Environmental Science Advisory Committee

From 1994 to 2011, the Department of National Defence administered the Environmental Science Advisory Committee (ESAC). This technical advisory committee, made up of representatives from various agencies, reviewed proposals and issued permits for natural resources–based research on lands administered by Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt in British Columbia.

The ESAC was dissolved when its letter of understanding expired on March 31, 2011.

The Canadian Forest Service provided the ESAC with scientific advice and secretariat services, including this website. In fact, the Canadian Forest Service has been helping the Department of National Defence implement a sustainable forest stewardship program for CFB Esquimalt properties since 1986.

While it existed, the ESAC permitted over 130 environmental projects on CFB Esquimalt properties, more than 50 of which lasted two years or more. The projects were conducted by groups and individuals representing a wide range of governments, agencies, academic institutions, science organizations and independent researchers.

Each year the ESAC collected, reported and archived the research findings in an annual report (print and web-based). All of the reports, from 1995 through 2010–11, are available through the Canadian Forest Service Publications Database.

Even though the ESAC has been dissolved, CFB Esquimalt remains committed to making its properties available for scientific work that benefits its Natural Resources Program. To that end, the Formation Environment Office at CFB Esquimalt has introduced a new system for facilitating access permits for scientific research.

For more information on the ESAC, or to ask about conducting environmental studies on CFB Esquimalt properties, please email CFB Esquimalt's Formation Environment Office.

More details about CFB Esquimalt and its Natural Resources Program are available on the Maritime Forces Pacific website.