Document Details
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Title |
Radium Hot Springs Regular Allocation | ||||||
Author |
Wells, Ralph W. | ||||||
Date |
2007 | ||||||
Abstract |
This project addresses the assessment and identification of identified candidate High Conservation Value Forests (HCV 1-3) in the Invermere Timber Supply Area (TSA) based on Proforest and Criteria and Indicator (C&I) approaches. Although certification will initially apply to Tembec Inc?s. tenure, evaluation of conservation values was undertaken for the entire forested area of the TSA regardless of tenure, including both crown and private forested lands. The identification of draft candidate HCVFs for the Invermere TSA was undertaken by a collaborative group using a raster-based GIS approach to provide decision support in a series of workshops. The process was iterative, with HCV identification, mapping and analysis continually reviewed and refined during the workshop series. Overall, the collaboration group successfully identified a range of values linked to the three Proforest High Conservation Values for biodiversity and to the three indicators for sustaining biological richness. To the fullest extent possible, all values that were identified were incorporated into the draft candidate HCVFs. Perhaps most importantly, the collaborative effort has clearly led to identification of a number of areas with substantial conservation value in the Invermere TSA. Defining thresholds for incorporating HCVs into HCVFs and in balancing and resolving tradeoffs among HCVs were identified as key challenges in HCVF identification. Consideration of management objectives for HCVs both inside and outside of HCVFs is expected to assist in defining thresholds. The Criteria and Indicator based approach was found to facilitate and enhance the Proforest approach, specifically in incorporating habitat elements and ecosystem representation. Further opportunities exist in linking an effectiveness monitoring component of the C&I approach to HCVF monitoring. The decision support used in this process has demonstrated utility in supporting collaboration group efforts in identifying candidate HCVFs, though challenges remain in refining the ultimately subjective process of balancing among HCVs and ranking draft candidates. | ||||||
Report Number |
FIA2005MR099 | ||||||
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