AA CC OO NN SS EE RR VVATIONATION AREAAREA DESIGNDESIGN FF OO RR TT HH EE CENTRALCENTRAL COASTCOAST REGIONREGION OO FF BRITISHBRITISH COLUMBIA,COLUMBIA, CANADACANADA AA reportreport preparedprepared byby RoundRound RiverRiver ConservationConservation StudiesStudies forfor thethe SierraSierra ClubClub ofof BritishBritish Columbia,Columbia, Greenpeace,Greenpeace, thethe ForestForest ActionAction Network,Network, andand thethe RaincoastRaincoast ConservationConservation SocietySociety ROUND RIVER Conservation Studies Round River is an ecologically oriented research and education orga- nization whose goal is the formulation and carrying out of conservation strategies that preserve and restore wildness. By wildness, we have in mind landscapes that are relatively self-maintaining, with full vegetation and faunal assemblages present, and where the human communities are in a close and sustainable relationship with the local ecosystem. Flourishing, and intact, we view wild landscapes as important in, and of, themselves; for cultural reasons, and as indicators of ecological health. Round River works closely with local, national and international con- servation organizations to ensure the integrity of wild lands and waters for generations yet to come. We employ the principles of conservation biology to formulate strategies to provide our partner organizations and communities confidence in their decisions and to provide a well founded scientific basis for their long-term conservation planning efforts. Round River Conservation Studies 4301 Emigration Canyon Road Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 801-582-0910; 801-363-8006 (fax) email: [email protected] www.roundriver.org Cover photos: (background) Ian McAllister, (Grizzly Bear) Gary Crandall ROUND RIVER CONSERVATION S T U D I E S A CONSERVATION AREA DESIGN FOR THE CENTRAL COAST REGION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. RICHARD M. JEO M.A. SANJAY A N DENNIS SIZEMORE A REPORT PREPARED FOR THE: SIERRA CLUB OF BRITISH COLUMBIA GREENPEACE F O R E S T ACTION NETWORK R A I N C O A S T CONSERVATION SOCIETY P R E F A C E AA s British Columbians debate the future of our functioning biodiversity of these magnificent temperate last remaining intact temperate rainforest valleys, rainforests. The four groups sponsoring this project one simple fact has become increasingly clear would like to acknowledge both what this report is, and to all parties - very little is known about the basic bio- what it is not. logical functioning of these forests. The First Nations The Conservation Areas Design is based on western peoples of the B.C. coast, who have lived in harmony science and offers a biological perspective only. It does with the land for millenniamillenia, are the guardians not contain any Traditional Ecological Knowledge or of much human knowledge about these rainforests. include this type of information in the analysis. We rec- Roots, berries, leaves and fungi have been harvested ognize that this cultural and social information is essen- for centuries for both food and medicinal purposes by tial to understanding this coastal region of B.C.. It is our coastal tribes. They know where the oolichan run, hope that the scientific perspectives offered in our where the herring spawn, and where and when the report may be of some small assistance to the coastal salmon leap and the grizzly bears fish. If traditional First Nations already embarked upon extensive efforts knowledge can be complemented by modern scientif- to map their territory and consolidate both traditional ic analysis, western society may begin to truly appre- and scientific knowledge. We acknowledge and respect ciate the role of these rich, biologically diversebiodi- their efforts. The Conservation Areas Design also con- verse forests and the value they offer to humankind. tains no information about human communities and But modern science has only just begun to scratch economic concerns. While we value the integral place the surface of knowledge of these forested ecosys- of human communities in the ecosystem our objective tems. was to discover what is required to keep these ecosys- As recently as June 1998, entomologists from the tems functioning and capable of supporting life - all life. University of Victoria, conducting research into insect The report focuses on terrestrial conservation con- life in the rainforest canopy of the Carmanah Valley cerns only, and only due to a lack of resources. The on Vancouver Island, announced the discovery of 300 role of the marine ecosystem, of rich estuaries and the to 500 new species of insects. Species totally nutrients derived from the sea, is critical to forest and unknown to science worldwide. Such a recent and human health. We hope that future, similar analysis startling discovery clearly illustrates the paucity of will be conducted for marine species and functions to our understanding of these ancient forest ecosystems. allow for the development of a B.C. marine conserva- Yet their destruction continues at a rapid rate. tion plan and to assist with critical decisions on inte- In 1997 several B.C. groups, including The Sierra grated coastal zone management. Club of B.C., Greenpeace, the Forest Action Network This work was undertaken in recognition of the fact and the Raincoast Conservation Society, recognized that if we fail to imagine how to protect the well-being the need to assemble scientific data about the coastal of the entire landscape, the survival of the rainforest temperate rainforest in the central coast region of and the human and non-human communities depen- B.C. These groups recognized that as ancient forests dent upon the rainforest will be in jeopardy. This fell around the world, and over 50% of B.C.’s large Conservation Areas Design represents one contribution rainforest valleys had already been impacted by to an ongoing dialogue about how to maintain and per- development, these last intact valleys were a global petuate the landscape, cultures and communities of treasure house of undiscovered knowledge and eco- B.C.’s central mainland coast. It is our hope that the logical wealth. Working with these groups, Round information and scientific findings contained herein River Conservation Studies, an ecological research may be useful as together we discuss how to conserve, and education organization, agreed to complete a protect and sustainably use the forests of British conservation biology based analysis and design for Columbia. the central coast. The resulting conservation design is intended to aid all British Columbians in under- Sierra Club of B.C. standing what will be required if we want to ensure Greenpeace the future of salmon runs and grizzly bears, salal and Forest Action Network devil’s club, eagles and otters, and the rich, fully Raincoast Conservation Society iii A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S Round River Conservation Studies wishes to thank Bermann, Greenpeace International; Gavin Edwards the following orga n i z ations and individuals that con- and Greg Higgs, Forest Action Network; Jody Holmes tributed to this work. Jill Thomas of the Canadian and Allan McDonnell, BC Wild; Merran Smith, Sierra Rainforest Network first recognized the need for this Club of British Columbia; Liz Barrett-Brown, Natural work and greatly assisted with its fulfillment. Rick Re s o u rces Defense Council; and Chris Hatc h , Tingey of the Utah Wildlands Project and Round Rainforest Action Network for providing invaluable River Conservation Studies completed much of the guidance and assistance with this project. GIS mapping. He was assisted by John Deck from We would further like to thank the following indi- the University of California at Santa Cruz and by viduals for participating in scientific workshops and David Leversee and Steve Young of Sierra Club BC. reviewing the project; David Bayles, Pacific Rivers F i e l d work was conducted by Round Rive r Council; James Bergdahl, Conservation Biology Conservation Studies and the Raincoast Conservation Center; Lance Craighead, Craighead Environmental Society with assistance from the Fo rest Ac t i o n Research Institute; Barbara Dugelby, The Wildlands Network and the Temperate Rainforest Research Project; Christopher Filardi and Bruce Baizel, Round Project. Barrie Gilbert, Utah State University, also River Conservation Studies; Bristol Foster, Raincoast helped with the 1997 Grizzly Bear surveys. In par- Conservation Society; Jody Holmes, BC Wild; David ticular, this project would not have been possible Mattson, Unive rsity of Idaho; Wayne McCro r y , without the local insight of Ian McAllister of the Valhalla Wilderness Society; Allan McDonnell, BC Raincoast Conservation Society about this rainforest Wild; Troy Merrill, LTB Consultants; Jim Pojar, BC and the many hours of field work provided by Jerry Ministry of the Environment; Paul Pa q u e t , Scoville and Allison Gabel of Round Rive r C o n s e r vation Biology Institute; Tom Re i m c h e n , Conservation Studies and Karen McAllister of the University of Victoria; Michael Soulé, The Wildlands Raincoast Conservation Society. Barbara Dugelby Project; Jim Strittholt, Conservation Biology Institute and Michael Soulé of The Wildlands Project gener- and Steve Trombulak, Middlebury College. ously shared their scientific expertise and knowledge This project was made possible through generous of reserve design planning in countless different grants to Round River Conservation Studies and to ways. Jamie Mazer of the University of California at the Canadian Rainforest Network from the Brainerd Berkeley and Tom Annau aided with data analysis. Foundation, Bullitt Foundation, Foundation for Deep Kitty O’Doherty and Tina Joe helped edit the report. Ecology, W. Alton Jones Foundation, Kongsgaard- Thanks also to: Catherine Stewart, Karen Mahon and Goldman Fund, Lazar Foundation, Patagonia, Inc, Tamara Stark, Greenpeace Canada; Tzeporah Rockwood Foundation, Threshold Foundation and the Turner Foundation. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface. iii Acknowledgements . iv Executive Summary. 4 Summary of maps . 7 Introduction . 10 1. Cad Background . 17 1.1. Designing Areas for Conservation: A History . 18 1.2. Goals for Regional Conservation. 19 1.3.