WHO’S WHO
Legislation and Institutions
How do multiple institutions and communities work together to protect and manage the Great Lakes?
The Great Lakes border two countries, and within those two countries, eight American states and one Canadian province. The region is home to hundreds of rural and urban municipalities and numerous First Nations – over 40 million people in total – and it is growing rapidly. A complex network of institutions and organizations has developed over the years to work together on issues of importance to the region. During the early years of industrialization around the Great Lakes, beginning in the 1800s, transportation and natural resource development issues were the principal concerns. More recently, a greater understanding of the complexity of the issues facing the lakes has led to increased co-operation aimed at protection and conservation.