PowerPoint presented by Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations staff, Sharon Hadway (Regional Executive Director, West Coast Operations) and Chris Ritchie (Fish and Wildlife Recovery Implementation Manager) at the PFLA’s 19th annual forestry conference in Parksville, BC, June 5th, 2014. The purpose of the presentation is to understand the obligations and benefits of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Private Forest Landowners Association, the Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and the Ministry of Environment regarding critical wildlife habitat in British Columbia.

1. MOU on Critical Wildlife HabitatMOU on Critical Wildlife Habitat
© Jared Hobbs
Burrowing Owl
Private Forest Lands AssociationPrivate Forest Lands Association
Annual General MeetingAnnual General Meeting
Sharon HadwaySharon Hadway
& Chris Ritchie& Chris Ritchie
June 5, 2014June 5, 2014
Couer D’alene Salamander
© Jared Hobbs
Scouler’s corydalis
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2. OverviewOverview
 Wildlife management and especiallyWildlife management and especially
managing species at risk is an importantmanaging species at risk is an important
role for government.role for government.
 Requirements on crown and private landsRequirements on crown and private lands
differ (regulatory, jurisdiction).differ (regulatory, jurisdiction).
 Significant risks and benefitsSignificant risks and benefits
associated with responses.associated with responses.
 Collaboration on responses andCollaboration on responses and
approaches makes sense.approaches makes sense.
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3. ContextContext
 Private Managed Forest Land Act andPrivate Managed Forest Land Act and
regulations define requirements.regulations define requirements.
 Recognize wildlife move across landbaseRecognize wildlife move across landbase
so need for integrated approach.so need for integrated approach.
 MOU is a recent addition to thisMOU is a recent addition to this
integration.integration.
 Purpose today: understandPurpose today: understand
obligations and benefits ofobligations and benefits of
MOUMOU
D.F.Fraser photo
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4. What is a Species at Risk?What is a Species at Risk?
 A species at risk of extirpation or extinctionA species at risk of extirpation or extinction
 Species are assessed and grouped intoSpecies are assessed and grouped into
‘risk categories’‘risk categories’
 e.g. Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened,e.g. Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened,
Special ConcernSpecial Concern
D.F.Fraser photo
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5. D
PROTECTIO
N
E
RECOVER
Y
Automatic
Prohibitions
Permits/Agreements
Safety Net
Mandatory
Recovery Planning
Stewardship Programs /
Incentives
Critical Habitat (Safety Net )
C LEGAL
LISTING
 Endangered
 Threatened
C LEGAL
LISTING
 Endangered
 Threatened
B RESPONSE
STATEMENTS
B RESPONSE
STATEMENTS
A ASSESSMENT
 Status Reports
 Review
 COSEWIC Decision
A ASSESSMENT
 Status Reports
 Review
 COSEWIC Decision
Overview of theOverview of the
Species at Risk ActSpecies at Risk Act (SARA)(SARA)
 Independent, scientific assessmentsIndependent, scientific assessments
 Legal listing process*Legal listing process*
 Protections for federal species andProtections for federal species and
listed species on federal landslisted species on federal lands
 ““Safety net” provisions for otherSafety net” provisions for other
species and landsspecies and lands
 Recovery & management planningRecovery & management planning
for all listed speciesfor all listed species
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6. Recovery PlanningRecovery Planning
under SARAunder SARA
 Recovery strategies and managementRecovery strategies and management
plans must be prepared within certainplans must be prepared within certain
timelines (for all listed species)timelines (for all listed species)
 Recovery strategies set out timelines forRecovery strategies set out timelines for
preparation of action planspreparation of action plans
 Recovery strategies and action plansRecovery strategies and action plans
must address threats and must identifymust address threats and must identify
critical habitatcritical habitat
 Minister may adopt existing documentsMinister may adopt existing documents
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7. SARA and Critical Habitat:SARA and Critical Habitat:
IdentificationIdentification
 "critical habitat" means the habitat that is"critical habitat" means the habitat that is
necessary for the survival or recovery of anecessary for the survival or recovery of a
listed wildlife specieslisted wildlife species andand that is identifiedthat is identified
as the speciesas the species’ critical habitat in the’ critical habitat in the
recovery strategy* or in an action plan*recovery strategy* or in an action plan*
 must be identifiedmust be identified “to the extent possible”“to the extent possible”
“based on the best available information“based on the best available information””
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8. How SARA worksHow SARA works
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 Immediate protection to all listed species andImmediate protection to all listed species and
critical habitat on federal landscritical habitat on federal lands
 For listed species on all other lands, theFor listed species on all other lands, the
““safety netsafety net”” clauses of SARA may be appliedclauses of SARA may be applied
 If the laws of the province do notIf the laws of the province do not ““effectivelyeffectively
protectprotect”” the species, its residence, or itsthe species, its residence, or its
critical habitatcritical habitat
 Assessment ofAssessment of “effective protection” via CHEPA“effective protection” via CHEPA
 Measures must be available, legally binding andMeasures must be available, legally binding and
effective at producing the intended resultseffective at producing the intended results

9. BCBC’s Approach to Management’s Approach to Management
of Species at Riskof Species at Risk
 Five-Year Plan for Species at Risk in BCFive-Year Plan for Species at Risk in BC
 Signatory to the Accord for the Protection ofSignatory to the Accord for the Protection of
Species at Risk & the Canada-BC AgreementSpecies at Risk & the Canada-BC Agreement
on Species at Riskon Species at Risk
 Support for recovery planningSupport for recovery planning
 Use authorities contained in a number ofUse authorities contained in a number of
statutes to protect habitat for species at riskstatutes to protect habitat for species at risk
 Information support through the ConservationInformation support through the Conservation
Data CentreData Centre
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10. BCBC’s approach to protecting’s approach to protecting
habitat for SARhabitat for SAR
 Recovery strategies (including informationRecovery strategies (including information
on habitat needed for survival andon habitat needed for survival and
recovery) =recovery) = adviceadvice to decision-makersto decision-makers
 Implement habitat protection throughImplement habitat protection through
existing provincial tools and regulatoryexisting provincial tools and regulatory
processes (often includes evaluation ofprocesses (often includes evaluation of
socioeconomic implications)socioeconomic implications)
 Support stewardship efforts on privateSupport stewardship efforts on private
landslands
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11. BCBC’’s Legal Protection Toolss Legal Protection Tools
 Wildlife ActWildlife Act
 Wildlife Amendment Act,Wildlife Amendment Act, (not in(not in
force)force)
 Forest and Range Practices ActForest and Range Practices Act
 Oil and Gas Activities ActOil and Gas Activities Act
 Parks ActParks Act andand Ecological ReservesEcological Reserves
ActAct
 Land Act (Land Act (Strategic Plans)Strategic Plans)
 Environment and Land Use ActEnvironment and Land Use Act
 Private Managed Forest Lands ActPrivate Managed Forest Lands Act
Wood bison
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12. Managing S@RManaging S@R
 ““Category of species at risk” establishedCategory of species at risk” established
by order under theby order under the Forest and RangeForest and Range
Practices ActPractices Act (FRPA)(FRPA)
 Support stewardship efforts on privateSupport stewardship efforts on private
lands (e.g Best Management Practices)lands (e.g Best Management Practices)
 ConductConduct wildlife management to achievewildlife management to achieve
recovery objectives (e.g. captive breeding)recovery objectives (e.g. captive breeding)
 Manage human activities (e.g. recreationManage human activities (e.g. recreation
closures, timing windows)closures, timing windows)
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13. Why an MOU?Why an MOU?
 Relationship between PMFLA and ProvinceRelationship between PMFLA and Province
 Concerns arising from NOGO candidateConcerns arising from NOGO candidate
foraging sites in draft recovery strategyforaging sites in draft recovery strategy
 PLFA met with ADM Konkin to promote thePLFA met with ADM Konkin to promote the
PMFL program and contribution to the protectionPMFL program and contribution to the protection
of critical wildlife habitat.of critical wildlife habitat.
 Recommend MOU to encourage/promote aRecommend MOU to encourage/promote a
“made in BC” plan for biodiversity and S@R“made in BC” plan for biodiversity and S@R
management that recognizes the role andmanagement that recognizes the role and
benefits for integration of private forest land.benefits for integration of private forest land.
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14. MOU ObjectivesMOU Objectives
 Increase certainty on regulatory andIncrease certainty on regulatory and
management requirements for critical wildlifemanagement requirements for critical wildlife
habitat on private managed forest landshabitat on private managed forest lands
 Apply an ecosystem scale approach;Apply an ecosystem scale approach;
 DevelopDevelop “made in BC” approaches“made in BC” approaches;;
 Promote innovationPromote innovation
 Identify and share best management practicesIdentify and share best management practices;;
 Supplement private forest landowner scientificSupplement private forest landowner scientific
expertise, inventories and knowledge;expertise, inventories and knowledge;
 Investigate new approaches and tools and sources ofInvestigate new approaches and tools and sources of
fundingfunding
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15.  Improving information sharingImproving information sharing
 Encourage communication between the PFLA,Encourage communication between the PFLA,
PMFL owners and government agencies;PMFL owners and government agencies;
accelerate sharing data, inventory, and scienceaccelerate sharing data, inventory, and science
resultsresults;;
 Provide certainty that any proprietary, landowner-Provide certainty that any proprietary, landowner-
specific information;specific information;
 Collaborate on extension materials; Examine theCollaborate on extension materials; Examine the
opportunity toopportunity to use new communication toolsuse new communication tools
 Working together to promote BCWorking together to promote BC’s’s
approach to protecting and managingapproach to protecting and managing
critical wildlife habitat to federalcritical wildlife habitat to federal
government agencies.government agencies. 15

16. 1922
1924
Last seen:1910
1940
1981
1918
1930
Questions?Questions?