CSA Z Species Diversity Indicators

Transcription

1 CSA Z Species Diversity Indicators Port Alberni Forest Operation Outline WFP & Wildlife Legal Reserves Conservation of old-growth forest attributes Species Habitat Monitoring Training Focal Species Definition Indicator Indicator Questions 1

2 WFP & Wildlife Legal Reserves Parks and Protected Areas Ungulate Winter Range (UWR) Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHA) Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA) 2

3 Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHA) WHA & Ungulate Winter Range (UWR) 3

4 UWR, WHA & Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA) Conservation of Old Growth Forest Attributes Western Forest Strategy Landscape-level Protected Areas WHAs/UWRs/OGMAs Riparian Unstable Terrain Other Non-Contributing Land base Stand-level Wildlife Tree Retention Area Retention Riparian Wildlife Features 4

5 Species Data Models Inventories Features Monitoring Models Use GIS technology Utilize existing information (eg forest cover, imagery, digital elevation models) Create spatial views of potential habitat Are updateable as new information is available Models Marbled Murrelet (WFP) Ungulates Goshawk (Recovery Team developing) 5

6 Marbled Murrelet Model Feature Most likely Moderately likely Least likely Distance from saltwater (km): all regions and >50 Elevation (m) Central and Northern Mainland Coast >900 Haida Gwaii (QCI) >800 All other regions >1500 Stand age class: all regions 9 (>250 yr) 8 ( yr) <8 (<140 yr) Site index productivity classes: all regions a Class I and II (site index 20+) Class III (site index 15-19) Class IV (site index <15) Tree height class: all regions b 4 7 (>28.5 m) 3 ( m) <3 (<19.5 m) Canopy closure class: all regions Classes 4 7 Class 3 Classes 2 and 8 Vertical canopy complexity: all regions c MU NU, U VU, VNU Marbled Murrelet Model 6

7 Inventories Complete mapping of natural resource Often extensive field work Can use a model to predict potential habitat and focus the inventory WFP Inventories Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat TFL 37 and TFL 6 Bald Eagle Nests Marbled Murrelet Inventory 7

8 Features Distinct features or habitat Usually a point location Tracked in GIS Features may include: Large stick nests (eagles, goshawks, osprey, heron) Dens (bear) Ponds (red-legged frog) Caves (bats) Monitoring Projects to monitor species or utilization of features Monitoring has occurred for the following species: Goshawks Breeding Birds Amphibian breeding ponds (government) Owls Deer (government) Elk (government) 8

9 Training Formal Species at Risk Training for Foresters and Engineers Opportunistic training Encouraged to recognize and report something unusual QUESTIONS? 9

10 CSA Element 1.2 Species Diversity Conserve species diversity by ensuring that habitats for the native species found in the DFA are maintained through time, including habitats for known occurrences of species at risk. Core indicators Degree of habitat protection for selected focal species, including species at risk Degree of suitable habitat in the long term for selected focal species, including species at risk. Definitions Species at Risk CSA - Species defined as at risk by national and provincial legislation applicable to a given DFA. Species that are: Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern 10

11 Definitions Species at Risk Legal Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) Schedule 1 Provincial Wildlife Act Forest and Range Practices Act Category of Species at Risk Definitions Species at Risk CSA - Species defined as at risk by national and provincial legislation applicable to a given DFA. Non-Legal Committee On the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC) BC Conservation Data Center (CDC) Red & Blue lists 11

12 Definitions Focal Species CSA - Species that warrant special conservation attention and are thus used to guide the management of ecosystems to conserve biodiversity. Note: Criteria for the selection of focal species can include ecological, socio-cultural, scientific and economic consideration. Indicators for selected focal species, including species at risk Can be selected from but not limited to species at risk Definitions Focal Species What can we use to guide the selection of focal species? Distribution and abundance should be relatively well known and common Requirement for or sensitivity to a habitat feature or ecological process Management area has a high responsibility Some control of environmental conditions Importance (ecological, socio-cultural, scientific or economic) Easy and cost effective to census 12

13 CSA Species Diversity Proposed Indicators Element: 1.2 Species Diversity Conserve species diversity by ensuring that habitats for the native species found in the DFA are maintained through time, including habitats for known occurrences of species at risk. Value Objective Indicator Target Variance Habitat for focal species, including species at risk existing in the DFA Maintain or increase habitat for selected focal species, including species at risk Degree of habitat protection for selected focal species, including species at risk The amounts (in ha) of habitat protected for selected focal species remains the same or increase year after year Decrease by 1% CSA Species Diversity Proposed Indicators Year Type of Habitat Protected/ Species Legal Area (ha) Proposed Voluntary Measure Target Met (Y/N) Variance Met (Y/N) UWR 2,13 Spatially delineated ungulate winter range MAMU 2, ,078.3 Moderate to Very High ranked habitat from the low-level aerial inventory in WHA, UWR, OGMA 2009 Goshawk Red Legged Frog Scouler s Corydalis Area reserved around known nests (WHA, other) Area reserved around known breeding ponds Area reserved around known locations of Scouler s Corydalis

14 Availability of suitable habitat for selected focal species, including species at risk existing in the DFA CSA Species Diversity Proposed Indicators Element: 1.2 Species Diversity Conserve species diversity by ensuring that habitats for the native species found in the DFA are maintained through time, including habitats for known occurrences of species at risk. Value Objective Indicator Target Variance To ensure the long-term availability of habitat for selected focal species including species at risk Degree of suitable habitat in the long term for selected focal species, including species at risk The amount (in ha) of potentially suitable habitat available within WHA, UWR, OGMA and NCLB remains the same or increases over time UWR decrease by 1% MAMU decrease by 2% CSA Species Diversity Proposed Indicators Degree of suitable habitat in the long term for selected focal species, including species at risk. Current State Year Type of Habitat Protected/ Species Measure Legal Reserves (ha) NCLB 1 (ha) Target Met (Y/N) Variance Met (Y/N) UWR Spatially delineated ungulate winter range 2, MAMU Nesting Habitat Potentially Suitable Habitat in WHA, UWR, OGMA and NCLB 3, ,

15 CSA Species Diversity Proposed Indicators Degree of suitable habitat in the long term for selected focal species, including species at risk. Future State (long term) Habitat Type Legal Reserves (ha) NCLB 1 (ha) Ungulate winter range. 2,13 Potential MAMU Nesting Habitat 4, , QUESTIONS? 15