Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative

Cumulative effects can cause changes to the landscape, ecological features and functions, fish and wildlife, habitat, climate and Indigenous groups’ traditional practices.

The Government of Canada has collaboratively developed the Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative to provide funding for capacity building and Indigenous-led cumulative effects projects in mainland freshwater and terrestrial environments.

 

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

How it works

The Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative is open to Indigenous groups on the 2019 Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX) Crown consultation list, and to additional Indigenous communities consulted for the 2021 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. System Expansion Project (NGTL 2021), with a focus on mainland terrestrial and freshwater interests.

Funding for the measure

Status: Funding available

A total of $65.5 million is available to eligible Indigenous groups over five years starting in fiscal year 2019–2020.

Of this total, up to $23.5 million in capacity funding is available. In part, this capacity funding is intended to support collaborative development of and participation in the TCEI. The remainder of the total funding is available to support technical studies and projects on cumulative effects interests related to mainland terrestrial and freshwater environments.

How does this connect to other initiatives?

The Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative complements cumulative effects-related work being done though the Salish Sea Initiative, the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund and the Terrestrial Studies Initiative.

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

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