Manitoba s Submission Guidelines for Peatland Recovery Plans

Transcription

1 Manitoba s Submission Guidelines for Peatland Recovery Plans Peatland Management Guidebook Forestry and Peatlands Branch Manitoba Sustainable Development

2 First Published: September 2017 Review by: 2022 Last Revised: Released by: Forestry and Peatlands Branch Manitoba Sustainable Development The Peatland Practices Committee is acknowledged for their contributions. Copies of this publication are available online at: Or contact: Forestry and Peatlands Branch Manitoba Sustainable Development 200 Saulteaux Crescent Box 70 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 3W Comments and recommendations on guidelines can be sent to:

3 Table of Contents Glossary of Terms... iii List of Acronyms... iv List of Table and Map Requirements... iv 1.0 Introduction Purpose Peatland Recovery Goals Suggested Resources The Peatland Recovery Plan Introduction Baseline Information Recovery Overview... 3 Post-Harvest Site Conditions Recovery Objectives Recovery Schedule Final Recovery Plan 3.4 Recovery Methods... 4 Site Specific Operations 3.5 Moss Donor Sites... 5 Site and Source Material Description Material Collection Material Placement 3.6 Trees and Vegetation Decommissioning Roads and Structures Monitoring and Assessment Research Adaptive Management Strategies... 7 Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September 2017 ii

4 Glossary of Terms Bulk peat Crown consultation Department Director Donor site Ecoregion Engagement Native plant species Non-Target Species Peat Peat Harvesting Peatland Perimeter Disturbance Progressive recovery Reclamation Recovery Recovery site Residual peat Restoration Sedge Operations Seed zones Species at risk Sphagnum Operations Sub-area Wetland Bog Fen Swamp Marsh Open Water the peat material that is harvested from the Crown peatland The Crown s legal duty to consult with Indigenous peoples under section 35 of the Constitution Act of Canada when any proposed provincial law, regulation, decision or action may infringe upon or adversely affect the exercise of an Indigenous or Treaty right. Manitoba Sustainable Development the director of the Forestry and Peatlands Branch a site where typical peatland vegetation (including Sphagnum moss other biological material from vascular and nonvascular plant species) will be collected for the recovery of harvested Crown peatlands as defined by the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre A process that may be conducted by the government or proponent to inform and engage communities in early plan development, gather community interests and concerns, and mitigate and accommodate those concerns where possible before Crown consultation. Proponent engagement can inform, but not replace, the Crown s legal duty to consult. species indigenous to Manitoba or the ecoregion in which the recovery site is located species that are not found or desirable in the targeted recovery ecosystem (e.g., cattails within a restored bog) partially decomposed organic material, with greater than 30% (dry mass) organic matter content, that has sedentarily accumulated under saturated conditions. Horticultural users typically define peat as having greater than 50% organic content. the action of extracting peat from the land as a natural resource an organic wetland with a minimum of 40 centimetres of accumulated peat, as defined by the Canadian Wetland Classification System. the area bordering the harvested peatland that is impacted by harvesting operations (e.g., water table drawdown, timber removal) recovery that is concurrent and progresses with development and ongoing operations recovery activities that return the peatland to a different ecosystem class or use the restoration, reclamation or change of land use of a PHL after harvesting operational sites within a sub-area identified in the progressive recovery schedule peat left in-situ above the mineral layer once harvesting has ceased recovery activities that return the peatland to a functional peat accumulating ecosystem producers of sedge peat products, typically harvested from fens plant breeding zones based on climate, vegetation and physiography as defined by SARA, The Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act producers of moss (Sphagnum) peat products, typically harvested from bogs An area of Crown peatland established by the holder in their PHL application. This is only applicable if multiple peatlands are included within a single PHL. land that is saturated for long enough that organisms and processes have adapted to the wet conditions, as defined by the Canadian Wetland Classification System peatland that receives water and nutrients from precipitation (ombrogenous), typically dominated by Sphagnum moss, but can be shrubby and/or treed peatland receiving water and nutrients from groundwater and/or surface water (minerogenous), typically more productive and ecologically diverse than bogs treed wetlands with fluctuating water tables, forming on mineral soil or peat mineral wetland, usually adjacent to open water, with fluctuating water tables and emergent or flood tolerant vegetation wetland with generally permanent standing water (less than 2 metres deep) and submerged or floating aquatic vegetation Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September 2017 iii

5 List of Acronyms EAL IRMT PERG PEP PHL PMP PRP Environment Act Licence Integrated Resource Management Team Peatland Ecology Research Group Peat Exploration Permit Peat Harvest Licence Peatland Management Plan Peatland Recovery Plan List of Table and Map Requirements Table-1 Map-1 Map-2 Map-3 Map-4 Progressive recovery timeline Recovery sites Sub-area recovery plans Proposed moss donor site locations Monitoring sites and equipment Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September 2017 iv

6 1.0 Introduction The planning and implementation of peatland recovery for peat harvest licences (PHL) is managed through the peatland recovery plan (PRP). The PRP ensures environmental accountability and continued monitoring is enforced upon completion of resource harvesting. Effective peatland recovery planning and practices are designed to mitigate the environmental impacts of peat harvesting and allow valued ecosystem goods and services to return to the landscape. The regulatory requirements for the PRP are set out in The Peatland Stewardship Act and Regulations, which came into force on June 15, We recognize that this guide will require revisions as our knowledge of peatland management and recovery methods in Manitoba evolves, and with changing peat harvesting practices and technologies. 1.1 Purpose The purpose of this guide is to ensure that a comprehensive approach is applied to peatland recovery after harvesting that acknowledges the ecosystem s ecological, social, cultural and economic values. This document outlines the minimum requirements of the proponent and will provide the following: recovery objectives, timelines and targets site specific planning processes and methods, to support overall recovery objectives protocols for recovery site monitoring and assessment information on the rationale and decision-making process 1.2 Peatland Recovery Goals Manitoba Sustainable Development has adopted peatland recovery options that emphasize the importance of peatland ecosystems, while also giving the proponent flexibility to propose and test innovative recovery approaches. It is important to acknowledge that recovery of harvested peatlands will be site specific and highly dependent on pre and post-harvesting site characteristics, in addition to the regional landscape and land uses. When assessing the appropriate type of recovery, the proponent must consider the environmental and climatic conditions, as well as social, cultural and economic factors. The department requires the recovery of peatlands after harvesting to fall into one, or a combination, of the following recovery options. Options are ranked in order of Manitoba s prioritized recovery goals: 1) Return to Peat Accumulating Ecosystem: The primary recovery goal is to restore the harvested peatland to a similar peatland type with the ability to become a self-sustaining, peat accumulating ecosystem. This type of recovery can be achieved through the restoration of vegetation, soil and hydrological conditions that represent the pre-disturbance ecosystem. For example, a sphagnum-dominated bog is restored to a bog or fen peatland, with peat forming vegetation communities. 2) Return to Alternative Ecosystem: If proposed, the proponent must provide clear and substantiated rationale why recovery option 1) was not chosen. This secondary option would reclaim the harvested peatland to an ecosystem representative of the ecoregion. The ecosystem type may differ from the pre-disturbance conditions, but retain general site characteristics and functions. This type of recovery would involve a shift in vegetation communities, and possible changes in soil type and hydrology. However, the reclaimed ecosystem may be on a successional path to transition into the pre-disturbance ecosystem type. For example, a sphagnum-dominated bog is reclaimed to a mineral or open water wetland. Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September

7 3) Change in Land Use: If it can be proven that neither recovery option 1) nor 2) are feasible or desirable, the proponent may propose that the harvested peatland be reclaimed to a new land use, which differs from the pre-disturbance and regional ecosystem types. This recovery option would involve significant changes to site conditions and historic land uses. A request to pursue this recovery type must demonstrate that the proposed land use is beneficial to the region, complements an adjacent land use or applies an innovative recovery strategy. NOTE: Re-forestation criteria for PHLs in treed peatlands are outlined in Appendix I. 2.0 Suggested Resources The use of current research and industry standards is required to guide the recovery planning process and achieve targeted recovery goals. Peat harvest operators are expected to use accredited resources and guides to assist with recovery operations, such as those developed by the Peatland Ecology Research Group (PERG). While these resources provide comprehensive peatland recovery methods, PHL recovery planning should be considered in the regional context, acknowledging the unique climate, ecosystem characteristics (e.g., hydrology, species and habitat) and socio-economic factors. Proponents are encouraged to conduct research and participate in partnerships to expand the current state of knowledge of peatland recovery, continuously improve recovery strategies and increase public awareness of peatland harvesting and recovery. We recommend that proponents explore collaborative partnerships with research institutes and professionals, government and non-government organizations to verify recovery objectives and ensure best management practices are implemented. 3.0 The Peatland Recovery Plan The PRP will include the following major components: 1. Introduction 2. Baseline Information 3. Recovery Overview 4. Recovery Methods 5. Moss Donor Sites 6. Trees and Vegetation 7. Decommissioning Roads and Structures 8. Monitoring and Assessment 9. Research 10. Adaptive Management Strategies The proponent is required to submit a complete PRP for each PHL application. The following sections outline the content requirements of the PRP and should be completed in full, unless otherwise agreed to by the department. If a change in land use is proposed, the recovery plan would be highly dependant on the proposed use and plan requirements may be modified through discussions with the department. The PRP will focus on recovery at the sub-area scale and therefore, all sections must be completed for each proposed active sub-area within the PHL. A PRP is only required for sub-areas that are planned to become active within the term of the PHL, as identified in the Harvesting Schedule section of the associated peatland management plan (PMP). The proponent is not required to submit a PRP, or any of its sections, for sub-areas that are not scheduled to be harvested within the PHL term. Therefore, a PRP may not report on each sub-area at the time of submitting the initial PHL application. However, a proponent must always submit a PRP and have it approved before starting any activity within a subarea. Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September

8 NOTE: The content and requirements for the PRP differs for PHLs issued on June 15, See Appendix III of the Peat Harvest Licensing Guide for details. 3.1 Introduction The introduction to the PRP will provide an overview of the proposed recovery objectives and how they meet the department s recovery criteria. This section will compare these objectives to the predisturbance site conditions, identify anticipated challenges and highlight the use of innovative or alternative recovery strategies. 3.2 Baseline Information The proponent will provide a summary of the pre-disturbance conditions of each sub-area, identifying any known site characteristics of special interest (e.g., species at risk or their habitat, heritage sites and cultural features). The proponent will also identify the current conditions of the immediate surrounding landscape and any activities (e.g., peat harvesting, agriculture, mineral quarries and infrastructure) that could impact site recovery. NOTE: This section can reference and summarize the proponent s peat exploration report. 3.3 Recovery Overview Post-Harvest Site Conditions The proponent will describe the expected site conditions after harvesting, including any expected variability within the sub-area. The proponent can reference the PMP s Map-5 and related schematics. At minimum, the proponent must include the following information: thickness and characteristics of residual peat (e.g., ph and decomposition level) site topography water table positions The proponent will also describe any anticipated characteristics of the surrounding landscape at the time of recovery (e.g., new or closing harvesting operations, mineral quarries, planned infrastructure development). Recovery Objectives The proponent will identify the recovery objectives for the sub-area (i.e., target ecosystems). The proponent will describe how the objectives fall within the recovery types identified in section 1.2 Peatland Recovery Goals and provide rationale for each objective. There may be multiple objectives and recovery types for each sub-area. See section 1.2 Peatland Recovery Goals for prioritized recovery options. Recovery Schedule The proponent will provide a map (Map-1) illustrating how progressive recovery will be applied within the sub-area, identifying each proposed recovery site. The proponent will also complete Table-1, which will include estimated site sizes (hectares) and timelines (these can be ranges) that show when harvesting will cease, recovery will begin and recovery operations will be complete for each recovery site identified in Map-1. Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September

9 Table-1: Progressive recovery timeline Recovery site A Recovery site B Recovery site C Size (ha) Harvesting Ceased Recovery Initiated Recovery Operations Complete* * The completion of recovery operations refers to the point where the proponent s work to prepare the landbase for recovery (e.g., land contouring, re-wetting, plant re-introduction) has ceased and the site has been left to sustain itself, based on recovery targets identified in this plan. NOTE: Smaller harvesting operations may not be required to perform phased recovery. In such a case, the proponent is not required to submit Map-1 and will provide a recovery timeline for the whole subarea. Final Recovery Plan The proponent will provide a map and/or schematic (Map-2) of the final recovery plan for the sub-area. The map will illustrate the final recovery targets, identifying unique ecosystem types within the sub-area and include anticipated surface topography post-recovery. 3.4 Recovery Methods This section will contain specific recovery methods for each recovery site within the sub-area. Therefore, the Site Specific Operations section should be completed for each recovery site. These methods must support the overall recovery objectives in section 3.3 Recovery Overview. Site Specific Operations The proponent will describe the proposed recovery activities and stages for each site, such as: re-profiling harvested fields construction of berms and water management devices blocking ditches moss spreading tree and vegetation planting creating ponds mulching (identify material source) fertilizing The proponent will also include strategies for: addressing or re-introducing site characteristics of special interest, as identified in section 3.2 Baseline Information and the Peat Exploration Report mitigating impacts of continued harvesting operations adjacent to recovery sites (if applicable) improving connectivity with adjacent natural or recovered ecosystems (e.g., sloping and lower density at margins) Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September

10 3.5 Moss Donor Sites (if applicable) Site and Source Material Description The chosen donor site locations and size must be consistent with best management practices for peatland recovery (i.e., PERG guidelines, Veriflora Standards) or proven adjustments adapted to local conditions. The proponent will provide a map with the following information (Map-3): locations and area (hectares) of moss donor sites if and where moss will be acquired from fields prior to harvesting (i.e., using the moss layer transfer technique) This section will also include a description of donor site conditions and source material, including the type of peatland and dominant species present. The proponent will provide rationale for the chosen donor sites and target species. If the proposed donor site is not within the planned harvest area, periodic monitoring will be conducted in order to track possible changes to site conditions and species assemblages. Material Collection The proponent will provide protocols for collecting and storing donor material, consistent with best management practices, including: time of year depth of collection collection method (i.e. type of machinery) estimated time donor material will be in stockpile (if applicable) If the proposed donor site is not planned to be harvested, the proponent will include a plan for site access, material transport to recovery sites and strategies to minimize disturbance to the natural area. Material Placement The proponent will provide protocols for spreading donor material on the recovery site, including: time of year ratio of collected area to spreading area material introduction method (i.e. type of machinery) method and timeline for mulch placement (if applicable) Donor material treatments will be identified in section 3.3 Recovery Overview and included on Map Trees and Vegetation (if applicable) The proponent will identify where trees or other vegetation will be sourced (i.e., nursery or natural donor site) and the rationale for species selection. The proponent is required to use native plant species and identify seed zones. An overview of planting protocols is required, including planting density and time of year. The proponent is encouraged to work with the Regional Forester in developing tree planting plans. Their approval of the planting plan will be required. See Appendix I for specific re-forestation requirements. Planting areas will be identified in section 3.3 Recovery Overview and included on Map-2. Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September

11 3.7 Decommissioning Roads and Structures The proponent will provide decommissioning and re-vegetation plans for the following, including estimated timelines: processing facilities (if applicable) secondary structures, parking and storage areas temporary roads The proponent will consult with the Manitoba government regarding aggregate recovery plans for temporary roads and any proposed transfer of road management authority for permanent roads. NOTE: See the Forestry Road Management Guidelines for information on road decommissioning plans and authority transfers. 3.8 Monitoring and Assessment In this section the proponent will identify recovery targets that support the site recovery objectives in section 3.3 Recovery Overview. The proponent will describe assessment procedures and indicators used to judge if targets are being met and recovery is on the planned trajectory. The proponent will present an overview of their proposed monitoring program for each recovery area set out in section 3.3 Recovery Overview, including the monitoring of any donor sites and areas subject to perimeter disturbance. At a minimum, monitoring must include the collection of the following datasets: hydrology (e.g., water levels and flow directions) water chemistry (e.g., ph and electrical conductivity) vegetation assessment (e.g., dominant species, percent cover, health and the presence of nontarget species) the regeneration of re-forested areas (see Appendix I for specific requirements) The final monitoring program, including a map identifying monitoring sites and equipment (Map-4), will be required once recovery activities are scheduled to begin (see Table-1). These are not required with the initial PRP submission. The monitoring schedule for recovery sites will follow that set out in the proponent s Environment Act Licence. If a monitoring schedule is not included in their Environment Act Licence, the proponents will, at minimum, monitor recovery sites two, three and five years after recovery 1, or, where applicable, in accordance with current evidence-base protocols (e.g. PERG). Continued monitoring may be requested by the director. For the duration of the monitoring schedule, a report documenting recovery progress will be submitted to the department, and Environmental Approvals if applicable, following each monitoring campaign. 3.9 Research Proponents are encouraged to develop strategies for engaging with research partners and participating in research initiatives to further the state of knowledge of peatland recovery in Manitoba. The proponent will describe any current and planned research on the PHL, including the anticipated roles of research partners (e.g., site preparation, planting and monitoring). The research objectives should support recovery targets outlined in section 3.3 Recovery Overview. 1 Quinty, F. and Rochefort, L. (2003). Peatland Restoration Guide, 2 nd ed. Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association and New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy. Quebec, Quebec. Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September

12 3.10 Adaptive Management Strategies This section will include a discussion of strategies for mitigating and remediating unforeseen circumstances during and after recovery operations, such as: influence of adjacent land uses on site recovery possible changes to adjacent land use drought or flooding fire low plant establishment non-target species establishment Adaptive management should only be applied as a result of changing circumstances outside the proponent s control. Despite these challenges, initial recovery objectives identified in section 3.3 Recovery Overview should remain the primary targets, unless the proponent can provide sufficient evidence proving they are no longer feasible because of new site conditions. Peatland Recovery Plan Guidelines September