About the FRPA Resource Values

The new results-based Forest & Range Practices Act (FRPA) identifies key forest and environmental values that must be maintained. The regulations related to FRPA (introduced in 2004) further define these values by providing a goal statement for each one. Links lead to more information, resources, and indicators for each value.

The values covered in FRPA and in the draft definitions (Backgrounder: What is Results-Based Forest Management?, 2004) include the following:

The Eleven FRPA Resource Values

Below are listed the eleven FRPA resource values:

Biodiversity Values
Biodiversity
Harvesting activities will retain old forest and other age classes consistent with land use objectives established by government.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators, Protocol, Field Guides, Field Forms (Checklists)
 
 
Cultural Heritage Resource Values
Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage resources will be identified and appropriate management mechanisms established so forest or range practices do not impact them.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators
 
 
Fish/ Riparian Values
Fish/ Riparian
Forest and range activities will conserve fish, fish habitat, water quality, quantity, and timing of flow in community watersheds and watersheds that have significant downstream fisheries values.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators, Protocol, Field Guides, Field Forms (Checklists)
 
 
Forage and Associated Plant Community Values
Forage and Associated Plant Communities
Maintain or enhance forage quality and quantity for livestock and wildlife while maintaining healthy plant communities and biodiversity and minimizing undesirable disturbance to soils, water and riparian areas.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators, Protocol, Field Forms (Checklists)
 
 
Recreation Resource Values
Recreation
Recreation, one of the 11 resource values identified in FRPA, consists of 2 components:
  1. recreation resource management - the identification, protection and management of the Provincial forest recreation resource;
  2. recreation use management - the provision of safe, sanitary, socially acceptable and environmentally sound recreation sites and recreation trails for public use.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators, Field Forms (Checklists)
 
 
Resource Feature Values
Resource Features
Forest and range practices will protect other unique resource features, such as salt deposits or an eagle wintering area.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators, Field Forms (Checklists)
 
 
Soil Values
Soils
Forest harvesting, site preparation, and range activities will protect soil properties, including the physical, chemical, and biological attributes in addition to the natural drainage patterns of the site.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators, Protocol, Field Forms (Checklists)
 
 
Timber Values
Timber
Forest development will be conducted in a way that will not cause landslides, adverse gully processes and snow avalanches that place human life at risk, and that can damage public and private property and forest resources, including water quality in community watersheds.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators
 
 
Visual Quality Values
Visual Quality
Forest development activities will achieve visual quality objectives within scenic areas.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators, Protocol, Field Forms (Checklists)
 
 
Water Values
Water
Stream channel dynamics, aquatic ecosystems, fish and fish habitat, and the water quality of all streams, lakes, and wetlands will not be harmfully impacted by forest and range activities.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators, Protocol, Field Forms (Checklists)
 
 
Wildlife Values
Wildlife
All harvest areas will retain ecologically suitable wildlife trees in quantity, quality, and distribution typical of naturally occurring stand structure.
Information  |  Resources  |  Indicators