The conservation of biological diversity is a goal of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act. Two Forest Practices Code guidebooks, the Biodiversity Guidebook and the Riparian Management Area Guidebook, address the requirements of the majority of species and plant communities on a broad scale. These guidebooks are referred to as the "coarse filter," as they should maintain habitat for the majority of species, plant communities and ecosystem processes. The Identified Wildlife Management Strategy is designed to be the "fine filter," addressing habitat requirements of wildlife that require additional management attention.
The goals of the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy are to minimize the effects of forest practices on Identified Wildlife, and to maintain their limiting habitats throughout their current ranges and, where appropriate, their historic ranges. In some cases, this will entail restoration of previously occupied habitats, particularly for those species most at risk.
The term "Identified Wildlife" refers to those species at risk that the deputy minister of Environment, Lands and Parks, or person authorized by that deputy minister, and the chief forester, agree require special management attention. Within the Code, the terms "wildlife" and "species at risk" have been defined so that endangered, threatened or vulnerable species of vertebrates and invertebrates, endangered or threatened plants and plant communities, and regionally important vertebrates may be designated as Identified Wildlife.
The Identified Wildlife Management Strategy can be applied only to Crown forest and range land or private land that is subject to a tree farm or woodlot licence. It only addresses forest practices regulated by the Code. It does not address activities such as hunting or poaching. Under the Wildlife Act, native terrestrial vertebrates designated as "wildlife" are protected from killing, capture and harrassment except by permit or regulation. The strategy also does not address agriculture or urban development. A role of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks is to develop conservation strategies and recovery plans for species at risk. These strategies and plans address all habitats in the province and all requirements for a species' conservation including research and inventory needs, habitat conservation and regulatory changes. Examples of these strategies include the Provincial Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy and the Marbled Murrelet National Recovery Plan. For information on conservation strategies, recovery plans and how other activities are being addressed contact the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Wildlife Branch.
Identified Wildlife are managed through the establishment of wildlife habitat areas (WHAs) and implementation of general wildlife measures (GWMs), or through other management practices specified in higher level plans. Wildlife habitat areas are mapped areas that have been approved by the chief forester and deputy minister of Environment, Lands and Parks as requiring special management attention. The purpose of WHAs is to conserve those habitats considered most limiting to a given species. For example, feeding lakes for American white pelican are considered limiting because they must occur near the breeding site, contain the appropriate prey species, and be relatively free of human disturbance. Breeding sites for ancient murrelet are considered limiting because this species returns to the same area each year, breeds in undisturbed old forest habitat, and requires freedom from most mammalian predators. Although research is not always adequate to indicate which habitats or habitat attributes are most limiting, the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy adheres to the precautionary principle-where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for failing to implement appropriate, cost-effective environmental measures.
General wildlife measures describe the management practices that must be implemented within an approved WHA. A GWM may limit activities partially (e.g., seasonally) or entirely. General wildlife measures prescribe a level of management appropriate to the conservation status of Identified Wildlife. Management objectives are consistent with the goals and commitments of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy and provincial goals for the management of wildlife (i.e., as outlined in the Provincial Wildlife Strategy). However, it should be recognized that these measures may prove to be insufficient to conserve viable populations of a species throughout its range in British Columbia and may have to be amended accordingly. Amendments will generally follow an assessment, prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP), of the conservation needs of the species. When an assessment indicates that additional measures are required to conserve the species and the recommendations have an impact on other resources beyond the limits approved for Identified Wildlife, it may be necessary to consider the species within a public planning process (i.e., higher level plan).
It is believed that this strategy marks a significant step toward responsible stewardship of Identified Wildlife. The management practices presented here are designed to reduce the impacts of forest and range management on Identified Wildlife within targeted social and economic constraints. They represent an attempt to balance both socio-economic considerations and conservation of species at risk in managed forests and rangelands. For the most part, Identified Wildlife provisions are stand level measures that can not address the issues of habitat supply, habitat connectivity and population viability. Such considerations should be taken into account during landscape level or regional planning.
