The process for implementing interim measures is through policy established by the chief forester and referred to in the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy, letter of transmittal (February 15, 1999). Interim measures should apply to WHA proposals accepted by the RES in step 2 of the procedure for establishing WHAs. The list of Identified Wildlife, habitat attributes and interim zones that interim measures should apply to are provided in Table 1. When a WHA proposal has been accepted by the RES, it is recommended that these interim zones be established and the species' GWM be applied within the interim zone.
Interim measures are designed to minimize the effects of forest or range practices on critical habitat attributes, such as nest sites and an adjacent area, throughout the WHA approval process. When a WHA is approved, interim measures should remain until such time as the WHA is designated and "known" (as defined in the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act). When a WHA is rejected, interim measures no longer apply; however, other Code mechanisms, such as wildlife tree patches, may be used to maintain the critical feature. The number of interim sites that can be in place at any one time for some species has been limited (see "Planning thresholds" and Appendix 10).
Table 1. Recommended interim zones for Identified Wildlife
Government has set a limit to the allowable impact to short-term harvest levels that may be incurred as a result of implementing measures for Identified Wildlife. This limit is equivalent to 1% of the provincial harvest at the end of 1995. An impact assessment was conducted to estimate the potential impacts of the strategy (available through the MELP, Wildlife Branch, Identified Wildlife internet home page). The projected number of WHAs used to model impacts are provided in Appendix 11. A planning threshold has been established by district in order to facilitate planning and management of the amount of timber inventory that may be affected by approved WHAs.
Although impacts are likely to vary throughout the province, they will be managed to 1% per forest district until an assessment is completed to determine how they should be allocated regionally. It is expected that the regional re-allocation will be done once the strategy has been in effect for two years.
Estimates have been provided for the number of Queen Charlotte goshawk WHAs that can be established within the 1% district thresholds (see Appendix 12). Estimates for the number of interim sites have also been provided for those species that have the potential to have high impacts (see Appendix 10). Timber supply impacts from interim measures must also be implemented under the 1% forest district threshold.
The following options will be considered if the 1% district allocation is reached before the two-year period. The WHA Technical Committee will consult with species experts and regional or district staff to develop options that will be presented to the chief forester and the deputy minister of Environment, Lands and Parks. The WHA Technical Committee may recommend:
Measuring and tracking timber impacts
The purpose of measuring and tracking the timber impacts of Identified Wildlife is to provide impact information on proposed WHAs to statutory decision makers and to track cumulative impacts of approved WHAs.
Direct measurement of timber supply impacts is not possible because timber supply is a derived characteristic that depends on the existing timber inventory, forest productivity and applied management regimes. These factors vary over time and space.
Measuring and tracking timber supply impacts of WHAs requires measurement of some forest attribute that affects timber supply. For short-term impacts, the best attribute to measure is the area of mature, harvestable timber affected by a given WHA. The relationship between mature, harvestable timber and short-term timber supply is not always direct, but it is usually close. Adaptations may be required in specific situations, for example to account for variations in forest stand volumes and management practices. Overall, monitoring the effects on mature available timber is both simple and sufficiently accurate for this purpose. For long-term effects the impact on the entire timber harvesting land base (not just the mature timbered area) would be monitored.
Impacts may be measured on a volume or area basis. That is, either the reduction in harvestable volume can be measured, or the area of harvestable timber can be measured. Measuring the volume affected by a WHA would be direct and would not require adjustments to account for variations in volume per hectare in different areas (a hectare of high-volume valley floor timber would affect timber supply more than a hectare of low-volume subalpine forest). One issue with only measuring affected timber volumes is that inventory audits have highlighted inaccuracies in timber volume estimates in some areas. In areas where audits have shown problems, both area and volume measurements should be made.
Proposed method:
Measuring and tracking animal unit month
Impacts to individual ranchers will be measured and tracked by the range representative on the Regional WHA Committee.
Energy and mineral resources
The Identified Wildlife Management Strategy has been developed with a focus on the potential for habitat alteration associated with forest and range practices. General wildlife measures for WHAs have been created with the goal of mitigating the effect of forest practices on Identified Wildlife, and impacts resulting from application of the strategy will be quantified in terms of the timber inventory and landbase. This approach leaves some uncertainty about the application of the strategy on mineral and energy exploration and development activities. This section is intended to provide greater clarity and guidance on managing mineral and energy exploration and development activities in relation to the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy, as well as on the role the Ministry of Energy and Mines plays in implementation of the strategy.
Impacts on unknown subsurface resources cannot be predicted with any certainty at present. However, co-ordinated and flexible management actions can minimize impacts while still achieving the overall goals of the strategy. For most Identified Wildlife, the number and size of WHAs that will be subject to management restrictions is limited, therefore the possibility of a direct conflict with subsurface resource development is relatively small. Mineral and energy resource information will be fully considered in the designation of WHAs, which should minimize the chance of direct negative impact. Nonetheless, for a few wildlife species, the designated habitat area may be quite large and the potential for conflicts with subsurface resource development are greater. Co-operative, flexible management approaches will be implemented to ensure mineral and energy development activities can proceed and are undertaken in a manner that minimizes risk to wildlife.
Ministry of Energy and Mines and Oil and Gas Commission involvement
Regional WHA Committees
At the regional level, MEM will be represented on the Regional WHA Committees by MEM regional managers or designates in the Mines Branch. Most of the petroleum industry's operations are centred in northeastern B.C. Therefore, a representative of MEM from Fort St. John will participate in the Prince George Regional WHA Committee. These representatives will be the primary contact for the mining and petroleum sectors on WHA related matters.
The Regional WHA Committees provide input into WHA boundary determinations, evaluate impacts, assist in stakeholder consultation, and prepare each WHA proposal for the statutory decision makers.
The MEM representative will ensure that mineral or energy resource and tenure information is considered when determining WHA boundaries, with the intent of minimizing impacts on these resources and any related exploration or development activities. This will include explicit consideration of existing and future surface access requirements of the mineral or energy sectors to reach lands beyond a WHA.
The MEM representative will also ensure directly affected subsurface tenure holders and industry associations are consulted for each WHA proposal. Implications of the proposed WHA on mineral and energy resources, including stakeholder concerns and comments, will be documented within the WHA proposal. Where the potential exists for a WHA proposal to impact subsurface resource interests, the MEM representative may provide an alternative option to address the issues.
Provincial WHA Technical Committee
At the provincial level, MEM will be represented on a provincial WHA Technical Committee that evaluates each WHA proposal prior to forwarding to the statutory decision makers for decision. Where there are conflicts with mineral or energy resource interests, the WHA Technical Committee will forward these to the statutory decision makers. The statutory decision makers may consult with the FPC Joint Steering Committee on the documented concerns. Where conflicts persist, options that minimize impacts to mineral and energy resources will be included in any final proposal forwarded for decision to the statutory decision makers.
Energy and mineral activities
The location of all approved WHAs will be available on maps from any of the three agencies (MEM, MOF and MELP field offices) and from the MELP web site. Specific biological information on the Identified Wildlife species can be obtained through the appropriate MELP RES specialist. To assist in the planning of proposed energy and mineral development activities, information on proposed WHAs will be available from the RES or an intranet site.
The MEM regional representative will be notified of all interim zones, and proposed and approved WHAs. Management of mineral and energy activities during the interim and within WHAs will follow the GWM. As any proposals for energy and mineral exploration and development work will be reviewed in the context of these GWMs, it will expedite permit approvals if the energy and mineral sectors design their work programs accordingly. Variance to GWMs may be approved in cases where they are necessary to accommodate site-specific conditions and activities.
In addition, the mineral or energy sector, MEM, can recommend to the Regional WHA Committee that a WHA boundary be modified or a WHA removed. Where new subsurface resource information that has a direct bearing on a WHA is identified, application can be made to the Regional WHA Committee to make a major change to the WHA boundary or to remove the WHA (see page 15). In this situation, a re-assessment of the proposal and stakeholder consultation is required. An alternate WHA that reduces conflicts may be proposed, where this is appropriate. It is recommended that the MEM Mines Branch regional manager or the Petroleum Land Branch be contacted to provide information on initiating the process for this change. Up to three months will be required for stakeholder input and review before the statutory decision makers decide on the issue.
Permits
Mineral resource activities
MEM will be the primary regulator of mineral sector activities on mineral and coal tenures within WHAs, through the Mineral Tenure Act, Mines Act, Coal Act and the new Mineral Exploration Code. Activities that disturb the surface of the ground, including road or trail construction, will be permitted subject to specific permit conditions designed to minimize potential impacts to Identified Wildlife. Where a permit to cut timber on mineral tenures is required from the MOF, it will be issued in accordance with the Mineral Tenure Act, Mines Act, Coal Act, Mineral Exploration Code and the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act. The GWMs provide for such activities, either directly or indirectly through variances to standard practices when appropriate to the situation.
Approvals for road or trail construction off of mineral tenures normally require issuance of a special use permit from MOF. In most instances, road or trail access routes will be aligned to avoid WHAs, however if there is no other practicable route, a special use permit allowing access construction within a WHA will be issued with appropriate conditions designed to minimize potential effects on Identified Wildlife. The special use permit will be issued in accordance with the Mining Rights Amendment Act provisions for certainty of access to mineral titles.
Energy resource activities
Petroleum land tendering issues involving the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy can be addressed through the Petroleum Lands Branch of MEM.
Petroleum related activities in provincial forests which entail the cutting of trees are regulated by the OGC through the issuance of licences to cut or master licences to cut agreements, plus the associated cutting permits. WHAs must be identified during the planning stages of the subject project. The cutting permits issued by OGC will reflect the GWM of the specific WHAs encountered through the application approval process. Variances to the GWM may be requested but the review and approval process for the GWM may take up to three months.
