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Borders, Barriers, and Breakthroughs in the Cascadia Corridor
Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University
  • Troy D. Abel, Western Washington University
  • Jenni Pelc, Western Washington University
  • Lauren F. Miller, Western Washington University
  • Jacqueline Quarre, Western Washington University
  • Kathryn Mork, Western Washington University
Document Type
Book
Publication Date
11-1-2011
Keywords
  • Political biogeography,
  • Cascadia wildlife corridor,
  • Common Pool Resources
Abstract

This project focused on dilemmas of political biogeography through a case study of wildlife conservation and management efforts in the transboundary Cascadia region. Our team examined the interface of political science and biogeography, or “political biogeography,” through its manifestations in the evolving opportunities and barriers to regional wildlife conservation in the shared terrestrial ecosystems of British Columbia and Washington. Our research combined content analysis of policy documents and semi-structured stakeholder interviews and questionnaires. We also produced a series of maps and GIS data layers that provide useful spatial information about the wildlife commons in the Cascadia region. The results of the content analysis and surveys present a picture of uneven management with fragmentation on both sides of the border and as a result, very few efforts in civic ecosystem management. In short, the Cascadia wildlife corridor needs some CPR, or the resource, institutional, and stakeholder characteristics that have been identified as essential to the successful management of Common Pool Resources (CPR). Our research leads to several policy prescriptions including: (1) communication efforts that begin to establish a geographic identity for the Cascadia wildlife corridor; (2) participatory efforts that foster civic environmentalism; and (3) institutional governance building at multiple scales.

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Biogeography--Political aspects--North Cascades (B.C. and Wash.); Wildlife conservation--Political aspects--North Cascades (B.C. and Wash.); Wildlife management--Political aspects--North Cascades (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
North Cascades (B.C. and Wash.)
Genre/Form
books
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Abel, Troy D., Jenni Pelc, Lauren Miller, Jacqueline Quarre, and Kathryn Mork. 2011. Borders, Barriers, and Breakthroughs in Cascadia’s Wildlife Commons. Research Report No. 15. Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University. Bellingham, WA.