Cascade NTFP Regional Profile.pdf - First Nations in British ...

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Cascades NTFP Profile Description of Study Area Biophysical Setting This mountainous area is one of the most biologically diverse forest districts in the Province with ecosystems ranging from semi-arid low elevation grasslands in parts of the major valley bottoms to coastal temperate rainforest in some western valleys found within the Coast Range. In the western portions of the District, the valleys are typically deeply incised with narrow low altitude valley floors and rugged mountain tops extending up to 3000m. As one travels east in the District the mountains generally are less rugged and the valley floors more extensive and at higher elevation. Within the Lillooet TSA there are 6 biogeoclimatic zones and 46 mapped variants – this is 3 times the average of comparable sized areas in the interior (Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (MSRM) 2004). This results in rare mixes of plant species associated with transitional ecosystem types, such as sword fern (Polystichum munitum) growing underneath Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) in the Siska area. The District is primarily in the Fraser River basin but the area near Princeton is in the Columbia basin. The spectacular Fraser Canyon provides the key ecological and logistical link between the coast and interior for humans, salmon and climate. The runs of pink, sockeye, chinook and coho salmon penetrate many of the major river systems in the District and have for millennia provided a crucial food source for people as well as nutrient inputs for terrestrial ecosystems. The area is under the influence of three major air masses: wet Pacific air, cold air from the plateau in the North and dry interior air from the east and south (Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (MSRM) 2004). Precipitation ranges from 300 in dry Interior valleys to 2,000 mm in the west within the Lillooet TSA (Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (MSRM) 2004). The following protected areas are entirely within or adjacent to the District: Manning Park, Cathedral Park, Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park, Spruce Lake Protected Area (South Chilcotin), Duffy Lake Park, Skwaha Lake Park, Marble Canyon Park, Skihist Park and Goldpan Park. Forests within the District contain a diversity of native tree species that include: lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), ponderosa pine, western white pine (Pinus monticola), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), amabilis fir (Abies amabilis), western red cedar (Thuja plicata), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) and others. Within the Merritt TSA, lodgepole pine is the predominant tree species and occupies roughly 60% of the timber harvesting landbase (Snetsinger 2005). The District currently has a number of forest health problems, including mountain pine beetle (MPB) (Dendroctonus ponderosa), Douglas fir beetle (D. pseudotsugae), spruce beetle (D. rufipennis), western pine beetle (D. brevicomis), western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis), and armillaria root disease (Armillaria ostoyae). MPB is currently the most serious forest health problem in the District with over 195 000 ha of
Cascades NTFP Profile timber currently infested with the beetle (Senger 2007a ; Senger 2007b). The total area of the District that is susceptible to MPB and not currently infested is over 346 000 ha (Senger 2007a ; Senger 2007b). Current estimates of MPB infestations are only for lodgepole pine; though ponderosa pine is also susceptible it is not included in these figures (Martin Pantheon pers. com. 2007). Western pine beetle and MPB are collectively believed to be killing large areas of ponderosa pine in the Southern Interior. It is widely believed that the current MPB infestation will kill the majority of the lodgepole pine trees in the Southern Interior (Martin Pantheon pers. com. 2007). The scale of the MPB infestation is so vast in this District and indeed in the interior of BC that the resources of the Ministry of Forests and Range and the licensees are severely stretched. Accessible beetle infested areas within the timber harvesting landbase are being actively salvaged. Within the Lytton TSA, much of the terrain is difficult to operate in, and so substantial areas of timber kill are not being salvaged (Senger 2007b). The removal of such vast areas of forest cover has major ramifications for the ecology of the region. Water resources are expected to be impacted with the freshet occurring earlier with higher flows (Helie, Peters et al. 2005). Warmer stream temperatures due to the reduced tree cover are likely. Grasses and forbs responding to the newly open areas may be expected to produce relatively short-lived forage boom (Glen Hayes pers. com April 2007). Noxious weeds may be expected to vastly increase in number and dispersal due to widespread soil disturbance and increased light levels on the forest floor. In higher elevation areas plants such as the black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) are likely to respond positively. There is a current lack of policy concerning the compatible management of beetle-affected areas with non-timber values (Martin Pantheon pers. com. 2007). Historical Context The rich natural diversity where the Cascades Forest District is now situated has supported people for thousands of years. The Nlaka’pamux, Okanagan, St’át’imc, Secwepemc , and Ts’ilhqot’in are the First Peoples of this area and are part of a broad cultural division known as the Plateau Culture Area. Their traditional pithouses were built with ponderosa or lodgepole pine and formed their homes for the winter months (Turner 2005). Travelling extensively through their territories according to routine seasonal rounds, they used over 120 different species of plants for food, flavouring or beverages and implements(Turner 1990). Included in these rounds was hunting, trapping and fishing. Salmon was undoubtedly the most significant staple animal protein food. Trade routes among the different peoples allowed for procurement of foods and materials unavailable within one’s own territory(Turner 2005). Since Simon Fraser first travelled through this area in 1808 there have been vast changes in the ways resources are used. An extensive fur trade greatly diminished wildlife populations by the 1830’s. In 1858 there was a gold rush in the Fraser Canyon which brought with it 25,000 miners from California, which changed the lifestyle of the First Nations dramatically (Harris 1997; Laforet 1998). By the 1890’s, along with the Cariboo wagon road, ranching and farming were well established. The building of the CN and
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