacific Leatherback Turtle, and write-up of draft Strategy.

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.

Cooperative Management of Protected Areas

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

• 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.
  

Wild Salmon Conservation Research and Planning

Dovetail has undertaken several projects related to the conservation of Pacific salmonids.

• 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. Both reports received extensive media attention, due to their relevance to pressing environmental issues. Ongoing discussion about the conservation of wild salmon continues to draw on these reports. Co-authors were David L. Peterson and Allen Wood. The reports are available on-line at the Council’s website.

• For Fisheries and Oceans Canada Dovetail facilitated and reported on a First Nations workshop and a multi-stakeholder workshop on implementing Strategy 3 of the Wild Pacific Salmon Policy (the inclusion of ecosystem values and monitoring).

• Dovetail designed, delivered and reported on a public consultation program on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Wild Salmon Policy and the Salmonid Enhancement Program, involving approximately 20 stakeholder and public meetings/open houses throughout BC. We also analysed of written input, including input from First Nations

Annual Critique of Weyerhaeuser's B.C. Coastal Forest Project

The Coastal Forest Project was initiated by MacMillan Bloedel Limited to explore alternatives to clearcut logging in its coastal B.C. operations. Weyerhaeuser Company's BC Coastal Group continued the project. In 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003 Dovetail was contracted to facilitate critique workshops to assess progress and provide directions for improvements to the Project. Dovetail worked with senior Weyerhaueser and Natural Resource Defense Council representatives to organize and deliver these workshops. During these two-day events there were panel sessions and a field trip during which leading scientists invited by the company and NRDC debate the pros and cons of the project. Dovetail prepared a written summary report for publication after each event, and Dovetail also assisted with a one-day workshop on riparian aspects of the Forest Project in 2000.

Facilitation for Rainforest Solutions Project

As part of the on-going initiative to resolve land use conflicts on the Central and North Coast of BC, several environmental organizations are collaborating with a group of forest companies to offer joint solutions and provide analysis to support land use decisions for the central and North coast of British Columbia. Between 1998 and 2005, Dovetail provided occasional strategic facilitation support to both parties via the Joint Solutions Project (JSP), and regularly to the alliance of environmental organizations, referred to as the Rainforest Solutions Project (RSP). For more information on this initiative, contact the RSP office at 250-708-4890 or visit the RSP website at www.savethegreatbear.org. 

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 has been assisting 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 includes a 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).

Training

Dovetail has developed and delivered a series of training programs for diverse clients, including the following:

• Facilitation: The Art and Craft of Effective Group Facilitation is a comprehensive 5-day program delivered in collaboration with the Hollyhock Leadership Institute (HLI) and delivered on site at Hollyhock on Cortes Island and in Vancouver. A 2-day introductory version entitled Building Blocks of Facilitation, and a further 3-day package entitled The Alchemy of Group Facilitation have also been offered in Vancouver. An advanced facilitation training program will be offered in 2007. Contact HLI for registration information at 604-669-4802, or at www.hollyhockleadership.org. The Hollyhock Centre can be contacted via www.hollyhock.bc.ca.)  Targeted facilitation training has also been provided for other clients, including Parks Canada (Atlantic Region), and IMPACS.

• Leadership Training: Dovetail provides a variety of leadership training sessions through the Hollyhock Leadership Institute and in more targeted forms for selected clients. Most recently, Dovetail has assisted in a scoping initiative related to leadership training for aboriginal leaders for the Northern Nations Alliance and a 4-day workshop to assist in the development of a training program for conservation leaders through the Murie Centre (www.muriecenter.org).

• Strategic Planning & Group Dynamics: In cooperation with the Hollyhock Leadership Institute, Dovetail has developed a half-day training session on strategic planning for non-profits, that has been delivered as part of HLI’s Environmental Leadership Initiative. Training sessions on group dynamics have also been delivered through HLI programs, and also directly to participants in Round River Conservation Studies’ (RRCS) student programs (see contact info for HLI above; RRCS can be contacted via www.roundriver.org)

• Public Involvement: Dovetail has developed and delivered a variety of training programs and guidebooks related to public involvement for federal, provincial and local government. Clients have included the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, BC Ministry of Environment, City of Vancouver, North Vancouver, Delta and Central Saanich. The City of Vancouver's Public Process Guide, prepared by Dovetail in collaboration with Eclipse Environmental Consulting, has since won an Education Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators.

• Coalitions management: Dovetail completed a research initiative on coalitions in 2004, and has delivered 1-day training sessions on this topic through HLI, entitled Coalitions: Solving the Riddle (2005), and The Curious Chemistry of Coalitions (2007).

• Cross-cultural Conflict Resolution: In cooperation with Prof. Michelle LeBaron from UBC’s Dispute Resolution Program, Dovetail developed and delivered a 5-day training program through HLI entitled Culture, Conflict and Creativity; Facilitating in a Multicultural World. This program was delivered in an updated format in 2006 and 2007. For further information, contact HLI at www.hollyhockleadership.org.

• Ecosystem-based Management: Dovetail is delivering a series of workshops for coastal first nations on ecosystem-based management, to assist in the implementation of land use agreements on the central and north coasts of BC.

Programme Evaluation

Dovetail has conducted evaluations of many government and non-government programmes and policies, including:

• Evaluation of BC Hydro’s Water Use Planning collaborative process.

• Assessment of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s performance on its conservation mandate for the David Suzuki Foundation
• Interim evaluation of the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative for Environment Canada.

• Evaluation of the Interior Wetlands Program for Ducks Unlimited Canada.

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

• Development of a results-based planning and evaluation framework for the Wetlandkeepers program.

• Evaluation of the Naturescape British Columbia program for the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund.

• Evaluation of the Interior Wetlands Program for Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service.

• With Beck and Associates, design of an evaluation framework for the Community Housing Initiative for B.C. Ministry of Housing.

• Scoping of audience needs and design of a consultation process for evaluating the Action 21 program for Environment Canada.

• Evaluation of the Conservation Potential Review collaborative process for B.C. Hydro/Power Smart.

• Assessment of B.C. Hydro's public involvement processes.

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

• Evaluation of the State of the Environment Report for British Columbia.