Forest ecosystem management, Smithers


	Forest ecosystem management Smithers
In early October, the Ministry of Sustainable Resources and the Northwest Field School of Northwest Community College in Smithers are hosting the region’s first-ever Forest Ecosystem Management Conference. Dave Weaver, instructor of the college’s forest ecosystem technology program, is organizing the conference. One general definition of forest ecosystem management (FEM), he says, is the following: "FEM integrates scientific knowledge and ecological relationships within a complex of sociopolitical values and a framework with the general goal of protecting native ecosystem integrity over the long term." Not an easily accessible concept, Weaver admits, but that is precisely the reason for organizing the conference. There are many views about what the term means and semantic definitions, put into practice, impact the land. "The term ecosystem management is arising in conversations in the forestry community more and more now, to the extent that some licensees embrace the concept, mention it at public meetings. Then I’m asked, or I’ll ask them, what that means, and there’s definite confusion... "Some major licensees are scared to death - it sounds too green - where in reality other licensees in the northwest have endorsed the term and are doing quite well at it." And while the forestry community is discussing FEM, the larger public is asking about it too, Weaver says. Today in retail outlets across Europe and North America, there is consumer-led push for Certified Wood Products. "For instance, Home Depot will only stock its shelves with wood certified to come from an area that has been logged in a sustainable, ecological manner." But there are varying views on what sustainable, ecological harvesting means, Weaver explains. The Forest Ecosystem Management Conference is going to take a look at the terms that are being bandied about in the community and try to foster a common understanding of the concept. Part of the job will be to examine the different ways the key term ‘ecosystem integrity’ is put into practice in the northwest. "For some, 'integrity' means a protectionist approach; protect everything in the ecosystem with no harvesting," Weaver says. Another definition, currently in use by some licensees, is that ‘integrity’ means harvesting is done in a way that mimics disturbances that would occur naturally in the forest. Weyerhauser has adopted this definition to conduct small clear cuts on the coast, as have others in the Morice and Lakes District who clear larger areas in the region where fires often do the same thing. Yet another definition of ‘ecosystem integrity’ is in practice in the Kispiox, Weaver says, where forestry has taken an ‘adaptive management approach.’ "It’s very new, very ‘90s. Rather than saying ‘We have a plan and will stick with it,’ it’s more the approach ‘We’ll go ahead and harvest but adapt as we go along, admit that we don’t know everything.’" Using this approach, small business forester Norm Billideau initiated ‘key indicators’ research in the Kispiox. Prior to harvesting, data is collected about all aspects of an ecosystem — everything from water flow rates to insect populations - so that further monitoring is possible and information exists on whether the integrity of the whole ecosystem is being maintained. "In all these approaches, the terms being used sound the same, but the difference is that long-term ecosystem integrity may or may not be a goal. Everyone is operating under the Forest Practices Code, but there’s a movement underway to turn it up a notch… The real question is, can we afford to do this?" The Oct. 2 to 4 conference will examine how an ecosystem approach would affect operations of major forest companies and woodlot licensees in the area. It will also look at and assess the ecosystem management approaches that are already in place in the northwest, such as in the Kispiox district. Local foresters, scientists, industry representatives and the general public are meeting for three days of discussions and field trips. For more information please contact NWCC at (250) 847-4461.
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