MOU on Critical Wildlife HabitatMOU on Critical Wildlife Habitat

© Jared Hobbs

Burrowing Owl

Private Forest Lands Association Private Forest Lands Association Annual General MeetingAnnual General Meeting

Sharon Hadway Sharon Hadway & Chris Ritchie& Chris RitchieJune 5, 2014June 5, 2014

Couer D’alene Salamander

© Jared Hobbs

Scouler’s corydalis

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Overview Overview Wildlife management and especially Wildlife management and especially

managing species at risk is an important managing species at risk is an important role for government.role for government.

Requirements on crown and private lands Requirements on crown and private lands differ (regulatory, jurisdiction).differ (regulatory, jurisdiction).

Significant risks and benefits Significant risks and benefits associated with responses.associated with responses.

Collaboration on responses and Collaboration on responses and approaches makes sense.approaches makes sense.

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ContextContext Private Managed Forest Land Act and Private Managed Forest Land Act and

regulations define requirements.regulations define requirements.

Recognize wildlife move across landbase Recognize wildlife move across landbase so need for integrated approach. so need for integrated approach.

MOU is a recent addition to this integration.MOU is a recent addition to this integration.

Purpose today: understand Purpose today: understand obligations and benefits of obligations and benefits of MOUMOU

D.F.Fraser photo

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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 into Species are assessed and grouped into ‘‘risk categoriesrisk categories’’ e.g. Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, e.g. Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened,

Special ConcernSpecial Concern

D.F.Fraser photo

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D PROTECTION

ERECOVERY

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 the Overview of the

Species at Risk Act Species at Risk Act (SARA)(SARA) Independent, scientific assessments Independent, scientific assessments Legal listing process*Legal listing process* Protections for federal species and Protections for federal species and

listed species on federal landslisted species on federal lands ““Safety netSafety net”” provisions for other provisions for other

species and lands species and lands Recovery & management planning Recovery & management planning

for all listed speciesfor all listed species

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Recovery Planning Recovery Planning under SARAunder SARA

Recovery strategies and management Recovery strategies and management plans must be prepared within certain plans must be prepared within certain timelines (for all listed species)timelines (for all listed species)

Recovery strategies set out timelines for Recovery strategies set out timelines for preparation of action planspreparation of action plans

Recovery strategies and action plans Recovery strategies and action plans must address threats and must identify must address threats and must identify critical habitatcritical habitat

Minister may adopt existing documentsMinister may adopt existing documents

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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 a necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species listed wildlife species andand that is identified that 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 identified must be identified ““to the extent possibleto the extent possible”” ““based on the best available informationbased on the best available information””

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How SARA worksHow SARA works

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Immediate protection to all listed species and Immediate protection to all listed species and critical habitat on federal landscritical habitat on federal lands

For listed species on all other lands, the For listed species on all other lands, the “safety net” clauses of SARA may be applied“safety net” clauses of SARA may be applied If the laws of the province do not “effectively If the laws of the province do not “effectively

protect” the species, its residence, or its protect” the species, its residence, or its critical habitatcritical habitat

Assessment of Assessment of ““effective protectioneffective protection”” via CHEPA via CHEPA Measures must be available, legally binding and Measures must be available, legally binding and

effective at producing the intended resultseffective at producing the intended results

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 of Signatory to the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk & the Canada-BC Agreement Species 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 of Use 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 Conservation Information support through the Conservation Data CentreData Centre

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BCBC’’s approach to protecting s approach to protecting habitat for SARhabitat for SAR

Recovery strategies (including information Recovery strategies (including information on habitat needed for survival and on habitat needed for survival and recovery) = recovery) = adviceadvice to decision-makers to decision-makers

Implement habitat protection through Implement habitat protection through existing provincial tools and regulatory existing provincial tools and regulatory processes (often includes evaluation of processes (often includes evaluation of socioeconomic implications)socioeconomic implications)

Support stewardship efforts on private Support stewardship efforts on private landslands

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BC’s Legal Protection ToolsBC’s 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 Act Parks Act and and Ecological Reserves Ecological 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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Managing S@R Managing S@R

““Category of species at riskCategory of species at risk”” established by established by order under the order under the Forest and Range Practices Forest and Range Practices Act Act (FRPA) (FRPA)

Support stewardship efforts on private lands Support stewardship efforts on private lands (e.g Best Management Practices)(e.g Best Management Practices)

Conduct Conduct wildlife management to achieve wildlife management to achieve recovery objectives (e.g. captive breeding) recovery objectives (e.g. captive breeding)

Manage human activities (e.g. recreation Manage human activities (e.g. recreation closures, timing windows)closures, timing windows)

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Why an MOU?Why an MOU? Relationship between PMFLA and ProvinceRelationship between PMFLA and Province Concerns arising from NOGO candidate Concerns arising from NOGO candidate

foraging sites in draft recovery strategyforaging sites in draft recovery strategy PLFA met with ADM Konkin to promote the PLFA met with ADM Konkin to promote the

PMFL program and contribution to the protection PMFL program and contribution to the protection of critical wildlife habitat. of critical wildlife habitat.

Recommend MOU to encourage/promote a Recommend MOU to encourage/promote a ““made in BCmade in BC”” plan for biodiversity and S@R plan for biodiversity and S@R management that recognizes the role and management that recognizes the role and benefits for integration of private forest land.benefits for integration of private forest land.

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MOU ObjectivesMOU Objectives Increase certainty on regulatory and management Increase certainty on regulatory and management

requirements for critical wildlife habitat on private requirements for critical wildlife habitat on private managed forest landsmanaged forest lands Apply an ecosystem scale approach; Apply an ecosystem scale approach; Develop Develop ““made in BCmade in BC”” approaches approaches; ;

Promote innovationPromote innovation Identify and share best management practicesIdentify and share best management practices ;; Supplement private forest landowner scientific Supplement private forest landowner scientific

expertise, inventories and knowledge; expertise, inventories and knowledge; Investigate new approaches and tools and sources of Investigate new approaches and tools and sources of

fundingfunding

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Improving information sharingImproving information sharing Encourage communication between the PFLA, PMFL Encourage communication between the PFLA, PMFL

owners and government agencies; accelerate sharing owners and government agencies; accelerate sharing data, inventory, and science resultsdata, inventory, and science results; ;

Provide certainty that any proprietary, landowner-specific Provide certainty that any proprietary, landowner-specific information;information;

Collaborate on extension materials; Examine the Collaborate on extension materials; Examine the

opportunity toopportunity to use new communication tools use new communication tools

Working together to promote BCWorking together to promote BC’’s approach to s approach to protecting and managing critical wildlife habitat protecting and managing critical wildlife habitat to federal government agencies. to federal government agencies.

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19221924

Last seen:1910

1940

19811918

1930

Questions?Questions?