EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION (IFC) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS (2010): Blackstone undertook a rapid appraisal of private companies operating with financing from the IFC in nine countries around the world, from the perspective of affected stakeholders (communities; employees, etc.). We provided well received recommendations regarding how to strengthen the IFC’s Performance Standards and company practices.
DESIGN OF A $20 MILLION LOAN FOR TOURISM IN BOLIVIA: Through a very rigorous stakeholder engagement process we undertook preparation of a large loan to stimulate tourism in Bolivia. Because the focus was on community-based tourism, our work involved the detailed design of a matching grant facility to enable communities and community members to participate in and benefit from tourism.
SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING TOOLKIT FOR ONTARIO’S 400 MUNICIPALITIES (2008-2009): Blackstone was retained by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to develop a web-based manual to guide sustainable development initiatives in Ontario’s 400 municipalities, encompassing community energy initiatives, water management, solid waste management, transportation, etc... [See: http://www.amo.on.ca/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Integrated_Community_Sustainability_Plan&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=150880]
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR COMMUNITIES IN ONTARIO: Blackstone developed and delivered day-long interactive training sessions on sustainability planning with municipal leaders, which were attended by several hundred people throughout the Province. One of the outcomes have been over two dozen case studies of municipalities that are taking different but very successful approaches to sustainability planning;
DIAGNOSIS OF THE IMPACTS OF MAJOR DOWNSIZING OF THE PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY IN A NORTHERN ONTARIO COMMUNITY: Blackstone assisted a northern Ontario community to begin the process of diversifying and exploring various options towards long-term socio-economic sustainability;
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PLANNING FOR NUNAVUT - EASTERN ARCTIC OF CANADA: We have been retained to carry out a number of sustainable tourism projects throughout the Eastern Canadian Arctic, to grow the industry while protecting the highly sensitive environmental resources and considering the needs of the indigenous population.
NOVA SCOTIA: TREASURE HUNTING AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF MARINE HERITAGE RESOURCES Following extensive consultations with stakeholders, and a comprehensive analysis of legislative and other issues, Blackstone designed a well received sustainable marine heritage management strategy.
TRAINING: DIRECTOR OF THE SILVICULTURE INSTITUTE (US Forest Service/Forest Industry): A continuing education partnership between Oregon State University and University of Washington consisting of six, 2-week modules for mid-career foresters to update their education on the social, environmental and economic intricacies of ecosystem management and its application in preparing for certification. (D. DeYeo)
SAFE USE OF HERBICIDES TO OPTIMIZE SURVIVAL AND GROWTH FOR FOREST SEEDLINGS (MacMillan Bloedel): A developmental research project designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of financial and biological protocols for development of corporate policy on herbicide use to optimize growth and survival of forest seedlings, undertaken by our environmental specialist, D. DeYeo;
STRATEGIC POSITIONING OF PROVINCIAL FOREST RESEARCH – THE BIOECONOMY (Ontario Forest Research Institute - OFRI): As the forest sector in North America began to encounter financial stress in the late-90’s our environmental specialist, D. DeYeo, initiated several strategic R&D programs to explore opportunities for use of forest biomass and certain plant species in diverse product sectors. These included energy, transportation fuels, foods, and pharmaceuticals and/or nuetraceuticals. Specific projects were use of biomass for home heating, development of bio-oil to displace petroleum, and preparation of the cancer drug taxol from Canada Yew.
SUSTAINALBE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE TRENT SEVERN WATERWAY TO COMMUNITIES ALONG ITS PATH. Our Associate economic development specialist, Kelly O’Brien, was part of a team that examined the nature and magnitude of the contributions of the Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW) to the economic vitality of the various communities along its route. This study was used to help inform the Panel on the Future of the Trent-Severn Waterway as to the economic role and function of the Waterway to adjacent communities, as well as ways that the Waterway could continue to contribute to the sustainability and economic development of those communities.
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDIES. Our Associate economic development specialist has been involved in several sustainable economic development studies, including a sustainable investment attraction strategy study for the Calgary Region. This study included an evaluation of investment attraction opportunities using sustainability performance criteria related to growth potential, wage levels, commute levels, environmental impacts, and community fit.
ARUBA: SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS OF A MAJOR PROPOSED TOURISM EXPANSION: The Government of Aruba asked the proponent to engage Blackstone to assess the impact on the long-term social, economic and environmental consequences of the development of 5,000 new tourism rooms in a previously undeveloped part of the island.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION ASSESSMENT (World Bank): Issues of sustainability included physical maintenance issues (e.g., use of the roads by destructive truck traffic and heavy military vehicles) and social issues (e.g., improvements of roadways that would increase travel speeds and potentially increase the already high accident rates), among others;
CROATIA: KARST ECOSYSTEM AND NATIONAL PARKS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (World Bank) After ten years of political turmoil and war, the aim of this project was to document the current social situation around and within the parks (including an assessment of whether the Serbs were returning to the area), what impacts human activities are having on the environment, and what the implications of the war have been on the country’s once-vibrant tourism industry.
CONSERVER VALUES STUDY and CONSERVER VALUES IN THE WORKPLACE (Ontario Ministry of Environment) MOE engaged Blackstone to undertake two major research projects to evaluate conserver and consumer values, attitudes and behaviours, in the context of current and possible future government initiatives leading towards greater sustainability.
DEVELOPMENT OF TORONTO AS A GREEN TOURISM DESTINATION (City of Toronto): The purpose was to both determine the feasibility of developing Toronto as an “urban ecotourism” destination and to encourage green practices among the City’s many tourism businesses.
CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMING STRATEGIES: This work entailed development of a regional strategy and individual environmental strategies for 13 Caribbean countries.
ORGANIZATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS RELATED TO CRUISE SHIP AND LAND-BASED WASTE: (World Bank) Blackstone oversaw the project and undertook socio-economic and tourism aspects of this World Bank-funded assignment, including consideration of institutional, legislative, cultural, land use planning, environmental education and awareness-building requirements related to the upgrading of solid waste management facilities on six islands, as well as opportunities for private sector involvement.
PREPARATION OF THE BIOENERGY WORKBOOK FOR COMMUNITIES/COMPANIES IN NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO (Ontario Government): A comprehensive status report on the availability, use and utility of biomass for energy and value added products, emerging technologies showing promise, business planning and best practices for bio-energy based companies, and due diligence protocols to enable informed decisions and minimize risk. The workbook has been shared across Northern Ontario. A Bio-Energy Primer was also developed to accommodate the needs and interests of the general public.
DEVELOPMENT OF DISABILITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: Developed the formal Disability Management Program for a major hospital and directed all activities of the Case Review Committee Task Team. The program achieved: a) WSIB N.E.E.R. refund for the Hospital at a cost savings of $230,000 within three (3) years, b) Reduction in attendance management sick time days by 38% in 2 years, and c) Decreased annual disability/illness lost time and associated costs by 32% within 2 years.
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CLAIMS MANAGMENT AND ACCIDENT REPORTING PROTOCOLS: Protocols accident incident reporting and investigation and development of proactive safety procedures to prevent future occurrencesreduced department overhead costs associated with accident reporting by 57%, reduced lost time injuries by 58.1% within 3 years, and conducted injury prevention workshops which reduced average accident frequency by 27%.
