Developing and applying a framework to evaluate the efficacy of cumulative effects management in policy

Human activities such as mining, forestry, and agriculture contribute to cumulative effects that jeopardize ecosystem health—often described as a "death by a thousand cuts." These effects are, arguably, a failure of legislation and poorly managed globally despite their known prevalence. This thesis: 1) develops a framework synthesizing knowledge on what is needed in legislation to manage cumulative effects, and 2) applies the framework to five provincial statutes from British Columbia, Canada. Developed through a literature review and expert collaboration, the framework identifies 21 elements in four categories representing dimensions of effective cumulative effects management. Five acts were evaluated through deductive content analysis. Specific elements that were generally underrepresented include Indigenous sovereignty, climate change consideration, and government collaboration, while decision-maker discretion remains prevalent. Newer, non-sector specific legislation contained more elements that can enable effective cumulative effects management than older, sector-specific legislation. Regional assessments and planning offer promising paths forward.