Cumulative effects are the interactions of many incremental and sometimes independent activities, each of which may have an insignificant effect when viewed alone, but become cumulatively significant in their aggregate. Effects are measurable changes, either positive or negative, in values of concern to the communities. Cumulative effects assessment (CEA) quantifies the potential effects of a project when combined with effects of other past, existing, and planned projects and activities.

In 2005, Cortex presented a half-day workshop on cumulative impacts assessment (CIA) and cumulative impacts management (CIM) to the Treaty 8 Negotiation Team, including representatives from the Oil and Gas Commission and the B.C. ministries of Sustainable Resource Management; Water, Land and Air Protection; and Forests. The purpose of the presentation was to clarify terminology and introduce basic concepts of CIA, discuss how CIA is being used in British Columbia's resource development and assessment processes, overview various approaches to CIA, and discuss a framework for CIM.

Cumulative Impacts Assessment and Management ( 448 Kb)

Cortex has developed a collaborative spatial modeling approach that quantifies the cumulative effects of development on the communities’ values, is transparent, and engages stakeholders in the planning process.

We have completed cumulative effects projects in the Klappan area of NW BC (Tahltan First Nation) and the Peace-Moberly Tract (Saulteaux First Nation and West Moberly First Nation) where a full suite of environmental, hydrological, and economic indicators was developed and assessed using spatially-explicit models.

Social License - Cumulative Effects Assessment ( 59 Kb)