Forest Fragmentation. Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alberta Forests. Thomas Braun and Stephen Hanus

Transcription

1 Forest Fragmentation of Oil and Gas Activities on Forests Thomas Braun and Stephen Hanus February 25, 2005

2 of sector impacts ownership effects remarks

3

4 Canadian Shield Foothills Boreal Forest Rocky Mountains Parkland Grasslands

5 23% of GDP ($40 billion) $8 billion/yr royalties 1/6 of ns employed >50% value of exports

6 and Context Fragmentation: Reduction of large contiguous patches into smaller patches. Impacts: Changes to the environment caused by an past, present, and future human actions.

7 Sector Impacts Four Primary Sources of Fragmentation: Seismic Lines 31,000mi approved annually (green zone) 870,000mi total (green zone 1995) Pipelines 183,000mi (2000) Roads Wellsites 103,806 operating (2000)

8 Sector Impacts Seismic lines wide apart Cleared to mineral soil Non-native grass mix Not reforested Slow to regenerate 30% re-cleared

9 Sector Impacts Pipeline right-of-way Similar to seismic lines: Linear features Cleared to mineral soil Non-native grass mix Exceptions: Wider 164 wide Not permitted to reforest

10 Sector Impacts Roads Vary in grade Trail to paved highway Rarely decommissioned Public pressure Capital investment Not re-vegetated

11 Sector Impacts Wellsites 2.5 acres Cleared to mineral soil Non-native grass mix Not required to re-forest

12 Sector Impacts 1.5km/km 2 3km/km 2 4km/km 2 Distribution and intensity of development Within 50 years, contiguous landscape now the exception Rate is highly correlated to energy prices 7.5km/km 2

13 Sector Impacts Percent Increase Year Percent increase in oil and gas wells increase every 5 years Expected to quadruple in next years

14 Land ownership 53% of is forested 93% of forest area is crown land Mandate of the provincial government Exploit the resources for economic benefit and regulate its use for non-economic and social benefit

15 Surface and mineral leases Surface = Forestry Mineral = Surface lease holder cannot deny access of mineral lease holder

16 Further compounding the problem Multiple energy firms in small areas of land Compounds the challenges of multiple operators occupying the same time and space

17 Industrial development from forestry and energy is additive Primary reasons are: Timber is an obstacle for oil and gas sector vs asset for forestry sector Planning disconnect between sectors

18 Forest clearing for different interests, in different areas and in different arrangements (linear vs square) Duplicate road networks, cutblocks and well sites Issues: Minimal and slow reforestation on cleared areas Seismic lines, wellsites and roads Reforestation is not permitted on pipelines Unsustainable forest clearing

19 Stand Age Reduction young & mature aged forests old aged forests

20 Fragmentation Edge effect Increase in the rate of edge creation Longer persistence of edge conditions Natural edge Un-natural edge

21 Non-native plant species Purposeful Seismic lines, pipelines, wellsites Accidental Vehicles Noxious Weeds Range expansion of human tolerant and/or adapted species White tail deer, brown headed cowbird

22 Ecological Implications Woodland Caribou Example Habitat overlaps with industrial activity Relies on continuous forest Predator avoidance Avoids human activities and structures Changed predator-prey interactions deer/moose pop ns wolf pop ns Result: Populations and range are declining Long-term persistence doubtful

23 Mitigation Mitigation Means to minimize or reduce the effect of cumulative impacts Two levels Micro Macro

24 Mitigation Micro scale Modifications to the exploration process Technology improvements Use of existing infrastructure by both sectors Sensitive exploration practices Benefits Immediate, simple reductions to forest clearing Challenges Slow adoption, little incentive

25 Mitigation Macro scale Coordination of resource development to quantify and minimize cumulative effects Integrated planning at a regional level to Benefits Cost savings from harmonized activities Sustainable forest clearing Incorporation of broader ecological goals Challenges Timely stakeholder consultation Coordination of activities

26 Summary Most of s land is publicly owned (93%) Fragmentation is a persistent and growing public issue s strong economy is attributed to the wealth of its natural resources contributes substantially yet treats timber and the forest as an obstacle Forestry contributes relatively little but depends on the timber for its commodities

27 Summary The cumulative effects have significant ecological effects from include land clearing, fragmentation, stand age reduction and the introduction of exotics Means to mitigate Micro technology, altered exploration practices Macro integrated regional planning

28 Thank You.