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Forest Ecosystem-Based Management |
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Liz Osborn. 2002. Forest Ecosystem-Based Management in Northwestern BC: A Status Report. Forest Ecosystem Management Conference, October 2 - 4 2002. Smithers, BC.
Executive Summary
Ecosystem-based management (EBM) has arisen from a melding of ecological science with social values to refocus resource planning and management on maintaining ecosystem integrity. This paper presents an overview of EBM concepts, and their relevance to forest management, and also provides a status report and recommendations on the implementation of EBM in northwestern BC.
EBM Defined
The key components of EBM largely address the planning requirements, scientific principles and institutional considerations for natural resources management. The ecosystems themselves are the key frames for EBM planning, with special attention paid to achieving hierarchies of temporal and spatial scales and using ecologically relevant boundaries. Science plays a strong role informing planning decisions using systems theory, the best scientific information, and adaptive management to address knowledge limitations. Social values, economics and political processes form an inextricable context for EBM, requiring collaboration, cooperation and egalitarian relationships among organizations and stakeholders.
Many aspects of EBM are not new to BC forestry. Sustainable forest management, certification standards, and the Forest Practices Code all contain elements consistent with EBM. The survey of resource managers in northwestern BC that was conducted for this status report found examples of EBM throughout the region. The findings, summarized by forest districts within the Prince Rupert Forest Region, include:
Survey Findings
North Coast harvesting has moved substantially to variable retention in the last few years. This district is also the site of a pilot project applying EBM to the harvesting of a watershed.
Kalum hosts another forest industry-led EBM pilot project. The Kalum LRMP has spurred movement in the direction of EBM particularly with grizzly bear habitat management and distribution of cutblocks to mimic natural disturbance patterns.
Kispiox small business program is an excellent example of EBM put fully into practice. The McCully Creek portion of the program is an adaptive management pilot project.
Bulkley-Cassiar has implemented EBM through Landscape Unit Planning which covers the Bulkley portion of the district. By providing direction to achieve biodiversity objectives, these plans have created stability and resolved contention.
Morice EBM activities, including ecological research and development of monitoring indicators, are being woven into the Innovative Forest Practices Agreement, which will result in a district-wide sustainable forest management plan. To meet certification commitments, stand and landscape level targets and operating procedures are being developed for maintaining forest structure and biodiversity elements.
Lakes is also involved in the Innovative Forest Practices Agreement. Biodiversity requirements are being addressed through the Lakes LRMP and Landscape Unit Planning, with special biodiversity retention measures being applied in conjunction with bark beetle management.
This report also examines the extent and variation with which each component of EBM is put into practice across northwestern BC. Notable is the variation among definitions of EBM across the region, particularly concerning the incorporation of economic and social values. Also significant is how extensively the Biodiversity Guidebook is being used for implementing EBM.
Barriers to Implementing EBM
Several barriers to implementing EBM were identified repeatedly by survey respondents and are widespread throughout the region. These are: higher costs with implementing EBM, disincentives to applying EBM contained in forestry legislation and policy, and insufficient science to support EBM locally. Still, there are opportunities for resource managers to better achieve EBM using the tools already in place. These include more thorough implementation of LRMPs and using scientifically-based ecological criteria in the selection of patches for retention from harvesting.
Recommendations
The results of this survey and analysis lead to three recommendations for enhancing the regional context for implementing EBM. The recommendations involve:
- revising legislation and policy,
- updating the Biodiversity Guidebook, and
- encouraging research into EBM priorities.
EBM is currently being explored in a wide variety of forestry contexts throughout northwestern BC, while the knowledge of how best to apply it here is still emerging.
