West Babine Sustainable Resource Management Plan

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3.0 Management Direction The West Babine SRMP is results-based. This is consistent with other planning initiatives underway in B.C., such as the results-based Forest and Range Practices Act and Sustainable Forest Management Planning, whereby planning is less prescriptive i.e., it focuses more on desired future outcomes than the means of achieving those outcomes. The purpose of moving to a results-based approach is that it allows flexibility and innovation on the part of plan implementers to use best professional judgment to meet the desired results. It also allows operational planners to adjust their methods as new information becomes available. The plan has been prepared using the best available information and data, however, our technological ability and understanding of ecosystems and resources is constantly being upgraded. If a particular objective, indicator or target turns out to be inappropriate or a zone in need of adjustment, the plan can be re-adjusted at a later date (as outlined in Section 4.0: Plan Implementation, Monitoring and Amendment, page 63). It is assumed that all management direction within the plan is applied in consideration of management objectives for all other values. 3.1 Ecological Values 3.1.1 Biodiversity Biodiversity describes the diversity of plants, animals and other organisms, in all their life forms and levels of organization, including genes, species and ecosystems. Biodiversity management assumes that the habitat needs of most species will be addressed by managing forests in a way that maintains structural features and reflects natural disturbance processes. Management direction to address individual species and other aspects of biodiversity are included in Wildlife and Fish Habitat (Section 3.1.2, page 21) and Water Quality (Section 3.1.3, page 32). As a large reserve area, Babine River Corridor Provincial Park will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, as will the management within special management zones (Section 3.2.3, page 38). Biodiversity strategies that are implemented at both the landscape and stand scales include: seral stage distribution and old growth retention; landscape connectivity; spatial distribution of patches; stand structure and wildlife tree retention; conservation of rare ecosystems; and tree species diversity. Management direction for biodiversity is consistent with the Kispiox LRMP and the principles of ecosystem-based management. The Landscape Unit Planning Guide (1999) was considered during the development of these objectives. The Gitxsan Chiefs have clearly identified biodiversity as an important value for the Gitxsan people, recognizing that their traditional land management has taken an ecosystem approach to sustainable management. Page 12 March 2004
3.1.1.1 Biodiversity Elements a. Seral stage distribution and old growth retention Targets for early, mature plus old and old seral stages are based on an updated interpretation of the average fire return intervals for the Sub-Boreal Spruce (SBS) zone and the Englemann Spruce, Subalpine Fir (ESSF) zone (Steventon, 2002). The Interior Cedar-Hemlock (ICH) zone was not examined in that report and is therefore, based on the Biodiversity Guidebook (MoF 1996a). Furthermore, the Kispiox LRMP directs 12 per cent retention of old growth forest within each mid-sized watershed in the plan area. 9 This percentage has been met by mapping Core Ecosystems (see Map 6, page 71). Treatment Units identified by the Babine LRUP (TU2, forest ecosystem networks) have been incorporated into these Core Ecosystems. 10 b. Landscape connectivity Landscape Riparian Corridors have been mapped to provide connectivity of mature and old forest cover along valley bottom riparian areas and linking lowland to upland areas (see Map 6, page 71). Corridors are concentrated around major tributaries to the Babine River, and connections between high value wildlife habitat. c. Spatial distribution of cutblocks Targets for spatial distribution of cutblocks, also called “patch size distribution,” are based on the pattern that would be expected due to natural disturbances such as fire and windthrow. The distribution of patch sizes varies depending on the ecosystem. The assumption is that the wildlife and flora within these ecosystems will be adapted to the landscape pattern and will fare better if these patterns are emulated. d. Wildlife tree retention Targets have been identified to maintain structural features of old forests within harvested areas. Requirements for wildlife tree retention are greater when patches exceed 80 hectares (BCMoF, 1996a). This increase is to ensure that larger openings maintain the structural and functional features required by species, including connectivity and habitat structure for small animals such as furbearers. Maintaining habitat within cutblocks also supports First Nations interests in wildlife and trapping. e. Stand structure In addition to wildlife tree patches, additional consideration is required to maintain stand complexity, particularly in the ICH and the ESSF. Given the variable nature of this attribute, no objectives are provided. However, operational foresters should consider retaining advance 9 This LRMP objective differs slightly from the targets outlined in the Landscape Unit Planning Guide. Because the LRMP objective is a higher level plan, it takes precedence over the Landscape Unit Planning Guide targets. 10 Note: Zoning for Core Ecosystems does not impede the right of First Nations to exercise their traditional activities. March 2004 Page 13
Page 1: Ministry of Sustainable Resource Ma
Page 5 and 6: Xsu gwin lik’l’inswx: West Babi
Page 9 and 10: Foreword Xsu gwin lik’l’inswx:
Page 13 and 14: List of Maps Xsu gwin lik’l’ins
Page 15 and 16: 1.0 Introduction The Babine River i
Page 17 and 18: 1.1.2 Plan Goals The overall goal f
Page 19 and 20: 1.1.3 Scope of the Plan The West Ba
Page 21 and 22: Management Zone, ensuring that valu
Page 23 and 24: around the world. The river is also
Page 25: Traditionally, the First Nations ap
Page 29 and 30: The LRMP also contains the followin
Page 31 and 32: Objective (s) 11 Indicator(s) Targe
Page 33 and 34: Table 3: Percent of Forested Area L
Page 35 and 36: 3.1.2 Wildlife and Fish Habitat The
Page 37 and 38: . Habitat-related issues Grizzly be
Page 39 and 40: Figure 1, Population estimates for
Page 41 and 42: Objective Indicator(s) Target/Measu
Page 45 and 46: oads will be located and constructe
Page 47 and 48: Water quality is one of the primary
Page 49 and 50: including villages, home and camp s
Page 51 and 52: Objective Indicator(s) Target/ 2. T
Page 53 and 54: The Kispiox LRMP contains the follo
Page 55 and 56: Table 13: Management Direction in t
Page 57 and 58: ceremonial fishery at Kisgegas. Whe
Page 59 and 60: 3.3.2.2 Tourism opportunities All t
Page 61 and 62: Issues of carrying capacity and lev
Page 65 and 66: The West Babine SRMP will support s
Page 67 and 68: 3.3.4 Mineral and Energy Resources
Page 69 and 70: The Babine River is considered Clas
Page 71 and 72: juniper (Juniperus communis) (Gotte
Page 73 and 74: would allow a three to five-fold in
Page 75 and 76: 3.3.7 Trapping 3.3.7.1 Value of tra
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4.0 Plan Implementation, Monitoring
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4.2 Monitoring The monitoring phase
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Maps Map 2: Plan Area March 2004 Pa
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Map 4: Selected Gitxsan Ecology and
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Map 6: Biodiversity March 2004 Page
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Map 8: Tourism Features and Facilit
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Map 10: Mineral and Energy Potentia
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Map 12: Access March 2004 Page 77
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Davis, A. 2002. Draft Tourism Chapt
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Appendix 1 - List of Acronyms Used
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Carrying capacity The average popul
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Suitability - tourism Assesses the
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Appendix 3 - Mature Stand Structure
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Public Consultation A large amount
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Source Comments SRMP Resolution Gre
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Source Comments SRMP Resolution BRF
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Source Comments SRMP Resolution BV
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Source Comments SRMP Resolution Alp
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Gitxsan Consultation Date MSRM Gitx
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Date MSRM Gitxsan Representatives R
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Date MSRM Gitxsan Type of Topic Rep
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Source Draft # Date Comments SRMP R
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Appendix 6 - Linkages Between the B
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Babine LRUP Objectives Wildlife •
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Babine LRUP Objectives Tourism •
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West Babine Sustainable Resource Management Plan

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