Comparative Analysis of Ecological and Cultural Protection Schemes Within a Transboundary Complex: the Crown of the Continent
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Comparative Analysis of Ecological and Cultural Protection Schemes within a Transboundary Complex: The Crown of the Continent A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Community Planning In the School of Planning of the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning by Keysha Fontaine B.S. University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2013 Committee Chair: Craig M. Vogel, MID Committee Advisor: Danilo Palazzo, Ph.D, M.Arch ABSTRACT Protected areas are critical elements in restoring historical wildlife migration routes, as well as, maintaining historical cultural practices and traditions. The designations created for protected areas represent a cultural and/or natural aspect of the land. However, designations for the protection of these resources fail to include measures to take into account the ecological processes needed to sustain them. Ecological processes are vital elements in sustaining cultural resources, because most cultural resources are the derivatives of the interactions with natural resources. In order to sustain natural resources, especially wildlife, the processes of fluctuating habitat change and migration are pivotal in maintaining genetic diversity to maintain healthy populations with the fittest surviving. The survival of the fittest species allow populations to have greater adaptability in the face of climate change. Currently in the Crown of the Continent (COC), several non-profit organizations are collaborating under an umbrella initiative, the Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative, to restore historical migration routes. The collaborators of this initiative performed ecological planning of the entire Yellowstone to Yukon region to identify impediments that may hinder wildlife movements. They also furthered their efforts by participating in public forums held by land management entities and local communities that may permit activities that can restrain movements. Because of the multitude of jurisdictions within the COC, land management practices drastically vary, reflecting polarized views between state/provincial and federal levels. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL PROTECTION SCHEMES WITHIN A TRANSBOUNDARY COMPLEX: THE CROWN OF THE CONTINENT / KEYSHA FONTAINE / PAGE| i This thesis attempts to understand the integration of ecological and cultural resources by addressing the following questions: 1. What are the ecological and cultural resources within the COC? 2. How are these resources protected in the COC? 3. How are the protection designations managed and financed? 4. How is transboundary coordination addressed? COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL PROTECTION SCHEMES WITHIN A TRANSBOUNDARY COMPLEX: THE CROWN OF THE CONTINENT / KEYSHA FONTAINE / PAGE| ii ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY KEYSHA FONTAINE © 2016 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL PROTECTION SCHEMES WITHIN A TRANSBOUNDARY COMPLEX: THE CROWN OF THE CONTINENT / KEYSHA FONTAINE / PAGE| iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................... i TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES, MAPS, AND TABLES ................................................................................. v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement ...................................................................................................................... 6 Research Questions ..................................................................................................................... 8 Objectives .................................................................................................................................... 9 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 10 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 3: CASE STUDY ....................................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER 4: DATA .................................................................................................................... 44 Designation within the Crown of the Continent........................................................................ 44 Designations within Canada .................................................................................................. 44 Canadian Federal Government .......................................................................................... 46 Province of Alberta ............................................................................................................ 49 Province of British Columbia ............................................................................................ 55 Designations within US ......................................................................................................... 61 Federal Government of United States ................................................................................ 61 State of Montana ................................................................................................................ 71 CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................... 79 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 88 GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................. 92 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................... 93 APPENDIX 1 ................................................................................................................................ 98 APPENDIX 2 ................................................................................................................................ 99 APPENDIX 3 .............................................................................................................................. 102 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL PROTECTION SCHEMES WITHIN A TRANSBOUNDARY COMPLEX: THE CROWN OF THE CONTINENT / KEYSHA FONTAINE / PAGE| iv LIST OF FIGURES, MAPS, AND TABLES FIGURES Figure 1.1 Case study Approach ................................................................................................... 11 Figure 1.2 Formulation of Institutional Arrangements ................................................................. 16 Figure 4.6 The Number of Designations Within in Each Jurisdiction in the COC ...................... 76 Figure 4.2 Matrix of Designation Comparison in Protecting of Cultural and Ecological Resources ....................................................................................................................................................... 77 MAPS MAP 1.1: Location of the Crown of the Continent within the Y2Y Region .................................. 4 MAP 1.2: The Region Yellowstone to Yukon Encompasses ......................................................... 5 MAP 3.1: Political Boundaries delineated within COC ............................................................... 42 MAP 3.2: Protected Areas within the Crown of the Continent .................................................... 43 MAP 4.1 British Columbia and Alberta Canada Designations .................................................... 60 MAP 4.2 US Forest Reserve Designations ................................................................................... 68 MAP 4.3 US Wilderness Designations ......................................................................................... 69 MAP 4.4 US National Wildlife Refuge Designations .................................................................. 70 TABLES Table 1.1: Goal and Objectives of this thesis ................................................................................. 9 Table 1.2: Targets and activities to meet the desired goals and objectives .................................... 9 Table 1.2 Layout of information on institutional arrangements and funding of designations. ..... 15 Table 4.1 Canadian Federal Government Designations and Institutional Arrangements Operating in COC .......................................................................................................................................... 45 Table 4.2 Alberta Designations and Institutional arrangements operating in Crown of the Continent ....................................................................................................................................... 49 Table 4.3 British Columbia Designations and Institutional arrangements operating in COC ...... 55 Table 4.4. United States’ Designations and Institutional arrangements operating in Crown of the Continent ....................................................................................................................................... 61 Table 4.5 State of Montana Designations and Institutional arrangements operating in Crown of the Continent ................................................................................................................................