The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River themselves are an essential
feature of a wider regional ecosystem whose complexity
must be appreciated in all decision-making. This ecosystem
includes all humans, animals and plants that live within the
basin, as well as the soil, air and water that travels through the
ecosystem’s many natural cycles. Any policy or action taken
within the basin must therefore:
Be Ecosystem and Basin-Wide in Scope and Must
Include the St. Lawrence River
The Great Lakes are more than just the water they hold.
They are directly and fundamentally linked to the surrounding
watersheds and groundwater that provide the
lakes with water. The watersheds themselves are complex
interconnections of animals, plants, streams, groundwater,
soil, topography and human land uses, all of which
impact the lakes. These interactions cross political and physical boundaries and must therefore extend beyond the
Great Lakes and rivers to include the basin-wide ecosystem.
In 2006, the International Joint Commission (IJC) recommended to the governments of the United States and Canada
that an ecosystem approach be incorporated into the GLWQA. Similarly, the 2005 white paper “Prescription for Great
Lakes Ecosystem Protection and Restoration,” drafted by experts from both the United States and Canada to help guide
Great Lakes remediation in the United States, stressed that an ecosystem conceptual model be used and that remediation
efforts be basin wide.
Incorporate Adaptive Management and Follow the Precautionary Principle.
Well recognized in international environmental accords, the precautionary principle states that “if an activity raises
threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures must be taken even if some cause-and-effect
relationships are not fully established”.17 Lack of scientific certainty cannot be an excuse to justify inaction. With
respect to the Great Lakes, the precautionary principle must be applied to: assessing and managing toxic chemicals;
habitat protection; restoring water levels; protection from invasive species; and impacts of climate change. Adaptive
management accepts that there will always be knowledge gaps related to the inherent complexity of ecosystems. It
requires an iterative, participatory approach that involves continuous monitoring and adjustment of decisions as new
knowledge becomes available. Adaptive management must be incorporated with the precautionary principle. If applied
appropriately, the approach would prevent decisions or policies causing irreversible harm to the Great Lakes environment and its population.
Emphasize Species’ Habitat Health as Part of Ecosystem-Based Planning
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River are not only a source of drinking water to millions of humans; they also provide
habitat to thousands of wildlife species. The survival of these species and the maintenance of biodiversity depend
directly on the health of the Great Lakes. Threats to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River ecosystem can lead to
significant loss in species and habitats. Significant attention and resources are required to ensure that threats that lead
to species and habitat decline are eliminated.
References
[17] Raffensperger C, and J. Tickner. (eds). (1999). Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle.
Island Press: Washington DC.
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