2011 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference
The 2011 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference was held October 25 to 27 at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. This event brought together a diverse group of government officials, community leaders, First Nations and tribal members, environmental managers, scientists and academics to learn from each other about the state and threats to the shared ecosystem. Over 950 delegates attended.
The Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference is the largest, most comprehensive scientific research and policy conference in the region. The 2011 conference, co-hosted by Environment Canada and the Puget Sound Partnership, presents the latest scientific research on the state of the ecosystem. The conference also shares information on recent management actions and best practices to protect and restore the Salish Sea Ecosystem. Through these dialogues, the conference emphasizes the importance of collaboration among scientists and policymakers to solve complex environmental issues that cross political borders.
The conference features a broad range of topics, shedding light on the overall state of the Salish Sea ecosystem and informing management activities in the region. Topics typically include:
- Marine, nearshore, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems
- Air and water quality as it affects ecosystem health
- Aquatic and terrestrial species and food webs
- Land use, protection, and restoration especially as they relate to growth and development
- Human health and well being
- Climate Change, including its effects on ecosystem processes and human health
- Development and application of decision support frameworks, models and systems to aid ecosystem management.
