Now showing items 1-20 of 26

    • Tactics to Engender Participation in Collaborative Environmental Management

      Heaney, Shannon; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Complexity, uncertainty and conflict characterize contemporary environmental challenges. Addressing these issues is beyond the purview of any one actor. A collaborative approach to environmental management is required; participation in collaboration is needed. However, participation in collaborative environmental management is a persistent challenge in practice. This thesis examines tactics used to engender participation in collaborations. Tactics constitute a strategy for communications with an intended goal and encompass the framing (i.e., wording, imagery) and platform of dissemination. Two complementary studies were undertaken. Study One sought to gain insights about tactics used by organizations to foster participation in various environmental management collaborations. A multiple case study method was employed with five organizations investigated including Niagara Parks Commission, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, City of St. Catharines, City of Richmond Hill, and Landscape Ontario. Data was primarily collected through semi-structured interviews with key informants, with websites, reports, and shared documents providing additional information. Qualitative analysis revealed that the organizations use an array of tactics to effectively reach various audiences, employ tactics targeted for specific audiences, and stress the importance of using multiple tactics across a media mix. Study Two examined the influence of tactics on an intention to participate in an environmental management collaboration. Eight tactics were empirically tested on 300 individuals aged 18-29. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was undertaken. Results uncovered the effectiveness of contextual and personal framings in engendering participation and deepened the understanding about past participation, tactics and an individual's intention to participate. In concert, the two studies emphasize the need for greater attention to tactics in environmental management. The thesis contributes to a greater understanding of tactics, identifying effective practices for engendering participation and broad dissemination. Opportunities to engender participation in collaborations using tactics are abundant. The findings from the research indicate a need to allocate greater resources to the creation of tactics including the imagery and wording used; additionally, findings indicate the importance of the platform on which tactics are disseminated and the effectiveness of employing multiple tactics across multiple platforms for maximum audience reach. Recommendations close the thesis and are offered for environmental management practice and future research.
    • CHARACTERIZING INTRA-ANNUAL XYLEM CELL FORMATION AND CIRCADIAN CYCLE DYNAMICS OF JACK PINE (PINUS BANKSIANA) IN THE NORTHERN BOREAL FOREST, YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

      Harris, Dana; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Xylem cell formation and stem radial fluctuations for jack pine in Yellowknife, NT were assessed during the 2017 season. The characterization of the timing of the onset of xylogenesis reactivation, period(s) of rapid cell development, and termination of seasonal stem growth were recorded over the estimated growing season. Two methods, microcores and automatic point dendrometers were used to better understand what the characteristics of a growth season looks like for jack pine at its northern limit within the boreal forest. It was demonstrated that onset of cell development at the study site “Treeville” occurred once temperatures had exceeded the 4-5ºC temperature threshold, the period of rapid growth was observed around June 21 for all phases of xylogenesis, aligning with the timing of annual longest photoperiod during summer solstice. It is demonstrated that jack pines in this region are much slower growing, with cell development at ~0.28 cells/day during the period of rapid growth, and site wide average of ~13 cells. Precipitation was highly correlated with the observation of the SRI phase throughout the season, most notably in the period prior to cell wall-thickening. A multi-year cell development assessment indicated a relationship with June precipitation, demonstrating lower cell counts in years with low June precipitation. Cell growth was recorded to end in late August, although some trees demonstrated cells in developing phases into early September. Overall, results suggest (1) strong relationship between the onset of jack pine wood formation when temperatures exceed established thresholds for growth, (2) demonstrated that the period of rapid growth aligns with longest daylength June, and (3) annual cell count is controlled by June precipitation.
    • Understanding youth attitudes, preferences, and the role of cultural values on intention to use carbon labels on food products: a case study of Argentinian and Canadian consumers

      Roa Goyes, Sebastian; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      To reduce the environmental impact of the global food system, educating consumers through carbon labels is a promising idea for promoting adoption of sustainable diets. Additionally, the urgency of tackling the current climate crisis places young individuals at the front of environmental responsibility. Thus, the need for a comprehensive understanding of their perception of food carbon labels and the factors influencing their intention to use this mechanism is key. However, the influence of culture on their behaviour remains unclear, particularly in the Americas. This thesis aimed to provide a holistic understanding of how Argentinian and Canadian consumers perceive food carbon labels, including the impact of culture on their intention to use this tool. Two studies were conducted using an online questionnaire administered to participants aged 18 to 24 yrs. Study one adopted a descriptive approach that assessed youth familiarity with carbon footprint and carbon labels and explored their attitudes and preferences towards six carbon labels. Study two used a predictive approach that examined the influence of individual cultural values on young consumers' intention to incorporate carbon labels in their food purchasing decisions, with environmental concern as a mediating factor. Findings from the first study revealed that Canadians are more familiar with carbon footprint and carbon labels than Argentinians. However, both samples displayed low familiarity with carbon labels. Additionally, participants from both countries highly rated and preferred colourful and simple carbon labels. Results from the second study indicated that Argentinian and Canadian consumers exhibited positive attitudes towards buying carbon-labelled food and intentions to use food carbon labels. Furthermore, individualism vs. collectivism, masculinity vs. femininity, and long vs. short-term orientation indirectly influenced intention, with environmental concern playing a crucial mediating role. Collectively, these two studies provide a comprehensive understanding of the receptiveness of Argentinian and Canadian young consumers towards food carbon labels. This thesis contributes to scholarly literature by exploring the utility of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory as frameworks for understanding youth pro-environmental behaviour. It also provides practical suggestions for developing public initiatives and marketing approaches to promote the adoption of carbon labels among young consumers.
    • Income Inequality, Distributive Justice, and Sustainable Development: Implications for Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Global Geopark

      Abbasov, Kamran; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      The rising inequalities across the world, including in Canada, present a challenge to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under the auspices of UNESCO, supporting the implementation of SDGs is one of the main missions of geoparks. It has been shown that geoparks can foster the implementation of SDG 10 (reducing inequalities), but there is a dearth of studies specifically exploring the means and channels through which a geopark can help reduce income inequality. This study aims to fill that gap by exploring income inequality in the Niagara region through the lens of distributive justice with a focus on the role of Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Global Geopark (NPAGG) in reducing income inequality in Niagara. This study employs a qualitative research approach to collect data via 16 semi-structured interviews with the NPAGG board of directors, people who are advocating for poverty alleviation and reduction of inequalities in Niagara, and local tourism-related business owners. Thematic analysis was conducted on the collected data to explore the role of the NPAGG in addressing income inequality in the Niagara region. All the participants agreed that the income inequality in Niagara is unfair and needs to be addressed. The results of the thematic analysis show that in the pursuit of more equitable distribution in Niagara, the NPAGG can present economic benefits – with a direct yet incremental impact on income inequality – and societal benefits – with indirect yet necessary implications for addressing income inequality. There are two main limiting factors identified for the NPAGG’s role in battling income disparities: 1) it is not the primary objective of the NPAGG, and 2) the problem of income inequality is much bigger than the NPAGG. Moreover, inflation, negative environmental impacts, and dependence on tourism were identified as minor risks associated with the NPAGG development. Although the findings of this study may not be generalized to other geoparks around the world, they offer understanding of what to expect from geoparks in addressing income disparities.
    • An Assessment of Best Practices of Corporate Sustainability Strategies in Canadian SMEs

      Bute-Seaton, Kelly; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Humanity is faced with existential threats of our own doing that require our collective action. Small-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by virtue of their large numbers and prevalence in society have the potential to contribute to economic, social, and environmental development and play a critical role in Sustainability at a global level. This can be accomplished through their business practices, systems, policies, and interactions. The purpose of this study is to explore the corporate sustainability practices of SMEs ranked highly for their involvement in Sustainability through an online survey with key representatives of seventeen (17) SMEs. The findings demonstrated that many companies are willing to play a greater role in CSR/ Corporate Sustainability but are stymied by the lack of resources, applicable frameworks, and an enabling environment. These results have valuable implications for SMEs, academia, Government, NGOs, business associations, and the private sector.
    • Urban forest management planning: A case study of municipalities in Southern Ontario

      Thomson, Tyler; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      This current study reviews urban forest management planning in Ontario through a sustainability lens. After clarifying key terms and concepts in the field of urban forestry, the paper moves towards an analysis of two urban forest management plans from municipalities in Ontario. This analysis was accomplished using a qualitative content analysis approach, where the content from two urban forest management plans was assessed against a framework that defines core principles of sustainable urban forest management. Key insights from this analysis are then identified and used to present a framework the Town of Lincoln can follow to develop an UFMP for their urban forest. The findings from this study found that municipalities have a strong desire to achieve sustainable urban forest management, but external challenges and internal limitations present barriers to achieve this.
    • Gen Z and Sustainable Diets: A Holistic Perspective. Understanding Perceptions of and Engagement with the Social, Economic and Environmental Dimensions of a Sustainable Diet

      Ruzgys, Shannon; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Current food production methods are causing wide scale degradation of the natural environment thus a shift towards more sustainable agricultural systems is essential in fighting the climate crisis. Understanding how Gen Z, a generation that will inherit the changing climate, relates to the social, economic and environmental aspects of a sustainable diet is important in ensuring they are aware how to make an impact with their dietary choices. This thesis aimed to gain a holistic understanding of Gen Z's perceptions of and engagement with sustainable diets. Two studies were conducted online, examining Canadian youth between the ages of 18-25. The first study took an exploratory approach, aiming to understand what a sustainable diet means to Gen Z in their own words. The second study took a predictive approach, aiming to quantify and understand Gen Z's action stages around a range of sustainable dietary behaviours, including the psychological and educational factors that influence their stage of change. Results from Study One highlighted that youth perceive behaviours centered around supporting their local community and reducing food waste to be effective for promoting a sustainable diet. In addition, over 60% of participants indicated that there were barriers preventing them from engaging in sustainable diets, such as cost. Results from Study Two revealed that a high food literacy score and a strong belief in the efficacy of a behaviour are the two most important predictors of being in an action stage for a range of sustainable dietary behaviours. Together these two studies provide a holistic overview of what sustainable diets mean to Gen Z, how they currently engage with sustainable diets, and ways to encourage action. The thesis also contributes to the scholarly literature on the use of TTM and TPB in assessing the factors that influence engagement with sustainable dietary behaviours. It also offers practical recommendations on how our results can be used to shape policy, educational interventions and marketing towards Gen Z.
    • Examining Types and Performance of Urban Green Space: Case Studies of Toronto, Milan, and Isfahan

      Sattar, Tannaz; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Cities have significant impacts on sustainability and sustainable development. In the context of global development, especially in developing large metropolitan areas, the urban population is growing resulting in social and environmental challenges that threaten the sustainability of cities. One of the challenges of this modern urbanization addresses urban green spaces (UGS) regarding their quantity and performance. UGS are essential parts of urban areas lack of which can compromise urban ecology and human well-being. Enhancing UGS is an approach to overcome some of these challenges. Little research has been done on the UGS typologies and different variables affecting their performance, and also the literature on comparing this feature in hugely different contexts is missing. This paper intents to compare UGS categories in the three selected cases, which are the cities of Toronto (Canada), Milan (Italy), and Isfahan (Iran), and analyze their performance variables.
    • Exploring people-place relationships through place attachment and subjective wellbeing in the context of the abrupt social and ecological change associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

      Stuart, Savannah; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted patterns of daily life and drastically altered social norms. The ensuing stresses have impacted mental health and wellbeing. As a key driver of positive mental health, human-place interactions have assumed increasingly important roles. Simultaneously, complex, and abrupt change emerged in places due to COVID-19 restrictions and mandates. This thesis aims to understand if and how the abrupt changes associated with COVID-19 impacted human relationships with place through place attachment, wellbeing, and the valuation of community assets. To address this question, two studies of people-place relationships were conducted in two separate settings. The first study was conducted in the Town of Lincoln, a municipality in Niagara. The second study was conducted within the Niagara Parks, a series of protected areas used for outdoor recreation. In the Town of Lincoln, a greater proportion of individuals indicated the way in which they value assets had changed since the onset of the pandemic. This was supported by pre- and post-pandemic data, which found that two categories of community assets, both indoor community assets, were valued less in 2021 than they were in 2019, whereas other community assets were valued comparably from 2021 to 2019. Two categories of community assets were found to contribute most to both place attachment and wellbeing: waterfront/beaches and recreational trails/pathways. In Niagara Parks, 85% of natural area users described observing changes to the natural areas since the onset of the pandemic. Of these participants, 61% found that system change in the natural areas impacted their experience of wellbeing while using the natural areas, and 33% of individuals reported that their attachment to the place was impacted. This thesis explores if and how change can influence the relationship between person and place. With the system variability of climate change already experienced locally and globally, it is increasingly important to understand the dynamics of people-place relationships.
    • More Than a Green Roof: An Analysis of Low Impact Development Policies and Practices

      Anyan, Edward; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      While the concept of green infrastructure is becoming increasingly popular, practitioners and institutions that implement it have varying perspectives on its meaning. This case study aimed to understand how a medium-sized municipality defines green infrastructure as a concept and incorporates it into official policies and related development plans to encourage green stormwater management strategies. It further sought to understand how the analyzed policies and related plans stimulate low impact development implementation in response to climate change adaptation efforts. A content analysis of eight official documents was conducted to determine how the City of St. Catharines, Ontario defines green infrastructure and includes it in its policies and plans. NVivo 12 was used to gather the meaning of green infrastructure and related terms qualitatively. The findings discuss how green infrastructure was defined and incorporated, as well as the consistency of its usage and meaning across the sampled official documents.
    • Exploring Environmental Stewardship in the Niagara Region of Canada: How Do Elements of Environmental Stewardship Relate to Success?

      Kapeller, Brooke; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Environmental stewardship is imperative as it provides a means for individuals and society to reconnect with the biosphere as well as work to protect and conserve the environment for future generations. While the concept of stewardship is not new, the scholarship addressing it is still developing. In particular, there is limited research that addresses what makes stewardship successful. This thesis addresses calls in the literature for empirical investigations into local-scale environmental stewardship. Specifically, it contributes to a better understanding of elements of stewardship and what makes stewardship initiatives successful. Two studies were conducted in the Niagara Region of Canada. The first study investigated the social-ecological context of the area and examined the elements of environmental stewardship initiatives by empirically testing a framework for environmental stewardship. The second study examined factors allowing for stewardship success, from the perspective of the organizations conducting the work. In concert, the findings reveal: a nuanced relationship between context and stewardship elements; factors making for stewardship success; and an expanded conceptual framework which more fulsomely describes local environmental stewardship. Finally, recommendations for future work in this realm of empirical environmental stewardship investigations are put forth.
    • An Examination of Collaborative Governance for Complex Adaptive Systems in the St. John River Basin

      McGlynn, Bridget; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Climactic changes are having devastating impacts on communities and improved collaborative decision-making is required to govern the changing social-ecological system. This research sought to expand understanding of collaborative governance as it relates to social-ecological complex adaptive systems by using a network perspective to examine governance network properties in relation to adaptive governance and social-ecological fit. The collaborative flood planning network in the St. John River Basin was collected and analyzed both independently and within a multilevel social-ecological network. Analysis displayed a broad range of organizations within the network, a tendency for transitivity, and limited social-ecological fit. While collaboration aids in adaptive governance in the basin, the network was strongly impacted by varying jurisdictional roles, responsibilities, and resources. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on network governance for social-ecological systems and further questions the role of top-down governance within collaborative arrangements.
    • Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Using Geospatial Technologies: A Case Study of the Town of Lincoln, Ontario

      Razaghirad, Baharak; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Urban trees provide important benefits to communities, from mitigating stormwater to improved air quality. Municipalities across Ontario encounter a decline in their urban tree canopy (UTC). UTC assessment is essential for the management of urban trees, especially in the context of climate change. However, quantifying the canopy remains a challenge, given that tree crowns are difficult to assess from the ground. Geospatial technologies provide a suitable alternative to costly, ground-based assessments. Still, they typically require a significant investment in resources, including technical expertise and equipment. For many small- and medium-sized municipalities facing the realities of climate change, these investments are cost-prohibitive. This study aimed to assess the UTC within the Town of Lincoln, Ontario, using geospatial technologies. The first objective was to estimate canopy cover and distribution using image classification as the main approach. The second objective was to assess the proficiency of a low-cost method based on image interpretation (i.e., i-Tree Canopy) to calculate canopy cover compared to the main approach. The third objective was to examine the possibility of using the canopy goal designated by the Niagara Official Plan as a standard canopy goal. This research study produced three main results. First, the image classification indicated that the tree canopy covers 21% of the Town. Second, this study demonstrated that the results from the main approach are similar to those obtained from i-Tree Canopy. Given the similarity between these approaches, this study concluded that the lower-cost i-Tree Canopy method could be combined with other methods to prepare accurate and affordable canopy assessments for resource-limited municipalities. Finally, this study concluded that canopy goals should account for local Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Using Geospatial Technologies differences based on geographic location. This study makes a valuable contribution to the literature as it informs management of canopy resources in communities with limited resources. Outcomes from this study can also better inform tree-canopy goals and policies with a cost-effective method that requires minimal expertise. The ability to conduct UTC assessment in smaller communities is critical in mitigating the impacts of climate change facing most of these communities.
    • Assessing the impacts of variable retention harvesting (VRH) and climate change on carbon sequestration and growth in a red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantation, southern Ontario, Canada

      Zugic, Jessica; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Over the past two centuries, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have increased due to anthropogenic activities. In addition, global temperatures have also been rising and are expected to continue to increase into the next century. Southern Ontario, Canada is predicted to experience increasing temperatures and decreasing amounts of growing season precipitation in the coming decades. Silvicultural techniques, such as variable retention harvesting (VRH), are a possible method to aid in climate change mitigation and increase forest carbon sequestration. The aim of this study was to determine the impacts of VRH and climate change on the growth and carbon sequestration of red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantation trees in southern Ontario, Canada, using a randomized design in which five harvesting treatments (unharvested control (CN), 33% aggregated crown retention (33A), 55% aggregated crown retention (55A), 33% dispersed crown retention (33D), and 55% dispersed crown retention (55D)) were applied. In order to assess the climatic drivers of growth and the impact of VRH on red pine growth, dendrochronological methods and allometric growth equations were utilized. The main climatic drivers of tree growth are May-July standard precipitation evapotranspiration index with 3-month memory (SPEI3), growing season average maximum temperature between the months of May to August, and total precipitation in May and June. Analysis of tree growth following VRH, indicates that dispersed retention is the only treatment that led to changing growth response to climate post-harvest. VRH was found to facilitate growth, annual biomass, carbon content, and carbon sequestration, but only in dispersed treatments. The highest increase in growth was seen in the 33D treatment, whereas aggregated treatments showed diminished growth post-harvest. Finally, exterior trees within aggregated treatments showed significantly higher growth and carbon sequestration when compared to interior trees. These results suggest that dispersed treatments are the optimal choice when the goal of VRH is to increase growth and carbon sequestration of red pine plantation trees. This work adds to our understanding of the effectiveness of VRH on above-ground carbon sequestration in a common afforestation species in the Great Lakes region, which will ultimately aid in informing future forest management practices in southern Ontario.
    • An Examination of Stakeholder Perceptions in Conventional and Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of Environmental Management

      Witkowski, Samantha; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Effective environmental management is integrally linked to well-designed monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. Within the need for M&E to manage our environments in the most effective ways, there is an emerging trend to include social dimensions in environmental management and M&E efforts. Accordingly, this research responds to the need to better understand stakeholder perceptions of key performance indicators (KPIs) related to M&E, as well as the influences of engaging in a participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) process. Two objectives were associated with this aim. Objective One (Study One) addressed the tension that practitioners and scholars face regarding the intricate balance of employing a conventional M&E approach in environmental management, with the perceptions of various stakeholders. This study statistically compares two different stakeholder groups’ perceptions about KPIs for M&E at 12 different viewpoint locations in Niagara Parks. Visitor perceptions were also considered against the environmental managers’ perceptions of the viewpoint sites. Results demonstrate that visitor groups do not differ in their overall perceptions of KPIs for viewpoints; however, they do differ in their perceptions for specific KPI sub-criteria. Additionally, environmental managers and visitor groups significantly differ in their perceptions of KPIs for viewpoints. Objective Two (Study Two) was concerned with exploring the influences of engaging in a PM&E process on stakeholder perceptions of KPIs for trails. This study compared stakeholder perceptions of KPIs for trails between a group of individuals before and after they completed a PM&E workshop. Results demonstrated that the PM&E process can be used to reach consensus among stakeholders regarding the overall goals and associated KPIs for environmental management planning. Additionally, stakeholders experience a real change in their perceptions of KPIs for trails after participating in the first three phases of a PM&E process. Overall findings have many implications for theory and practice including, but not limited to, improved environmental management, appropriate integration of stakeholder perceptions in management, addressing intergroup conflicts, gaining stakeholder support for environmental management actions, as well as informing areas for influencing stakeholder behaviour and perceptions. This thesis highlights the value and practicality of using stakeholder perceptions in environmental management.
    • Determining Individual Endorsement Levels for Water Resilience Principles – A Case Study of the Town of Lincoln, Ontario.

      Obasi, Oluseyi; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      The integrity of freshwater ecosystems is being challenged, mainly due to the failures of the traditional command-and-control governance approach. A social ecological resilience approach to water resources management (water resilience) has been proposed to help mitigate these challenges. To effectively implement this approach, individual endorsement and attitudes to water resilience and its underlying principles must be better understood; however, very little research has examined individual attitudes towards this concept. This thesis studied the extent to which individuals endorse (support and agree with) managing and governing water resources using a social ecological resilience approach. To explore and determine endorsement of water resilience, a quantitative vignette questionnaire was utilized in a single exploratory case study in the Town of Lincoln, Ontario. The vignette questionnaire was developed based on the seven underlying principles of social ecological resilience and elicited responses for both local and non-local water contexts. Demographic data was also collected to examine how they relate to endorsement scores. Overall, respondents indicated a medium level of endorsement for the water resilience principles, with lower endorsement for the local than the non-local context. However, the extent of endorsement for the resilience principles differed as a function of location, the type of water challenge, individual experiences, and the conceptualization of the resilience principles. Those with higher overall endorsement scores tended to be female, older and attached more meaning to water bodies. Sex, political ideology and attaching meaning to local water bodies emerged as important predictors of water resilience endorsement. The vignette questionnaire proposes a suitable methodological framework for determining and measuring endorsement levels for the resilience principles. A factor analysis showed the seven resilience principles as consisting of two major components: principles related to ‘the system being governed’ and principles related to the ‘governance system’. The results of this thesis provide useful insights to policy makers/planners in developing more adaptive, integrative and resilient water governance approaches tailored to align with particular community perceptions and demographics. For future research, the nuances of endorsement, as well as additional factors like personality and psychological factors that may influence endorsement levels, should be considered.
    • Visualizing climatic and non-climatic drivers of coastline change in the Town of Lincoln, Ontario, Canada

      DeCock, Meredith; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Increased urbanization leads to greater anthropogenic stresses of coastal zones. Threats faced by coastal communities, such as natural hazards, are being exacerbated with changing environmental and climatic conditions. Many studies have measured coastline change; however, they fail to address non-climatic drivers, such as land use changes. The enclosed research included three separate but complementary articles to examine climatic and non-climatic drivers of change for the Lake Ontario coastline in the Town of Lincoln, Ontario. In the first article, a novel approach combining a coastline change analysis using historical aerial photographs in a geographic information system with the exploration of climatic and non-climatic drivers of change was developed. The novel approach will be useful for planners and residents in understanding factors that drive coastline erosion. In the second article, this methodology was applied to the Town of Lincoln. The case study identified vulnerable areas of the coastline and included a narrative of how certain drivers may have contributed to the erosion. The results suggested that Lincoln has erosion issues, largely concentrated in four main areas, with rates of erosion between 0.32 and 0.66 m/yr over an 84-year period. Between 1934 and 2018, the Town of Lincoln lost approximately 30 hectares of land, a fiscal loss of approximately $1M. The east side of Lincoln has shown more erosion due to many interacting drivers, such as the orientation of the coast, the sandier substrate, and the proximity of the highway constructed in the late 1930s. There are many barriers to climate change adaptation, including a general lack of understanding of how climate change may impact communities directly. The third article explored the utility of visualizations as a tool for science communication. Visualizing the impacts of climate change may be an important tool to help cities, regions, and countries prioritize adaptation. Replication of the methodology in an area such as the Great Lakes may produce a more comprehensive understanding of whether erosion is driven primarily by climatic or non-climatic factors. This can advance our understanding of coastline change and coastal vulnerability, as understanding the current state is essential before imagining a more sustainable future.
    • Understanding perceptions of the state of the environment in relation to ecological measures: Intergroup differences and the influences of an interpretive program

      Mallette, Angela; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Understanding the state of environment is foundational to environmental management. There is a clear need for enhanced ecosystem status assessments. At the same time, there are scholarly trends toward incorporating the social sciences in environmental management. Evidently, there is a need for more ecological as well as social knowledge of the state of our ecosystems. This thesis examines how the state of the environment is understood through an ecological and social perspective. Emphasis is placed on ecological measures as well as perceptions, with specific attention to intergroup differences and the influences of an interpretive program. Two studies were conducted at the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, a protected area in the Niagara Region of Canada. The first study consisted of an ecological assessment and a survey administered to experts and visitors. The ecological assessment of the state of the environment was compared to expert perception-based assessments. Perceptions were also compared between experts and visitors. The second study involved administering the survey to individuals receiving two different educational interventions, thereby exploring the influence of an environmental interpretive program on how people perceive the environment. Overall results from the two studies show that expert perception-based methods of environmental status can be a proxy for ecological data in cases where perceptions align with ecological measures, and can be used to complement ecological data in cases where perceptions are at odds with ecological measures. Visitors’ overall perceptions differed significantly from ecological measures, regardless of an interpretive program, and in fact, an interpretive program increased the difference. Visitors and experts were also found to differ significantly in their perceptions, a meaningful finding for resolving intergroup conflicts and for building a common understanding. Findings from the research can improve status assessments, address intergroup conflicts, develop a better sense of the people that interact with a natural site, inform areas for education efforts, and enhance the effectiveness of education programs. This thesis highlights the value in comparing perceptions to ecological measures and emphasizes the importance of evidence from natural and social sciences to managing social-ecological systems.
    • An Analysis of Invasive Species Management in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada: Establishment of a Database to Improve Knowledge Sharing

      Brown, Lyn; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Worldwide, 17,000 invasive species drive biodiversity loss, and cost the global economy at least $1.4 trillion annually. The UN and Convention on Biological Diversity have declared invasive species a global initiative and requested increased data sharing on invasives. Existing worldwide and local databases focus on distribution, abundance, identification, and impacts of invasives, but not management activities. No database focuses on invasive management for the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada. This study used sustainability science and the Ecosystem Approach Principles to guide the design of an invasive species management database. The goal of the study was to document current aquatic and riparian invasive management activities in the Niagara Region and develop a database that would become a tool to facilitate collaboration at the regional level. The objectives were to (1) inventory current invasive detection and control activities in the Niagara Region and make comparisons to recommended techniques in the literature; (2) examine perceived efficacy of control techniques; and (3) develop a database integrated with a GIS mapping component. Seventy-one organizations involved in riparian/aquatic invasive management in the Niagara Region were contacted and 16 were interviewed in-depth. In 2017/2018 there were 35 separate control efforts reported, involving 10 riparian invasives and two aquatic invasives, with most concentrated along the Niagara River. Collaboration efforts were minimal, occurring for only six specific projects. Recommendations from this study include: develop a regional invasive species plan; increase control efforts along the Welland Canal and Lake Erie shoreline; consider a wider variety of control techniques; and increase collaboration, information-sharing and resource-sharing among organizations. Overall, this database provides a baseline for the current state of aquatic and riparian invasive management activities in the Region, and can be used as a tool to identify resource-sharing opportunities, management efficacy, priority areas, areas of improvement, and future resource needs. This can help Niagara progress towards achieving Aichi Biodiversity Target 9 and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal Target 15.8.
    • Understanding Canadian Winegrowers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Their Implications for Adaptation Behaviors

      Jobin Poirier, Emilie; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
      Climate change (CC) is currently impacting and will continue to affect the international and the Canadian wine industry in the future. Understanding how Canadian winegrowers perceive CC and address its consequences through adaptation can help support the grape and wine industry in the context of CC. The thesis aimed to understand how winegrowers perceive CC and the ways CC adaptation is occurring throughout Canada. Two studies were conducted in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Québec and Nova Scotia. The first study of this thesis characterizes winegrowers with respect to their environmental values, CC knowledge and beliefs, and their perception of the consequences of CC on their winegrowing operations. The second study describes the present state of CC adaptation in the Canadian wine industry, as well as the adaptation strategies currently used and considered for future implementation to cope with specific weather events associated with CC. This study also investigates the attributes that drive CC adaptation throughout the country. Together, the two studies provide an overview of CC perception and adaptation in the main winegrowing provinces of Canada for the first time in literature. The thesis also contributes to the scholarly literature on CC perception and adaptation by highlighting the drivers that influence winegrowers’ adoption – or lack thereof – of adaptation practices in their operations. It also offers practical information that can be used by stakeholders of the industry to communicate CC information and adopt new practices to address its effects.