Towards Meaningful Community-Based Ecological Monitoring in Nova Scotia: Where are we versus where we would like to be

Although the merit of public participation in environmental monitoring and management has been recognized, the need to move from simple participation to that which is meaningful and linked to relevant decision-makers remains. For those groups in Nova Scotia that have been actively involved and successful in collecting scientifically valid monitoring data, there has been little or no opportunity to participate in the meaningful management of their watersheds. This situation has led to the creation of both social capital and social liability. The current situation with regards to community-based monitoring (CBM) in Nova Scotia is described, barriers to meaningful integration into the decision-making structure and the implications of those barriers are explained, and a proposed CBM framework is presented. The adaptive management model is advocated while acknowledging the institutional barriers that continue to limit its full potential. Bien que l’on reconnaisse le merite de la participation du public a la surveillance et a la gestion environnementales, il reste encore a passer de la simple participation a une participation concrete qui se rapporte aux decideurs pertinents. Ceux des groupes de la Nouvelle Ecosse qui ont participe activement et avec succes a la collecte de donnees de surveillance scientifiquement valides n’ont eu que peu, voire aucune, occasion de participer concretement a la gestion de leurs bassins hydrographiques. Cette situation a mene a la creation d’un capital social et d’une responsabilite sociale. On decrit dans cet article la situation actuelle en ce qui a trait a la surveillance communautaire en Nouvelle-Ecosse, on y explique les obstacles a une integration concrete a la structure decisionnelle, ainsi que les consequences que peuvent avoir ces obstacles, et on propose un cadre de travail de surveillance communautaire. On preconise le modele de gestion adaptative tout en reconnaissant les obstacles institutionnels qui continuent d’en limiter le plein potentiel.