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OLD GROWTH RETENTION

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Planning for Old Growth Retention

Goals

–Spatially locate and map OGMAs based on

– maximizing biological effectiveness within the constraints

–Legally establish objectives for OGMAs

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AcronymsCFLB = Crown forested land base

THLB = timber harvesting land base

NC = non-contributing land base

OGMA = old growth management area

BEC variant = biogeoclimatic variant

TSR = timber supply review

SDM = statutory decision maker

WTR = wildlife tree retention

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Planning for Old Growth Retention

Data Preparation

Delineate OGMAs

Develop WTR Targets

Write LU Objectives

Legally establish LU Objectives

Develop OGMA Targets

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Data Preparation

Classify the landscape unit data set to:

– prepare old growth retention report (table 2.8)

– produce colour themed maps

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Definitions

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Forest polygons

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Data Preparation - old growth retention report (table 2.8)

• provides an overview of all LUs in a planning area by BEC variant

– % old growth in NC to meet old growth target

– % old in THLB available to meet targets, if required

– % almost old in NC and THLB to meet targets, if required

– % old an almost old in the constrained THLB

– % of THLB that meets minimum harvest age

• allows for monitoring

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Old Growth Retention Report (Table 2.8)

LandscapeUnit

(gross area)

(BiodiversityEmphasis)

BECvariant

(CFLB ha)

Oldgrowth

age

%Old

growthtarget

%OldNC

%almost

oldinNC

(120-140)

% oldTHLB

%almostold inTHLB(120 to

140)

%Old in

ConstrainedTHLB

%almost oldforest (120to 140) in

constrained

THLB

%Harvestable

(ha>minimumharvest

age fromTSR)

A(130 000)

(H)

SBSwk1(50

000)

SBSwk3(50

000)

>140

>140

16

16

20

20

8

10

8

10

15

15

1

0

4

3

40

35

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Planning for Old Growth Retention

Data Preparation

Delineate and AssessOGMAs

Develop WTR Targets

Write LU Objectives

Legally Establish LU Objectives

Develop OGMA Targets

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Planning for Old Growth Retention

STEPS

Step 1: Prepare OGMA targets report (accounting)

Step 2: delineate draft OGMAs (design)

Step 3: assess draft OGMAs

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Planning for Old Growth Retention -Step 1: OGMA targets Report

Biodiversity emphasisOld growth targetExisting OG in NC Based on Table 2.8Existing OG in THLB-----------------------------------NC OGMA TargetTHLB OGMA Target Recruitment OGMAs

determined based on rules

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a b c d e f g h i j

LU(grossarea)(ha)

BECvariant(CFLB)

(ha)

Oldgrowthtarget(ha)

Oldgrowthin NC*

(ha)

Oldgrowth

inTHLB(ha)

OGMANC*

target(ha)

OGMATHLBtarget(ha)

OGMArecruit-menttarget(ha)

HarvestOpportunity(ha forest >minimum

harvest agefrom TSR)

OGMAdelineation

considerations

A(130 000)highBiod.Emphasis

SBSwk1(50000)

8000 10 000(4000inPAs)

4500 6000(2000inPAs)

0 0 20 000 Entire target metin the N-C

OGMAs should bedesigned andestablished in theNC land base to6000 ha.

At least 2000 ha.from PAs areasmust be used toachieve OGMAtarget. If necessary,up to 4000 ha. couldbe used.

SBSwk3(50000)

8000 6000 5000 6000 2000 0 17 500 Entire target metin NC.

There are no parksor PAS, therefore,8000 ha. delineatedas OGMAs.

Table 3.1.OGMA Targets (ha) Report

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Step 1: OGMA targets

Biodiversity emphasis affects OGMA targets:

Intermediate and high biodiversity emphasis

– establish objectives to meet entire OGMA target immediately

– develop and establish recruitment OGMAs

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Step 1: OGMA targets

Low biodiversity emphasis

– draw down to 1/3 of the OGMA target, unless target met completely in NC or timber supply analysis indicates no impact or an established HLP directs otherwise

– develop recruitment strategy that meets entire OGMA target by the end of three rotations

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Table 3.1.OGMA Targets (ha) Report

Old Growth TargetExisting OG in NCExisting OG in THLB

OGMA Target NCOGMA Target THLBRecruitment OGMAs

1000500500

20001000500

20001000500

10000

1000

Biodiversity Emphasis I L

------------------------------------------------------------------

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Planning for Old Growth RetentionSTEP 2: Delineate OGMAs

Information required :

– OGMA Targets Report (Table 3.1)

– colour themed maps (from Data Preparation process)

– relevant higher level plan direction (e.g. RMZ objectives)

– strategic land use plans (LRMPs, KBLUP, CCLUP)

– RLUPS priorities

– approved operational plans

– air photos, ortho-photos, satellite images

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Biological considerations - 1

Review “old” or the oldest available stands first

No single “correct” way of addressing biological considerations to be included in OGMAs

Primary biological considerations (core values):

– size (interior/no interior habitat)

– connectivity

– species composition

– representation/rare ecosystems

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Biological considerations - 2

Don’t do the same thing everywhere

Consider 3 spatial scales:

– stand

– single LU

– larger landscape

Consider likely longevity of the patch in context of the landscape over time

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Biological considerations - 3

Larger patches have interior habitat

Smaller habitats dominated by edge effects

Interior habitat & edge effects also influenced by shape of the OGMA

Consider what is needed -- several small OGMAs OR fewer large OGMAs (up to target)

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Biological Consideration - 4

Representation is a core concept in conservation biology -- “keeping all the pieces”

Representation within policy constraints -- but note significant gaps

– generally restricted to variant due to timber impacts

Try to capture the range of old forest ecosystems within OGMAs

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Biological consideration - 5

Rare by there very nature means they are not common, however contain unique biodiversity values.

Where rare old forest site series are known and mapped include them in OGMAs

If rare is not known, reserve some of old growth budget to deal with them

– use forest cover maps, local knowledge and CDC information to locate potentially rare ecosystems

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Biological considerations - 5

Connectivity:

Try to accommodate -- but no extra budget.

Considerations:

– Consider regional connectivity

– Maintain linkages for movement, e.g., low passes in otherwise mountainous/steep terrain

– Distance between older patches (relates to probability of moving between patches)

– Stand structure can increase “connectivity”

Delineating OGMAs - Biodiversity Considerations

OGMA targets:

NC 200 ha

THLB 500 ha

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Step 2: Operational Considerations

Minimize impacts to forest licencees by:

– where suitable, use most constrained THLB first

– avoid locating OGMAs over approved category A cutblocks (exception - known rare ecosystem)

– avoid locating OGMAs where they will impact main access routes or isolate harvestable timber

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Operational Considerations - 2

Operational activities permitted in OGMAs which should proceed in a manners sensitive to old growth values:

– mineral or gas exploration and development activities

– range use

– haul road construction (only if no other reasonable and cost effective options exist)

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Operational Considerations -3

OGMAs are intended to be areas where commercial harvesting is normally prohibited

If operational activities are required, proceed sensitive to old growth values

If operational activities significantly impact old growth attributes, OGMA location should be reassessed.

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Delineating OGMAs–Operational Considerations

OGMA targets:

NC 200 ha

THLB 500 ha

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Delineate OGMAs Summary of Steps

Determine old growth targets by variant for THLB and NC

Assess all potential patches (considering all BECs together)

Determine primary biological considerations

– Ideally, ground-truth “old” attributes of potential OGMAs

– Record presence of features/attributes (for each patch for ranking and future reference)

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Delineate OGMAsSummary of Steps - 2

Rank potential OGMAs

Design to balance OGMA biological values with operational considerations

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Step 2: Delineate OGMAsRecruitment

Recruitment occurs where not enough existing old forest available to meet targets

- applies to both NC and THLB

- use the biologically best NC or THLB when recruiting.

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Step 2: Delineate OGMAs Recruitment

Developing recruitment strategies

Immediate recruitment

– below old growth target in intermediate or high emphasis

– below 1/3 old growth target in low emphasis

Recruitment over 3 rotations

– applies to low biodiversity emphasis LUs

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Step 2: Delineate OGMAsRecruitment

Locating recruitment OGMAs:

– follow biodiversity and operational considerations

– consider suitable (I.e biologically equivalent) younger forest in the NC prior to impacting the THLB

– high and intermediate emphasis LUs

– choose forested areas that will maximize biodiversity conservation values in the shortest possible time frame

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Planning for Old Growth RetentionStep 3: Assess OGMAs

Prepare tabular summary of OGMAs by Landscape Unit: (Table 3.2)

– document actual OGMA placed in NC and the THLB

– document recruitment OGMAs

– documents priorities for OGMA establishment

Develop a data base to track individual OGMA and their attributes

– documentation of biodiversity attributes captured in each OGMA

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OGMA exercise

Group Exercise

– 4- 5 people/group

Materials

– a set of various colour-themed maps

– LUPG chapter 3

– Workbook/handout

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OGMA exercise

Time

– 1 hour basic exercise, 30 - 45 minutes to report out/discuss

– 30 minutes to assess wildcards, 30 minutes to report out

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OGMA exercise Purpose

To carry out the ‘accounting step’ - calculate the old growth targets for the NC and THLB

To think about the ecological and operational considerations (included in the LUPG), when locating OGMAs

To promote group discussion and group solutions regarding options for OGMA locations

To delineate OGMAs up to the target level

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OGMA exercise

Wild Cards

will add a few complications to the scenario once you have completed the basic exercise as defined in the workbook/handout

– IWMS

– rare ecosystems

– category A approved cutblocks