METRO-RURAL STRATEGIES TASK FORCE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION

METRO-RURAL STRATEGIES TASK FORCE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION
February 23, 1998
J. Glenn Eugster, USEPA, Washington, DC

Metropolitan Ecosystem Action: Ecosystem-Based Approaches to Building Sustainable Communities in Metropolitan and Rural Areas

What is an Ecosystem?

# WHAT COMES TO MIND? Pacific Northwest; Everglades; Baltimore; Phoenix; Annacostia Watershed; Great Plains???

# In the early 1960 and 70's ecosystem management was largely thought of as a holistic approach to managing biological and physical factors that affect an organism and that form its environment. Since then there has been a growing recognition that the definition of ecosystems must be broader to incorporate the interaction of living and non-living things, the impact of people and the socio-economic and cultural influences that man contributes.

# We all live within an ecosystem. NSF indicates that these places are defined by the complex interactions between the air, soil, water, microbes, wildlife, plants and human beings. An area where living things interact with each other and their physical and chemical environment. Some are dominated by nature, others by man.

# A method for sustaining or restoring natural, cultural and economic values and functions. It is goal driven, and it is based on a collaboratively developed vision of desired future conditions that integrates ecological, economic and social factors. It is applied within a geographic framework defined primarily by ecological boundaries

# Key premise: Place + People + Land Use Activity = Ecosystem.

Note changing perception of the term.
# CRS Definition; GET THE CRS DEFINTION OF ECOSYSTEM BOOK


Why is the ecosystem idea important for the Metro and Rural Strategies effort?

# It provides a geographic setting and ecological boundary for collaboration between the necessary local/ regional interests to integrate environmental, community and economic objectives essential for a sustainable community.

# Environmental, community and economic issues and interests are place-based; driven by resources and problems that occur in a particular location; and their management, development and protection rely on stakeholders in those places.

# Enables communities to identify, protects and restores those/ most important natural resource values and functions which are essential to the overall health and prosperity of the ecosystem/ human population/ community. Challenges science to identify the essential natural resources---a type of natural infrastructure, which is essential to a sustainable community

How are our metropolitan and rural communities/ places defined?

# Local & State boundaries
# Sense of Place
# Economic relationships, and
# Ecosystems

More and more communities/ regions using a combination of these . Some well known examples include:

# Lower Eastern Shore, MD
# Connecticut River Valley, CT, MA, NH and VT
# Los Caminos Del Rio, TX and Mexico
# San Francisco Bay Delta, CA
# ACE Basin, SC (Asheepoo, Com, Edisto)
# Metro Rivers Area of MN
# Others???

These are places where there is a rich mosaic of development with.....--USE CHUCK LITTLE=S DESCRIPTION FROM GREENLINE PARKS

Share some examples of specific community-based efforts using an ecosystem approach to sustainable communities:

CBEP Ecosystem-Based Examples [Brief references WITH HANDOUT OR OVERHEAD]:

# South Florida (Everglades + Eastward Ho!)

# Southern Maryland ( Regional area including three watersheds to Chesapeake Bay)

Part of a larger Chesapeake Bay Watershed----See Land, Growth & Stewardship Policy which links, at a policy level, natural resources, community values, Smart Growth, sustainable ecosystem. Note Browner and the Governors approved policy)

# Virginia Eastern Shore (TNC Compatible Development+ Cape Charles Sustainable Technologies Industrial Park + Sole Source Groundwater Designation + Sustainable Development Strategy)

# West Eugene, OR Local Wetlands Plan (integrate natural resources into local land use plans)

# Columbia Gorge, WA and OR

.

Why is EPA Interested in this approach?
# Edgewater Consensus Conclusion: Top EPA managers met to discuss how the Agency could respond to a growing public mandate to address human health and ecologic concerns within an economic, social and geographic context.

# Part of an Agency effort to develop a new capacity for working in a non-regulatory mode that can effectively reach communities and regions across the country. This work is intended to integrate environmental management with human needs, consider long-term ecosystem health, and highlight the positive correlations between economic prosperity and environmental well-being.


EPA is working with communities in a variety of ways, using a community-based ecosystem approach, to achieve environmental, community and economic objectives simultaneously. [HANDOUT OR OVERHEAD]

Community-Based Environmental Protection (CBEP) Approach: Process Steps
# Contradiction: Everyplace is the same; everyplace is different. Basic approach is to help communities/ people help themselves build sustainable communities. [HANDBOOK NOTED]

1. Getting Everyone involved/ Public Involvement & Partnership Building
(i.e. Environmental Partnerships; OSEC Human Ecology/ Community Dynamics Guide & Training COMMUNITY PROFILING GUIDE NOTED)

2. Identifying Goals & defining an Approach

3. Defining the Place, its environmental, community and economic values and functions

4. Assessing the Conditions and Trends of Local Ecosystems

5. Assessing the Links between Economy, environment and community/ quality of life
(i.e. TNC Compatible Development [TNC HANDBOOK NOTED]; SDCG=s with OAR)

6. Identifying and Evaluating Issues and Concerns
(i.e. RESOLVE TRAINING NOTED?)

7. Identifying and Evaluating Alternatives (Tools, programs, etc.)
(i.e. Case Studies and Tool Development NOTED)

8. Selecting Actions

9. Evaluating Progress/ Using Indicators to Measure Success
(ie. Indicators/ Benchmarks MAUREEN HART'S WORK NOTED)

10. Adapting Strategies to Changing Situations and New Information


Conclusion

# Community-Based ecosystem efforts of OSEC illustrate and demonstrate proven approaches to promoting multi-jurisdictional and regional collaboration to build sustainable communities in metropolitan and rural areas.

# We are working on a number of efforts which support the direction of your Task Force and would like to collaborate with you.