
About
From extensive biodiversity loss and a crisis for the Fraser River’s salmon populations, to urban runoff, outdated stormwater infrastructure, development pressure, a rapidly growing human population and climate change, the ecological resilience of the Lower Fraser River faces unprecedented challenges. Multiple organizations and agencies support efforts to address these threats, however, no strategy, network or mechanism exists to align contemporary interests, plans or agendas.
Tens of millions of dollars continue to be invested in restoring the Lower Fraser River without coordination across or within funding agencies. These disjointed management approaches do not adequately provide for ecological health or the species and people that rely on it. The need for coordinated and focused collaboration is clear.
We established the Adapting for Ecological Resilience Network to help align efforts and encourage collaboration between various groups. The goal of the network is to rapidly advance adaptation for ecological resilience in the Lower Fraser River to make the region one of the world’s most resilient.
The network is intended to be an open table for anyone engaged in activities aligned with this broad purpose. Our initial focus is to support NGO collaboration as a manageable first step given current interests in furthering collaboration.

Structure
AFER hosts larger Network meetings several times a year that is more general in scope and intended to be open to anyone that has participated in the Network previously. To provide space for more focused discussions on key topics, specific working groups meet quarterly to share knowledge, discuss best practices, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Working Group Themes
1) Information and Data-sharing
2) Implementation of Nature-based Solutions
3) Watershed Education
4) Identification of Funding and Fiscal Tools
5) Reconciliation and Relationships