The State of BC’s Forests The Indicators Protected forests — PDF print version

Indicator 2 – Protected forests

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Why is this important?

Protected forests provide natural habitats for plants and animals, areas for scientific study, and wilderness for recreational, cultural and spiritual pursuits.

Overview

• Protected forests are forests in strictly protected areas in which development is largely prohibited by law.
• In B.C., forests are strictly protected in provincial parks, ecological reserves and recreation areas, and in national parks.
• A generally representative 10% of British Columbia’s forests are strictly protected.

STATE

good

TREND

improving

INFORMATION

partial

Questions about protected forests

2-1	Are B.C.’s protected forests representative of its total forests?
2-2	What are the areas, types and ages of B.C.’s protected forests?
2-3	What is the geographic distribution of protected forests?
2-4	How much of B.C.’s older forests is protected?
	Ministry of Forests and Range’s assessment

Related indicators

• Logging and environmental activism (see Timber harvest, Public involvement, Law) have influenced the extent and location of protected forests. Their condition is affected by fire, disease, invasive species (see Ecosystem dynamics, Exotic species), climate change and recreational users (see Greenhouse gases, Recreation).
• The types and condition of protected forests influence habitats for wildlife (see Species diversity) and recreational opportunities (see Recreation).
• Management responses include planning, facilities and restoration.

Indicator 2-1

Are B.C.’s protected forests representative of its total forests?

larger versions – HTML | PDF | Excel — Biogeoclimatic zone descriptions

Why is this important?

Protection of representative examples of forest ecosystems helps maintain ecological processes and species diversity.

State and Trend

• B.C.’s protected areas have tripled in area since 1950 and doubled since 1991. The area of protected forests increased 134% from 1991 to 2002; protected areas now include 5.7 million ha (10%) of B.C.’s forests.
• Low-elevation forests, which account for 72% of all forests in B.C., are represented with 8% protected in 2002. High-elevation forests are represented with 15% protected in 2002.
• In 2002, the proportion of protected forest in each biogeoclimatic zone varied from 5% to 20%.
• The Coastal Douglas-fir, Ponderosa Pine and Interior Douglas-fir zones have the lowest representation, each with 5% of forests protected. These zones are the warmest and driest of the forested biogeoclimatic zones; consequent human settlement has limited availability of natural forests for protection.
• Only a few, small changes in areas were made between 2002 and 2005.
• Maps: Protected Areas (PDF), Biogeoclimatic Zones (PDF)

Information

• The above figures are based on areas protected by the national and provincial governments. Regional parks, municipal parks and private conservation lands provide limited additional areas.
• Estimates of representativeness depend on 1950s inventory data and satellite imagery for about half of the protected forests.
• Representativeness estimates based on forest area are reliable.
• References: MoE’s BC Parks; Parks Canada
• Related international and national indicators: MP 1.1.c; CCFM 1.1.2

Indicator 2-2

What are the areas, types and ages of B.C.’s protected forests?

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Why is this important?

The many specialized habitats of forest-associated species occur in forests of different types and ages.

State and Trend

• B.C’s protected forests are strictly protected (IUCN categories I to III).
• Like B.C.’s total forests; B.C.’s protected forests are mostly coniferous, dominated by lodgepole pine, spruces and true firs.
• Older forests are well-represented in protected forests. The proportions of protected (and total) forest area over 100 years old are 78% (62%); over 140 years old, 63% (41%); and over 250 years old, 27% (14%).
• Areas can also be partially protected (IUCN categories IV to VI) by limiting resource development. In B.C., large special management zones cover 14 million ha (forest and non-forest) and many smaller riparian and other sensitive zones cover additional areas. While these areas may not meet all aspects of IUCN definitions for categories IV to VI, their management objectives may be similar to those of one or more IUCN categories. Cumulatively, they provide substantial additional areas that help maintain ecological processes and forest-dependent species.
• Maps: Protected Areas (PDF), Special Management Zones (PDF)

Information

• Only satellite imagery is available for a few large parks, and data for several parks existing since the 1950s are old and not reliable. Analysis of the representativeness of protected forests based on species and age is therefore less reliable than that based on forest area.
• More recent forest inventories exist for parks established since 1990.
• References: MoE’s BC Parks; Parks Canada; MAL’s Strategic Land Use Planning, LRDW; MFR’s VRI
• Related international and national indicators: MP 1.1.c, 1.1.d; CCFM 1.1.2

Indicator 2-3

What is the geographic distribution of protected forests?

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Why is this important?

The geographic distribution of protected areas reflects society’s choices to balance conservation values with economic development opportunities.

State and Trend

• Ecological classification into ecosections based on climate and physiography is used for general conservation and wildlife management.
• Between 1991 and 2002, the area protected increased in 115 of the 132 terrestrial ecosections. The number with 12% or more of their forest area protected increased from 17 to 43, the number with 6–12% protected increased from 12 to 26, and the number with 1–6% protected increased from 25 to 38. As a result, the number of ecosections with less than 1% of their forests protected decreased from 78 to 25.
• In some parts of the province, especially along the coast, protected areas were concentrated in ecosections with high conservation values.
• In other parts of the province, such as the northeast, protected areas were intentionally limited in some ecosections with high economic development opportunities.
• Maps: Protected Areas (PDF), Level of Land Protection by Ecosection (PDF)

Information

• Ecosections are better suited for analyzing geographic distribution than biogeoclimatic zones.
• Existing data on the areas of total forests and protected forests by ecosection are reliable.
• References: MoE’s BC Parks, Ecoregions of BC
• Related international and national indicators: MP 1.1.c; CCFM 1.1.2

Indicator 2-4

How much of B.C.’s older forests is protected?

larger versions – HTML | PDF | Excel — Biogeoclimatic zone descriptions

Why is this important?

Protection of older forests helps ensure the survival of dependent species, and the preservation of their other special values. Protection of B.C.’s old growth forests is a high profile public issue.

State and Trend

• Older forests that take hundreds of years to develop provide specialized habitats and numerous economic, social and spiritual values.
• The area of protected forests over 140 years old doubled between1991 and 2002, to 3.6 million ha (63% of all protected forests). This includes 1.5 million ha over 250 years old (27% of all protected forests).
• Protected forests include 15% of the province’s forests over 140 years old and 19% of forests over 250 years old.
• In low-elevation biogeoclimatic zones, 13% of forests over 140 years are protected. In high-elevation zones, 18% are protected.
• Relatively few intact older forests remain in the heavily settled Coastal Douglas-Fir, Ponderosa Pine and Interior Douglas-Fir zones, but 10%, 8% and 9%, respectively, of the forests over 140 years old are protected.
• The Sub-Boreal Pine–Spruce zone has a small area of forest over 250 years old (see Indicator 1-4), and most of it is within protected areas.
• About 60–65% of the area of protected older forests has trees over 20 m tall. Tall trees provide important ecological niches, and are appreciated for their aesthetic and spiritual values.
• Protected forests considered old growth cover 3.7 million ha (64% of all protected forests). This amounts to 15% of B.C.’s total old growth area.
• Maps: Protected Areas (PDF), Forest Age (PDF), Biogeoclimatic Zones (PDF)

Information

• Age data are not reliable for about half of the protected areas.
• References: MFR’s VRI, Forest Science
• Related international and national indicators: MP 1.1.c, 1.1.d; CCFM 1.1.2

 

Indicator 2 – Protected forests Ministry of Forests and Range’s assessment State good Protected areas provide natural habitats for plants and animals, areas for scientific study, and wilderness for a wide variety of recreational, cultural and spiritual pursuits. About 10% of B.C.’s forests are legally protected and meet the standards for IUCN categories I to III. They are reasonably representative of most of the province’s forest ecosystems, with a desirable emphasis on older forests. Their geographic distribution reflects intentional balancing of conservation with economic and social priorities. Maintaining ecological processes and natural habitats is also a priority in large areas of forest outside protected areas. While these areas may not qualify as IUCN categories IV to VI, their management objectives may be similar to those of one or more IUCN categories. Trend improving The area of protected forests has more than doubled since 1991, as has the area of protected forests over 140 years old. Representation of most biogeoclimatic zones has improved and the geographic distribution of protected forests among ecosections has also improved. Many forest ecosystems still present a wide range of choices for protecting or developing forests. Due to historical development patterns, choices are limited in the smaller biogeoclimatic zones. Information partial Management of currently protected forests and decisions to protect additional areas depend on information about the forests, their conservation values, and expected benefits and costs of ongoing protection. Detailed biogeoclimatic data and 1:250,000 maps are available for the whole province, including protected areas. The broad ecosystem inventory is also available and may be sufficient for some decisions regarding the selection and management of protected forests. Detailed forest inventories are available for many protected forests, but only the less reliable 1950s inventory and satellite imagery are available for about half of the protected forests. Furthermore, detailed forest inventories primarily address timber values, not conservation values.