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Climate change information, with estimates of natural disturbance and projected ecosystem shifts, can support research and inform decision-making for a wide range of values within the purview of the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. In recent workshops, a need for Ministry-supported climate projections was identified. Evaluating how users apply climate projections should guide content; understanding their skills can help in designing effective delivery and support. We built a survey to solicit information on climate data needs and applications, preferred delivery of information, and respondents? skills. Between November 2018 and February 2019, we collated 45 responses from Ministry staff who were working in a variety of areas, including ecology, fisheries and wildlife, forestry, aquaculture, hazards, water stewardship, land permitting, planning, and engineering. Respondents requested clear indications of climate trends and extremes, where possible, including estimates of uncertainty. Two distinct user-groups differed in their needs: researchers preferred easy access to raw information for manipulation, and close communication with other specialists, including climatologists; decision makers preferred interpreted data that clearly show trends and uncertainty based on consensus projections. Recommendations include developing an endorsed set of climate projections, models, and tools; building web-based access to that information using multiple layers; providing support at regional and provincial levels; and tailoring training to user needs and skills.
Price, Karen, Daust, Dave. 2019. Applying Climate Change Information in Resource Management. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. Technical Report (FLNRORD). TR126
The objectives of the problem analysis were to determine which needs of forest wildlife researchers and managers could be met by an ecological classification system, to describe existing classification systems, and to assess how well they meet those needs.
Stevenson, S.K.. 1982. Applying ecological classification systems to wildlife research and management. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. IWIFR Report. IWR3
The objectives of the problem analysis were to determine which needs of forest wildlife researchers and managers could be met by an ecological classification system, to describe existing classification systems, and to assess how well they meet those needs. Information needs were determined through interviews with members of the Technical Working Group of the Integrated Wildlife- Intensive Forestry Research program. The classification systems that were described were those used in the ecosystem classification program of the Ministry of Forests (Vancouver Forest Region), the biophysical classification program of the Terrestrial Studies Branch, Ministry of Environment, and the soil-vegetation classification developed by Moon and Selby of Agriculture Canada. As many of the proposed criteria require field studies for evaluation, the problem analysis did not reach an overall conclusion about which classification system is most suitable for application to wildlife research and management.
Stevenson, Susan K.. 1982. Applying Ecological Classification Systems to Wildlife Research and Management (Also printed as IWIFR-3). Ministry of Environment. Wildlife Bulletin. B17
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Series: Wildlife Bulletin
Keywords: ecological classification
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Other Identifier: Ministry of Forests Research Branch; IWIFR-3
What is biological diversity? Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the full variety of life ? the breadth of the gene pool, the richness of species, the array of ecosystems and the processes that maintain this variety. Why maintain biodiversity? By maintaining biodiversity we: - enable existing ecosystems to withstand environmental changes, - allow new resources to develop, - preserve B.C.'s natural wealth of living organisms for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. The Protected Areas Strategy will help maintain biodiversity by conserving representative examples of ecosystems. This is critical but not enough to ensure the continued existence of all species. To maintain ecosystems and species across their historical ranges, we must also protect biodiversity in areas designated for resource management. This pamphlet outlines approaches to maintaining biodiversity in managed forests by maintaining habitat patterns and attributes. The focus is on managing habitats because it is not possible to manage for all species individually. Such approaches can also: - provide habitat for organisms such as fungi, bacteria and invertebrates, - maintain diverse gene pools, - maintain the processes that support biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. Funding for the Internet version was provided by Forest Renewal BC.
BC Ministry of Forests - Research Branch and Environment Canada. 1997. Approaches to maintaining biological diversity in British Columbia's forests: an introduction for resource managers. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. Brochure (FLNRORD). BRO15
TecFor Resources Ltd. was retained by Teal Cedar Ltd. to provide a prescription for adding large woody debris to Reaches M2 and M3 of MacIntyre Creek. The watershed is located in TFL 47 on the Queen Charlotte Islands. The Resource Management Plan developed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Forests designated the Copper Watershed as a Priority Key and Target Watershed. Fish will not be removed from the site and the works will take approximately 3 days.
Dodd, Ian. 2003. Aquatic habitat rehabilitation prescription for MacIntyre Creek, Queen Charlotte Islands. Forest Investment Account (FIA) - Forest Science Program. Forest Investment Account Report. FIA2003MR053
Slocan-Plateau is currently preparing a SFMP for its operations in the Vanderhoof Forest District. Within the SFM framework a set of criteria are used to demonstrate the sustainability of ecological, social and economic values in a management unit. This project was initiated to develop aquatic ecosystem indicators that are effective for tracking trends in aquatic ecosystem health in forested watersheds, while providing forest managers with sufficient warning to modify practices before impairment occurs. A review of literature, interviews with government staff and university researchers and a web search were undertaken to identify current approaches to aquatic indicators. This report recommends an aquatic indicator framework based on the identification of Best Management Practices and staff/contractor training coupled with an assessment of landscape level forestry pressures for individual watersheds.
P. Beaudry and Associates Ltd.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2002, wetlands were surveyed in Weyerhaeuser?s North and South Island Divisions as part of their Adaptive Management Monitoring Program. The main objectives for the surveys were to 1) determine how well current mapping techniques used by the company can locate and identify small wetlands (< 1 ha), and 2) to locate potential amphibian monitoring sites. Using 1:5000 base maps and GIS, 6,407 wetlands covering 663 ha were found in the South Island Division, and 2,160 over 314 ha were found in the North. Ground truthing was used to test how many wetlands were missed during mapping. Close to 240 wetlands were surveyed over 55 km of ground-truthing, of which approximately 72% (n = 171) were unmapped. As might be expected, the size of the wetland, as well as hydroperiod, may affect the mappability of small wetlands (i.e., unmapped wetlands tended to be smaller and drier than those that were mapped). A re-evaluation of digital imagery of a sub-sample of 76 unmapped wetlands found that 16% may be detectable through re-evaluation, and/or they were inaccurately mapped originally. The analyses also suggest that small wetlands may be encompassed in habitat features currently recognized and/or mapped for forestry purposes, but not associated with wetlands per se. For example, small wetlands may be found/associated with canopy openings, indefinite drainages, and scrub habitat. Approximately 41% (n = 97) of the wetlands had amphibians detected, and 42% of those that contained water (n = 70) had an aquatic amphibian life stage (i.e., eggs, larvae and/or neotones). Five amphibian species were identified during wetland surveys in the South Island: North-western salamanders, Long-toed salamanders, Rough-skinned newts, Pacific treefrogs, and Red-legged frogs. All species, except the Long-toed salamander, were also detected in the North, although North-western salamanders were the most common species detected there (65% of sites). There are a number of forested wetlands that may serve as potential active experimental monitoring sites, but this needs further investigation.
Wind, Elke. 2003. Aquatic-breeding amphibian monitoring program analysis of small wetland habitats on Vancouver Island: annual progress report 2002. Forest Investment Account (FIA) - Forest Science Program. Forest Investment Account Report. FIA2003MR058
Arboreal lichens (Bryoria and Alectoria spp.) are a critical food source for mountain caribou throughout their range (MCTAC 2002). The success of any modelling to characterize the current suitability, or future distribution and abundance of habitat for mountain caribou, must predict the distribution and abundance of arboreal lichens. However, predictive models of lichen abundance are rare (Dettki and Esseen 2003, Berryman and McCune 2006). This report presents a draft arboreal lichen abundance model and sampling plan for TFL 23. The sampling plan will direct data collection related to arboreal lichen abundance in stands with different structural characteristics. The results are intended to: ? better quantify overall lichen abundance and distribution in relation to ecosystem units and forest stand types found on TFL 23; ? identify and roughly map discontinuities in lichen abundance and distribution; ? improve the lichen submodel for the mountain caribou capability-suitability habitat models; ? better predict the effects of selective harvest and alternative silviculture practices on lichen productivity and abundance in managed forest stands; and, ? design future desired forest conditions that maximize arboreal lichens in managed stands. We recommend that Pope & Talbot seek partnership funding to expand this project to the range of mountain caribou in the Central Selkirk mountains. Potential partners could include BC Timber Sales, Meadow Creek Cedar and Spring Creek Forest Products. Other potential partners could include the Species at Risk Coordination Office and Ministry of Environment.
prepared by Steven F. Wilson and Dennis Hamilton.
Wilson, Steven F., Hamilton, Dennis. 2007. Arboreal lichen abundance model and sampling plan for TFL 23. Forest Investment Account (FIA) - Forest Science Program. Forest Investment Account Report. FIA2007MR178
Topic: FLNRORD Research Program
Series: Forest Investment Account Report
Keywords: Forest, Investment, Account, (FIA), Lichens, British, Columbia
Arboreal lichens of the Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir (ESSF) zone (Coupe, 1982) are the main source of mid to late winter forage for caribou within the drainages of the North Thompson River (Edwards et al. 1960). Clearcutting of stands within the ESSF zone completely removes the supply of lichen for a period of time. Preserving these stands from logging would cause a reduction in the annual allowable cut for the forest industry. It has been suggested that selective or partial cut logging might provide adequate lichen forage for caribou while maintaining sufficient timber supply. The impact of selective cutting on arboreal lichen cover and abundance is poorly documented for this area. Therefore, studies of lichen standing crop in selectively cut and mature forest stands are necessary.
BC Forest Service - Research Division. 1982. Arboreal Lichen Cover and Abundance in Four Ages of Selective Cut Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine fir (moist subzone): Preliminary Study. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
Southern Mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) have been assessed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) so strategies and actions for protection and recovery are required under the federal Species at Risk Act. In the Cariboo Region, the Cariboo Chilcotin Land Use Plan (CCLUP) identified areas of caribou habitat for "no-harvest" and "modified harvest". The adaptive management trial at Mount Tom, near Wells, British Columbia was designed to learn how to efficiently implement the group selection silvicultural system at an operational scale and to systematically measure the changes to habitat. Between 2001 and 2010, five blocks (comprising a total of 1040-ha) were harvested using a variety of harvesting equipment, opening designs, and trail layouts. The first entry of the group selection silvicultural system removed one third of the trees (and arboreal lichen) in irregular shaped openings (0.1 - 1.0 ha) throughout each block. Arboreal lichen was measured pre-harvest and at 2.5 and 5.5 years post-harvest in three harvest blocks and two no-harvest controls. Lichen abundance initially decreased at 2.5 years in the partial cuts relative to controls but the difference was no longer significant at 5.5 years. The proportion of Bryoria increased significantly and very quickly in response to the partial cutting treatment. Results from the research trial are consistent with those of other longer term studies on partial cutting. The "modified" harvesting prescription has effectively maintained arboreal lichen in the residual forest at Mount Tom. Providing lichen bearing habitat meets just one of the needs of caribou. A comprehensive approach that considers all factors (e.g. access, predation, recreation and mining) and their interactions is essential to maintain and recover the mountain caribou.
Waterhouse, M.J., Nemec, A.F. Linnell; McLeod, J.. 2015. Arboreal Lichen Response to a Group Selection Silvicultural System, Mount Tom Adaptive Management Trial, Central British Columbia. Forests, Lands, and NR Operations. Extension Note (FLNRORD). EN113
Topic: FLNRORD Research Program
Series: Extension Note (FLNRORD)
Keywords: Silvicultural, Systems
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