Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative

The Government of Canada collaboratively developed the Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative (TCEI) with eligible Indigenous groups. The purpose was to provide funding for capacity building and Indigenous-led cumulative effects projects in mainland freshwater and terrestrial environments.

In a world of increasing development pressures and changing natural processes, it is important to understand and consider cumulative effects. The term cumulative effects generally refers to the combined effects from past, present, and foreseeable future activities and natural processes.

Cumulative effects can include:

• changes to the landscape
• ecological features and functions
• fish and wildlife habitat
• climate
• socio-economic conditions
• human health
• Indigenous traditional practices

Goals

1. Strengthen community capacity to advance cumulative effects work.
2. Support Indigenous groups’ understanding of cumulative effects. Specifically, the focus is on cumulative effects of human activities on mainland terrestrial and freshwater environments.
3. Improve information and knowledge sharing to support Indigenous groups in decision-making and future analysis around major projects.

Funding for the measure

A total of $65.5 million was disbursed to eligible Indigenous groups over six years from 2019 to 2025 in the form of capacity and project funding.

Capacity funding supported collaborative development of the TCEI and Indigenous participation in the initiative. Project funding supported technical studies and Indigenous-led projects related to cumulative effects on mainland terrestrial and freshwater environments. The TCEI is now complete and results are available through the TCEI Toolkit. The Toolkit is a comprehensive tool that shares knowledge and resources related to cumulative effects and how they shape lands, water and people within the area covered by the TCEI.

If you have questions about the status of the TCEI, please contact the TCEI team at iecttcei@ec.gc.ca.

Related initiatives

• Salish Sea Initiative
• Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund
• Terrestrial Studies Initiative

Lead department: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Natural Resources Canada.

Learn more about ECCC’s role in the TCEI:

• ECCC: Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative