Description

Fraser Lowland, a unified bio-region divided between Whatcom County, Washington and lower mainland British Columbia, challenges development of consistent and effective environmental resource management. The recent impasse over a proposed power plant on the US side is a case in point. The main stumbling block was expected trans-border air-shed stress levels. In the absence of established cross-border institutional structures for air quality, the issue has evolved in an apparently makeshift and somewhat chaotic manner. This research drawing upon recent literature involving cross border regions [CBRs] and new forms of governance engendered in them will investigates current cross border perceptions on common environmental issues exploring whether necessary conditions are present for the emergence of cross border regional governance. The Delphi methodology using key government and non-government actors on both sides of the border was used to explore this question by addressing the specific issue do respondents have a similar sense of the most pressing cross border environmental issues and to the same relative degree. Results of the study this in the affirmative, but do raise additional questions of meeting sufficient conditions for CBR activity.

Document Type

Event

Start Date

8-3-2008 8:00 AM

Subject - LCSH

Environmental protection--International cooperation; Environmental law, International; British Columbia--Relations--Washington (State); Washington (State)--Relations--British Columbia;

End Date

8-3-2008 5:00 PM

Session

Borderlands in the Northwest: Policy and Management

Genre/Form

conference proceedings

Type

event

Geographic Coverage

British Columbia; Washington (State); Fraser Lowland (B.C. and Wash.);

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

Keywords

Fraser Lowland, Cross Border Region, Delphi Model, resource management

Included in

Geography Commons

COinS
 
Mar 8th, 8:00 AM Mar 8th, 5:00 PM

Imagining the future of cross border management within the Fraser Lowland: a Delphi analysis of environmental issues.

Fraser Lowland, a unified bio-region divided between Whatcom County, Washington and lower mainland British Columbia, challenges development of consistent and effective environmental resource management. The recent impasse over a proposed power plant on the US side is a case in point. The main stumbling block was expected trans-border air-shed stress levels. In the absence of established cross-border institutional structures for air quality, the issue has evolved in an apparently makeshift and somewhat chaotic manner. This research drawing upon recent literature involving cross border regions [CBRs] and new forms of governance engendered in them will investigates current cross border perceptions on common environmental issues exploring whether necessary conditions are present for the emergence of cross border regional governance. The Delphi methodology using key government and non-government actors on both sides of the border was used to explore this question by addressing the specific issue do respondents have a similar sense of the most pressing cross border environmental issues and to the same relative degree. Results of the study this in the affirmative, but do raise additional questions of meeting sufficient conditions for CBR activity.