The Ecosystem Dilemma: Discordance between Nature and Culture

Abstract

Following advances in thinking and practice made during the past 40 years in such diverse places as the Great Lakes, the Baltic Sea, and the Mediterranean, ecosystem-based management (EbM) concepts were applied in the Georgia Basin Ecosystem, on Canada’s west coast. In this article, we look back at the experience in the Georgia Basin Ecosystem and argue that, in the case of the Georgia Basin, natural ecosystem boundaries are not consistent with “cultural system” boundaries as illuminated by the concept of a "sense of place." This discordance may be a fundamental reason why application of EbM approaches in the Georgia Basin Ecosystem has had little acceptance by policy makers, politicians, and the public. The key lesson is that where such discord exists, EbM approaches may be less effective. Conversely, when ecosystem and cultural boundaries are aligned, an EbM approach can be expected to be embraced more readily.

Keywords: ecosystem-based management, Salish Sea, Georgia Basin Puget Sound, transboundary, sense of place

JEL Classification: Q28,