Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Coast Information Team, 2004. Ecosystem-based management planning handbook. BC Ministry of Forests. |
|---|---|
| Organization | FLNRO |
| URL | https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/tasb/slrp/citbc/c-ebm-hdbk-fin-22mar04.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | This Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) Planning Handbook is part of an EBM Framework developed by the Coast Information Team (CIT). The EBM Framework identifies principles, goals, objectives, and key elements of EBM as they have been developed by the CIT. The CIT defines EBM as: …an adaptive approach to managing human activities that seeks to ensure the coexistence of healthy, fully functioning ecosystems and human communities. The intent is to maintain those spatial and temporal characteristics of ecosystems such that component species and ecological processes can be sustained, and human well-being supported and improved.1 The purpose of this Handbook is to provide guidance on implementing this definition of EBM across multiple scales — from First Nations territories or other planning subregions such as the Central and North Coast, through landscapes and watersheds to individual sites. The challenge is not easy. The CIT planning region is characterized by globally significant old growth temperate rainforests and rare wildlife species, unique First Nations cultures, sparse population, small communities, long distances to markets, a recent history of fisheries overexploitation and general economic decline, and unresolved legal issues. Maintaining ecological integrity and promoting human well-being in this context will require new approaches and arrangements. To address this the approach to EBM described in this Handbook involves: • Having a key objective to establish a system of protected areas and reserves at multiple scales that seeks to protect endangered, rare and representative examples of regional ecosystems; sustain sufficient habitat to support viable populations of all native species; and protect important cultural heritage values. • Using traditional, local, and scientific knowledge of natural ecological patterns and processes and their historic variability to develop ecosystem-specific management targets. Risk assessment using local and expert knowledge informs the establishment of targets that guide management to varying levels of risk at different scales, the goal being to ensure a high probability that ecological integrity is being maintained overall. • Recognizing and accommodating First Nations Rights and Title and interests. Federal and provincial governments have not reached treaty agreements with First Nations in the CIT region. Interim and protocol agreements between First Nations, governments, tenure holders, and interested groups and organizations can establish working arrangements for resource access, stewardship and economic development. • Engaging local community representatives and stakeholders explicitly in developing locally relevant goals and objectives, in making land and resource decisions, and in formulating and implementing strategies and plans that seek to improve family and local community well-being and economic health. Establishment of new arrangements among First Nations, governments, and stakeholders that provide for improved information sharing and cooperation, equitable access to resources and development benefits, economic stability, and coordinated management and monitoring. • Exploration of new policy instruments and management arrangements that seek to achieve the most effective and efficient ways to implement EBM while creating an enabling environment for community economic development and entrepreneurial business activity. The CIT approach to EBM seeks to secure a high probability of maintaining ecological integrity overall at the subregional scale and in landscapes and watersheds with high conservation values, while providing for human well-being by allowing focus on economic development in landscapes and watersheds with greater economic values. Application of management targets ranging from precautionary to high risk at lower planning scales, within the overarching objective to maintain ecological integrity by managing to low risk at the subregional level, provides for operational flexibility and exploration of alternative management practices in different landscapes, watersheds and sites. The underlying assumption is that it is not necessary to sustain all species and processes everywhere all the time to maintain ecological integrity. The CIT approach to EBM also seeks to create enabling institutional arrangements, land use zoning and management direction through which local and regional human well-being can be sustained and improved. Recognition of First Nations Rights and Title, coupled with collaborative planning, provides a means for First Nations, governments, and stakeholders to share information and develop mutually acceptable land and resource stewardship plans. Collaboration and negotiation across planning boundaries also provides a means for developing mutually beneficial regional and community economic development strategies and plans. The guidance provided here for each planning scale assumes that objectives and targets at higher levels are in place and being achieved; watershed and site planning is only likely to maintain ecological integrity if landscape and territory/subregional requirements and targets are also met. Where higher level planning is not yet complete, precaution must guide management at lower scales. Due to the high values and scientific uncertainties involved, adaptive co-management and monitoring will play a key role in implementation, the goal being to refine knowledge and understanding of how the Central and North Coast and Haida Gwaii can remain a unique and fully functioning ecosystem while supporting a high level of well-being for the people that live and work in the region. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Central Coast; Vancouver Island North; Haida Gwaii |
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| Project status | complete |
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