West Babine Sustainable Resource Management Plan

The LRMP also contains the following strategies:
to manage biodiversity at the level of medium-sized watersheds of approximately 10,000
hectares or greater;
within each medium-sized watershed, to manage 12 per cent of the forested landbase for old
growth values through a combination of preservation and conservation; and
to assume a 200-year rotation within areas managed for old forest retention.
One of the Gitxsan interests is the protection of the integrity of the land. The Gitxsan have
requested that biodiversity be maintained within each house territory and to recognize the
spiritual value of old growth to their people. The Gitxsan have traditionally carried out practices
to maintain a diversity of natural resources within their Huwilp territories (e.g., burning to
maintain berries and wildlife habitat).
Table 2: Management Direction for Biodiversity
Objective (s) 11 Indicator(s) Target/Measure Management Considerations
1. To maintain the
structural and
functional
features of old
forest
ecosystems
within Core
Ecosystems
(see Map 6,
page 71).
Amount of
alteration within
Core Ecosystems.
No alteration within
Core Ecosystems,
except to manage
natural processes
that threaten
resources outside of
the zone.
No harvesting within Core Ecosystems
(see Map 6, page 71) except for
incidental tree cutting for mining and
exploration purposes.
No road building within Core
Ecosystems with the exception of:
Accessing timber that would
otherwise be inaccessible; and
For mineral development 12
Allow natural processes (e.g., fire,
insects) to occur within Core Ecosystems
except where those processes threaten
resources outside the zone.
11 The West Babine Plan area is intended to be managed as a series of mid-sized watersheds within a single landscape unit. For
example, 12% old growth is spatially identified within core ecosystems for each mid-sized watersheds; however, seral stage
objectives are intended to be monitored over the entire landscape unit.
12 Section 14 (5) of the Mineral Tenure Act provides certainty of access for mineral exploration and development outside of
protected areas. The statutory decision maker for tenuring and permitting activities related to mineral exploration and
development uses LRMP and SRMP direction as advice to ensure effective integration with other Crown land uses. LRMP and
SRMP direction may be used as a basis for recommending modified mineral exploration or development procedures.
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