Living Lakes Canada
Linking science to action at the grassroots level
Canada needs active, community-supported water stewardship like never before. But connecting the scientific tools of monitoring and rehabilitation with the agents of change—community members—is a challenge. In 2010, with the help of Global Nature Fund, Wildsight and the Lake Winnipeg Foundation created Living Lakes Network Canada (LLNC). This new network will link science to action by supporting citizen-based water stewardship efforts in Canada and beyond.
Our aim
Our aim is to foster citizen-based stewardship of our lakes, wetlands and watersheds. We will apply Living Lakes networking principles—principles that strengthen ties between water stewardship groups around the world—to assist groups in both Canada and the U.S. The LLNC will facilitate and initiate projects that result in long-term protection of our precious freshwater resources. It will also increase the capacity of the water stewardship community so this work can continue into the future.
The Living Lakes Network Canada aims to facilitate monitoring, protection, rehabilitation and policy development for long-term protection of Canada’s water bodies through the following areas:
- Watershed awareness
- Community-based watershed stewardship
- Protection and restoration of sensitive natural areas
- Sustainable water use
- Detection and prevention of aquatic invasive species
- Innovative water policy
About the International Living Lakes Network
Living Lakes is an international, non-governmental network whose mission is to enhance the protection, restoration and rehabilitation of the lakes and wetlands of the world. The network was created in 1998 by Global Nature Fund in Germany and is now a partnership of more than 70 environmental organizations representing 64 lakes and wetlands worldwide. Living Lakes sub-networks have been developed nationally in China and Italy and regional networks have been established for Eastern Europe, Latin America and Eastern Africa. Now it is Canada’s turn; Wildsight and the Lake Winnipeg Foundation are leading the way with Living Lakes Network Canada. The network will build on successes of the two lead groups, enabling organizations from across Canada and the U.S. to share knowledge and experience towards enhancing, protecting and restoring water-based ecosystems.
The need to standardize stewardship practices
Wildsight and the Lake Winnipeg Foundation consulted with water experts throughout North America. They found unanimous support for the need to standardize lake monitoring, classification and rehabilitation methods. The scientific community views Living Lakes Network Canada as an essential way to fill the gap between science and on-the-ground water stewardship. Therefore, LLNC is looking to help standardize stewardship practices based on existing successes, such as Wildsight’s Lake Windermere Project.
“I cannot overemphasize the importance of helping citizen-based water stewardship groups communicate and network to exchange information. Such communication often prevents harmful developments and citizens are better equipped to identify water quality problems in early stages.”
- Dr. David Schindler, Professor of Ecology at University of Alberta and member of the Living Lakes Network Canada Advisory Board
Water and climate: the connection
Water scientists agree that this type of work is both urgent and timely. Water stewardship is an effective way to show people how climate change is and will affect their water supply. This is essential knowledge for peoples and societies as they make decisions about watershed protection.
For more information visit our website at www.livinglakes.ca
