Resource Management Plan 2002-2006 Skeena-Bulkley Region
3.0 STRENGTHENING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT (SSFM)
3.1 Introduction and Planning Context
Sustainable Forest Management is a core mandate of both MoF and MELP. FRBC has also incorporated SSFM as one of its strategic objectives. RMPs serve to identify the highest priority information and knowledge gaps that are limiting the understanding and practice of sustainable forest management in each Region of the Province.
The SSFM component of the RMP consists of goals, objectives and strategies, as well as prioritized investment opportunities. In order to focus the planning process, a vision for SSFM must be clear.
Vision
Consistent with the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers' (CCFM) definition of sustainable forest management[1],. the RMP recommends the opportunities for investment that support existing or proposed forest resource planning initiatives. Investment is targeted in those projects that mitigate risks to resources, people, and communities as determined at the local and regional levels.
Goal
The goal of SSFM is to develop knowledge strategies which will address the highest priority issues limiting the implementation of sustainable forest management in the Prince Rupert/Skeena regions over the next three to five years.
District and regional staff considered the following aspects of sustainable forest management to identify priorities and issues:
· CCFM Criteria to achieve sustainable forest management goals:
- Conservation of biological diversity
- Maintenance and enhancement of forest ecosystem condition and productivity
- Conservation of soil and water resources
- Forest ecosystems contributions to global carbon cycles
- Multiple benefits to society
- Accepting society’s responsibility for sustainable development.
· Key issues affecting each district:
- Certification (Performance-based management systems)
- Strategic Land Use Plans (LRMPs, LUPs)
- Innovative Forest Practices Agreements (IFPAs)
- Timber Supply Reviews (TSR)
- First Nations Treaty Negotiations
- First Nations Forestry Strategy (FNFS)
- Forest Practices Code implementation (e.g. Identified Wildlife Management Strategy; biodiversity guidebook; ungulate winter ranges)
The goals associated with CCFM directed the process. Strategies and action plans were developed to address the priority issues by adopting the following approach:
· Identify knowledge gaps, decision-making tools, and monitoring and evaluate opportunities that must be filled to address the issues.
· Evaluate the existing knowledge, technical tools, primarily decision-making or explanatory models, for application.
· Recommend the optimum cost effective solution for each gap. This may include:
- Information dissemination (extension, training, access/exchange)
- Information collection (new inventories)
- Knowledge development (pure and/or applied research)
- Decision making tool development (models, processes)
- Monitoring or model validation processes (that will inform us whether the issue has or is being addressed).
Overview of Planning Approach
Following the process outlined in the FRBC RMP Guidelines, PRFR and the Skeena Environment Region identified members who could participate in the process. Key people in planning from government and industry were invited to provide input into the SSFM section of the regional RMP.
In May, tasks were divided, as per the Guidelines, between teams of people. The Regional Strategic Team (RST) was identified to provide guidance and direction on key regional issues. The RST includes: the Regional Manager of MoF, the Regional Director of MELP, the LUCO coordinator, the Regional Director of FRBC and two industry representatives. The Regional Planning Team (RPT), which includes representatives from MELP, MoF, FRBC and industry, coordinated the process within the Region, providing direction to the District Planning Teams (DPTs) in each of the respective Forest Districts in the Region. The DPTs consist of representatives from MELP, MoF, FRBC, industry, First Nations and others who have valuable technical input in SFM.
Issues
Forty issues that related to the SFM goals were identified at regional and district levels. With input from each Forest District, the RPT analyzed these issues, targeted 11 high priority issues for SFM goals which are relevant to the Prince Rupert Forest Region and synthesized the functional relationships among issues. The RST confirmed the regional priority issues. They are as follows:
Many of the issues are interrelated or can be addressed to some extent by similar activities. Often these activities are inventories. The following chart indicates associations and relationships between the high priority issues.
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Resource Management Plan 2002-2006 Skeena-Bulkley Region
The functional relationships among issues are as follows:
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Resource Management Plan 2002-2006 Skeena-Bulkley Region
Knowledge Strategies
A knowledge strategy as defined by the 2002/03 SSFM Guidelines is the collection of activities that when implemented together will build the knowledge required to address the SFM issue at the strategic planning and decision making level.
The RPT identified the knowledge strategies for regional priority issues so that gaps were identified and will be completed in a logical sequence.
Activities
Representatives from the RPT worked with each DPT to enable local understanding of the strategic approach within each knowledge strategy. Working within this approach, each DPT strove to:
· recommend activities that are eligible for Forest Renewal funding and which correspond to current budget levels (within 130-150%),
· recommend activities which integrate with regional knowledge strategies at the management unit level,
· recommend activities which are prioritized within the regional knowledge strategies,
· recommend activities which are attainable over a 3-5 year planning horizon,
· provide rationale for any off-strategy investment recommendation.
SSFM-type initiatives have existed for many years. By espousing a strategy which identifies and invests in knowledge gaps and decision-making tools that currently limit development or progress, those initiatives are advanced.
3.1.1 Summary of Strategic Land Use Planning in the Region
The following information was made available by the Land Use Coordination Office (www.luco.gov.bc.ca/lrmp/lrmpstat.htm)
3.1.1.1 Bulkley LRMP
The Bulkley LRMP was approved in March 1998 and is being implemented. A Monitoring Committee was established in the spring of 1999, and met on November 1st, 2000 to discuss the first draft annual monitoring report. It is expected that in response to its review of the monitoring report, the Monitoring Committee will provide recommendations on plan implementation to the Prince Rupert Inter-agency Management Committee by the end of the year.
3.1.1.2 Cassiar Iskut-Stikine LRMP
On October 11, 2000, government announced approval of the Cassiar Iskut-Stikine LRMP. The plan confirms 14 new protected areas, 15 geographic resource management zones and that the remaining land base will be under general management. A draft higher level plan for the Cassiar Iskut-Stikine will soon be released for public review.
3.1.1.3 Kalum
On April 10, 2001, government announced approval of the Kalum LRMP. The decisions include 20 new protected areas comprising about 67,000 hectares. Existing and new protected areas for the 2.1-million-hectare plan area cover about 463,000 hectares or 22 per cent of the area. Special management zones have been designated for 24 per cent of the planning area to maintain backcountry recreation, coastal and scenic areas, fish and wildlife – particularly grizzly bear, tailed frogs and salmon – as well as cultural heritage and community watersheds. Key recommendations for general management areas include strategies to encourage economic development and maintain forest biodiversity to halt the decline of significant grizzly bear populations and protect mountain goats.
3.1.1.4 Kispiox
The Kispiox LRMP Monitoring Committee was established in April 2000 and met in November to develop Terms of Reference. It is anticipated that the first annual monitoring report will be released in early 2001.
3.1.1.5 Lakes
The final Lakes LRMP was released in May 2000. The plan is an update and consolidation of the various decisions and reports that government endorsed in August 1999. A Monitoring Committee has been established.
3.1.1.6 Queen Charlotte Islands
A process has not yet been initiated. A technical background land use report for the plan area was prepared and released in the spring of 2000. Discussions continue between the Land Use Coordination Office, the Haida Nation and island communities to identify a suitable model for land use planning on the Queen Charlotte Islands.
3.1.1.7 North Coast
A Process Coordinator was hired to initiate and coordinate the development of an LRMP for the North Coast TSA. Government is undertaking preparatory work, and is targeting initiation of an LRMP process in late spring of 2001.
3.1.1.8 Morice
Licensees and government have initiated an Innovative Forest Practices Agreement (IFPA) for the Morice TSA. Using the MacGregor Model Forest analysis model, best management strategies are being tested and implemented to enhance forest management opportunities in the area.
The Morice is a priority area for an LRMP, and government will initiate a planning process when other processes are completed and resources become available
3.1.1.9 Kalum North (Nass)
A planning process will be initiated when other processes are completed and resources become available.
3.1.1.10 Dease-Liard
A planning process will be initiated when other processes are completed and resources become available.
3.1.1.11 Atlin-Taku
The Atlin-Taku area is considered the next priority area to initiate an LRMP planning process.
3.1.1.12 Landscape Unit Plans
The Bulkley district staff has completed draft Landscape Unit Plans for the planning area of the Bulkley LRMP. The district manager has approved the biodiversity objectives for the areas defined in the LUPs; however, other objectives are draft and used to guide forest management practices in the Bulkley TSA.
The Regional Manager for implementation in PRFR has approved the Regional Land Unit Planning Strategy. The Strategy establishes biodiversity emphasis options and identifies a proposed timetable for biodiversity planning in the Region. Districts are at various stages of analysis and preparatory work to establish landscape objectives.
3.1.1.13 Timber Supply Review
Forest District / Management Unit / TSR 2 Status / TSR 2 Completion DateLakes / Lakes TSA / in-progress / July, 2001
Morice / Morice TSA / in-progress / December, 2001
Bulkley-Cassiar / Bulkley TSA
Cassiar TSA / in-progress
in-progress / July, 2001
October, 2001
Kispiox / Cranberry TSA
Kispiox TSA / complete
in-progress / May, 1998
December, 2001
Kalum / Kalum TSA
Nass TSA
TFL 1
TFL 41 / complete
in-progress
complete
complete / November, 1999
October, 2001
March, 1999
December, 1999
North Coast / North Coast TSA
TFL 25 / complete
in-progress / October, 2000
December, 2001
3.2 Integrated Plans for Strengthening Sustainable Forest Management
Each district has identified the highest priority issues that need to be addressed within the district. In the following sections, these issues are defined in terms that are relevant to the district. Projects whose purpose is to address these issues are listed.
4.2.1 Lakes Forest District
The Lakes Forest District highest priority issues include:
· 1.23 How can we best manage harvesting and crossing S4-S6 streams to protect and conserve habitat?,
· 1.32 For what forest resources are we lacking a complete and integral inventory to meet TSR requirements?,
· 2.21 How can we conserve viable populations of Identified Wildlife Species, and rare and endangered species (red and blue listed), that inhabit the forested land base?, and
· 5.11 How do we increase the participation of First Nations in the local forest sector economy?.
How can we best manage harvesting and crossing S4-S6 streams to protect and conserve habitat? (Issue 1.23)
Uncertainties around crossing S4 and S6 streams have a major impact on planning and operations. Completion of the Fish Stream Habitat Inventory for the Lakes District in the 2002 field season will provide planners with information to make cost effective decisions regarding stream crossings, as well as block and road layout.
This total inventory of all stream classifications in the district should be collected in MELP format for inclusion in the FISS database.
Completion of The Fish Stream Habitat Inventory will provide a sound database for the management of our streams.
For what forest resources are we lacking a complete and integral inventory to meet TSR requirements? (Issue 1.32)
Retaining appropriate attributes in OGMAs, FENs and riparian areas are important to the LRMP implementation strategy, TSR3 and Landscape Unit Planning initiatives. As we begin to manage for biodiversity, old growth (OGMAs) riparian areas, and other values, we need to collect additional attributes. VRI is a standardized provincial data base capable of carrying many of these additional attributes.
Biodiversity will be more effectively managed through the collection of VRI attributes including shrubs and herb plant lists for species diversity, district totals of coarse woody debris, soil moisture and nutrient regimes, stumps, basal area, number of stems/ha and potential wildlife trees.
This move to VRI comes at an ideal time as we can also capture our Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) epidemic. Approximately 200 000 ha of dead trees must be re-inventoried to update the files and to prepare for Timber Supply Review III. VRI also provides basal area, an important attribute for beetle hazard mapping.
The two initiatives that most completely address these knowledge gaps are VRI and PEM/TEM.
How can we conserve viable populations of Identified Wildlife Species, and rare and endangered species (red and blue listed), that inhabit the forested land base? (Issue 2.21)
Lakes has an approved LRMP. It is important to monitor the LRMP as required in the LRMP (Chapters 3.1 General Resource Management objectives, 3.4 Environmental Direction, 4.1 Resource Management Zones, 5.3 Environmental Resource Analysis and Chapter 6, Plan Management and Administration).
Lakes Landscape Unit Planning (LUPs) must ensure appropriate attributes in OGMAs, FENS and riparian areas. Habitat requirements for Caribou and Grizzly Bear as per section 2.4.3 and appendix A-1 of TSR II must be further refined in preparation for TSR III.
The greatest risk to land use decisions are the locations of these networks, habitats and restrictions.
Predictive Ecosystem Mapping and to a lesser extent, VRI will complete many of our existing knowledge gaps.
How do we increase the participation of First Nations in the local forest sector economy? (Issue 5.11)
Lakes Forest District realizes the importance of First Nations involvement in many aspects of our Forestry work. To facilitate an effective model for First Nation involvement in the local forest sector, Lakes Forest District began work on the Lakes Archaeological Resource Plan (LARP) in 1998. The LARP attempts to capture all attribute and spatial data relevant to our First Nations, including AOAs, AIAs, TUS, etc. This data provides a basis for meaningful First Nations input beginning at the Strategic Planning stage. In the past, knowledge gaps in our First Nation data have been operationally expensive.
To increase the participation of First Nations in our local forest sector economy, it is important to have a map of their history.