3.9 Adapting Cumulative Effects Management
Development of cumulative effects management components will be ongoing, and the incorporation of new components into management should face as few barriers as possible. Conversely, changing thresholds or other elements can have significant impacts on the effectiveness of management under the Plan. The Parties must give these changes careful consideration. All decisions are subject to agreement by both Parties.
The following actions can be done at any time. Decision-making authority may be delegated by the Parties to representatives in the Cumulative Effects Working Group or similar.
- Selection of indicators, thresholds, and responses related to Plan values.
- Revisions to any of the above that provide clarity or reflect improvements in methods or technology.
- Integration of existing monitoring programs.
- Identification of monitoring responsibilities.
The following may occur through Plan amendments:
- Substantive revisions to indicators.
- Substantive revisions to indicator monitoring (selection of monitoring program, or modification of an existing program).
- Revisions to thresholds.
- Substantive revisions to responses at a given threshold.
The following may only occur during Plan Review:
- Addition or revision of Plan values.
- Removal of indicators, thresholds, or responses.
- Revisions of indicators or responses that are reasonably likely to result in substantive changes in outcomes for values.
During Plan Review, the Parties should assess the cumulative effects management regime of the Plan and the above process for component development for the following:
- Are values being protected and maintained within their goal ranges? If not, why not?
- Are cumulative effects being adequately considered during project-level assessments?
- Are cumulative effects being adequately considered in high-level planning and decision-making?
- Are indicators for priority values functioning effectively?
- What proportion of values are represented in the cumulative effects framework?
Following this assessment, the cumulative effects management sections in the Plan should be revised as needed based on the learning outcomes of the previous work.