Identification of priority evaluation and monitoring questions regarding the evaluation of British Columbia's natural resource values is the foundation for allocating FREP resources. The priority evaluation questions (see lists below) form the basis for developing appropriate resource stewardship monitoring indicators and protocols used to evaluate the status, tends and sustainability of BC's Forest & Range resource values. The questions are also used to identify important intensive evaluation projects.
The process for determining which evaluation and monitoring initiatives are highest priority, and therefore a priority for funding, is laid out in this document.
FREP Priority Evaluation Questions Updating Process V 2.2 - September 28th, 2006 [pdf 58Kb]
Revision History- List Revision 1.6 - November 21, 2006 (below).
- List Revision 1.6 - November 21st, 2006 [pdf 109Kb];
- List Revision 1.5 - February 16th, 2006 [pdf 105Kb];
- List Revision 1.4 - January 18th, 2006;
- List Revision 1.3 - January 5th, 2006;
- List Revision 1.2 - November 21st, 2005;
- Original Priority Question List - May 4th, 2004;
The 20 top ranked priority evaluation questions listed in Table 1 were selected from the 41 priority evaluation questions submitted by the 11 Resource Value Teams following 2005 stakeholder input (table 2).
| 1 |
Are riparian forestry and range practices effective in maintaining the structural integrity and proper functioning of aquatic ecosystems and their associated riparian areas over both the short and long term? Evaluation Question #4 |
| 2 |
Is stand-level retention providing the range of habitat with the structural attributes understood as necessary for maintaining the species dependent on wildlife trees and CWD? Evaluation Question #7 |
| 3 |
What has been the impact of the FPC on tree species composition and levels of genetic diversity in forest stands harvested and regenerated prior to December 2005, using October 1987 to December 2003 as a benchmark, looking at both:
|
| 4 |
Are forest practices successful in preventing levels of site disturbance that are detrimental to soil productivity and hydrologic function? (disturbance in NAR) Evaluation Question #32 |
| 5 |
Do wildlife habitat areas (WHA’s) maintain the habitats, structures and functions necessary to meet the goal(s) of the WHA, and is the amount, quality and distribution of WHA’s contributing effectively with the surrounding land base (including protected areas and managed land base) to ensure the survival of the species now and over time. (Includes previous Question 13) Evaluation Question #11 |
| 6 |
Are forest practices successful in preventing increases in the magnitude or frequency of bank erosion or instability, channel aggradation, channel widening, or flooding? Evaluation Question #30 |
| 7 |
What impact are range practices having on the quality and quantity of forage? Evaluation Question #24 |
| 8 |
Are cultural heritage resources being protected and conserved for First Nations cultural and traditional activities as a result of forest practices? Evaluation Question #27 |
| 9 |
What has been the impact of the FPC on the health of forest stands harvested and regenerated prior to December 2005, using October 1978 to December, 2003 as a benchmark, looking at both:
|
| 10 |
Is basic reforestation being accomplished or is backlog increasing? Are areas not harvested by NSR due to fires and beetles being addressed promptly and acceptably, etc.? Evaluation Question #35 |
| 11 |
Are partial cutting forest practices sustainable as measured by maintenance of forest productivity? Are regeneration opportunities under partial cutting being maintained or diminished? Evaluation Question #36 |
| 12 |
Are forest road stream crossings or other forestry practices maintaining connectivity of fish habitats? Evaluation Question #5 |
| 13 |
Are forestry practices, including those for road systems, preserving aquatic habitats by maintaining natural hill slope sediment supply and the natural sediment regimes of streams and other aquatic ecosystems? Evaluation Question #6 |
| 14 |
Are there any resource values that have been overlooked by FRPA? Evaluation Question #38 |
| 15 |
Do ungulate winter ranges (UWR’s) maintain the habitats, structures and functions necessary to meet the species winter habitat requirements, and is the amount, quality and distribution of UWR’s contributing effectively with the surrounding land base (including protected areas and managed land base) to ensure the winter survival of the species now and over time. (Includes previous Question 12) Evaluation Question #10 |
| 16 |
Are established VQO's being achieved? Evaluation Question #21 |
| 17 |
What new, creative and innovative forest and range practices have resulted from FRPA? Were these innovative practices more effective and/or efficient in achieving the resource value objectives set by FRPA? Evaluation Question #37 |
| 18 |
Has there been an impact on worker safety caused by current forest practices associated with road building practices, partial cutting and/or wildlife tree retention? Evaluation Question #40 |
| 19 |
Is the reforestation approach under the FSJPPR effective (and efficient) in achieving a healthy and sustainable forest that can supply the values expected by society? Evaluation Question #41 |
| 20 |
Are forest road stream crossings or other forestry practices maintaining connectivity of fish habitats? |
41 Priority FREP Evaluation Questions for 2006/07 (yellow highlight = 2005/06 top priority question, green highlighted additional priorities added in 2006)
| No. | Question | Links |
| 1 |
What has been the impact of the FPC on tree species composition and levels of genetic diversity in forest stands harvested and regenerated prior to December 2005, using October 1987 to December 2003 as a benchmark, looking at both:
| |
| 2 |
What has been the impact of the FPC on forest productivity (merchantable timber volume, value, and availability) in forest stands harvested and regenerated prior to December 2005, using October 1987 to December 2003 as a benchmark, looking at both:
| |
| 3 |
What has been the impact of the FPC on the health of forest stands harvested and regenerated prior to December 2005, using October 1978 to December, 2003 as a benchmark, looking at both:
| |
| 35 | Is basic reforestation being accomplished or is backlog increasing? Are areas not harvested by NSR due to fires and beetles being addressed promptly and acceptably, etc.? | |
| 36 | Are partial cutting forest practices sustainable as measured by maintenance of forest productivity? Are regeneration opportunities under partial cutting being maintained or diminished? | |
| 41 | Is the reforestation approach under the FSJPPR effective (and efficient) in achieving a healthy and sustainable forest that can supply the values expected by society? |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 4 | Are riparian forestry and range practices effective in maintaining the structural integrity and proper functioning of stream ecosystems and other aquatic resource features over both the short and long term? | |
| 5 | Are forest road stream crossings or other forestry practices maintaining connectivity of fish habitats? | |
| 6 | Are forestry practices, including those for road systems, preserving aquatic habitats by maintaining natural hill-slope sediment supply and the natural sediment regimes of streams and other aquatic ecosystems? |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 7 | Is stand-level retention providing the range of habitat with the structural attributes understood as necessary for maintaining the species dependent on wildlife trees and CWD? | |
| 8 | Are ecosystems represented across the landscape in time and space? |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 9 | Is riparian retention sufficient to maintain the structure and function necessary for wildlife? (Plants to invertebrates) | |
| 10 | Do ungulate winter ranges (UWR’s) maintain the habitats, structures and functions necessary to meet the species winter habitat requirements, and is the amount, quality and distribution of UWR’s contributing effectively with the surrounding land base (including protected areas and managed land base) to ensure the winter survival of the species now and over time. (Includes previous Question 12) | |
| 11 | Do wildlife habitat areas (WHA’s) maintain the habitats, structures and functions necessary to meet the goal(s) of the WHA, and is the amount, quality and distribution of WHA’s contributing effectively with the surrounding land base (including protected areas and managed land base) to ensure the survival of the species now and over time. (Includes previous Question 13) |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 14 | Is visual quality being managed and conserved under the FPC? | |
| 15 | Are previously harvested openings achieving visually effective green-up before new openings are harvested? | |
| 16 | Are visual quality objectives (VQO's) being established consistent with higher level plan (HLP) direction? | |
| 17 | Are the results and strategies approved in Forest Stewardship Plans resulting in visual quality consistent with established VQO's? | |
| 18 | What are the impacts of managing visual quality on timber supply? | |
| 19 | Are established VQO's being achieved? |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 20 | Are current forest practices adequately protecting and maintaining the integrity of karst features? Are reserves being established for significant cave entrances, above significant caves, and around significant surface karst features, significant karst springs, and unique or unusual karst flora/fauna habitats? | |
| 21 | Are current forest practices adequately protecting and maintaining all resource features under FRPA? |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 22 | What impact are range practices having on the desired plant succession? | |
| 23 | What impact are range practices having on the water cycle/hydrologic function? | |
| 24 |
What impacts are forest and range practices having on the:
| |
| 28 | Are range practices maintaining "properly functioning condition" in riparian areas? | |
| 25 | Are range practices contributing to soils loss and/or degradation? | |
| 26 | Are range practices contributing to a decline in the presence and abundance of wildlife? |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 27 | Are cultural heritage resources being conserved and where necessary protected for First Nations cultural and traditional activities as a result of forest practices? |
View Diagram (pdf, 12Kb) |
| 27 (a) Do forest management planning and implementation processes meaningfully incorporate First Nations interests, and are they functioning effectively and respectfully? | ||
| 27 (b) Are the forest management strategies and practices being implemented on the ground effectively conserving and/or protecting cultural heritage values on the land base? |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 29 | Do forest practices contribute to sedimentation or turbidity that interferes with water treatment, increases treatment costs, or damages the intake? | |
| 30 | Are forest practices successful in preventing increases in the magnitude or frequency of bank erosion or instability, channel aggradation, channel widening, or flooding? |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 31 | Are recreation sites and trails providing healthy and safe recreation experiences? |
| No. | Question | Links |
| 32 | Are forest practices successful in preventing levels of site disturbance that are detrimental to soil productivity and hydrologic function? (disturbance in NAR) | |
| 33 | Do access structures minimize productive soil loss and impacts to the hydrologic function of soils? (access structures) | |
|
34 modified | Are forestry practices successful in preventing the increased likelihood or occurrence of landslides, avalanches, gully processes or fan destabilization? If so, has there been, or could there be, a material, adverse effect on a resource or value? (terrain) |
Non Value-Specific Questions
| No. | Question | Links |
| 37 | What new, creative and innovative forest and range practices have resulted from FRPA? Were these innovative practices more effective and/or efficient in achieving the resource value objectives set by FRPA? | |
| 38 | Are there any resource values that have been overlooked by FRPA? | |
| 39 | Is FRPA achieving an appropriate balance between social, environmental and economic interests? | |
| 40 | Has there been an impact on worker safety caused by current forest practices associated with road building practices, partial cutting and/or wildlife tree retention? |
Priority Questions - Revised, Answered or Deleted
| No. | Question | Links |
| 12 | Is the amount, quality and distribution of ungulate winter range sufficient to ensure over-winter survival of the species within the landscape now and over time? (will select a specific species for evaluation) | |
| 13 | Is the amount and distribution of suitable habitat within protected areas or managed areas (OGMA's, WHA's, NCLB, WTPs) sufficient to maintain the species across its range now and over time? (will select a specific species for evaluation) |