Succesful SMBSA Funding Application to Sage Environmental Program, May 2009

We have drafted the stewardship guidelines for SMB. These guidelines list the best practices for our Bay. Our top 10 best practices are based on advise from organizations such as: GPI Atlantic, Environment Canada, Clean Nova Scotia, and our own experience with stewardship on Micou’s Island. Our stewardship indicators include: energy consumption, waste reduction, transportation needs, food sources, land preservation, water conservation, septic management and biodiversity. These practices will be fully implemented on Micou's Island and the results of these indicators will be documented for the Sage proposal.

Stewardship Principles and Goals for Micou’s Island.

1. Public outreach: promoting responsible public land use and stewardship.
Goal = Self-sufficient Island Steward program.
We intend to create a cohesive cadre of volunteers who assist DNR with the stewardship of the island. This principle describes the community impact of the program. This summer we recorded over 1500 visitors. These people will be the primary audience for next years outreach campaign. We aim to recruit donors, volunteer labour and Island Stewards from these visitors.

2. Local food supply: buy locally produced food.
Goal = 100% local food supply.
The food indicator was intended to watch the buying habits of the Island Stewards preparation for their stay and for our stewardship gatherings. We are considering ways to improve this such as working with the local health food store "Mariposa Market" to create food packages for the Island Stewards. We may also ask Island Stewards to record what they eat while on the island. The aim is to recreate a self-sufficient culture (perhaps based on Mic'ma or 1850's European diets) on the island and to start to educate Island Stewards about local food sources.

3. Transportation: reduce travel and diversify means of travel.
Goal = No fossil fuel consumption.
During their stay Island Stewards will not need a car. We are also looking at ways to provide bicycles or kayaks to transport Stewards to the island.

4. Energy consumption: reduce use of electricity and diversify energy sources.
Goal = Off-grid, the house on the island will have a small and self-sufficient power supply.
This is inevitable as it is unlikely Nova Scotia Power will replace the rotten power poles when they fall down. We have identified a solar electric option for the fan and heater in our composting toilet. We are also phasing out electric appliances such as the oven and fridge. We currently use 1592 KwH per year and are investigating ways to lower our consumption.

5. Waste reduction: reduce packaging and reuse and recycling of materials.
Goal = Zero waste, nothing on the island is thrown out.
This is a challenging principle as commercial packaging and municipal waste management directly influence it. Island Stewards currently use no-trace camping ethics. They remove anything they bring to the island. Currently we encourage bringing less packaging onto the island and rely on the municipal system for waste recovery. Ideally anything brought onto the island will used on the island.

6. Solid waste management: separate waste.
Goal = Toxic free, no harmful chemicals will be present.
This is another challenging principle. Waste is currently separated based on the municipal system. Toxic materials need to be avoided in order to protect our ecosystem. Long term planning is required to address this principle.

7. Septic management: locate and maintain your septic system.
Goal = Composting septic system.
We have a composting system, which can be maintained on site. This is the strongest piece of our waste management system.

8. Water conservation: install low flow devices and reuse gray water.
Goal = Minimal water use in house and reuse of gray water for garden.
We use an estimated 500L per year all water is reused on the garden. Next year we will include a monitoring program for water use.

9. Watershed preservation: identify and maintain natural habitats.
Goal = Designated and maintained stewardship area.
The entire 22-acre island is under a Stewardship Agreement with the provincial Department of Natural Resources. The 2-acre meadow was restored this year to provide a distinct natural habitat. We have also begun eliminating an invasive plant Japanese Knotweed, present in the northeast corner of the meadow.

10. Biodiversity: identify local flora and fauna.
Goal = An inventory of flora and fauna present on island, habitat protection and restoration.
We have begun and inventory and will continue to expand it. We have identified one species at risk on the island, Tree Peeper frogs.