May 15, 16 and 17, 2003

The Concept:

The northern prairie landscape has been shown to be dynamic, and has significantly changed in the past 100 years. Further, predictions of the near future indicate that the level of changes in this region will be on a broad scale. Thus, sustaining healthy communities is a central challenge in decision making and regional planning, but deciphering the roles that natural, manufactured, social, and human capital play in the present and any future system has been problematic. Studies have shown that each type of capital has a significant function, but all too often policy and planning efforts do not take them all into consideration. To highlight local and regional efforts that attempt to provide a more considered approach to planning and decision-making, the next Plain as the Eye Can See public forum will focus on management strategies that affect the present and future health of northern prairie landscapes.

Come take part in discussions on policies that will promote a more sustainable future in the region with experts, decision-makers, and scientists from government, university and NGOs. As a transdisciplinary endeavour, we have encouraged topics that integrate many types of data on current or future issues.

All presentations are Free

No registration required

Opening Address: Sharon Butala

Did the Hills Move? Science and Spirituality

May 15^th at 7:30pm

Technical Presentations

May 16^th and 17^th

The event will feature a number of leading policy makers, scholars, and planners discussing their recent research on the cultural and natural changes taking place on the northern prairies in a public forum.

The Partners:

Canadian Plains Research Center at the University of Regina.
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum
Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative (PARC)

The Goals:

The main goal of the 2003 public forum is to explore the effects of current management strategies on both resources in the northern Great Plains and examine possible futures as a result of climate change, using the four types of capital and full cost accounting as central themes. Questions to be addresses include:

1) How might we manage changing landscapes so that they remain sustainable or healthy;

2) How can a balance be achieved that links social and economic concerns with ecological ones;

3) Does living in a dynamic landscape have any policy implications;

4) Where should we be spending our limited dollars to reach a defined management goal; and

5) What barriers or shortfalls keep us from maintaining or reaching healthy communities?

The Purpose of the Event

Through this event we want to build awareness and educate members of our community about the changes the northern grasslands have undergone during the past 100 years.

The natural and human forces that have accounted for these changes have left many aspects of the prairie environment in an almost unrecognizable and threatened state. How these changes have taken place and why are crucial questions that are being addressed by researchers in many disciplines. Even more important, however, is the need to share this information with the general public and stakeholders. Public awareness of issues impacting the environment and the role of individuals in this process increases the likelihood of community resolve and action and puts us one step closer towards regional sustainability.

The Forum Format:

The forum will feature a series of talks delivered by researchers from a variety of disciplines who are studying topics related to the prairie ecosystem. The community is encouraged to participate in all levels of this forum by voicing their concerns on the presented topics. This is an opportunity for individuals to interact in the peer review publishing process. Sixteen presentations will be spaced throughout the two days of the event. The proceeding of this conference will be published by the Canadian Plains Research Center under the title of Managing Changing Prairie Landscapes and will compliment the book of the first Plain as the Eye Can See forum in 2000. Click here for schedule.

Changing Prairie Landscapes –

Publication from the first Plain as the Eye Can See Forum

For more information please contact us at:

Todd A. Radenbaugh
Department of Geology
University of Regina
todd.radenbaugh@uregina.ca

(306) 585-4679

or
Glenn Sutter
Life Sciences Unit
Royal Saskatchewan Museum
gsutter@royalsaskmuseum.ca

(303) 787-2859

Royal Saskatchewan Museum Phone: (306) 787-2815