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Spatial Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA’s) for the Dawson Creek Timber Supply Area

Spatial Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA’s) for the Dawson Creek Timber Supply Area. History In 2002 MOFR and MSRM signed a MOU endorsing the Natural Disturbance Units (NDU) concept as the best available science.

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Spatial Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA’s) for the Dawson Creek Timber Supply Area

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  1. Spatial Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA’s) for the Dawson Creek Timber Supply Area

  2. History In 2002 MOFR and MSRM signed a MOU endorsing the Natural Disturbance Units (NDU) concept as the best available science. In 2004 the Provincial Non-Spatial Old Growth Order was established based on Natural Disturbance Types. Major licensees operating in the DC TSA were already operating under the NDU concept and had concerns with the provincial Order as the 2002 policy and 2004 order were not consistent. In 2004 a working group consisting of various government agencies and major forest licensees was created to address these matters by developing a local Old Growth Order. First Nations were invited to join the working group but did not actively participated until 2007.

  3. Natural Disturbance Units (NDU) Concept • Boreal Plains • A system of “rotating reserves” is recommended. • The natural disturbance rate was high (e.g., disturbance cycle <150 yrs). • Very old forests (> 200 yrs) are rare, but large patches of older forest (>100 years) always existed. • Large patches (>100 ha.) of older forest are identified to full fill a percentage (50%) of the total old forest requirements. • These reserves would be scheduled to be cut when reserve area of relatively equal size have been identified that can take their place.

  4. Natural Disturbance Units (NDU) Concept • Foothills and Mountains • Irregularly dispersed large semi-permanent reserves are recommended. • Large fires were common but the disturbance cycle was 150 – 300 years. • Historically, some watersheds would have a large amount of old forest reserve but adjacent watersheds may have much less. • Replacement may be necessary but not on a continuous basis as in the rotating reserve strategy.

  5. Criteria for Old Forest Retention in the Dawson Creek TSA. Species Criteria Description Minimum Age of Old Coniferous 80-100% conifer 140 Deciduous 80-100% deciduous 100 Mixedwood >20% but <80% conifer 120 (can be conifer or deciduous leading)

  6. Analysis • Current policy allows a 3.6% short term and 3.9% long term impact on timber supply. • Biogeoclimatic units were grouped into reporting units based on their historical frequency of fire events. • 12 scenarios were run to determine impacts to timber supply. • LOWG agreed on final target % that meets policy. • Targets range from 16% on Boreal Plains to 55% in Wet Mountains. • Most of the reporting units targets are at the lower end of their natural range of variation for fire frequency but equal to or greater than the Provincial Non-spatial Order.

  7. Results Total Old Growth target of approx. 312,000 ha. for the TSA. • Constrained areas contributing to target: • Old in Parks over 62,000 ha. • Old forests in Ungulate Winter Range and Wildlife Habitat Areas over 31,000 ha. • Old forest in riparian reserves over 20,000 ha. • Crown Forested Land Base in Wildlife Tree Patches over 3,000 ha. • Spatial Old Growth Management Area target 203,000 ha. • 240 separate spatial OGMAs identified.

  8. High elevation White Spruce/Balsam Fir Old Growth

  9. Pine Old Growth on plateau

  10. Dry Black Spruce Old Growth on small rise in muskeg.

  11. A mixedwood Old Growth forest consisting of White Spruce and Cottonwood

  12. A typical pine/aspen Old Growth forest.

  13. A typical aspen Old Growth forest.

  14. An Old Growth aspen forest.

  15. Moving Forward • Legal Order signed on May 29, 2009. • Objective is to retain all timber within the Old Growth Management Areas. • Order allows MFR to approve minor intrusions. • Where disturbance in an OGMA occurs, written notification to ILMB is required. • Amendment Policy in place to deal with larger impacts and replacements. Note: Some OGMAs contain identified social and/or environmental values such as critical wildlife habitat or areas of cultural significance. These values must still be considered when proposing minor intrusions or amendments.

  16. Operational Flexibility • Minor intrusions into the OGMAs can be authorized by MFR provided the disturbance to the gross OGMA area does not exceed: • 10% in OGMAs less than 50 hectares; or, • 5% or 40 hectares, whichever is less, in OGMAs of 50 hectares or greater.

  17. Amendment Process The objectives of this process are to: • Effectively and consistently manage the amendment and replacement of OGMAs; • Develop a standard process that will be used when assessing requests for amendments or replacements; and, • Standardize how the outcomes or products are communicated to licensees, other affected stakeholders and First Nations.

  18. Amendment Review Process Step 1 ILMB will initiate a review of all requests received by January 15 of each year. Step 2: Internal Government Review Assess Rationale for Amendment Assess Replacement Area • Step 3: Consultation and Communication • Step 4: Decision

  19. Implications for Oil and Gas Industry • Land Use Objectives including OGMAs are designated under Sec 93.4 of the Land Act and apply only to those required to prepare Forest Stewardship Plans under the Forest and Range Practices Act (i.e. forestry OGMAs). • Land Use Objectives including OGMAs established under the Land Act do not apply to other industrial activities including mining, oil and gas or tourism development. • For these industries it is anticipated that they will consider the integrity and identified values within OGMAs but are in no way constrained by them. • Notification of any activities within OGMAs is required by ILMB for tracking purposes.

  20. Notification of Intrusion by Oil and Gas • Must include a map at an appropriate scale and a rationale that describes why an intrusion is necessary. • Should identify why the OGMA cannot be avoided. (i.e. only viable access route; too far to directionally drill, etc.) • Should include how the old growth values were considered and any mitigation measures that are in the proposal. (i.e. directional drilling, shortest route, minimized corridor with, etc.) • Could include suggestions for possible replacement OGMA area such as operationally constrained sites (i.e. steep unstable slopes, forested areas constrained for other values.)

  21. Oil and Gas Activities Act • Environmental Regulations are being drafted and are anticipated to be passed by late fall. • These include proposed regulations specifically related to the establishment of OGMAs that would be legally binding on the oil and gas sector. • The process to establish OGMAs applicable to oil and gas has not been developed. • Current indications are that there would be a process similar to the current one under FRPA; with operational flexibility and an amendment process.

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