Criteria

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Criteria Indicators of Sustainability

• Class 3
• Presentation 1

2
Conceptual Basis

• Ecosystems are complex
• Cannot monitor or measure only one factor
• Need to identify key factors and then describe
  them (Criteria)
• Criteria are too general so need specific items
  we can measure and report on (indicators)

3
Criteria and indicators

• Use of canary in a coal mine
• Criteria is breathable air
• Canary is the indicator (live or dead)
• Ecosystem criteria and indicators more complex
  and numerous

4
Developing CI

• Need to monitor the 4 life support systems of
  earth energy, water, air and physical
  environment
• Each have several sub systems
• We interact with them in a multitude of ways

5
Developing CI

• How are the life support systems being impacted?
• Need to identify the key factors that will tell
  us how their function is being affected

6
Problem

• Need to have clear cause and effect (do we know
  when there is a problem, is the indicator
  confounded by other interactions)
• Need to have information about ecosystem that
  will be monitored
• Must be efficient (can we afford it)

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Use

• Most advanced use is in forestry
• Limited use in water
• Air and physical environment usually limited to
  factors that affect human health and safety
  (chemicals, noise, particulates)

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Water

• Most jurisdictions use chemical standards and
  point source pollution to rate water quality
• ENGOs have tried to have governments use
  indicators of biological integrity

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ExampleWater

• ENGOs recommended use of indices when Water
  Pollution Control Act amended in US
• Reason
• Focuses on attributes of biological system
• Compares to minimally impacted water body
• Problem requires professional judgement not
  simple compliance check with chemical standard

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Example for fresh water
CRITERIA Spp Richness Composition
Rating of indicator for region and stream size
Karr, J.R. 1991. Biological Integrity a long
neglected aspect of water resource management.
Ecol. Appl. 166-84.
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Water Example cont.
CRITERIA Trophic composition
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Water Example cont.
CRITERIA Fish abundance and condition
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Water Example cont.

• Determine Index of Biotic Integrity by summing
  rating
• Compare actual score to rating table

What are the benefits over chemical
standards? What are the limits to this system?
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Terrestrial example Forests in Canada

• Criterion 1 
• Conserve biodiversity
• Criterion 2
• Ecosystem health and productivity
• Criterion 3
• Conserve soil water resources

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Forests in Canada

• Criterion 4
• Global ecological cycles
• Criterion 5
• Multiple benefits to society
• Criterion 6
• Societies responsibility

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Indicator

• E.g. Biodiversity
• Ecosystem
• Species
• Genetic

Name some specific indicators that you think will
help describe the state of each indicator
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Indicator
Name some specific indicators that you think will
help describe the state of each indicator

• Societies responsibility
• Aboriginal and treaty rights
• Participation by natives
• Sustainability of forest communities
• Fair Effective Decision making
• Informed Decision making

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• Questions