Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative

Transcription

1 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Canadian Institute of Forestry Conference Grande Prairie, Alberta September 18, 2018 Bev Gingras, Head Boreal Conservation Programs Ducks Unlimited Canada

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4 The link between water and forests exists within a broader climate-forest-water-people system

5 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative (FMWSI) A visionary initiative to share knowledge and resources to advance sustainable forest management and wetland stewardship in the boreal forest.

6 The Boreal Forest Wetlands

7 The Boreal Forest Waterfowl Boreal forest waterfowl 35 waterfowl species Over 15 million breeding waterfowl annually 75% of all continental waterfowl in migration or molt Some species are in long term decline

8 Ducks Unlimited Canada Organization Incorporated in 1938, DUC is a not-for profit, science based, waterfowl habitat conservation organization Vision Abundant wetlands and waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever Mission Conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people

9 Ducks Unlimited Canada Boreal Program Initiated in 1997; became a core DUC program in 2002 Emphasis on retaining existing habitats on public lands Focus on influencing government policies and industry practices to conserve wetlands Science to enhance wetland and waterfowl knowledge Wetlands and waterfowl distribution Impact of industrial activities

10 Ducks Unlimited Canada Boreal Program Partnership driven

11 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative History Ø January 2016 seek collaboration Ø October 2016 formalize collaboration Ø January 2017 launch collaboration

12 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative 3 year agreement based on 4 broad themes Forest Management Planning and Operations projects that can help address gaps and strengthen planning and operations Best Management Practices - development and assembly of existing BMPs related to wetland stewardship that is catalogued, evaluated and disseminated Forest Certification undertake projects that assist forestry companies meet or exceed the requirements of existing certification schemes Climate Change Adaptation- invest in research projects that can be adopted by the forest industry to demonstrate due diligence relative to linking wetland stewardship and climate change mitigation

13 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Objectives Initiative Ø Advance sustainable forest management Ø Establish guiding principles and best management practices to conserve wetlands and waterfowl in forest management planning and operations Ø Complement provincial forest management planning requirements and the needs of forest certification programs

14 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Member Benefits Improved efficiency and reduced duplication of efforts Leverage financial resources Joint learning Improve wetland stewardship Increase conservation impact (landscape level) Help meet regulatory / certification requirements Potential DUC support for forest management plans Enhance corporate image and social license

15 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative How does it work? Ø DUC coordinator Ø Forest management company representatives Ø Equal voice and decision by consensus Ø Quarterly meetings

16 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative How does it work? Ø Members identify and select projects of interest Ø Members invest resources to develop projects Ø Each project developed by team of 3 forestry members and DUC staff Ø All members involved in approval of completed projects

17 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative 3 priority projects to be completed over a 3-year term ( ) o Projects in active development are: 1. Forestry and Waterfowl: Assessing and Mitigating Risk 2. Guiding Principles for Wetland Stewardship and Forest Management 3. Guide to Wetland BMPs for Forest Management Planning and Operating Practices

18 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Project 1 Forestry and Waterfowl: Assessing and Mitigating Risk Ø A tool for assessing risk to nests, eggs, young of different activities with different disturbance levels using information about waterfowl: Ø Nesting phenology Ø Abundance distribution Ø Nest proximity to open water Ø Describes mitigation approaches

19 Forestry and Waterfowl: Assessing and Mitigating Risk Deliverables

20 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Project 2 Guiding Principles for Wetland Stewardship and Forest Management Ø Align wetland conservation objectives within sustainable forest management frameworks Synthesize information on wetlands and forest management Provide foundational guiding principles for wetland stewardship

21 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Project 2 Guiding Principles for Wetland Stewardship and Forest Management Ø Deliverables Technical report Practitioner guide Infographics

22 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Project 3 Guide to Wetland BMPs for Forest Management Planning and Operating Practices Ø Identify and describe planning and operating practices for consideration Ø Focus on practices designed to reduce potential negative effects on wetlands (hydrology and ecology) Ø Collate practices currently used, and identify gaps

23 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Project 3 Guide to Wetland BMPs for Forest Management Planning and Operating Practices Ø Deliverables Report Practitioner guides Infographics

24 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Industry & conservation-ngo working together Solution based Team approach Everyone has a voice Consensus based decision making Build trust have honest conversations Learning from each other

25 Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Where do we go from here? Finish up remaining projects Discussions about another 3 year agreement

26 Join us! Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative Invitation

27 Questions?