Links to Reports

Provincial Natural Resource Monitoring

This report summarizes environmental monitoring initiatives undertaken by British Columbia government natural resource agencies and outlines their scope and purpose.
The audience for this report is resource managers and professionals who rely on monitoring data to help inform decisions, set resource agency priorities and decide funding.
Fifty-four monitoring programs are described and classified. Forty are classified as “active” and five as “new” (start-up year), two are “pending,” and seven are classified as “inactive” (i.e., they have provided data in the past but are no longer actively managed and contributing new monitoring data).
The report Natural Resource Monitoring in British Columbia: A Compilation of Provincial Government Initiatives, FREP Report No. 33 Fenger and Bradford 2012 http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/FREP_Report_33.pdf

Cumulative Effects Assessment

Cumulative effects were an issue identified by some government staff in some agencies. A survey of statutory decisions makers in all provincial resource agencies was used to determine the severity and location of cumulative effects and whether this was affecting achievement of government’s objectives.
Report currently unavailable – please contact author to discuss.

Ecosystem Based Management Research Design

This report provides a framework for active adaptive management and focuses on key questions linked to highest ecological risks. A phased in process is recommended to structure independent research, monitoring and periodically evaluate and adapt practices to confirm that ecological integrity in the north,
mid and south coast EBM areas is being maintained.
GIS support was supplied by Nature Conservancy of Canada (S. Howard, S. Loo). The Active Adaptive Management in Experimental Watersheds Research Design report (AM04a) is available at: http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/slrp/lrmp/nanaimo/cencoast/plan/project_results.html

Spotted Owl Population Enhancement

Despite habitat conservation measures Spotted Owl population trends showed that there were likely less than 20 remaining spotted owls in the wild and that these were expected to be absent from BC within five years if current population management approach was continued. Options for enhancement of wild populations were developed by panel of owl experts with the ability provide and independently findings to government. The science panel recommendations were implemented.
The Spotted Owl Population and Recovery Proposed 5 Year Action Plan is available at: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/speciesconservation/so/

Incorporating Environmental Values in Silviculture Strategies

In light of mountain pine beetle and wildfires the Forests for Tomorrow Program conducted workshops with stakeholders in affected management units seeking ways to mitigate impacts to forest resource values. A consistent approach to mitigation of impact to environmental values together with of timber supply was developed.
A Guide for Incorporating Environmental Values Into Silviculture Strategic Planning is available at: http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/EnvTrdsSilvStrats_MOE_April2008.pdf.

Old Growth Assessment Morice LRMP

Spatially located Candidate Old Growth Management Areas had been selected by government staff in excess of the timber supply caps of the Landscape Unit Planning Guide. It was unclear which OGMAs held the better conservation values. A method using size, location and condition of OGMAs in question was developed and all OGMAs ranked in Excell and final OGMAs determined to target levels.
This report Field Assessment of Old Growth Management Areas – Morice Land and Resource Management Plan is available at: http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/FieldAssessmentofOldGrowth_MoriceLRMP.pdf

Culturally Important Plants, Climate Change and Monitoring

The objectives of the Morice LRMP committed to no net loss of access to culturally important plants. Culturally important plant lists had been identified but no net loss baseline and distribution was unclear. Shift in climate was also and added uncertainty and how to monitor changes was also sought.
This report Culturally Important Plants, Climate Change and Monitoring in the Morice Land and Resource Management Plan is available at: http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/CulturallyImportantPlants-MoriceLRMP.pdf

Sustainable Forestry Initiative – Internal Audit. Assessment of Biodiversity Provisions.

Terminal Forest Products had commited to SFI certification and incremental improvements to practices. To ensure a clean audit an annual pre-audit was carried with review of safety provisions, as well as site prescriptions followed by an exit meeting with staff. Report is the property of client.

Land Use Plans Implication Due to Mountain Pine Beetle for Mortality

Due to changes in forest stand ages from pine beetle mortality it was unclear resource values and identified under the plan could be protected by the objectives. GIS assessments were used to confirm the current condition and expected future condition and assign relative risk to values identified. Interviews were held with the stakeholders to obtain closer confirmation of areas of concern and where there may need to be additional focus.
Reports completed Kamloops Land and Resource Management Report (LRMP)
1. Communications Report: Mountain Pine Beetle Implications Kamloops LRMP
2. Full Report: An Assessment of Mountain Pine Beetle Implications to the Kamloops Land and Resources Management Plan [PDF 10.3MB]
Reports completed Okanagan Shuswap (LRMP)

Silviculture Strategies, Environmental Values and Forests For Tomorrow Program

Experience gained to incorporate of environmental values into Type 1 and Type 2/3 silviculture strategies was used to provide input for revisions to improve integration.
The report Current and Proposed Approach to Addressing Environmental Values through Silviculture Strategies and the Forests for Tomorrow Program is available at: http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/MOE-SSandFFT-Report_04-07-2008.pdf.

Silviculture Strategies (Type 1)

Applied the methods in the Guide to environmental values and participated in workshops and reports for Timber Supply Areas; Morice, Lakes, Mackenzie, Prince George, Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile, Kamloops, Merrit, Okanagan, Kootenay Lake, Cranbrook, Lillooet, Anahim supply block of the Williams Lake and Tree Farm Licence 49.
Type 1 Silviculture Strategies are posted at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/silstrat/map/2005-06silviculturestrategiesindex.htm and http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/silstrat/map/region-home.htm

Sustainable Forestry Benchmarks

The current plans and practices did not anticipate the extent and severity of the mountain beetle natural disturbance and the watershed level impacts. Considering the amount of area affected and that not all areas would be salvaged this report identified areas that could be left for monitoring and increasing understanding natural succession and recovery.
Sustainable Forestry Benchmarks for British Columbia. A GIS Assessment of Undeveloped Watersheds as Ecological Monitoring Units can be accessed at: http://www.forrex.org/publications/forrexSeries/series.asp

Guide to Stand Structure management

This is a guide to manage forest stand structure for habitat for primary, secondary, open nesting birds and other wildlife species that have a strong dependency on trees with special characteristics called wildlife trees. Types of trees sought, how much and where to safely leave trees is addressed as well as specific species accounts provided as an aid to urban and natural area forest management.
The Lone pine field guide Wildlife & Trees in British Columbia is available from the lead author at www.wildlifetreebook.com or in some book stores.

Results and Strategies for Fisheries Sensitive Watersheds

To help develop the evaluation effectiveness program and improve monitoring by government the results and strategies within existing Forest Stewardship Plans were reviewed specific to Fisheries Sensitive Watersheds.
The report Fisheries Sensitive Watersheds (FSW) A Review of Results and Strategies in approved Forest Stewardship Plans (working draft) is the property of the client.

Ecosystem Restoration Priorities Working Draft. A report prepared in consultation with Regional Staff of MOE

As part of the Forests For Tomorrow program Ministry of Environment reviewed ecosystem restoration needs in the areas affected by Mountain Pine Beetle and Wildfires. Regional stakeholder workshops and ecosystem conditions were used to focus on types and locations of areas most in need of restoration.
http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/WorkingDraft-MOERestorationPriorities_2006.pdf

The Implications of Natural Disturbance Regimes for Forest Management in Mongolia

Conducted interviews with headquarters and regional staff, carried field assessments of forests and provide exit presentations for Mongolian government staff and World Bank and FAO project advisor team.
http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/ImplicationsofNaturalDisturbanceRegimes-Mongolia.pdf

Ecosystem Restoration Plans for Southern Interior, Northern Interior and Cariboo

Member of a team that developed and conducted regional workshops needed for completion of ecosystem restoration priorities in areas impacted by mountain pine beetle and wildfires.
http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/StrategicEcologicalRestorationPlan-SouthernInterior_09-13-2006.pdf
http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/StrategicEcologicalRestorationPlan-NorthernInterior_09-13-2006.pdf
http://www.mikefengerandassociates.com/reports/docs/StrategicEcologicalRestorationPlan-Cariboo_09-13-2006.pdf

Environmental Risk Assessment

Environmental risk assessment can be done at a variety of scales and appropriately tailored to data and time constraints and incremental improve management decisions. A major concept for relative environmental risk is the base case for an indicator compared to the current or expected future state condition. The greater the deviation the higher the relative risk. This method has been in used within government and by consultants to government for the last decade.
The report Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA): An Approach for Assessing and Reporting Environmental Conditions is available at: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/clad/strategic_land/econ_analysis/seea_methods.html#era_report

Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Practices in BC

This paper was for an international Symposium and explains natural disturbance and science that still anchor the Biodiversity Conservation in British Columbia
This paper Implementing Biodiversity Conservation through the British Columbia’s Forest Practices Code appears in Special Issue of Forest Ecology and Management on the Conservation of Biological Diversity in Temperate and Boreal Forest Ecosystems. Published by Elsevier Science (link under contruction).

Wildlife, Hardwoods and Harvesting

In; Ecology and Management of B.C. Hardwoods Edited by P. Comeau, G. Harper, M. Blanche, J. Boateng and K. Thomas. FRDA report No. 225. Pp 19-29. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Frr/Frr255.htm

Provincial Conservation Governance

Because of the success of the Timber Supply Review process and legislated mandate of the Chief Forester in Allowable Annual Cut determinations a similar model was proposed to Ministry of Environment during the Wildlife Act review.
The article “Should BC have a Chief Biologist?” appeared in BC Forest Professional. November-December Issue p15 and can be accessed at http://www.abcfp.ca/publications_forms/BCFORmagazine/documents/BCFORPRO-2007-6.pdf.

Symposiums on Sustainability

Due to public concern and increasing awareness of threats to BC’s tremendous natural diversity a provincially focused forum outlining principles, risks, strategies and potential directions.
Our Living Legacy: Proceeding of a Symposium on Biological Diversity, is a Royal British Columbia Museum publication (link under construction – contact us for details)
Sustaining Peoples and Ecosystems Conference (link under construction – contact us for details)