A quick introduction to the Cumulative Effects Framework for BC

Transcription

1 A quick introduction to the Cumulative Effects Framework for BC To the Howe Sound Community Forum January 14, 2014 Leah Malkinson, CEF Project Manager Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations

2 Outline 1. What is the Cumulative Effects Framework? 2. What are the outputs? - demonstration project examples 3. How will it be implemented in the Province? 4. Some questions about Howe Sound

3 Defining Cumulative Effects Changes to environmental, social, and economic values caused by the combined effect of past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions or events Increasing diversification of activities land base CE assessment by project or sector Inconsistent approaches across sectors unintended cumulative effects 3

4 The Cumulative Effects Framework What It Is A strategic approach to assessing and managing cumulative effects Periodic CEA over broad areas Open information on the condition and trend of key values Decision-support tools Consistent policy and procedures What it Isn t A tool that makes decisions Land Use Planning Thresholds to automatically limit development

5 The Cumulative Effects Framework Core Elements & Process Values & Objectives Enabling Elements First Nations & Stakeholder Engagement CE Assessment Research & Monitoring Decision Support Legislation & Policy

6 Initial Values Criteria for Selection Existing Objectives (Legal & Policy) Support for Aboriginal/Treaty Right Coarse filter/represents nested values Spatially mappable Available data Initial Values Forest Biodiversity (old & mature seral) Riparian Condition Water Quantity and Quality Air Quality Priority Fish and Wildlife Species (e.g. caribou, mule deer, moose, marten, grizzly bear) Cultural Heritage Visual Quality Resource Capability (e.g. timber) Economic Wellbeing Social Wellbeing

7 Broad Scale CE Assessment

8 Broad Scale CE Assessment Assessment relative to existing objectives for values Assessment of: Current condition Potential future condition - foreseeable future (5-10 years) - long-term scenarios ( years) as needed 8

9 CE Assessment: Potential Future Condition What are the cumulative effects of all foreseeable activities in the area? Clean energy wind power Forestry Roads to access development 9

10 % Sub-pop Unit with Road Density above recovery plan guideline % MU's with Objectives Not Met Merritt Example: Risk Mapping & Trends Risk to Value High Mule Deer Habitat Risk 2012 Mule Deer Habitat Risk Mod-High 0.45 Low-Mod Low Trend: decreasing risk Current Condition & Trend Foreseeable Future 0.10 Year: 2002 Year: 2012 Year: 2022 Grizzly Bear Mortality Risk 2012 Grizzly Bear Population - Mortality Risk Risk to Value High Mod-High Moderate Low-Mod Low Otter Similkameen Tulameen Year: 2002 Year: 2012 Year:

11 % Watershed Units at High or Very High Risk % MU's Exceeding Objectives Merritt Example: Risk Mapping & Trends Risk to Value High Mod Low Risk to Visual Quality Temporal Trends in Risk to Visual Quality West Okanagan-Nicola Demo Project Trend: Increasing risk 0 Year: 2002 Year: 2012 Year: 2022 Risk to Value Mod-High Moderate Low Peak Flow Risk 2012 Temporal Trends in Water Quantity Hazard West Okanagan-Nicola Demo Project Year: 2002 Year: 2012 Year: 2022

12 North-West Example: Socio-Economic Values Social Wellbeing Population - Change & Composition Education Attainment Employment Family Income Housing Community Participation Community Social-Ecological Economy Economic Wellbeing Employment Labour Demand Labour Supply Economic Diversity Revenue to Crown Financial Capital Infrastructure Capital

13 From Assessment to Management Risk to Value / Meeting Objectives Management Approach Possible Management / Mitigative Actions High Intensive Strategic direction - New / revised objectives - Strategic planning Common permit conditions Mitigation Plan Low Flexible Research/ inventory Apply best practices / Streamline decision-making

14 Contact Leah Malkinson, Project Manager, MFLNRO Kai Elmauer, Project Coordinator, MFLNRO