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This case study examines the environmental information infrastructure supporting lentil production and conservation tillage in Canada, specifically within the Prairie region. It analyzes how information flows between farmers, researchers, and organizations to manage soil fertility and erosion, while identifying gaps between farm-level informal monitoring and national-level formal reporting.

This research paper develops and tests indicators of adaptive capacity to climate change for agriculture across 53 Census Divisions in the Canadian Prairie region. Using a framework of six determinants—economic resources, technology, infrastructure, information/skills/management, institutions/networks, and equity—the authors created an aggregated index to identify regions of high and low adaptive capacity. The study finds that adaptive capacity is strongly correlated with proximity to urban centres and highlights a significant data gap regarding surface and groundwater resources. By comparing census-based indices with field interviews, the paper concludes that while statistical indicators provide a useful spatial perspective, site-specific research is essential for designing effective adaptation policies.

This report examines how farmers in the Canadian Prairie agroecosystem, specifically in Saskatchewan, adapt to increasing weather variability and climate change. Using the CRISTAL tool, the research identifies key weather stresses, their impacts on farm resources, and the coping strategies employed by producers. The findings distinguish between 'status quo' farmers and 'innovative' or 'leading' farmers, concluding that resilience is closely linked to diversification, the adoption of new technologies like zero-till farming, and a reduced dependence on government programs.

This report describes a project by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to develop sustainability indicators for the urban First Nations community in Winnipeg. The initiative focuses on a community-led process to identify key issues and measures of well-being across four domains—social, environmental, economic, and cultural—based on the Aboriginal Medicine Wheel, aiming to create a baseline for monitoring progress and influencing policy.

This 2008 report estimates the economic value of ecosystem services in the 40,000 km2 Pimachiowin Aki area of Manitoba and Ontario. It finds a conservative annual value of CDN$121.35 to $130.30 million, driven largely by fishing, water treatment, and carbon sequestration, while noting a massive carbon stock value of up to CDN$17.5 billion. The report argues that the ecosystem benefits are 28 times higher than the CDN$4.48 million in annual public expenditures used for its conservation.

This preliminary report details the development of a sustainability indicators system designed to measure the well-being of the urban First Nations community in Winnipeg. A joint project between the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), the initiative uses a bottom-up approach to identify key issues and baseline measures through community engagement forums, utilizing the traditional Medicine Wheel as a holistic framework.

This report explores the development of environment and sustainable development (ESD) policies in K–12 schools in Manitoba and across Canada. It identifies three primary approaches to policy development: government-led "whole school" initiatives, independent certification and award programs, and individual school district policy development. The document highlights a gap between the advanced sustainability policy frameworks in the tertiary education sector and the more sporadic, often fragmented approach in K–12 education, particularly in Manitoba where many schools act without district-level mandates.

The 'Choose the Future: Education for Sustainable Development' conference, held in Winnipeg, Canada, from November 26–28, 2008, served as a forum for educators, business leaders, and government officials to discuss the integration of sustainable development (SD) into formal and non-formal education. Organized by the Manitoba Education for Sustainable Development Working Group (MESDWG), the event aligned with the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014) and showcased various initiatives, research, and leadership models aimed at fostering a culture of sustainability in Manitoba and across Canada.

This executive summary describes an economic valuation of ecosystem services within the proposed Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage site, conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development to support a UNESCO application. The assessment aims to demonstrate that the site's natural state provides higher value than current economic activity suggests, focusing on services such as carbon sequestration, air and water filtration, and recreation.

This report, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), provides a literature review and conceptual foundation for developing sustainability indicators for the urban First Nations community in Winnipeg. It examines the historical context of First Nations in Canada, the challenges of data collection, and the application of culturally relevant frameworks, such as the medicine wheel, to measure well-being and guide policy action.

This research paper, written by Dale S. Rothman of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for Environment Canada, serves as a conceptual document for the development of the Canadian Environmental Outlook (CEO). It defines the CEO as an integrated environmental assessment designed to provide a forward-looking analysis of the interactions between society and the environment to support strategic decision-making and policy formulation in Canada.

This report details the proof of concept testing (POCT) of the Canadian Biodiversity Index (CBI), a tool designed to consistently assess and convey biodiversity status and trends across Canada. The testing applied the CBI framework to two distinct ecounits—Netley-Libau Marsh in Manitoba and Banks Island in the Northwest Territories—to evaluate the index's methodology, the effectiveness of its normalized scoring scale, and the challenges of data availability.

The YCLSF Participant Manual 2006/2007 is a comprehensive guide for recent Canadian graduates participating in the Young Canadian Leaders for a Sustainable Future (YCLSF) program. Managed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the program provides entry-level overseas work experience in sustainable development to help participants build careers in the field. The manual details administrative requirements, placement preparations, financial compensation, reporting obligations, and strategies for adapting to living and working abroad, as well as the process of re-entering Canada.

This guide proposes the implementation of Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZs) in Winnipeg to enable neighbourhoods to develop local action plans for environmental sustainability. Based on the 'Sustainable Winnipeg' strategy, the guide outlines key environmental issues—including climate change, urban energy, land use, transportation, waste, water, and pesticides—and details pilot results from three diverse neighbourhoods: Whyte Ridge, Riverview, and West Broadway. It advocates for a shift from 'one size fits all' municipal programming toward community-based social marketing (CBSM) to foster long-term behaviour change.

This report, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), develops a conceptual methodology called the 'Impact Pathway approach' to value changes in agri-environmental indicators. The report tests this methodology on five specific indicators: Risk of Water Erosion, Risk of Water Contamination by Phosphorus, GHG Emissions, Energy Use Efficiency, and Wildlife Habitat Availability. It identifies critical data gaps, particularly in transport modelling for water-related indicators, and explores linkages between these valuations and integrated economic-environmental modelling and social indicators.

This report, a collaboration between the Center for Human Rights and Environment (CEDHA) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), examines the experiences of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in adopting the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. It details the organizational benefits, implementation barriers, and specific case studies of CEDHA and IISD, ultimately recommending that the GRI develop a dedicated sector supplement for CSOs or service-providing organizations to better address their unique operational realities.

This research paper examines agri-environmental and rural development programs within the WTO framework, specifically focusing on the 'Green Box' of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). It analyzes the practices of the 'Quad' countries (EU, US, Canada, and Japan) and evaluates how the Doha Round negotiations might impact the ability of developing countries to implement similar sustainable agriculture policies.

The YCLSF Host Organization Guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2001, provides operational instructions for organizations hosting interns under the Young Canadian Leaders for a Sustainable Future project. The project is part of the Government of Canada's Youth International Internship Program (YIIP), designed to provide unemployed or underemployed Canadian youth up to age 30 with their first paid international career experience in sustainable development.

This 1997 draft report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the University of Toronto examines the vulnerability of agriculture in the Canadian Prairies to climate change. It analyzes historical droughts, projects future agroclimatic shifts, and discusses the economic and policy adaptations required to maintain sustainability and global competitiveness.

This status report examines how climate change and variability are expected to affect outdoor recreation and tourism in the Canadian Prairie Provinces. It analyzes the relationship between the natural resource base (water, vegetation, and wildlife) and recreational activities, noting that while warmer temperatures may extend the summer season, they threaten winter sports and water quality. The report highlights the economic risks for rural communities diversifying into tourism and provides recommendations for more locale-specific climate scenarios and resource management strategies.