The National Resource Board (NRB) is composed of long-time active Trout Unlimited Canada members as well as various fisheries, water resource management and policy, fish management and habitat conservation, and watershed management experts. The National Resource Board was constituted to provide advice and direction for Trout Unlimited Canada with respect to policy and program development, science needs and strategy.

The National Resource Board initially undertook the responsibility for the development of a National Conservation Agenda for Trout Unlimited Canada in 2004. The board was tasked with two major initiatives;

1. The launching of a series of self-facilitated grassroots workshops.
2. Face-to-face facilitated NRB Strategic Workshop to develop the framework for the National Conservation Agenda.

Over the course of several years and additional facilitated working sessions, the National Resource Board created a framework and structure for the National Conservation Agenda.  The next steps were the development of proceedings of the workshop, then production of a summary document outlining a proposed structure for the National Conservation Agenda. The National Resource Board held a second workshop in September 2005 to finalize the structure and content of the National Conservation Agenda. The National Resource Board presented the final National Conservation Agenda to Trout Unlimited Canada's Board of Directors.  The National Conservation Agenda was approved in December 2006.

Since 2007, the National Resource Board has been directed to assist Trout Unlimited Canada with the implementation of its National Conservation Agenda.  The National Resource Board has been specifically asked to;

• Provide sound scientific input to the identification of emerging issues relevant to Trout Unlimited Canada.
• Assist with review and recommendations for policy focus and development; assist with the scientific input and review of Position Papers on substantive issues (provide focus, input and review).
• To provide the science and programmatic input to the development of TUC's new program structure.

The National Conservation Agenda is comprised of a set of working documents, or briefs. These briefs provide detail on the policy components of Trout Unlimited Canada's interests in conservation,and the proposed program structure that will aid in the fulfillment of Trout Unlimited Canada's mission and mandate. The core conservation themes recommended by the National Resource Board to guide Trout Unlimited Canada's conservation activities moving forward are;

• Water quality;
• Water quantity;
• Habitat management and restoration;
• Fish community management and restoration.

The substantive themes are a synthesis of the recommended core areas of interest to Trout Unlimited Canada from a review of a long list of issues, provided both by our chapters and the workshop participants.  The program structure proposed is optimistic and Trout Unlimited Canada will develop these new programs as funds and resources become available.

National Conservation Agenda Documents

Trout Unlimited Canada's National Conservation Agenda is composed of four primary documents or briefs plus the program structure that evolved from these documents.These documents or briefs stress the need for Trout Unlimited Canada, its Board of Directors and members to understand the critical need to link program components to policy structure and with consideration of organizational development in order to properly implement the National Conservation Agenda.

Briefs #1 and #2 articulate policy in regards to both programs and the process of policy/program development.
(Download: Brief 1 | Brief 2)

Briefs #3 and #4 articulate the proposed program base to promote policies and program development and implementation in order for TUC to operationalize its National Conservation Agenda.
(Download: Brief 3 | Brief 4)

The fifth document outlines the final program structure to satisfy the needs and issues identified in the four primary documents of the NCA.
(Download: Document)