Section 2 - p.9 [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Table of Contents]

2.0 General Findings and Recommendations

The rules, procedures, and guidelines for the management of public forest lands are set down in a large number of documents issued by the provincial government-mainly through the British Columbia Ministry of Forests-under legislated authority. We refer to these rules, procedures and guidelines as "current standards." The Panel has closely examined the current standards for Clayoquot Sound as presented in the documents listed in Appendix III.

2.1 Scope of Review of Current Standards

The Panel reviewed over 50 documents that currently apply to Clayoquot Sound and classified them according to the type or level of planning to which they apply. (See tables 1 through 4 in Appendix III.) These documents are also identified as draft, emerging, interim, or established, in increasing order of force. The recent dates of most documents and the many draft, interim, and emerging standards reflect rapid changes in forest practices.

The Panel also reviewed two documents with specific reference to Clayoquot Sound: Clayoquot Sound Forest Practices Standards (June 1993) and the Clayoquot Sound Land Use Decision (April 1993).

The Panel's review of standards focused on documents pertaining to the subregional level, that were in place January 31, 1994. More recent versions of these documents will be addressed (if possible) in the Panel's final report.

2.2 General Findings

In its review of current standards in Clayoquot Sound, the Scientific Panel found many documents that reflect evolving approaches towards forest practices. Some of these standards are ecosystem-based and can contribute effectively to sustainable forest practices. Other standards, particularly those emphasizing a single resource, do not meet the Panel's Guiding Principles or do not contribute to sustainable practice.

The general findings reported here signal the need for change in both the philosophy of forest plarning and management, and the way that forest practice standards are created and applied. These changes will be reflected in the standards the Panel recommends for Clayoquot Sound in its final report.

  1. Current standards do not recognize sufficiently the physical and ecological connections among terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. These connections are biologically and culturally important.

    Section 2 - p.10

  2. Current standards represent the protection of environmental and cultural values as constraints on managing the timber resource. Current standards do not effectively integrate ecosystem and cultural values. Nor do they adequately address requirements for ecosystem sustainability, harmonlous stewardship of all resources, and the needs of future generations.
  3. Current standards do not include First Nations' values and perspectives, and do not require participation by First Nations in planning and management.
  4. There is no consistent requirement that long-term plans be developed for large areas before developing plans for smaller areas.
  5. While many standards meet their individual objectives, collectively they do not prevent loss of biodiversity, degradation of terrestrial and aquatic environments, and damage to First Nations' heritage sites and areas. Nor do they ensure restoration of ecosystems damaged by past development activity.
  6. Existing information and current requirements to collect information on forest, freshwater, marine, scenlc, and recreational resources or heritage sites and areas are inadequate to meet ecosystem management objectives.
  7. Clearcutting is the implicit silvicultural system in existing standards. Most existing standards do not require justification for clearcutting or a consideration of alternatives.
  8. Current standards for Clayoquot Sound are scattered in many documents issued by different agencies in different formats, and with different authority. Some are applied as rules; others suggest possible practices. The result is conflicts in standards (e.g., fate of down wood) and inconsistencies in standards (e.g., rates of harvest, size of landscape planning units).
  9. Existing documents reflect the B.C. Ministry of Forests' dual mandate: to maximize the revenues from timber extraction (proprietary), and to protect natural resources for the public good (regulatory). Because these goals are sometimes in conflict, current standards reflect differing objectives. Some standards are intended to protect non-timber resources (e.g., British Columbia Coastal Fisheries/Forestry Guidelines); others set operational standards to provide for the efficient extraction of timber (e.g., Forest Road and Logging Trail Engineering Practices).
  10. Many standards are phrased in ways which make them difficult to apply and enforce easily, fairly, and consistently.
  11. Field observations suggest that the workforce is not consistently informed of the rationale for specific standards.

Section 2 - p.11

2.3 General Recommendations

Based on the Panel's findings regarding current standards (Section 2.2), its Guiding Principles (Appendix I), and the belief that forest practices in Clayoquot Sound must be scientifically sound, operationally achievable, measurable, enforceable, and safe, the Panel makes the following general recommendations:

  1. Manage the forests and waters of Clayoquot Sound to: These goals define a strategy known as "sustainable ecosystem management"8 which is based on our understanding of ecosystem function, and on principles of resource sustainability and intergenerational equity (our obligation to leave undamaged forests and water for future generations). Sustainable ecosystem management requires the participation of multidisciplinary teams representing First Nations, industry, governments, and the public.
  2. Determine the levels of goods and services to be produced from Clayoquot Sound (e.g., cubic metres of wood, visitor days) through a comprehensive ecosystem assessment and planning process. Define outputs that are sustainable within limits that maintaln the integrity of ecosystems.
  3. Collect resource information that supports sustainable ecosystem management. Expand inventories to include the status, abundance, and distribution of resources and values in addition to the critical factors that restrict timber harvesting and other resource extracting operations.
  4. Develop a strategy to protect the full pattern of drainage through the landscape. Modification or disruption of subsurface drainage channels or small, non-fish-bearing streams can increase soil erosion and adversely affect fish or other components of biodiversity.

    Section 2 - p.12

  5. Increase the level of riparian protection by increasing streamside buffer widths, including headwater and intermittent streams, identifying and protecting unstable land areas. Water is critical to riparian areas-which are central to temperate rainforests-and protecting riparian zones underlies sustainable ecosystem management in Clayoquot Sound.
  6. Broaden the silvicultural systems used in Clayoquot Sound, beyond clearcutting. Select appropriate silvicultural systems to maintain natural landscape patterns and stand structures, and to meet a variety of management objectives other than timber production.
  7. Select harvesting methods to meet the requirements of silvicultural systems, minimize environmental impacts, and meet worker safety standards.
  8. Practice adaptive management9 so that forest practices improve as knowledge and experience are gained. Undertake formal adaptive management in carefully selected areas to assess the effectiveness of new forest practices.
  9. Plan and manage forests to prevent ecosystem degradation. Restore ecosystems where damage occurs.
  10. Provide education and training programs to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the current workforce and to increase the number of qualified workers on the ground. Sustainable ecosystem management is complex and requires a workforce informed of the principles involved.
  11. Develop procedures for company or worker prequalification and disqualification. Even the best forestry practices can pose considerable risk to the environment if not carried out to their intended standards.
  12. Consider worker safety when defining acceptable practices. Involve safety personnel when developing standards and new forest practices (e.g., Wildlife Tree Committee).
  13. Use consistent terminology, definitions, and inventory requirements in defining standards and practices at different levels of the planning hierarchy.
  14. Establish appropriate phase-in periods for standards requiring major changes to current practices. This will allow stakeholders time to adjust and will help to ensure compliance.

Section 2 - p.13

Recommendations on four specific issues which flow from these general recommendations are presented in Section 5:


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Stephen Samuel (samuel@bcgreen.com)
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