Forest Practices Code Transition Protection of Environmental Values Rod Davis Manager, Ecosystem Planning and Standards Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

Protection of Environmental Values How are environmental values currently protected by the Code?  Wildlife, biodiversity, fish and water are currently managed and conserved through several Code provisions including:  ungulate winter range  wildlife habitat areas for identified wildlife  wildlife habitat features (nests, dens and other sites)  old growth management areas  wildlife tree retention  riparian management areas  timing windows & measures  temperature-sensitive streams, and  community watersheds and water quality objectives

Protection of Environmental Values What has changed for transition?  We still have the same environmental provisions for wildlife, biodiversity, fish and water.  What has changed is the decision-making authority – MOF, MWLAP and MSRM have authority in accordance with:  their ministry mandates for resource management or planning, and  government policy direction

Protection of Environmental Values What is MWLAP's responsibility?  Within government’s policy limits, it is the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection’s responsibility now to establish or identify:  ungulate winter range – within the existing budget for timber supply impacts  wildlife habitat areas for identified wildlife  wildlife habitat features  timing windows & measures to conserve fish  temperature-sensitive streams, and  water quality objectives

Protection of Environmental Values MOF & MSRM authority related to environmental provisions  MOF District Manager is now the sole decision-maker on various regulations:  making things known – to inform licensees preparing forest development plans  authorizing any harvesting in old growth management areas  authorizing road locations in community watersheds  MSRM is responsible for establishing old growth management areas

Protection of Environmental Values Earlier changes – Summer 2002  Some changes that eliminated joint-ministry authorities were already in place (since July 2002):  No joint-approvals for forest development plan – Ministry of Forests only  No need for MWLAP Designated Environment Official agreement for forest development plan-related assessments  No Designated Environment Official agreement needed to approve a variance of riparian zone width

Protection of Environmental Values What has changed – site plans  Site plans replace silviculture prescriptions  no government approval required  needed to maintain protection for key values  Wildlife tree retention (WTR)  Default performance standards  Riparian  Maintain trees in riparian management zones

Protection of Environmental Values Why the change for Transition?  Government direction to:  streamline – eliminate joint-ministry decisions, and  move toward results-based approach  MWLAP’s role:  mandate to establish objectives and clear direction for wildlife, fish and water  focus on:  setting objectives  developing guidelines  monitoring and enforcement

Protection of Environmental Values End of WLAP Presentation on Protection of Environmental Values with Rod Davis