Georgian Bay vision 2050 conservation models, approaches and analysis - ON-1124
Project type: ResearchDesired discipline(s): Environmental sciences, Natural Sciences, Geography / Geology / Earth science, Resources and environmental management
Company: Georgian Bay Association
Project Length: 4 to 6 months
Preferred start date: 10/01/2025
Language requirement: English
Location(s): ON, Canada
No. of positions: 1
Desired education level: Undergraduate/BachelorMaster'sPhDPostdoctoral fellowRecent graduate
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: Yes
About the company:
The Georgian Bay Association is a long-standing voice for the protection, conservation and stewardship of Georgian Bay. Representing thousands of families, communities, and stakeholders, the GBA works to safeguard the Bay’s unique and natural habitat for generations to come. Its efforts span advocacy and research to address pressing challenges such as water quality, invasive species, development pressures and climate change.
Building on this legacy, the Vision 2050 project is a forward-looking project led by the GBA to create a long-term, science based conservation and management framework for Georgian Bay. The iniative recongizes that the Bay faces increasingly complex and interconnected threats, requiring a coordinated approach. Vision 2050 seeks to gather knowledge, analyze best practices from around the world, and convene diverse parterns to shape a shared strategy to guide conservation in the area.
At its core, Vision 2050 aims to ensure that Georgian Bay remains a healthy, resilent, and thriving ecosystem that supports biodiversity, communities, and inspiring future generations. Through leadership, collaboration and evidence based action, this project and GBA are working to secure the Bay’s future.
Describe the project.:
The first part of the project is looking at International Conservation Models for Costal Regions. This will investiage how other large, senstive coastal regions around the world have responded to environemal pressures such as climate change, invasive species, development, and ecosystem fragmentation. The research will include an expanded literature review, the selection of 8-10 revlevant case studies, a comparative analysis of governance strutucres, models, legal frameworks and stakeholder engagement strategies. The project will conclude with an in-depth paper that synthesizes lessons learned and assesses which stratagies can be adapted for Georgian Bay.
The second part of the project is looking at Conservation and Protection Programs in Eastern and Northern Georgian Bay. This will focus on consolidating and analyzing the many conservation inaitves already underway in the region. While numerous governments, Indigenous communties and NGOs are active in protection efforts these activies are fragemented. This project will involve gathering program information, compiling it into a centralized database, and conducting a thematic analysis to identify strengths, overlaps, and gaps. A comparative mapping excersize will align existing initatives with Vision 2050 priorites, culminating a report that highlights opportunities for stronger collaboration and new initatives.
Together these projects will provide a dual perspective: global insights into effective coastal conservation and a comprehensive local mapping of ongoing programs.
Required expertise/skills:
Research skills, data management, analytical thinking, writing, collaboration, communication, comparative policy analysis, critical evaluation, qualitative data, thematic coding, mapping and visualization skills.
