Case Study: Assessment of cumulative impacts of multiple developments near a World Heritage property

Canada
Wood Buffalo National Park

About

Purpose and Scope Context Notes Case Studies Resources

The objective of the Guidance is to provide easy-to-understand and user-friendly information on wind energy projects and World Heritage protection and management, and to highlight processes and tools for overcoming potential challenges that may arise. The Guidance aims to assist in the planning of wind energy projects while providing insights to explore options for proactive conservation for World Heritage site managers and and heritage protection authorities.The core of the Guidance includes four main parts

About the Guidance
World Heritage Essentials

History and purpose of the Convention How does the Convention work? Decision-making and governing The World Heritage List Spatial boundaries of World Heritage properties and their importance for protection and management

This part of the guidance is designed to introduce basic World Heritage concepts to a non-specialist audience. The implementation of the World Heritage Convention on the national level can be challenging for States Parties.

The following text explains the basics of the Convention to better understand its spirit and underlying principles. It further outlines good practices that assist complying with recommended international conservation standards to fully deploy the effectiveness of the Convention and to achieve its ultimate goals. The described indications aim to help readers understand the purpose of requirements described in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, and to act accordingly constructively and proactively.

Word Heritage Essentials
Wind Energy Essentials

What is renewable energy? What is wind energy? How is energy generated by the wind? Components of wind energy infrastructure Potential impacts of wind energy projects on World Heritage Siting and design of wind energy farms Wind energy life cycle

This part of the Guidance offers an overview of wind energy related information primarily for heritage practitioners and decision-makers not familiar with this field.

A brief overview of the main technical features and processes behind wind energy planning will allow a more effective understanding of their potential impacts on World Heritage and catalyse more efficient dialogue between stakeholders to seek solutions. In addition, this section approaches this field with a focus on World Heritage matters, highlighting sensitive conservation issues.

Wind Energy Essentials
Protecting World Heritage

Understanding World Heritage properties and sharing information Strengthening World Heritage protection in policies and legal frameworks Decision-making and governing Engaging in early planning for wind energy infrastructures Proactive conservation actions – enhancing management in view of the energy transition

National strategies and policies for the transition to renewable energy and initiatives for decarbonization are often based on the strategic principles and guidelines set in international agreements and directives. This is, for example, the case in the European Union policies, which have direct influence on national planning. However, the implementation of international agreements or directives, such as those of the EU, relating to renewable energy is often not cross-checked and aligned with national policies and regulations protecting natural and cultural heritage, including World Heritage properties. It is similarly important that national policies, programmes, and plans, as well as the accompanying national legal frameworks, give due consideration to heritage protection and ensure full protection of World Heritage properties. In addition to the establishment of an appropriate legal framework, a proactive approach to site management could effectively supplement national legal tools and support and strengthen protection measures ensuring the preservation of World Heritage properties for future generations.

Protecting World Heritage during the Energy Transition
Impacts of Wind Energy Projects

Why is it important to assess the impacts of wind energy projects in a World Heritage context? Elements of impact assessment Participation of rights-holders and other stakeholders in an impact assessment process Types of impact assessments Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) Step-by-step Potential impacts of wind energy projects What should be considered before beginning an ESIA? Checklists

This part of the Guidance provides heritage and impact assessment practitioners, site managers and heritage institutions an overview of the process for assessing the impacts of wind energy projects associated with World Heritage properties. The information is intended to assist actors responsible for commissioning and preparation such impact assessments and to support decision-makers.

Impacts of wind energy projects and their assessment

Impact assessment carried out for this project
Challenges identified during the project proposal/impact assessment process
Summary on the outcome of the impact assessment
Important lessons learned from the project

In 2016, the World Heritage Committee requested Canada prepare a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the World Heritage property of Wood Buffalo National Park to assess the cumulative impacts of all existing and reasonably foreseeable developments, such as:

hydroelectric development;
oil sands development;
pulp and paper facilities;
industrial mines;
forestry activities; and
municipal developments.

State Party:
Canada

World Heritage property:
Wood Buffalo National Park

Criteria:
(vii)(ix)(x)

Year of inscription:
1983

Brief description:
Situated on the plains in the north-central region of Canada, the park is home to North America's largest population of wild bison. It is also the natural nesting place of the whooping crane. Another of the park's attractions is the world's largest inland delta, located at the mouth of the Peace and Athabasca rivers.

See further details at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/256

The State Party of Canada was requested to report on Wood Buffalo’s state of conservation to the World Heritage Committee in 2015 after receipt of a petition submitted to the World Heritage Centre by the Mikisew Cree First Nation. The Indigenous First Nation government had expressed concerns about potential threats to the OUV of the Wood Buffalo National Park due to multiple industrial developments.

The image below tracks the time and steps between the decisions of the World Heritage Committee.

Impact assessment carried out for this project

The SEA was commissioned by Parks Canada in late 2016 and after an initial scoping report was completed in 2017 the final SEA report was delivered in 2018.

The SEA was conducted based on the broad set of data and information that was already available and included both scientific information and Indigenous knowledge. Furthermore, the assessment considered foreseen climate change impacts.

The SEA is based on the understanding that the protection of the OUV of the property and its World Heritage status are of high importance. Furthermore, the assessment has been carried out based on a clear and systematic analysis of the property’s OUV and its breakdown into attributes, which in the report are called ‘valued components’.

Challenges identified during the project proposal/impact assessment process

The State party encountered two challenges in particular:

a full value-attributes analysis had to be developed as a basis for the SEA (See Annex);
Wood Buffalo National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983. The World Heritage site nomination was not written with the values of Indigenous people as a priority. However, by collaborating closely with the Indigenous people of the Wood Buffalo National Park area during the development of the SEA, their perspectives were included in the interpretation of the OUV for the purposes of this work.

Summary on the outcome of the impact assessment

The SEA’s results were integrated into an Action Plan, which was submitted with the 2018 State of Conservation report to the World Heritage Committee. At its 2019 session, the World Heritage Committee commended Canada on the development of the SEA and the Action Plan. The World Heritage Committee also requested the SEA be used in future impact assessments (cf. Decision 43 COM 7B.15 and working documents WHC/19/43.COM/7B.Add).

Information on the SEA is available at: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/nt/woodbuffalo/info/action/strategie-env-assessment and the Executive Summary of the SEA at: https://www.mightypeacewatershedalliance.org/app/download/10239153871/Executive+Summary+WBNP+SEA+30May2018.pdf?t=1549048400

Important lessons learned from the project

Collaboration with the Indigenous people of the Wood Buffalo National Park area was critical to facilitating a report that comprehensively relied on Indigenous knowledge as well as science.

To learn more about Indigenous relations at Parks Canada visit: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/agence-agency/aa-ia