A large 3 year project comprised of a collection of applied research projects supported by the Sustainability Scholars Program focused on restoring and protecting the endangered Fraser Estuary.

Overview

The Fraser Estuary Research Collaborative (FERC) has been generously supported with three years of funding from the Sitka Foundation. Starting summer 2022, cohorts of Sustainability Scholars have worked with mentors from NGO and other partner organizations to produce applied research on the critical and highly imperiled estuarine ecosystem adjacent to the UBC Vancouver campus.
 

IMPACT REPORTS

Download and read reports to learn more about the twenty-eight Sustainability Scholars projects and their important contribution towards revitalizing the health, abundance, diversity and resilience of the Fraser River Estuary.

Year 1   Year 2 

 

Funding Scholars

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing inequality are some of the most urgent issues facing our world today. Support from donors will allow scholars to make a direct impact through organizations doing the on-the-ground work needed to address climate change and other critical sustainability challenges..

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FEATURED PROJECTS

Explore projects completed by Sustainability Scholars for the Fraser Estuary Research Collaborative. 

Visualizing a Restored and Resilient Fraser Estuary: A Graphic Rendering of North Arm Intertidal Habitat Park

Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
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Challenges and opportunities to accelerate eelgrass and saltmarsh conservation and restoration in the Fraser River estuary

Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
Policy, Economics & Governance
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Climate Change Indicators for Pacific Salmon in the Fraser River estuary

Climate Change & Energy
Ecological Systems
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WORK WITH US

The Fraser Estuary Research Collaborative, through the Sustainability Scholars Program, provides paid internship opportunities to UBC graduate students with NGO partners working on applied research projects that advance protection and restoration of the Fraser River Estuary.

SUSTAINABILITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

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PARTNER WITH FERC 

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APPLY FOR A SCHOLARS POSITION

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RELATED NEWS

Green Groups and Grad Students Meet at the Blue Cabin

Learn about Sustainability Scholars involved in year one of the Fraser Estuary Research Collaborative.
Read more
Ecological Systems
Natural Resources

Protecting biodiversity, culture, and ecosystem services in the Fraser River Estuary

Natural Resources

Paid summer internships to help protect BC’s most vital river

PROJECT LIBRARY

Visualizing a Restored and Resilient Fraser Estuary: A Graphic Rendering of North Arm Intertidal Habitat Park

This project aims to visually communicate the importance of restoration work for the health of the Lower Fraser River. Graphic renderings raise awareness, generate public support and motivate investors, making them useful tools for achieving ecological enhancement.  By visualizing the creation of "North Arm Intertidal Habitat Park" this project examines the importance of tidal marsh habitat, and proposes an opportunity for its restoration and protection within the Fraser River Estuary.

Partner: Rivershed Society of BC
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: biodiversity, ecological systems, restoration

Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Tess Adebar

Integrated flood management for climate, salmon, agriculture, and community resilience in the Lower Mainland

This research project involved a literature review to develop several case studies of collaborative flood management governance regimes that proactively consider climate change, ecosystems, food security, indigenous rights, and flood risk. To present valuable experiences from real-world case studies, the research reviewed several promising integrated floodplain management programs and some associated projects, such as a agricultural floodplain pilot, levee setbacks, and tidal marsh restoration.

Partner: Resilient Waters
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, flood risk, indigenous rights

Climate Change & Energy
Ecological Systems
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Saeed Mohammadiun

Climate Change Indicators for Pacific Salmon in the Fraser River estuary

This project aims to identify how climate change will alter the Fraser River estuary and the effects this will have on the Pacific salmon species that inhabit it. Climate indicators relevant to salmon populations are identified and analyzed for trends through time to understand the potential impact on salmon.

Partner: Pacific Salmon Foundation
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: biodiversity, ecological systems, water 

Climate Change & Energy
Ecological Systems
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Ian Chambers

Harnessing the Collective Power of Nature Clubs for Invasive Species Management

BC Nature is a federation of over 50 nature clubs throughout BC, and one of its main purposes is to support the work and goals of those clubs. Many of the clubs in the Lower Mainland conduct similar invasive species management activities, however, currently there is not enough communication and no collective strategy amongst them. This report identifies club actions that are benefiting species at risk and proposes collaborative projects with potential funding opportunities in the Lower Mainland.

Partner: BC Nature
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: biodiversity, ecological management, restoration

Ecological Systems
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Kephra Beckett

Traditional foodlands in the Fraser Estuary: Impacts of pollution, invasive species, and climate change on Indigenous food sovereignty

Settler colonial-capitalist policies have reduced the ability of Indigenous peoples to harvest foods from and enact food sovereignty within the Fraser River estuary. This report explores the repercussions of environmental change on traditional foods in the estuary, focusing on pollution, invasive species, and climate change. The report culminates in recommendations to support healthy habitat for traditional food species and recommendations for collaborating with Musqueam on food sovereignty.

Partner: Centre for Sustainable Food Systems
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: ecological systems, food systems, social sustainability

Climate Change & Energy
Ecological Systems
Human Well-being & Social Systems
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Katharine Baldwin

Exploring Opportunities to Accord the Fraser River Estuary Legal Recognition

This report explores the opportunities to grant legal recognition to the Fraser River estuary. This includes a global survey of rights-of-nature laws in other jurisdictions and an assessment of the feasibility of applying these models in the local context.

Partner: Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: biodiversity, ecological systems, water

Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
Policy, Economics & Governance
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Avery Pasternak

Re-storying Our Relationship: As We Journey On The Pathway

The purpose of this project is to (a) Identify and create innovative approaches to research, knowledge sharing, storytelling and engagement by centring Indigenous and diverse lenses, and (b) Re-story and model how to implement walking A Pathway Together collaboratively.

Through respectful Indigenous and intercultural approaches, and centering the Coast Salish protocol, a holistic understanding of the interrelationships is invited.  Re-storying our relationships through an older oral traditions lens models both knowledge translation and dissemination across diverse perspectives.  Storytelling relays the rich nuanced cultural data being offered, encouraging connections between the Fraser River estuary, river, ocean and all who live within these communities, both human and non-human.

Partner: Sierra Club of British Columbia Foundation
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: biodiversity, ecological systems, indigenous Coast Salish & intercultural lens

Climate Change & Energy
Ecological Systems
Human Well-being & Social Systems
Policy, Economics & Governance
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
2022
Fiona Kelly

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