Grant Murray and his team at Vancouver Island University’s Institute for Coastal Research have spectacular reminders of their reason for existence when they look east from their vantage point on the fourth floor of the library.
The panoramic view beyond downtown Nanaimo includes ferries and freighters navigating Georgia Strait.
Bald eagles are often seen soaring above the Nanaimo estuary, an important natural resource that has long been highly valued by the Snuneymuxw First Nation.
As Canada research chairman in coastal resource management since 2006, Murray has developed an interdisciplinary approach at the institute to focus on a range of issues.
He was recently appointed to a second five-year term through the federal government initiative overseen by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Ministry of Industry.
“It’s a major goal for me to have the ICR recognized as a hub of excellence in interdisciplinary research and dialogue on the human dimension of coastal resources and coastal issues,” he said.
As co-director of Protected Areas and Poverty Reduction: A Canada-Africa Research and Learning Alliance, Murray is part of a team examining the relationship between protected areas and adjacent communities in Canada, Ghana and Tanzania.
It is a complex issue that involves inquiries into areas such as human-wildlife encounters and the costs and benefits of tourism development in protected areas.
“Tourism development might not be good for everyone,” he said. “It’s important to look at how many dollars come in and who gets them.”
Murray has worked closely with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in Clayoquot Sound and the First Nation’s initiative to establish tribal parks that are managed according to ancestral teachings to integrate the well-being of humans and the ecosystem.
Indigenous communities, whether in Canada or Africa, face significant challenges as they pursue higher standards of living while protecting natural habitat.
“Poverty makes it difficult to deal with environmental concerns,” said Murray. “People who are worried about shelter or putting food on the table or sending their kids to school often find it difficult to deal with environmental concerns. It’s not always the case, but it complicates the issue.”