A Whole Landscape Approach to EBM

All components of a landscape hold value and support ecosystem health and resilience. Reckoning with this requires inclusive and standardized terminology to integrate diverse perspectives into ecosystem‑based management. Because of a historical focus on uplands with their actively managed, merchantable timber, wetlands have often been poorly represented due to data and knowledge gaps. However, wetlands cover one million square kilometres and more than 35% of Canada’s western boreal forest. For ecosystem-based management to be a holistic approach, it cannot focus exclusively on uplands.

This project, a collaboration with Ducks Unlimited Canada, addresses two primary objectives:

1. Develop a standardized way of defining, describing, and classifying all parts of the landscape so that diverse stakeholders can engage in an inclusive Whole Landscape Approach.
2. Summarize current knowledge and research, available resources, researchers and organizations, and knowledge gaps in key wetland related topic areas relevant to the HLP.

The results of this project can guide and inform the integration of wetlands into future ecosystem-based management projects.