In March 2000, the Alberta Government launched the Northern East Slopes Sustainable Resource and Environmental Management Strategy (NES Strategy). This strategy was established to improve resource management within a specific study area and to provide a guide for similar strategies in the province's future. Important to its success was Foothills Research Institute research results, technology, and advice facilitate the strategy's development and implementation. To ensure first-rate facilitation, Foothills Research Institute formed the NES Sustainable Resource and Environmental Management Strategy Program (NES Program).
How, specifically, does the NES Program facilitate the NES Strategy? The program contributes technical information, scientific advice, and local level indicator results and technology. It provides the NES Strategy with Foothills Research Institute local level indicator set as well, which supplies the NES Strategy with a framework to develop its own regional level indicator set. Moreover, the NES Program provides cumulative effects modeling, economic modeling, and research results from Foothills Research Institute's Grizzly Bear Research Program and Natural Disturbance Program. It also offers support with aboriginal consultation. This assistance all has contributed to NES Strategy recommendations. Additionally, the NES Program reviews, critiques, influences, and supports both interim and final products of the NES Strategy.
The NES Program is able to provide exceptional support because of its affiliation with Foothills Research Institute The land base of Foothills Research Institute lies on the Rockies' northeast slopes—on some of NES Strategy study area. As well, Foothills Research Institute itself possesses a great deal of practical research and data, and it effectively manages new program initiatives and research opportunities.
For example, Foothills Research Institute local level indicators (at the regional level) help Foothills Research Institute participants, land managers, and resource managers develop and report the strategy's progress. Foothills Research Institute models and their "scenarios" help land and resource managers understand potential resource management options and problems. Additionally, Foothills Research Institute communications tools and products help land managers and resource managers better understand and accept integrated resource management. Its communications tools assist aboriginal consultation as well. Indeed—because it is part of Foothills Research Institute—the NES Program can provide information that guides NES Strategy recommendations for ecologically sustainable policy.