Welcome to BBEMA

The Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association (BBEMA) is a not-for-profit charitable organization governed by a board of directors that broadly represents the citizens of the area and its resource-based industries. Nine directors are elected from the community by the membership during the annual general meeting and three are appointed by the 3 levels of government-municipal, provincial and federal. The BBEMA Board of Directors chooses from its members its own executive committee. A number of working committees, comprised of Directors, members, staff and interested individuals assist in delivering BBEMA’s objectives. Monthly Board of Directors meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of every month at the BBEMA office, located in Emerald at the Train Station.

BBEMA was originally established under Environment Canada’s Green Plan in 1992 as an Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) site. This program is a “ means of mobilizing local communities to address their own environmental and developmental challenges”. The purpose of the ACAP sites are to develop strategies for managing the coastal resources of 13 designated areas in Atlantic Canada. Since ACAP’s inception in the early 1990’s, additional ACAP sites have been established, each with a distinct environmental setting (generally watershed-based) and tasked with developing a Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) by engaging watershed stakeholders and based on a long-term vision supported by clear objectives.

The goal of the original Management Plan was to provide a framework for citizen-based education and action that reduced soil erosion, maintained water quality and improved the ecosystem. The CEMP assisted BBEMA in its overall mission statement “to provide opportunities and direction for citizens of the area to conserve and enhance their environment through planning, education, partnerships and projects”.

Since our establishment in 1992, we've been worked with people of all ages and from many different sectors such as school children, community groups and farmers on many projects related to education, research and monitoring.

Our projects and activities focus on our key management areas: Soil Erosion, Water Quality, Natural Habitat Conservation, Climate Change and Public Awareness

The Mission Statement of the organization is:

“To provide sustainable environmental opportunities for the people of the Bedeque Bay watershed, to conserve and enhance their watershed through planning, education, projects and partnerships.”

The Vision for the watershed, which forms a foundation for the plan, was developed through the SCDP process:

“We envision the Bedeque Bay watershed supporting an improved quality of life within its boundaries through sustainable land use practices, the protection of our water resources and conservation of our natural habitats, ensuring environmental health and prosperity of our watershed for future generations.”