Section 4: Forest Management Initiatives

Question 1

What is the intent of EBM?

Answer 1

To maintain ecological integrity and achieve a high level of human wellbeing.

Question 2

Clarify what is meant by “high level of human wellbeing” and “ecological integrity”.

Answer 2

A high level of wellbeing is defined as: the quality of life in communities is equal to or better than the Canadian average.

Ecological Integrity: maintained when adverse effects to ecological values and processes are minimal and unlikely to occur.

Question 3

List 4 main policy objectives that support EBM

Answer 3

1. Protecting old growth, wildlife habitat, cultural values and biodiversity in conservancies, and biodiversity, mining and tourism areas.
2. Establishing EBM operating areas and LUO orders that protect important first nations cuiltural values, aquatic habitat and wildlife habitat
3. support human well being through policy and initiatives designed to achieve social and economy,ic benefits for FN and residents that depend upon the area, ensuring safety and maintaining a viable forest industry
4. applying an adaptive management approach to forest management.

Question 4

Where does current EBM policy stem from?

Answer 4

The Coast Land Use Decision (CLUD) in 2006

A result of 2 overlapping LRMP’s that recommended and EBM system for their plan areas. Following completion of the LRMP’s G2G discussions finally resulted in the Coast Land Use Decision

Question 5

The CLUD provided land use zoning for:

Answer 5

protected conservancies: 1.2 million ha added to the existing 600,000. these conservancies are reserved from industrial activities.

biodiversity areas: aka Biodiversity, mining and tourism areas, resrved another 300,000 ha from commercial timber development and hydro power development.

EBM operating areas: include the working land base which provides land base certainty for forest licensees operating in those areas

Question 6

In order to implement EBM, LUO’s were established for the purposes of FRPA and forest professionals working within the context of EBM, who must:

Answer 6

1. provide results and strategies in FSPs that are consistent with the legal land use objectives described in the LUO’s.
2. Work within a new policy that engages FN at multiple levels of planning
3. Apply adaptive management practices in forest development and operations where variance from legal objectives are required.

Question 7

Conservancies are designated under which act?

Answer 7

Park Act

conservancies amended into the act in 2006

Question 8

Differentiate parks vs. conservancies

Answer 8

conservancies maintain access for traditional FN use, allowing a wide range of low impact activities compatible with the primary objectives (cultural, recreation, biodiversity)

parks are dedicated to preservation of their natural environments for the inspiration, use and enjoyment of the public.

Question 9

explain BMTA’s

Answer 9

Biodiversity, mining and tourism areas established for the central and north coast areas in 2009 under the environment and land use act for the purpose of maintaining biological diversity and FN uses.

BMTA’s allow some industry use such as mining and non commercial hydro power but do not allow commercial forestry.

Question 10

Name the 3 EBM operating areas

Answer 10

1. South Central Coast Order (SCCO) established in Aug 2007
2. The Central and North Coast Order (CNCO) established Jan 2008
3. The Haida Gwaii Land Use Objectives Order (HGLUOO) established in Dec 2010

Question 11

What is the purpose of Land Use Orders?

Answer 11

LUOs provide additional management direction to forest licensees and FSP preparers that has not otherwise been provided under another order or enactment.

Question 12

In the SCCO and CNCO, are there any exemptions for agreement holders that are not bound by the legal objectives set out in those LUO’s?

Answer 12

WLL’s, CFA’s, TFL 43 and a handful of small non replaceable FL’s

Question 13

The SCCO and CNCO include objectives for the following cultural resources:

Answer 13

traditional forest resources

traditional heritage features

cultural modified trees

monumental cedar

western red cedar and yellow cedar retention

Question 14

The HGLUOO includes all of the same objectives as the SCCO and CNCO along with these additional cultural objectives:

Answer 14

cedar stewardship areas

cultural feature identification

traditional forest features

western yew retention

Question 15

What ecosystem type are minimum old forest retention targets applied to?

Answer 15

Site Series Surrogate

Question 16

What are some biodiversity objectives fore the CNCO and SCCO?

Answer 16

red and blue listed plant communities

stand level retention

grizzly bear habitat

Kermode bear habitat (CNCO)

Question 17

active vs passive adaptive management

Answer 17

Active: application of structured research trials to inform management decisions

Passive: adjustment of plans when the monitoring of current operational approaches reveals undesirable outcomes. Generally occurs through existing licensee monitoring programs.