This thesis used traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) to assess the impacts of climate change on food security for First Nations communities located in the western James Bay region of northern Ontario. In addition, climate scenarios were derived from General Circulation Models (GCMs) and Regional Climate Models (RCMs). The TEK data revealed there were no observable climatic-related effects on fish species (i.e., distributional change) except the fish die-offs of July 2005. Climate data specific for the period of the fish die-offs in the Albany River (the western James Bay region) indicated not only a temporal relationship between a heat wave and the fish die-offs, but also a concurrent period of reduced precipitation. Climate scenarios showed increases in mean air temperature for all seasons, all time periods (2011– 2040, 2041– 2070, and 2071– 2100), and all emission scenarios (A2, A1B, and B1); however, the results for seasonal total precipitation were variable, dependent emission scenarios. TEK suggest that increasing temperatures may not be the only climate change phenomena of importance; climate variability and extreme events were reported as precipitating fish die-offs and changes in the timing of harvesting of fish. Further research should concentrate on the investigation of climate change and food security issues in sub-arctic regions.

As the field of restoration continues to develop, it is important that initiatives are evaluated for their effectiveness and to explore the motivations and justifications behind the projects‘ designs. Current restoration ecology seeks to orient projects toward the future instead of rooting them in the past. By focusing on ecosystem function rather than specific species composition, the needs of the current ecosystem are better able to be addressed. The dynamic and complex nature of ecosystems means restoration ecologists must have a firm understanding of current conditions and design several trajectories for restoration projects. Not all current restoration projects adhere to this more recent framework, and many fall short of achieving goals set by international organizations, such as the Society for Ecological Restoration. The Atlantic Salmon Reintroduction Program for Lake Ontario began in 2006 with the goal of establishing a self sustaining Atlantic salmon population in Lake Ontario. Over 30 organizations have joined together to implement this program which involves fish production, habitat restoration, monitoring and assessment as well as education and outreach. Though some success has been achieved through habitat projects and observation of some returning adults, the future of the project is still being evaluated. By reviewing relevant literature and conducting interviews with key partners, the program was evaluated for its adherence to restoration principles and the following areas were used to evaluate its success. These broad themes included: (1) the biological interactions of these fish with their surroundings; (2) the history of the ecosystem; (3) the influence of humans on the restoration process; (4) the value laden aspect of the iv process; and (5) the extent of a ―systems‖ approach. The justification for this program appears to be based more on culture, aesthetic and economic value than sound ecological science but, as all respondents agreed, the ability of Lake Ontario to support a healthy, self-sustaining population of Atlantic salmon would be a good indicator of overall ecosystem health at least in terms of water quality and quantity. Despite this potential achievement, reintroducing a single extirpated species while focusing solely on its habitat and survival, fails to address the multitude of concerns within the Lake Ontario watershed. Consequently this reintroduction limits the potential for restoration of the Lake and is far less efficient and effective than had other opportunities been pursued.

Water is vital for the lives of First Nations people, but many First Nations’ communities are persistently dealing with unsafe drinking water. Over the years studies have repeatedly conveyed the deplorable drinking water conditions of First Nations. These conditions undermine the economic, social, and cultural health of these communities. Despite the ongoing attempts by various actors to change these conditions; water related concerns remain a major issue for First Nations across Canada. The intent of this research is to explore water institutions and how they are influencing water governance and management in a First Nations context. Oneida Nation of the Thames (hereafter referred to as Oneida) is used as a case study for this research because of the current drinking water concerns and the institutions commonly used in governing and managing water resources in First Nations throughout Ontario. To accomplish this research, Ostrom’s Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework was used to analyze how institutions are influencing water governance and management in Oneida. Through this analysis, an opportunity was afforded to describe the water institutions (formal and informal) and to enhance the understanding of how these institutions are guiding the behavior of people involved in water governance and management in Oneida. This research revealed several issues that are influencing the overall performance of the institutional arrangements including 1) the jurisdictional division of responsibilities to manage water resources in the Thames watershed; 2) the deficiency in public trust between the community and Elected Council; and 3) the inequity in the involvement of Traditional Council and women in water governance and management.

This thesis used traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) to assess the impacts of climate change on food security for First Nations communities located in the western James Bay region of northern Ontario. In addition, climate scenarios were derived from General Circulation Models (GCMs) and Regional Climate Models (RCMs). The TEK data revealed there were no observable climatic-related effects on fish species (i.e., distributional change) except the fish die-offs of July 2005. Climate data specific for the period of the fish die-offs in the Albany River (the western James Bay region) indicated not only a temporal relationship between a heat wave and the fish die-offs, but also a concurrent period of reduced precipitation. Climate scenarios showed increases in mean air temperature for all seasons, all time periods (2011– 2040, 2041– 2070, and 2071– 2100), and all emission scenarios (A2, A1B, and B1); however, the results for seasonal total precipitation were variable, dependent emission scenarios. TEK suggest that increasing temperatures may not be the only climate change phenomena of importance; climate variability and extreme events were reported as precipitating fish die-offs and changes in the timing of harvesting of fish. Further research should concentrate on the investigation of climate change and food security issues in sub-arctic regions.

As the field of restoration continues to develop, it is important that initiatives are evaluated for their effectiveness and to explore the motivations and justifications behind the projects‘ designs. Current restoration ecology seeks to orient projects toward the future instead of rooting them in the past. By focusing on ecosystem function rather than specific species composition, the needs of the current ecosystem are better able to be addressed. The dynamic and complex nature of ecosystems means restoration ecologists must have a firm understanding of current conditions and design several trajectories for restoration projects. Not all current restoration projects adhere to this more recent framework, and many fall short of achieving goals set by international organizations, such as the Society for Ecological Restoration. The Atlantic Salmon Reintroduction Program for Lake Ontario began in 2006 with the goal of establishing a self sustaining Atlantic salmon population in Lake Ontario. Over 30 organizations have joined together to implement this program which involves fish production, habitat restoration, monitoring and assessment as well as education and outreach. Though some success has been achieved through habitat projects and observation of some returning adults, the future of the project is still being evaluated. By reviewing relevant literature and conducting interviews with key partners, the program was evaluated for its adherence to restoration principles and the following areas were used to evaluate its success. These broad themes included: (1) the biological interactions of these fish with their surroundings; (2) the history of the ecosystem; (3) the influence of humans on the restoration process; (4) the value laden aspect of the iv process; and (5) the extent of a ―systems‖ approach. The justification for this program appears to be based more on culture, aesthetic and economic value than sound ecological science but, as all respondents agreed, the ability of Lake Ontario to support a healthy, self-sustaining population of Atlantic salmon would be a good indicator of overall ecosystem health at least in terms of water quality and quantity. Despite this potential achievement, reintroducing a single extirpated species while focusing solely on its habitat and survival, fails to address the multitude of concerns within the Lake Ontario watershed. Consequently this reintroduction limits the potential for restoration of the Lake and is far less efficient and effective than had other opportunities been pursued.

Water is vital for the lives of First Nations people, but many First Nations’ communities are persistently dealing with unsafe drinking water. Over the years studies have repeatedly conveyed the deplorable drinking water conditions of First Nations. These conditions undermine the economic, social, and cultural health of these communities. Despite the ongoing attempts by various actors to change these conditions; water related concerns remain a major issue for First Nations across Canada. The intent of this research is to explore water institutions and how they are influencing water governance and management in a First Nations context. Oneida Nation of the Thames (hereafter referred to as Oneida) is used as a case study for this research because of the current drinking water concerns and the institutions commonly used in governing and managing water resources in First Nations throughout Ontario. To accomplish this research, Ostrom’s Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework was used to analyze how institutions are influencing water governance and management in Oneida. Through this analysis, an opportunity was afforded to describe the water institutions (formal and informal) and to enhance the understanding of how these institutions are guiding the behavior of people involved in water governance and management in Oneida. This research revealed several issues that are influencing the overall performance of the institutional arrangements including 1) the jurisdictional division of responsibilities to manage water resources in the Thames watershed; 2) the deficiency in public trust between the community and Elected Council; and 3) the inequity in the involvement of Traditional Council and women in water governance and management.

A gas hydrate refers to the state in which hydrogen-bonded water molecules form a rigid lattice structure of so-called "cages", wherein "guest" molecules of natural gas are entrapped. Not unlike ice, gas hydrates are prone to form at low temperatures and high pressures; however, their crystalline structure allows them to remain stable at temperatures and pressures under which the phase limits of ice would otherwise be exceeded. To date, a number of instances of gas hydrates forming in the subsurface of Arctic climates below layers of permafrost have been identified, however the challenge of identifying past occurrences of methane hydrates during episodes of global cooling and glacial advance remains relatively unmet. During these periods of glacial/permafrost cover, the presence of hydrates could have a significant impact on the groundwater flow system due to the significant reduction of the porosity and permeability of hydrate saturated sediments. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is evidence to suggest that methane hydrates could have formed in the sedimentary units of the Michigan Basin at the Bruce nuclear site near Kincardine, Ontario, particularly when subjected to the impacts of glacial ice sheet loading. This study aims to provide insight into whether the potential impact of gas hydrates should be considered in the design of the proposed deep-geologic repository (DGR) for low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste. This study presents a framework employing regional-scale numerical modelling to estimate the evolution of temperature, pressure and salinity profiles across the study area, combined with thermodynamic predictive modelling to identify potential paleo-methane hydrate stability zones in the subsurface at the Bruce nuclear site. This study represents the first step to ultimately assess the extent of paleo-methane hydrates and their impact on subsurface conditions at the site. Transient subsurface conditions at the Bruce nuclear site were modelled over a period of 120,000 years (120 ka), encompassing episodes of glacial advance and retreat during the Pleistocene epoch. The spatial and transient outputs from numerical modelling of the study area were then used as inputs to thermodynamic predictive modelling of methane hydrate stability. The results of this study show that, based upon the subsurface temperature, pressure and salinity histories determined using a three-dimensional regional-scale numerical modelling approach, paleo-conditions at the Bruce nuclear site become conducive with methane hydrate stability during the study period. Two separate episodes of methane hydrate stability were identified - lasting from 62.5 to 56 thousand years before present (kaBP) and from 23 to 13.5 kaBP, respectively - which were found to correspond to periods of glacial advance across the study area. The vertical extent of the estimated hydrate stability zones varied across the site, however it generally followed the limits of the Upper Silurian units, penetrating to deeper elevations towards the south west end of the study area.

China used to impress the outside world as a country that was focused on its own development with few links to the rest of the globe. However, things have changed and now China is an increasingly important global player. This research uses a case study approach to demonstrate this more recent trend. By looking into the general patterns of urban development and urban tourism in Dalian, a coastal city of northern China, the study documents the efforts that a city in a developing country has made at different stages to link its social and economic development with the global scene, although some of these relationships were imposed by external world powers. Unlike many other Chinese cities which have experienced many planning initiatives, Dalian municipal officials had the foresight to have tourism development included in their urban plans as early as the 1980s, although the real importance of the role of tourism did not materialize until the late 1980s. It has been shown that tourism development of the city has been an integral part of and complementary to the overall urban development strategy. It has helped to strengthen the image of a city whose leaders have been keen to present it as clean, modern, active, and eager to promote itself to the rest of the world. They have striven to do this even though the city is still more influential at the regional rather than the global level. The environmental enhancement has not only upgraded the city’s competitive competence but, along with the construction of numerous tourism facilities, of which conference centres are an example, also embodied the notion put forward in the paper that urban facilities are largely multifunctional and are aimed at and used by clients with multiple purposes. This also implies that tourism is not an end in itself but is one means of facilitating urban development.

Sustainability has become a goal for many recreational tourism businesses. For ski resorts, the goal of sustainability has been driven by a growing understanding of the impacts ski resorts have on the biophysical environment and the host communities in which they reside. In addition, ski resort owners and operators have an inherent self-interest and ethical responsibility as corporate citizens to pursue sustainability. Has a sustainable ski resort, however, been adequately defined at a conceptual level? The current understanding of sustainable ski resorts is limiting because it encourages ski resort owners and operators to address sustainability challenges in a compartmentalized fashion and in isolation of one another. This thesis examines how ski resorts would benefit from taking an integrated systems approach to sustainability—an approach that when applied, can be used to assess the state of sustainability at an organization and can broaden the scope of decision-making at an organization. This approach is missing in an industry where sustainability has historically meant focusing on achieving outcomes in efficiency thus failing to acknowledge the broader socio-ecological footprint of a ski resort. Gibson et al. (2005) argue the journey toward sustainability ought to be guided by a set of requirements based on principles of sustainability. Such principles operate on an integrated systems approach. This thesis uses the Gibson principles as the criteria by which to assess literature that discusses desirable characteristics of businesses and recreation/tourism destinations in sustainability terms. The intention here is to incorporate context specific insights into the Gibson principles such that the Gibson principles are adapted for ski resorts. The sustainable ski resort principles emerge out of this adaptation process and are applied using an exploratory case study. Specifically, the principles are compared against the current conditions of sustainability at Blue Mountain Resort (BMR), located in the Town of Blue Mountains (Ontario), with the goal of assessing the state of sustainability at BMR. The analysis resulted in the identification of five areas where the sustainable ski resort principles advanced the understanding of what constitutes a sustainable ski resort. First, the sustainable ski resort principles clearly require that there be limits on quantitative growth and, as such, ski resorts must strive towards decoupling improvements in quality and service from further growth and consumption. Second, a sustainable ski resort contributes to narrowing the socio-economic gaps within the workplace and the host community while operating within a multigenerational timescale to ensure future generations are fairly represented. Third, a sustainable ski resort reduces its net consumption of materials and resources and invests these savings in areas that are deficient in natural and social capital. Fourth, the sustainable ski resort principles require decision making power to be shared amongst internal and external stakeholders. Fifth, stakeholders must pursue opportunities to arrive at decisions that strengthen the well-being of both human and ecological systems through the integrated application of the sustainable ski resort principles. The analysis of the case study findings reveals that five of the eight sustainable ski resort principles are partially realized as represented by BMR’s demonstrated leadership amongst ski resorts in Ontario in the areas of solid waste reduction, energy efficiency and staff/public education. As evidenced in the case study, the ski resort industry’s responses to its sustainability challenges have largely been handled in isolation using conventional approaches to decision-making that tend to address sustainability challenges as separate entities. This perpetuates the notion that sustainability challenges are detached and therefore detached solutions are proposed or pursued. These approaches fail to recognize the linkages and interdependencies between entities thereby failing to pursue integration—the essence of sustainability as articulated by the sustainable ski resort principles.

Ontario’s Greenbelt is key to the region’s sustainability and plays an important role in stopping urban sprawl, preserving agricultural land and maintaining ecological goods and services. However, there have been concerns expressed in the literature and by non-government organizations that the Greenbelt legislation, on its own, will not ensure the viability of the farming economy in this region, or ensure adequate ecological stewardship. These concerns point to the need for other programs and policies to complement the Greenbelt legislation, and to help ensure that the goals of the Greenbelt are met. This research study assesses the potential of the Alternative Land Use Services Program (ALUS) as a tool for promoting agricultural viability and associated land stewardship in Ontario’s Greenbelt. An Alternative Land Use Services program would pay farmers for the provision of environmental services in the public interest. Using a qualitative methodological approach based on a literature review, a review of government and non-government organization documents and interviews with key stakeholders, this study compares the potential contribution of the ALUS program with that of other reasonable alternatives currently available to promote farmland protection and farm stewardship. The research also provides an analytical framework and a comprehensive set of criteria for selection and design of programs in support of sustainable agriculture in the Greenbelt. The primary research findings indicate that an ALUS program in the Greenbelt, established as a stand-alone regional project or as part of a provincial or national program, could help to strengthen the Greenbelt’s roles in stopping urban sprawl, preserving agricultural land and maintaining ecological goods and services. The ALUS concept and means of applying it could also play an important role in discussions regarding how to support the farm economy and rural communities in the Greenbelt. ALUS may be particularly appropriate as a means of enhancing the economic and ecological aspects of peri-urban agriculture. One of the thesis conclusions is that while ALUS could play a positive role in the Greenbelt, the program would be insufficient if it were applied on its own. ALUS will need to be packaged with a suite of existing programs that would be able to complement ALUS and address some of its weakness in order to make a stronger contribution. This research has identified new opportunities to promote land stewardship and enhance livelihoods in the agricultural sector as well as a new agenda for sustainable agriculture in the Greenbelt. More generally, the framework for analysis that was applied in this research has a broader applicability and usefulness in sustainability-based decision making processes. The approach outlines how sustainability assessments might specify sustainability considerations and integrate them together in particular applications.