Kamloops TSA Forest Health Strategic Plan: Gap Analysis

Transcription

1 Kamloops TSA Forest Health Strategic Plan: Gap Analysis Version 1.0 Funded by FIA Prepared for: Tolko Industries Ltd., Louis Creek Division PO Box 25 Louis Creek, BC V0E 2E0 Project Contact: Michael P. Bragg, RPF, Divisional Forester Prepared by: Ed Senger, RPBio Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc McGill Road Kamloops, BC V2C 6K7 March 26, 2003

2 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction Background and Rationale Activities for Fiscal Study Area Description Methods Results Recommendations Forest Health Strategic Plan Development and Schedule Forest Health Coordinator Qualifications Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 2

3 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background and Rationale Part of the transition to new forest practices in the province of BC includes new forest policy legislation will be released in the new fiscal year, As a result, Ministry of Forests will no longer be the lead delivery agent of forest health programs; rather, the Ministry will assume more of an enforcement and compliance role, including inspections, audits, and review of forest health/bark beetle strategic and operational plans. Under DFAM, forest licensees will be managing a Forest Health Strategic Plan that will address all pests, although will focus primarily on bark beetle management. Provincial forest health programs will be administered on a Timber Supply Area (TSA) basis, delivered by local forest licensees through Defined Forest Area Management (DFAM). The new forest policy legislation will define the scope of forest health programs and activities, as well as direct program delivery through the DFAM process. In particular, forest health management activities will be required both in and outside the Timber Harvesting Land Base (THLB); forest licensees will be responsible for forest health management above and below operability lines, including areas outside of where beetle activity can be managed by commercial harvest. Funding for the fiscal year will be through the Forest Investment Account (FIA) to provide a transition for forest licensee managers of DFAMs to develop and implement a forest health program. Consequently, the Kamloops TSA Committee has agreed to develop the Kamloops TSA Forest Health Strategic Plan as an initial step toward forest health management. Development of the Kamloops TSA Forest Health Strategic Plan will require acquisition of data from a variety of sources, including planning and business datasets. Therefore, a gap analysis of data needs would be required. All required datasets should be identified, centralized, and inspected for accuracy and integrity prior to commencing the planning process. Recommendations can then be made to locate, acquire, or, if necessary, generate any missing data (for example, hazard and risk assessments). The Forest Health Strategic Plan will be developed using ArcInfo, necessitating that all data be either in ArcInfo format or a compatible format that can be readily converted. Furthermore, a Gap Analysis of data needs should continue as forest health strategies are developed and unfold so that long-term data needs can be determined. In particular, data types, systems, and their structure, as well as any relevant tools, etc. should be assessed for future planning. Data sets or sources that will require updates should be clearly identified as part of any long-term strategies. For example, long-term planning should evaluate whether hazard assessments require upgrading as new information is collected over time, or if aerial survey data collection methods need revision. Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 3

4 Current data systems should also be considered for their long-term capability, so that upgrades can be anticipated and planned for by the TSA committee. A long-term strategy should be based on a simple and adaptable framework that utilizes standard technology. Data platform standards, such as ArcInfo for mapping and GIS analysis and MicroSoft Access for database management, should be selected at the outset of forest health program planning to ensure efficient and cost-effective transition to meeting future data needs and system upgrades. 1.2 Activities for Fiscal An assessment of the data requirements to facilitate the preparation, development and subsequent implementation of the Kamloops TSA Forest Health Strategic Plan was completed. All necessary data sources were identified and then acquired from various sources including government ministries (Ministry of Forests and Sustainable Resource Management) and Kamloops TSA forest licencees. The acquired data was inspected for integrity, accuracy and applicability prior to being accepted. Missing data was identified and recommendations have been made regarding which data sets require correcting and/or updating. 2.0 Study Area Description Figure 1 shows the provincial location and map of the Kamloops TSA, including the Kamloops and Clearwater Forest Districts. Fig. 1. Kamloops Timber Supply Area. The Thompson and North Thompson Rivers are the main drainage through the Kamloops TSA, which ranges in elevation from 400 to 3200m. The TSA is characterized by the Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 4

5 Bunchgrass (BG) zone at the lowest elevation, progressing through Ponderosa Pine (PP), Interior Douglas-Fir (IDF), Montane Spruce (MS), Engelmann Spruce-Sub-alpine Fir (ESSF), and Alpine Tundra (AT) at the highest elevations (Lloyed et al 1990). 3.0 Methods A gap analysis of the data requirements to produce a Forest Health Strategic Plan was completed in fiscal A list of necessary data was compiled, and then inventoried for availability. Much of the data was already in house, on the Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. network, having been acquired for use on other projects. As a result, little or no changes were required for most datasets since they had already been manipulated or prepared as a result of other project tasks. A needs assessment and recommendations were made based on the data inventory and acquisition. Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 5

6 4.0 Results Data necessary to compile the Forest Health Strategic Plan is listed in Table 1. Availability and status of each required dataset are also provided. Table 1. Data inventory results. Forest Health Information Available Acquired Format(s) Comments Needed Regional Aerial Overview Survey - Kamloops TSA Yes 2002, 2001, in process of acquiring Arc/Info years available. Detailed Aerial Operational Survey Kamloops District Detailed Aerial Operational Survey Clearwater District Forest Health Information Database Kamloops District Forest Health Information Database Clearwater District Bark Beetle Hazard Rating IBM Kamloops District Bark Beetle Hazard Rating - IBM Clearwater District Bark Beetle Hazard Rating - IBD Kamloops District Bark Beetle Hazard Rating - IBD Clearwater District Bark Beetle Hazard Rating - IBS Kamloops District Bark Beetle Hazard Rating - IBS Clearwater District Beetle Management Units - Kamloops District Beetle Management Units - Clearwater District MoF Provincial Bark Beetle Management Strategy for 2003 MoF District Bark Beetle Management Plans - Kamloops Yes , in process of acquiring 2002, unknown Arc/Info Not complete. Yes Arc/Info years available. Yes Acquired Access database No No database No database has been created. Yes Acquired Arc/Info Completed in Yes Acquired Arc/Info Completed in No Not available AML available for modeling. No Not available AML available for modeling. No Not available AML available for modeling. No Not available AML available for modeling. Yes Acquired Arc/Info Last update Yes Acquired Arc/Info Last update No Currently not Word doc. Has not yet been available, but released by have request in Victoria. place upon availability Yes Acquired Word doc plan. Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 6

7 MoF District Bark Beetle Management Plans - Clearwater Kamloops TSA Licensee Forest Development Plans Kamloops TSA Data TRIM, Forest Cover, etc. Kamloops TSA Timber Harvesting Landbase (THLB) Kamloops TSA Timber Supply Review (TSR II) Kamloops TSA Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) Yes Acquired Word doc plan. Yes Acquired Arc/Info, IGDS Yes Acquired Arc/Info, IGDS Yes Acquired Arc/Info Yes Yes Available on public website Available on public website PDF Arc/Info, PDF Current 2002/03. Most current versions (TRIM I). TSR II released in Approved 1995, last amendment Recommendations 5.1 Forest Health Strategic Plan Development and Schedule To develop the Forest Health Strategic Plan, the following schedule of tasks are recommended for the next fiscal year ( ). April 2003: 1. The first Kamloops TSA Committee in April 2003 should include a discussion of a Strategic Vision for the DFAM. Specifically, the committee should try to identify what should be accomplished under DFAM; the following are some issues should be considered or decided: The committee should identify both short and long-term DFAM goals that it wants the program to achieve The need and role of forest health modelling should be determined for use as a tool to facilitate cost-effectiveness and efficiency in a forest health program. Existing Ministry of Forests hazard and risk rating models for bark beetle management should be considered for use in directing field activities efficiently. If modelling is selected as a tool, its application should begin as early as April to ensure time for upgrading and implementation in the current fiscal year. A detailed review of computer modelling for bark beetle management is provided at the end of this document under Section 5.2 Forest Health Coordinator Qualifications. Identify forest health treatments that are best applied in particular circumstances and that are currently available to the committee for application; decide if these treatments should be part of a long-term strategy. Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 7

8 The committee needs to determine what management strategies will be applied inside and outside the THLB; for example fall and burn treatments. Is MSMA application to be considered as a treatment option? If so, should it be applied within the THLB, outside the THLB, or both? 2. At the first Kamloops TSA Committee in April, select: a lead forest licensee to manage the Forest Health FIA account and budget, develop and submit the FIA project proposal for the FH Coordinator and secure the funds. The project proposal should also include the Forest Health Strategic Plan development. 3. Confirm selection of a DFAM FH Coordinator by the TSA committee. General responsibilities of the FH Coordinator will include, but should not be limited to, the following: Strategic forest health planning, development, budgeting, implementation, quality-control, and auditing; Integrated resource management planning where Forest Health is a component of the planning process; Forest pesticide use and incorporation into strategic and operational plans; and Government, licensee, contractor, and general public relations and quality assurance. Ensure that the selected FH coordinator has the knowledge, experience, capabilities, and resources to manage a complex and challenging Forest Health Program across the entire DFAM (Kamloops and Clearwater Forest Districts), including the expanding bark beetle populations. 4. Acquire any data input components still outstanding that are required to develop the Kamloops TSA Forest Health Strategic Plan. Continue to ensure all DFAM data is centralized and in the appropriate format (e.g. MS Access for databases, ArcInfo for GIS) ready for use in mapping and analysis. Also ensure that data outputs are compatible with all government and licensee computer platforms to facilitate an efficient operational planning process. 5. Confirm final Forest Health Strategic Plan template format and content according to the new legislation released by the Ministry of Forests. Review the content and structure of the Forest Health Strategic Plan under direction from the Kamloops TSA committee to develop and finalize the actual planning template that will be adopted for use for the DFAM. 6. Establish a meeting/forest health update schedule for the TSA committee (or subcommittee) and Forest Health Coordinator to establish deadlines and ensure that they are met and the program remains on schedule to develop and implement the Forest Health Strategic Plan. Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 8

9 7. If required, coordinate with Regional Entomologist to develop a 5-year Pesticide Management Plan (PMP) for the DFAM and submit to MoF and MWLAP for review, comment, and approval. The PMP is necessary for the use of MSMA in mountain pine beetle management and must be approved by the end of July, May With Kamloops TSA Committee approval, conduct required data or database updating, and generate, where possible, any missing data such as hazard and risk assessments. 2. Review and revise, where necessary, existing Beetle Management Units for the DFAM to reflect the current bark beetle dynamics and available management capabilities/resources under the new DFAM Forest Health program delivery. 3. Identify all forest health management activities to be included in the Forest Health Strategic Plan and finalize the survey and treatment methods, standards, and individual output unit costs. Ensure that all methods and standards meet FIA eligibility and are approved and accepted by the Ministry of Forests and Price Waterhouse Coopers. 4. Based upon the above, develop a bark beetle management plan and propose a DFAM forest health budget for 2003/04, for review, comment, and approval by the TSA committee. June Implement the 2003/04 DFAM bark beetle management plan and associated budget/business plan as approved by the TSA committee. 2. If required, prepare, tender, and award operational contracts for any approved preflight bark beetle management activities such as recces/probes and pheromone baiting. Contract work to be completed by mid-july Explore an approach to a detailed overview survey with the Kamloops TSA Committee. If necessary, develop the 2003 detailed aerial operational survey strategy for the DFAM through discussions with the Kamloops TSA Committee and Regional Entomologist, and using modelling to help minimize survey costs. Coordinate with the Regional Entomologist to integrate the detailed aerial survey with the regional overview survey plan to maximize the effectiveness and coverage of the detailed aerial survey, and minimize cost to the DFAM program. July If required by government, commence detailed aerial survey in the target lowelevation areas of the DFAM in mid-july. For Douglas-fir beetle attack, current beetle-attacked host trees will be turning bright orange. For Mountain Pine Beetle Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 9

10 attack, current beetle-attacked host trees will just be beginning to fade (needles turn yellowish to bright-orange/red). 2. If required, prepare and implement an MSMA planning process. Prepare, tender, and award operational contracts for approved MSMA application. August Complete detailed aerial survey in remaining target mid-high elevation areas of the DFAM by mid-august. All deliverables from the detailed aerial survey (digital databases and maps) are to be submitted by the end of August. 2. If MSMA was required, commence first pass field implementation as per plan in target treatment areas. September - November Ensure completion and distribution of all regional overview and detailed operational aerial survey deliverables (maps and required digital data) to DFAM licensees by the end of the first week of September Overview maps and digital data will be used to facilitate development, priorization, expedited approval, and implementation of salvage/sanitation/beetle-proof harvest plans. 2. If MSMA was required, commence second pass field implementation as per plan in target treatment areas by mid-september Prepare and implement a bark beetle recce/probe plan for the DFAM. Prepare, tender, and award operational contracts for approved recce/probe work. 4. If required, prepare and implement a Single Tree Disposal (Fall and Burn) plan for the DFAM. Prepare, tender, and award operational contracts for approved fall and burn work. 5. Continue coordinating with MoF, MSRM, Kamloops TSA Committee, and individual licensees to develop the Forest Health Strategic Plan, incorporating data from the 2003 regional aerial overview survey, detailed operational aerial surveying, and fall bark beetle recces/probes. December Finalize the DFAM Forest Health Strategic Plan and submit to Regional Entomologist for approval. 5.2 Forest Health Coordinator Qualifications The DFAM Forest Health Coordinator should have the following knowledge, qualifications, and a minimum 5-years direct experience to be able to: a. Plan, develop, budget and implement the Kamloops DFAM Forest Health Strategic Plan with the objective to maintain or enhance the forest resource affected or threatened by insects, disease, and other agents. Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 10

11 b. Develop the DFAM Forest Health Strategic Business Plan component with strategies, goals, and activities, in consultation with industry and Ministry of Forests staff to achieve plan objectives. c. At the discretion of the Kamloops TSA Committee, or designated Sub- Committee, detect, monitor and track forest health agents through annual aerial and ground surveys, conduct damage appraisals and implement control activities including pheromone baiting, trap tree felling, pesticide application, fall and burn, and salvage/sanitation harvesting. d. Manage and manipulate forest health data through database management using MicroSoft Access, in ArcInfo run analyses, build overlays, and generate maps. e. Review, evaluate, and provide input to plans with a forest health component to ensure that new forest policies and legislation are being met. Examples of some of these plans include licensee operational plans, bark beetle management plans, site plans, and prescriptions, and other strategies as needed. f. Prepare and administer 5-year Pesticide Management Plans for the use of MSMA and other pesticides in forest health management activities. g. Prepare and administer operational contracts, ensuring compliance with all contract conditions; conduct technical audits/inspections and monitor results to ensure successful contract completion. h. Conduct analyses and provide specialized input into higher-level plans (e.g. LRMPs, SRMPs) and timber supply reviews. i. Coordinate with government, particularly the Regional Entomologist, industry, and the research community to identify forest health research opportunities in the DFAM, as well as assist in the development and implementation of research proposals/applications (e.g. FII, NSRC Mountain Pine Beetle Initiative). j. Promote awareness of forest health issues and opportunities with industry and the general public. To deliver an efficient forest health program, the Forest Health Coordinator should have support from an integrated resource management team. For example, the coordinator should have access to or support from a full GIS, particularly ArcInfo with plotting and digitizing capabilities and operators with ArcInfo expertise. The ability to translate Shapefile and IGDS data formats to and from ArcInfo format will also be an essential component of the team. The coordinator and his or her team should be familiar MicroSoft Access for greatest efficiency of data input, transfer, and input into ArcInfo. Access to a team of natural resource professionals and field technicians will facilitate the coordinator s position and improve program efficiency. In particular, both foresters and biologists can readily provide integrated information and professional opinions in an industry that is becoming increasingly reliant on professional accountability. Qualified field technicians will improve auditing and inspection efficiency. Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 11

12 Finally, a Forest Health Coordinator with hazard and risk modeling experience, and access to a GIS modeling team will be beneficial for developing long-term strategies. It will be useful to develop modeling tools that can stratify data results to facilitate field staff efficiency. In particular, modeling tools based on linkages between stand dynamics and beetle biology may help to select sites where outbreaks are currently accelerating, or are at risk to do so in the short-term. Using updated or recent data to stratify sites by degree of risk or hazard may help to reduce treatment and staff costs by focusing management activities on prevention of, and existing, outbreaks. Ministry of Forests has created hazard and risk rating models that could be updated and/or expanded upon to help priorize sites for treatment application. An example of cost effectiveness in applying modeling to bark beetle management, is that it could reduce altogether, or at least the incidence of, single tree disposals, based on needs assessments that consider risks based on beetle biology within the current stand type. The model(s) should be updated with the most recent scientific information regarding risk levels for different stand types. The model would stratify only high risk stands for single tree disposals based on specific, select criteria. Treatment costs could be considerably reduced. Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 12