GOAL

The goal of the Circle on Environment and Development will be to bring together governments, organizations, individuals, and private business to promote an integrated local perspective on environmental and development issues in the St. Clair watershed. It is believed that the forum established will contribute to strengthening good environmental stewardship in the St. Clair watershed for present and future generations through effectively:

• Encouraging informed decision-making which reflects consideration of environmental impacts and long term goals.
• Ensuring adequate public participation as it pertains to the view, rights, interests and values of the Aboriginal peoples and local populations living in the watershed.
• Promoting conservation and sustainable resource development and management.
• Identifying the true costs of resource use and impacts to the populations of the watershed.

An additionally important goal of the forum will be to contribute to identifying new and appropriate ways that all Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities can add value and create sustainable business opportunities from the resources found within the St. Clair watershed.

COMPOSITION OF THE CIRCLE

The Circle will be made up of members from local Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, environmental organizations, industry, agriculture, governments, business, and academia. These members will be located or have strong interests in the Aboriginal, Canadian, and American territories located within the St. Clair watershed. The Circle on Environment and Development wishes to cooperate with environmental organizations working in the area but it will have its own distinct perspective on environmental issues in the watershed.

Given that many of the most serious environmental problems in the watershed involve trans-boundary, or even global environmental and health effects (e.g., introduction of exotic species), membership will be encouraged from both sides of the international boundary. Given the trans-jurisdictional nature of the issues, persuasion and international cooperation will be essential if the Circle is to identify, resolve and prevent negative impacts to the watershed. It is also expected that this forum will contribute too more effectively ensuring that evaluations of existing and proposed activities in the watershed take into account the potential impacts on Aboriginal peoples (for example, effects on traditional land uses, harvesting rights, and resources).

For operational and budgetary reasons the memberships will be renewed on a two-year basis.

ACTIVITIES OF THE CIRCLE

The activities of the Circle will be based on consultation, action and follow-up. Regular meetings (twice per year) of the full membership of the Circle will be held to review issues and identify solutions for environmental and development issues in the watershed. Given the large number and types of issues to be addressed, more frequent meetings of a Steering Committee (selected by the members of the Circle) will be held to address administrative and ongoing project activity issues.

The Circle will take action on issues that are identified as of concern by its members, and that contributes to anticipating and preventing future environmental problems. These project activities may include, for example:

• Establishment at Walpole Island of a St. Clair watershed data management system and environmental effects monitoring program for the St. Clair watershed.
• Establishment of environmental indicators for the watershed that reflect the needs and concerns of the local populations.
• Establishment of an integrated environmental monitoring site at Walpole Island.
• Preparation of a biannual State of the St. Clair Watershed Environment Report.
• Identifying opportunities to establish new private sector/Aboriginal joint ventures that add value to and create business opportunities for resources on, or surrounding Aboriginal lands.

The establishment of the watershed data management system would be an essential early activity to complete, so as to identify and inventory the sources of existing environmental information in the Aboriginal, Canadian and American territories, identify gaps, and identify information needs in the context of the watershed. The establishment of an administrative centre, and a system to provide for the effective dissemination of information (both in terms of time and cost) to members of the Circle will also be one of the first activities to complete.

Follow-up will also be an important part of the activities of the Circle to ensure that the concerns of the members are being addressed. The follow-up will also involve assessing the impact that recommendations made by the membership, to organizations, groups, businesses, individuals, and/or regulatory agencies responsible for specific issues of environmental concern to the Circle in the watershed, have had.

[The specific activities of the Circle on Environment and Development will be developed further as part of the Interim Environmental Management Strategy]

February 11, 2000