The B.C. Integrated Land Management Bureau initiated a study in the Klappan region of north-western B.C. to assess the potential cumulative effects of different industrial activities on areas traditionally used by the Tahltan First Nation. The goal of this project was to determine the effects of development activities on the ecological and socio-cultural values of the Tahltan to assist in developing sound, sustainable land-use policies. Cortex provided both cumulative effects analysis, and facilitated collaborative community indicator development services as part of this project.

Services:  Following Cortex-led workshops to develop indicators with community leaders, elders, resource professionals, and stakeholders in the Klappan area, we designed an analytical approach for assessing the cumulative effects of landbase industrial activity on ecological and socio-cultural values. We assembled spatial data for economic, ecological, and topographic values of interest, and obtained prospective industrial infrastructure from the mining, oil & gas, and forestry companies in the area. Using spatial simulations we combined alternative development scenarios with predicted ecological dynamics to estimate the effects of each scenario on key socio-economic, ecological, and socio-cultural values using probabilistic maps. The scenario analysis results were used by analysts and domain experts familiar with the region to recommend land-use options that minimize effects on identified values.

Outcomes: Throughout the cumulative effects analysis and interpretation of model outputs, community members, ecologists, economists, other stakeholders, and industry representatives investigated differing solutions to addressing their land use requirements. Currently, the members of the community are evaluating project findings as part of their on-going resource planning processes.