Miistakis Institute2005/2006 Annual Report

Table of ContentsBoard of Directors and Staff 1

The Institute 2

Year in Review 3

Projects

Cost of Community Services Study for Red Deer County 4A Transfer of Development Credits (TDC) Program for Red Deer County 5Crown Managers Partnership 6Road Watch in the Pass 7Recreation and Wildlife in Southwestern Alberta 8Developable Lands Project in the Crowsnest Pass 9Preliminary Bear Hazard Assessment 10General Mapping Projects 11Miistakis Data Framework 12

Publications and Reports 13

Presentations and Conferences

Road Watch in The Pass 13Recreation and Wildlife in Southwestern Alberta 13Cost of Community Services Study 14Developable Lands Mapping Tool 14Transfer of Development Credits 14Ecological Effects Analysis for Sage Grouse in Southern Alberta 14

Invited Presentations, Facilitation and Lectures 15

Financials 16

Funding and Support Inside Back Cover

Photos: Mike Quinn and Red Deer CountyDesign: Carla Klassen

Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report [ 1 ]

Shelley Alexander, CHAIR

Department of Geography, University of Calgary

Michael Quinn, VICE CHAIR

Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary and Miistakis Director of Research and Liaison

Rob Senko, TREASURER

Alberta Electric System Operator

J.A. Rod BlaisGeomatics Engineering, University of Calgary

Len BrobergEnvironmental Studies Program, University of Montana

Roger CreaseyShell Canada

Bill DolanWaterton Lakes National Park

Ian DysonAlberta Environment

Cormack GatesFaculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary

Steve KennettCanadian Institute of Resources Law

Richard LevyFaculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary

Paul PaquetFaculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary

Robert ParkinsonAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Danah Duke, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Guy Greenaway, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

Tracy Lee, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Ken Sanderson, PROGRAMMER

Greg Chernoff, SPATIAL ANALYST

Madalena Pinto, ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT

Samantha Managh, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Board of Directors Staff

[ 2 ] Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report

The Institute

The Miistakis Institute is a non-profit charitable organizationthat undertakes and supports pure and applied researchrespecting the ecosystems of the Rocky Mountains andsurrounding regions, and assists in the development andimplementation of collaborative ecosystem management.

The Institute’s mission is to bridge the gap between science,communities and decision making, supporting a transboundaryecosystem-based approach to sustainable land use managementin the Crown of the Continent and surrounding regions.

Miistakis accomplishes this mission through applied researchand tool development in the following areas:

• Research design, data collection and harmonization

• Facilitation of collaborative initiatives

• Geospatial analysis

• Web-based information dissemination

Established in 1995, Miistakis takes a strategic view to projectselection and cultivates partnerships where key conservationgaps and issues can be deliberately addressed.

Miistakis implements relevant research initiatives through anaffiliation with the University of Calgary and in close partnershipwith federal, provincial/state and municipal agencies, landowners,First Nations, conservation organizations and industry.

“The Miistakis Institute, in our unique role as an applied conservation research institute, bridges academic research with community needs.”

Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report [ 3 ]

This annual report highlights the progress, accomplishmentsand growth of Miistakis over the past year. This year wecontinued to focus on initiating independent research projectsaround land-use issues in the Crown of the Continent andsurrounding region. Expanding our research projects played a significant role in achieving our goal of initiating timely,applicable and assessable research to inform critical resourcemanagement and land use issues.

One of our successes this year included the completion of a Costof Community Services Study for Red Deer County, a municipalplanning tool designed to evaluate the cost-to-revenue ratios ofdifferent land uses. The value of this research project reachesfar beyond the initial partnering organizations, as the innovativemethodology of the study is applicable to other municipalities.

Miistakis is pleased to have completed its 3rd field season ofresearch examining the relationship between human recreationand wildlife in the Livingstone Range of southwestern Alberta.This long-term independent research project highlights thegrowth and potential of Miistakis in generating valuableinformation to inform land-use planning in the region.

Over the past few years the Crowsnest Pass of southwesternAlberta has become a research focal point for Miistakis. Thisyear, we worked with the Municipality of the Crowsnest Passand the Nature Conservancy of Canada to build an interactive GISplanning tool to facilitate discussions regarding developmentoptions in the Crowsnest Pass. We also completed a preliminarybear hazard assessment as part of the Crowsnest Pass BearSmart Program and continue leading the successful community-based monitoring project Road Watch in the Pass. Excitingly,Road Watch received international recognition in the StockholmChallenge, for its innovative use of technology in engagingcitizens in local conservation issues.

Miistakis’ success is rooted in the dedicated and skilled staffand supportive board along with our on-going relationships with partners and collaborators. We strive to address land-useissues in a responsive and flexible manner through thedevelopment of innovative research projects and resultdissemination to a range of audiences. We look forward to theupcoming year and continuing our work with local communities,agencies, NGOs and others addressing land use issues in theCrown of the Continent and surrounding areas.

Executive Director

Year in Review

Cost of Community Services Study for Red Deer County

In rural municipalities, expenditure decisions are based oncitizens’ need for services (waste management, services, fire, etc.). Land use planning, however, is based more on thecharacter of the landscape (agriculture, country residential,light industrial, etc.). Very few municipal revenue/expenditurecategories relate directly to particular land uses categories,making it very difficult for municipalities to fully understand thefiscal impacts of their land use decisions.

A perception has existed that residential development lowers ruralmunicipal service costs by increasing the tax base. Much land useplanning has taken place based on that assumption, but largely inthe absence of actual data. “Cost of Community Services” (COCS)studies provide critical data to inform that discussion.

In partnership with Red Deer County, Miistakis undertook a Cost ofCommunity Services study in that municipality to create a snapshotpicture of Red Deer County’s costs-to-revenues ratios for each offour broad land use categories: commercial, industrial, residential,and working landscapes.

The study showed that, in the Red Deer County case, theresidential land use did not pay for itself, while the other landuses ranged from the break-even point to significantlysubsidizing residential development.

This table shows for each dollar of revenue associated with agiven land use how many dollars are required to provide theservices demanded by that land use.

Throughout the study, Miistakis worked with a Masters studentin Environmental Design who helped develop the methodology,and is looking at the utility of the COCS study as a planning tool.

The study’s results have received broad attention from theconservation and planning communities, and have been featuredin the Calgary Herald, Red Deer Advocate, Rocky View Times,and AM1060 radio.

Funders/Partners: Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Red DeerCounty, Faculty of Environmental Design (University of Calgary)

Commercial Industrial Residential Working Landscapes (Agriculture)

With Education 1 : 0.74 1: 0.09 1 : 1.81 1 : 0.70

Without Education 1 : 1.00 1: 0.14 1 : 1.66 1 : 1.01

[ 4 ] Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report

Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report [ 5 ]

A Transfer of Development Credits (TDC) Program for Red Deer County

Municipal land use decisions have a great impact on landscapesof special value. Whether they are ecologically, agriculturally,culturally or otherwise important, these landscapes are beingrapidly consumed by more economically powerful land uses.Municipalities have few truly effective options available toaddress the loss of valued landscapes.

Many American local governments faced with the same dilemmahave turned to Transfer of Development Credits programs (orTransfer of Development Rights, as they are known in the UnitedStates) to help address this circumstance. This planning toolallows development potential to be transferred from areas wherea community would like more conservation to areas where theywould like more development. That transfer takes place in anopen market system, and permanently retires the developmentpotential in the conservation area. Although much talked aboutin Alberta, there has yet to be a successful TDC programimplemented here (or anywhere in Canada).

The Miistakis Institute, in partnership with Red Deer County, iscreating a comprehensive plan for implementing a TDC programin Red Deer County.

This project is divided into two phases. In the current phase,Miistakis is investigating the applicability of TDC programs toAlberta through an extensive literature review and study ofsuccessful (and unsuccessful) American TDC programs. We arealso recruiting working groups around six key themes of a TDCprogram, charging them with designing theme-specific details ofa TDC program. Phase II will be the enactment of this strategy,resulting in an implementation-ready plan for Red Deer County.

Funders/Partners: Red Deer County, Anonymous donor

“This planning tool allows development potential to be transferred from areas where a community would like more conservation to areas where they would like more development.”

[ 6 ] Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report

Since 2001, government agencies with resource managementresponsibility in the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem havebeen participating in the Crown Managers Partnership (CMP).The CMP’s goals focus on building awareness of interests andissues, building relationships, and promoting collaborative work.

Miistakis continues its involvement with CMP providing a criticalneutral third party role as Secretariat, supplying generalcoordination and support including financial management,coordination of fund development, meeting facilitation, andcommunication. Secretariat work this year included theorganization of the 2006 CMP Forum in Lethbridge, Alberta,drafting the CMP strategic plan and workplan and continuedmaintenance of the CMP web site.

In 2006 Miistakis will undertake a number of projects as part ofthe CMP 2006 workplan. These projects include examining pastand current research approaches to addressing ecologicalhealth in the Crown of the Continent and compiling variousapproaches to monitoring and evaluating indicators andthresholds of ecological health.

One of the main goals included in the CMP Strategic Planincludes improving data sharing and methodology standardizationacross the Crown. The development of a metadata framework willaddress this by providing access to GIS metadata and referencematerials available throughout the Crown.

Funders/Partners: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency,Glacier Institute, University of Calgary, CMP Partner Agencies

Crown Managers Partnership

“The CMP’s goals focus on building awareness of interests and issues, building relationships, and promoting collaborative work.”

Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report [ 7 ]

Miistakis continues to develop Road Watch in the Pass which isa community based monitoring project that enables participantsto report their wildlife observations along a 44 km stretch ofhighway through the Crowsnest Pass in southwestern, Alberta.The high number of wildlife-vehicle collisions and a recentproposal to expand the highway from two to four lanes has raised concerns from both human safety and wildlifeconservation perspectives. Through the use of Web-based GIS,interested citizens can contribute information that will beinstrumental in making final decisions concerning measures tomitigate the effects of highway expansion. Road Watch has fourproject goals: 1) engage the local community in community-based monitoring; 2) highlight the value of data collected by thecommunity; 3) provide wildlife crossing information to decisionmakers; and 4) foster an environment where citizens engage in a learning process about their natural environment.

Road Watch has proven to be a successful model for engaging thecommunity; there are currently 65 people whom have contributedover 1,220 observations to Road Watch. Preliminary results

indicate that Road Watch data has the potential to providevaluable new insights on wildlife crossing locations alongHighway 3. Road Watch successes over the past year include,fostering relationships with agencies responsible for the Highway3 expansion project, the use of Road Watch data in land useplanning projects in the Crowsnest Pass, selection as finalists in the Stockholm Challenge ICT award for the innovativedevelopment of the mapping tool, hosting a committee meetingwith participants, hosting a community action event to paint twowildlife warning signs along Highway 3, integration of two mastersstudent projects into Road Watch and expanded functionality onthe mapping tool for providing real time feedback for participants.

Funders/Partners: Woodcock Foundation, Alberta EcotrustFoundation, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Shell Environmental Fund, Alberta Conservation Association,University of Calgary

Road Watch in the Pass (www.rockies.ca/roadwatch)

“Preliminary results indicate that Road Watch data has the potential to provide valuable new insights on wildlife crossing locations along Highway 3.”

[ 8 ] Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report

Miistakis is currently undertaking a project to examine therelationships between human recreation and wildlife in theLivingstone Range of southwestern Alberta through the use ofremote cameras (mounted on trees, automatically taking picturesof any person or animal using the trail). This innovative use ofnew technology allows us to collect valuable data withoutdisturbing the animals or the recreationists.

By determining acceptable levels of human use along accessroads and recreation trails, planning initiatives can integrate this information and formulate sustainable access managementplans, tourism strategies and recreation policies. Ongoingregional planning initiatives have identified the need forcomprehensive land management strategies that minimizeimpacts and ensure sustainability. However, with little

information that clearly identifies the relationship betweenhuman use and wildlife in the area, current planning initiativeshave a limited chance of success. Our review of the literatureshows a dearth of research that provides defensible quantitativevalues for the establishment of thresholds and buffers. Withoutthis information land managers are forced to make land usedecisions without the appropriate information.

Miistakis has been collecting data since the summer of 2003 andwill continue data collection through the summer of 2007.

Funders/Partners: Woodcock Foundation, Alberta ConservationAssociation, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, NaturalResources Canada, Suncor Energy Foundation, Shell Canada

Recreation and Wildlife in Southwestern Alberta

“This innovative use of new technology allows us to collect valuable data without disturbing the animals or the recreationists.”

Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report [ 9 ]

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, located in southwesternAlberta and formed in 1979 by the amalgamation of a string ofmining communities, has traditionally been dependant on coaland forestry industries. In recent years, economic activity hasdiversified to include tourism and oil and gas development. The growth of grouped country residential developments outsideof the historical settlement areas has resulted in concernsregarding the spatial limitations on future development. Thereare many physical and ownership considerations that limitdevelopment opportunities in the Pass. Other issues compoundthe problem, such as private land that is considered hazardousdue to past mining activities, areas with known cultural orecological value, land that has been placed in conservationeasements, or access to existing utilities and services.

Citizens of the Crowsnest Pass greatly value the naturalamenities of living in a mountain environment. The area is animportant passageway for wildlife moving up and down theRocky Mountains. The linear nature of the Pass in conjunctionwith a recent trend in country residential developments has thepotential to severely impact movement opportunities for wildlife.

Concerns that the Municipality has regarding limited land-baseand the need to protect critical wildlife movement passagesleads to potential conflicts between environmental priorities and economic opportunities, and highlights the need for aconsensus-building approach to land use planning within theCrowsnest Pass.

To address this need, Miistakis has developed a dynamic,interactive mapping tool that will allow users to examine thespatial interplay between development considerations andconservation priorities, and to understand the consequences ofdifferent development strategies. The simultaneous identificationof development constraints and conservation priorities willprovide a spatial and visual perspective to future discussionsregarding land use planning in the Crowsnest Pass.

The best use of this tool is in a group setting with input from diverse stakeholders. Running the model a number of times, usingfacilitated discussion to alter parameters and weightings each time,will produce different outcomes, and help create an understandingof the consequences of different planning strategies.

Successive outcomes can be spatially compared to one anotherin order to demonstrate “common ground” between differentprioritizations, and build consensus between interest groups.Through an iterative process, the refinement of expectations and the increased understanding of trade-offs between differentapproaches to development can be instrumental in building a unified vision for the future of the Crowsnest Pass.

Funders/Partners: Municipality of the Crowsnest Pass, Nature Conservancy of Canada

Developable Lands Project in the Crowsnest Pass

[ 10 ] Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report

As the urban and rural footprint and associated human activity inAlberta continues to increase so does the potential for human-bear interactions and conflicts. Alberta Sustainable ResourceDevelopment (ASRD) has recently developed the Alberta Bear-Smart Program (ABSP) as a province wide initiative with the goalof reducing human-bear conflicts. The premise of this programincludes a shift from traditional reactive wildlife managementwhere problem bears are relocated and/or destroyed to a moreproactive approach that addresses the attractants that lure bearsinto a community and identifies strategies for reducing human-bearconflicts. The successful management of human-bear conflicts willbenefit from a multi-pronged approach where education, policyand enforcement issues are addressed. The ABSP requiresengagement and coordination between local citizens, the businesscommunity, industry, and municipal and provincial governments.The potential benefits of a successfully implemented ABSP includeincreased human safety, reduced bear mortalities and relocationsand enhanced habitat security for bears.

To initiate this program in Alberta, ABSP is launching a pilotproject in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass in southwesternAlberta. As a first step in this initiative, ASRD requested theMiistakis Institute to conduct a Preliminary Bear HazardAssessment. The goal of the assessment is to identify sources ofhuman and bear conflict in the Crowsnest Pass. The assessmentprovides a general overview of community specific attractants(natural and un-natural) and practices that contribute to human-bear conflict. It also provides direction of initial steps for thecommunity to become “bear smart” as well as identifyingimportant information gaps.

Funders/Partners: Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

Preliminary Bear Hazard Assessment

Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report [ 11 ]

The Miistakis Institute continues to produce high quality mapsfor partners interested in issues affecting the Crown of theContinent and beyond. In the past year, we have helped local and national organizations illustrate their issues and concerns. We also work closely with the University of Calgary and otherAlberta Institutions to assist with mapping needs of students.

Miistakis provides mapping, GIS, and Remote Sensing technicaland analytical support to students, as well as to government andnon-governmental organizations.

General Mapping Projects

“In the past year, we have helped local and national organizations illustrate their issues and concerns.”

[ 12 ] Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report

Building on our efforts to improve Miistakis data holdings, theMiistakis Data Framework provides a web-based interface tosearch and view metadata. The ability to search both spatiallyand by keyword allows Miistakis staff, students, and otherpartners to more efficiently search for relevant data holdings.

A user agreement system is being implemented that will requirestudents to return any value added products they create usingthe provided data. As students come and go from the Faculty ofEnvironmental Design, much of their spatial work is often lost, orotherwise unavailable for future research. The Data Frameworkwill store these value-added products and make them availablefor future research projects.

As part of its’ ongoing work with the Crown Managers Partnership,Miistakis is constructing a website portal designed to help shareinformation, or links to information, with other partners in the CMP.All data included in the framework will be spatially searchable,along with the normal keyword style of search.

Information hosted in the system will include various bibliographicrecords with a priority on grey literature, links to external web-based information (links to existing reports on other websites) and metadata for spatial layers (with information on how to obtainthese layers).

Miistakis Data Framework

“Miistakis is constructing a website portaldesigned to help share information, or links to information, with other partners in the CMP.”

Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report [ 13 ]

Chernoff, G. and D. Duke, 2006. “Developable Lands MappingTool – Final Report” prepared for Municipality of CrowsnestPass. Miistakis Institute, Calgary, AB.

Duke, D., P. Lynch-Stewart, M. Quinn and K. Sanderson. 2006.Environmental Assessment Information Management: A Canadian Web-based Portal Framework. Submitted toJournal for the International Association of Impact Assessment.

Duke, D. and M. Quinn. 2005. Putting Perspective onUncertainty. Miistakis Institute, Calgary AB.

Greenaway, G. and S. Sanders. 2006. Fiscal Implications of Land Use: A “Cost of Community Services Study” for Red Deer County. Miistakis Institute, Calgary, AB

Lee, T., M.S. Quinn, and D. Duke. 2006. Citizens, science,highways and wildlife: using a web-based GIS to engage citizens in collecting wildlife information.Ecology and Society 11(1): 11. [online] URLhttp://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss1/art11/

Lee, T. D. Duke and M. Quinn. 2006. Wildlife – vehicle highcollision zones along Highway 3 in the Crowsnest Pass,Alberta, Canada. Submitted to Northwest Science.

Road Watch in The PassInternational Conference on Ecology andTransportation (ICOET) – August 29–September 2,2005. San Diego, California. “Citizen Science andWildlife Crossing Locations along Highway 3 in the Crowsnest Pass of Southwestern Alberta.”Tracy Lee, Danah Duke and Mike Quinn.

Invited guest lecture at the University of Calgary –November 22, 2005. University of Calgary, Alberta. “Road Watch in the Pass an example of web-basedGIS” Guest lecture, Department of Geography, graduate class. Tracy Lee

Invited guest lecture at the University of Calgary –March 16, 2006. University of Calgary, Alberta.“Road Watch in the Pass a community basedmonitoring project for exploring wildlife movementin the Crowsnest Pass.” Guest lecture, Faculty ofEnvironmental Design, graduate class. Tracy Lee

Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation Meeting –March 31 2006. Edmonton, Alberta. “Wildlife vehicle collision research along Highway 3.” Tracy Lee, Danah Duke and Mike Quinn.

Wildlife Linkage across the US Northern RockiesWorkshop – April 12–14, 2006. Missoula, Montana. “Road Watch in the Pass – A Web-based GISProject to Monitor Wildlife Movement AcrossHighway 3 in the CNP.” Danah Duke, Tracy Lee and Mike Quinn.

Wildlife Linkage across the US Northern RockiesWorkshop – April 12–14, 2006. Missoula, Montana. “Wildlife Movement Across Highway 3 in theCrowsnest Pass, Alberta.” Tracy Lee, Mike Quinnand Danah Duke.

Recreation and Wildlife in Southwestern AlbertaInvited guest lecture to the Crowsnest ForestStewardship Society – May 19, 2005. Blairmore,Alberta. “Recreation and Wildlife in SouthwesternAlberta.” Mike Quinn and Danah Duke.

11th International Symposium on Social Scienceand Natural Resource Management Conference –16–19 June 2005, Ostersund, Sweden. “Usingremote cameras to monitor people and wildlife on trails: spatial and temporal analysis from amultiple use area in the Canadian Rockies.” (poster). Mike Quinn and Danah Duke.

University of Calgary Campus Fair – June 18, 2005.Calgary, AB. “Wildlife in Southwestern Alberta.”Presented by Miistakis.

Northwest Chapter of the Wildlife Society –March 6–8, 2006. Boise, Idaho. “The Use of RemoteCameras to Monitor Spatial and Temporal Activityof Humans and Wildlife in the Livingstone RiverArea, Southwestern Alberta.” Danah Duke andMike Quinn.

Publications and Reports Presentations and Conferences

[ 14 ] Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report

Cost of Community Services StudyCommunity Planning Association of AlbertaConference – April 11, 2005. Red Deer, AB. “Cost ofCommunity Services Study for Red Deer County.” Guy Greenaway and Stephanie Sanders.

Cost of Community Services Multi-MunicipalityWorkshop – June 9, 2005. Red Deer County, AB. “Cost of Community Services Study for Red DeerCounty.” Guy Greenaway and Stephanie Sanders.

Red Deer County Council Workshop Retreat –November 27, 2005. Kananaskis, AB. “Cost ofCommunity Services Study for Red Deer County:Some Preliminary Results.” Guy Greenaway andStephanie Sanders.

Red Deer County Council Meeting – February 21,2006. Red Deer County. “A Cost of CommunityServices Study for Red Deer County: Presentation ofResults.” Guy Greenaway and Stephanie Sanders.

Action for Agricultural Land Use Workshop –February 24, 2006. Balzac, AB. “Dollars and Sense:Planning to Conserve Valued Landscapes in Red DeerCounty.” Guy Greenaway and Harry Harker.

Red Deer County Council Workshop – March 14,2006. Red Deer County. “Using the Red Deer CountyCost of Community Services Study.” Guy Greenawayand Stephanie Sanders.

Developable Lands Mapping ToolMunicipality of Crowsnest Pass Council Meeting –July 11, 2006. Coleman, AB. Invited Presentation to Council : “Developable Lands Mapping Tool.” G. Chernoff, D. Duke.

Transfer of Development CreditsAction for Agriculture Meeting – May 30, 2005.Airdrie, AB. “Transfer of Development Rights: Aninnovative land use planning tool for ruralmunicipalities.” Guy Greenaway.

Bragg Creek Long Term Vision Group – November 28,2005. Bragg Creek, AB. “Reconciling Developmentand Conservation: Transfer of Development Credits –An innovative land use planning tool.” Guy Greenaway.

Ecological Effects Analysis for SageGrouse in Southern AlbertaNational Sage Grouse Recovery Team Meeting –July 19, 2005. Medicine Hat, AB. “Ecological EffectsAnalysis for Sage Grouse in Southern Alberta: AnALCES®-based Approach.” Guy Greenaway.

Sage Grouse Cumulative Effects Model Workshop –March 28–29, 2006. Medicine Hat, AB. “Facilitation of sage grouse expert workshop.” Brad Stelfox andGuy Greenaway.

Presentations and Conferences continued

Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report [ 15 ]

Linking Science and Communities to Conserve Naturaland Social Values: A Transboundary SynthesisWorkshop for the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem,April 6–7, 2005, Flathead Lake Biological Research Station,Yellow Bay, MT. “Jurisdictional complexity of the Crown ofthe Continent Ecosystem: defining the CCE.” Mike Quinn.

Guest lecture to the Sonoran Institute Board ofDirectors – June 24, 2005. Wildlife Movement andCorridors in Banff National Park. Banff National Park,AB. Danah Duke.

11th International Symposium on Social Science and Natural Resource Management Conference,June 16–19, 2005, Östersund, Sweden. “Transboundarymanagement in the Crown of the Continent.” Mike Quinn and Mary-Ellen Tyler.

24th Annual Conference of the Western HumanitiesAlliance, October 20–22, 2005, Tucson, AZ.“Interpreting approaches to managing wildlife acrossborders: institutional drivers and barriers.” Mike Quinnand Jennifer Grant.

24th Annual Conference of the Western HumanitiesAlliance, October 20–22, 2005, Tucson, AZ. “The challenges and rewards of developing aninterdisciplinary, cross-border graduate initiative.”Mike Quinn and Len Broberg.

Putting Perspective on Uncertainty Workshop –November 3–4, 2005. Kananaskis, Alberta. Facilitated by Miistakis.

Putting Perspective on Uncertainty Workshop,November 3–4, 2005, University of Calgary, KananaskisField Station. “Ecosystem-based management:Uncertainty & adaptive management.” Mike Quinn.

Thinking Across Borders: A Transboundary Forum,November 6–8, 2005, Missoula, MT. “The transboundarypolicy, planning and management initiative: a cross-border educational initiative.” Mike Quinn and Len Broberg.

Thinking Across Borders: A Transboundary Forum,November 6–8, 2005, Missoula, MT. “Citizen scienceand wildlife crossings in the Crowsnest Pass of SWAlberta.” Mike Quinn, Danah Duke, Tracy Lee.

Thinking Across Borders: A Transboundary Forum,November 6–8, 2005, Missoula, MT. “ Spatial analysis ofhuman recreational trail use and wildlife movement inthe Livingstone River Area, SW Alberta.” Mike Quinnand Danah Duke.

Thinking Across Borders: A Transboundary Forum,November 6–8, 2005, Missoula, MT. “Portals in practice:improving access to information.” Danah Duke.

Guest Lecture at the University of Calgary, November 15,2005. “The Truth About GIS” – general presentation aboutthe Miistakis Institute to Department of Geography MGISstudents. G. Chernoff, K. Sanderson.

Presentation, Edison School, December 1, 2005,Okotoks, AB. “Ecological implications of urban growth.”Mike Quinn.

Presentation, Calgary Regional Partnership,January 13, 2006, MD of Rockyview. “Rural residentialdevelopment in SW Alberta: Past and future.” Mike Quinn.

Presentation, Kananaskis Field Station, February 2,2006. “What Happens When People and Animals Share the Same Trails?” Mike Quinn.

Presentation, Calgary Regional Partnership, February 15,2006, Calgary. “Research and land-use change in theCalgary region.” Mike Quinn.

Alberta Real Estate Foundation Board Dinner –February 23, 2006, Calgary, AB. “Planning, development,and politics in the real estate industry: A Conservationperspective.” Guy Greenaway.

Crown of the Continent Managers Forum – March 1–3,2006. Lethbridge, Alberta. Facilitated by Miistakis.

Young Environmental Professionals (YEP) Career Fair –March 8, 2006, Calgary, AB. “Pursuing a career in non-profit conservation.” Guy Greenaway.

Guest Lecture at the University of Calgary – March 9,2006. “Real Life in Non-Profits” – general presentationabout the Miistakis Institute to ENSC 502 class. G. Chernoff.

Regional Collaboration: Learning to Think and Act Like a Region, Lincoln Institute, Seattle, WA, March 16–17, 2006. “Tools to Map Regional Problemsand Opportunities.” Mike Quinn.

Linking Landscapes and Seascapes: Conservation and Ecosystem Management at the Land-Sea Interface, 21st Annual Symposium of the US-IALE,March 28–April 1, 2006, San Diego, CA. “Relating islandbiogeography, landscape structure and marineresources to the distribution, ecology and populationstructure of coastal gray wolves (Canis lupus) in BritishColumbia, Canada.” S. M. Alexander, P. C. Paquet, M. S. Quinn, P. L. Swan, E. L. Navid and C. T. Darimont.

Invited Presentations, Facilitation and Lectures

[ 16 ] Miistakis Institute 2005/2006 Annual Report

Financials

Full audited statements areavailable by contacting theMiistakis Institute.

Statement of Financial Position as at March 31, 2006

2006 2005

AssetsCurrent

Cash $ 241,091 $ 257,139Accounts receivable 77,634 65,114Prepaids 2,805 –Goods and services tax recoverable 2,162 2,508

323,692 324,761Property and Equipment 66,601 33,241

390,293 358,002

Liabilities Current

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 49,321 27,825

Deferred Contributions 165,555 168,581Deferred Contributions Related

to Property and Equipment 55,822 23,408

270,698 219,814

Net AssetsInvested in Property and Equipment 10,779 9,833Internally Restricted 60,000 –Unrestricted 48,816 128,355

119,595 138,188

$ 390,293 $ 358,002

Statement of Operations for the year ended March 31, 2006

2006 2005

RevenuesFoundation and other grants $ 261,726 $ 159,510Services 152,984 153,536Government grants 54,765 192,165Interest income 120 55

469,595 505,266

ExpensesSalaries and benefits 278,561 271,496Contractors 80,694 134,107Supplies 41,569 11,152Travel 28,795 30,123Amortization 15,625 8,153Workshop expenses 12,645 4,541Professional fees 8,438 9,417Advertising and promotion 7,846 4,919Insurance 5,092 2,244Telephone 3,267 7,282Software 2,738 1,283Bad debt 1,330 –Internet/web domain 706 –Training and seminars 544 4,276Bank charges 338 583Imaging – 305

488,188 489,881

Excess (Deficiency) of Revenues Over Expenses $ (18,593) $ 15,385

Miistakis received valuable core funding from:Henry P. Kendall FoundationWilburforce Foundation

And is granted in-kind office space and resources from the:Faculty of Environmental Design,

University of Calgary

Other important partners include:Action for AgricultureAlberta Conservation AssociationAlberta EcotrustAlberta EnvironmentAlberta Fish and Game AssociationAlberta Municipal AffairsAlberta Real Estate FoundationAlberta Sustainable

Resource DevelopmentAlberta Wilderness AssociationAmerican Wildlands

B.C. Water Land and Air ProtectionCalgary Regional PartnershipCanada West FoundationCanadian Environmental

Assessment AgencyCanadian Parks and Wilderness SocietyCrown Managers PartnershipDepartment of Biological Sciences,

University of CalgaryDepartment of Geography,

University of CalgaryEcological Monitoring and

Assessment NetworkEnvironment CanadaESRI CanadaForem TechnologiesGeoconnections,

Natural Resources CanadaGlacier InstituteGlacier National Park (Montana, USA)Kahanoff FoundationLincoln InstituteLivingstone Landowners Group

Lynch-Stewart AssociatesMunicipality of the Crowsnest PassNatural Resources CanadaNature Conservancy of CanadaPekisko Land Owners AssociationRed Deer CountySage Grouse Recovery Action GroupShell CanadaShell Environmental FundSouthern Alberta Institute of TechnologySouthern Alberta Land Trust SocietySuncor Energy FoundationTD Friends of the Environment FoundationUniversity of AlbertaUniversity of MontanaWaterton Lakes National ParkWildlife Conservation SocietyWildsightWoodcock FoundationYellowstone to Yukon

Conservation Initiative

Funding and Support The work of the Miistakis Institute is made possible by financial and in-kind support from a variety of partners.

Miistakis Institutec/o Faculty of Environmental Design2500 University Drive NWCalgary, AB T2N 1N4p 403 220-8968f 403 210-3859institute@rockies.cawww.rockies.ca

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