Northern East Slopes Program

The Northern East Slopes program began in 2000 and ended in 2004. The program facilitated the provincial Northern East Slopes Sustainable Resource and Environmental Management Strategy.

In March 2000, the Alberta Government launched the Northern East Slopes Sustainable Resource and Environmental Management Strategy (NES Strategy). This strategy was established to improve resource management within a specific study area and to provide a guide for similar strategies in the province’s future. Important to its success was fRI Research results, technology, and advice facilitating the strategy’s development and implementation. To ensure first-rate facilitation, fRI Research formed the NES Sustainable Resource and Environmental Management Strategy Program (NES Program).

The program contributed technical information, scientific advice, and local level indicator results and technology. It provided the NES Strategy with Foothills Research Institute local level indicator set as well, which supplied the NES Strategy with a framework to develop its own regional level indicator set. Moreover, the NES Program provided cumulative effects modeling, economic modeling, and research results from the Grizzly Bear Research Program and Natural Disturbance Program (now the Healthy Landscapes Program). It also offered support with aboriginal consultation. This assistance contributed to NES Strategy recommendations. Additionally, the NES Program reviewed, critiqued, influenced, and supported both interim and final products of the NES Strategy.