Biodiversity Stewardship Options Field Sessions in the Bulkley TSA
Project Reference Number: 2013-15
Project Status: Complete
Led by: Larry McCulloch, LM Forest Resource Solutions; Ruth Lloyd; Debbie Wellwood, Raven Ecological Consulting
Funder: Ministry of Forest Lands & Natural Resource Operations
This project contractor is tasked with the following:
- Convene a field workshop with biologists, land managers and knowledgeable public. Assess effectiveness of this prototype and make recommendations on format, delivery and cost for future, regularly scheduled sessions.
- Facilitate discussions on how to better meet biodiversity objectives in forest stewardship and other plans by sharing experience and knowledge; demonstrating new technology in field data management; identifying practical, cost effective methods of adding value to current practices and documenting specific barriers to implementation. The focus will be on improving structural stand-level biodiversity implementation and effectiveness within the context of landscape-level plans and larger issues such as climate change.
- Record key points, action items and recommendations for moving forward.
- Write a report that captures essential elements of issues, discussions and recommendations for improvements of; site-level practices, consistent interpretation of planning and legal documents, and improvements to protocols such as FREP and Evaluation System.
- Draft a list of standard questions to help frame discussions for a range of sites and issues (e.g.. how could climate change affect results? How can these factors be improved for habitat, forest health, stand resilience, short-term and long-term costs, etc.? How can techniques and treatments be improved from research and field perspectives? What policy, legal, social or environmental barriers are there?)
- Arrange for a range of independent participants.
- Provide information and recommendations for a project charter for regularly scheduled field sessions which provide opportunity for proactive and positive discussion of evolving issues and lead to practical, locally-supported solutions.