| Summary: | In 1995, the Salmon River Watershed Roundtable (SRWR) became a pilot project for
a collaborative process to establish community-developed ecosystem objectives, (part of a
larger project to develop goals, objectives and indicators of ecosystem health). This thesis
evaluates the collaboration using mostly qualitative methods including document analysis,
participant observation, interviews with process participants, and a survey of watershed
residents. A comparison of the case study to a 5-stage model of collaboration framed the
description of events, revealed parallels between the case study and the model, and placed the case study in the "structuring" stage of collaboration. Through evaluating the process from the participants' viewpoints, several conclusions were drawn. (1) The overall goal of the pilot project was achieved, community developed ecosystem objectives were established. (2) Process strengths included: wide-spread awareness and support for the project within the
watershed; a clearly defined convenor role; a well organized and facilitated process which encouraged participation of people present; and the education of local residents about their watershed and their neighbours. (3) Process weaknesses or areas for improvement included: unclear roles of watershed residents and government agencies; poor attendance at community meetings; long and repetitive meetings; mistrust over the use of government funds; and scepticism about the ability of the SRWR to implement the objectives developed. Although
the project cost $124,955 in contributed funding, as well as huge commitments of time and energy, most process participants thought the benefits of the process out-weighed those costs. Benefits included: anticipated improvements in ecosystem health; education of, and shared understanding among watershed stakeholders; information for use in other planning processes; and organizational direction for the SRWR. Successul elements of the case study provide a strong basis for continuing the pilot project into its next phases (developing ecosystem indicators and a monitoring program) and for cautiously attempting the process in other watersheds. Further assessments should be conducted in the future to determine the productivity of the process outcomes with respect to long term improvements in ecosystem health. Future efforts to develop ecosystem objectives should pay special attention to the cultural and social appropriateness of process methods, and power, authority and acocuntability within the process. Specific recommendations made for the SRWR regarding roles and responsibilities, communications, process, skill development and future research are also applicable to future projects. Both the federal and provincial governments have roles to play in the future promotion and development of ecosystem objectives in collaboration with local multi-stakeholder groups. === Science, Faculty of === Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for === Graduate
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