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Great Lakes
Article:
Habitat Watch # 234 Great Lakes United October 21- October
26, 2001
Report from the International Joint Commission’s 11th
biennial public forum:
The one-month postponement of International Joint Commission’s
11th biennial meeting due to the events of September 11th
reduced attendance at the Montreal meeting to about 300
people. But energy was high, the presentations eye opening,
and the public comments extensive. Here are some of the
highlights from the public comment sessions.
The office of Canada’s Auditor General, Shelia Fraser,
gave a scathing critique of the Canadian governments progress
on environmental protection, telling the audience that
federal efforts to protect and restore the environment
have lost momentum, the lack of action indicates complacency
and resignation within the government, and resources are
out of sync with the needs of the region. The result:
a waning federal role in protection, impaired monitoring,
no effective long-term strategies, and a failure to meet
the commitments under the
Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
The 2000 Report of the Auditor General of Canada can
be found at: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/00menu_e.html,
or can be obtained by request at: (613) 952-0213, ext
5000, or: distribution@oag-bvg.gc.ca
During the 2-hour public forum, about 30 individuals
and public representatives addressed governmental representatives
and the four IJC commissioners (two U.S. positions still
remain vacant pending appointment by the U.S. administration).
Great Lakes United members provided a critique of the
various documents and plans currently under consideration
for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River. Critiques included:
the IJC Priorities for 2001-2003, the United States and
Canadian governmental responses to the 10th biennial report
of the IJC, the draft 5-year plans for Great Lakes restoration
in the U.S. (the “Great Lakes Strategy”) and Canada (the
Canada-Ontario Agreement), and the Canadian-U.S. State
Of the Lake Ecosystem Conferences 2001 report.
A similar message ran through most of the critiques presented:
none of the documents, priorities and plans are truly
strategic and action oriented in terms of the challenges
ahead for the region.
Speakers highlighted the myriad pressures and problems
our region’s human, fish and wildlife populations are
facing, including:
· The push for more nuclear power, oil and gas
drilling, and coal burning · Human population increases
· Increases in consumption of land, water, wood (both
standing trees and sunken logs), energy and goods · Continual
production of high volumes of toxic wastes · The lack
of a program and subsidy shift to renewable energy and
clean production · Exotic species invasions ·
Widespread habitat fragmentation · Aquatic habitat
destruction from dredging and pipeline construction, including
the Millennium pipeline.
Speakers clearly stated that sufficient studies have
taken place. Support and concrete action is needed now
for the critical and urgent need for environmental restoration
and pollution prevention.
The public asked the IJC to push the governments for
aggressive, result-oriented restoration and pollution
prevention strategies consistent with principles of Great
Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Not just more programs
for plugging every gap in the data.
Great Lakes United’s Habitat and Biodiversity task force
produces Habitat Watch with support from the George Gund
Foundation and GLU coalition members. The task force is
committed to protecting natural areas, wildlife, and strong
conservation laws across the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
River ecosystem. To join the coalition, subscribe, or
send stories, contact GLU at: (716) 886-0142; fax: (716)
886-0303; or email: jen@glu.org. Past issues of Habitat
Watch can be found at: http://www.sustain.org/Bulletins/index.cfm
Jennifer Nalbone Habitat and Biodiversity Coordinator
Great Lakes United 1300 Elmwood Avenue Cassety Hall- Buffalo
State College Buffalo, NY 14222
ph: (716) 886-0142 fax:-0303
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