Evaluating the process for planning and management of shorebird viewing within the Bay of Fundy Biosphere Reserve Nomination Initiative (New Brunswick)

This research evaluates the Bay of Fundy Biosphere Reserve Nomination Initiative (BRNI) process as a mechanism for moving towards sustainable shorebird viewing, a form of nature-based tourism, in the Dorchester-Grande Anse-Johnson's Mills area of the Upper Bay of Fundy. Sustainability principles and decision-making goals are combined to produce a framework of eight evaluative criteria upon which the research instrument, a questionnaire, and assessment are based. Data were collected via the administration of the questionnaire during in-depth interviews with twenty stakeholders.; The BRNI process has acted as a catalyst for increasing collaborative efforts to address shorebird-viewing issues, but its scope and design are not yet sufficiently defined to allow it to deal with such substantive issues efficiently and effectively. This lack of clarity also affects participation, resource availability, and stakeholder support. The process has improved levels of awareness and understanding about challenges to the sustainability of shorebird viewing and shorebird populations; however, it must become more inclusive and consistent if it is to produce stable decisions and agreements. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...