Lakes Timber Sustainable Forest Supply Management Plan Area Version 3.2 March 31, 2008 The Lakes Timber Supply Area Sustainable Forest Management Plan Prepared for: Morice and Lakes Timber Supply Areas Innovative Forest Practices Agreement Prepared by: For more information please contact: Jim Burbee, General Manager Morice and Lakes IFPA 3003 Riverview Road Prince George, BC V2K 4Y5 Tel: 250-564-1518 Fax: 250-562-1518 Email: [email protected] The Lakes Timber Supply Area Sustainable Forest Management Plan Version 3.2 March 2008 The Board of Directors of Tweedsmuir Forest Limited and the Morice and Lakes IFPA General Manager are pleased to present the Lakes Timber Supply Area Sustainable Forest Management Plan. Original signed by Tan Calhoun, Woods Manager, Babine Forest Products Ltd. Original signed by Mike Dunbar, Woodlands Manager, Houston Forest Products Division of West Fraser Ltd. Original signed by David Watt, Tweedsmuir Director, L&M Lumber Original signed by Jim Magowan, Woodlands Manager, Fraser Lakes Sawmills Division of West Fraser Mills Ltd. Original signed by Kevin Horsnell, General Manager, Canadian Forest Products Original signed by Jim Burbee, Manager, Tweedsmuir Forest Ltd. Foreword Tweedsmuir Forest Ltd., a subsidiary company of licensees engaged in the Morice and Lakes Timber Supply Areas Innovative Forest Practices Agreement (M&L IFPA), is pleased to present Version 3.1 of the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Plan for the Lakes Timber Supply Area (TSA). Acknowledgements Version 1.0 of the Lakes TSA SFM Plan completed in December 2002 represented the culmination of an enormous effort by dozens of individuals in preparation of the document. Tweedsmuir Forest Ltd. recognizes and values the substantial amount of public involvement that contributed to achieve these first steps towards a collaborative approach to SFM in the Lakes TSA. The tireless effort and personal time expended by public participants outside of formal meetings is gratefully acknowledged and sincerely appreciated. Version 2.0 of the plan completed in 2004 required a great deal of effort and ingenuity on the part of the IFPA Technical Committee, Scenario Planning Team and the supporting consulting group led by Tesera Systems Inc. The substantial contributions of these lead groups along with, resource agency staff, employees of parent companies and others engaged in supporting committee work and subsequent tasks enabled Tweedsmuir Forest Ltd. to further develop the SFM Plan to a new level of sophistication. Version 3.0 of the SFM plan was is the result of numerous analyses that tested the technical creativity of the IFPA Technical Committee and Tesera Systems Inc. The forecasting of SFM indicators over long time horizons was designed to better understand how values are maintained on the landscape under varied management regimes. Public participants again contributed immeasurably in refining indicator functionality for implementation, and in endorsing management targets based upon learning from the analysis work. As with previous versions, the task of working through new and evolving planning processes, information gaps and innovative analysis technologies has been a challenge for many and the perseverance shown is duly noted and is recognized as a key element of bringing the SFM Plan to this stage in its evolution. Similarly, credit is due to the parent companies of Tweedsmuir Forest Ltd for their continued support, both strategic and financial, of the SFM Plan initiative as an essential foundation to moving strategic planning objectives into the operational arena. This version of the SFM Plan has benefited from the first cycle of performance monitoring, management review and continual improvement actions that generated numerous practical improvements. This commitment to SFM is commendable and demonstrates leadership within the forest sector. The involvement of First Nation communities in SFM planning remains a challenge and this is recognized as a shortcoming that requires continued effort. It is an objective of the IFPA Strategic Committee to demonstrate the value of collaborative planning to First Nation communities, with the intent of increasing participation from this important segment of the greater community. Version 3.2 SFM Plan purpose and function The fundamental purpose of SFM Plans is to provide a management framework for developing, implementing and monitoring socially acceptable resource management plans. There are a number of strategic planning initiatives that serve specific purposes for different organizations, which while logical in their own perspectives, are collectively difficult to deliver in practice. Examples of this within the province of BC would include IFPA Forestry Plans, Land & Resource Management Plans, Forest Stewardship Plans, Forest Investment Plans, certification initiatives, and Beetle Management Plans. The purpose of the Lakes SFM Plan is to assimilate such strategic needs into a single adaptive management framework for operational planning and implementation. The major challenge during the term of this plan will be to manage for multiple values in the face of the rapidly escalating mountain pine beetle epidemic. The most recent information and knowledge related to the current status and dynamics of this unprecedented event have been incorporated into analysis work and management strategies. The hope is that this plan enhancement will better prepare managers in all sectors to respond to the epidemic in a manner consistent with SFM values and indicator targets. Not all strategic needs will be met by this version of the Lakes SFM Plan and it will continually evolve to address the broader list. Version 3.2 of the SFM Plan builds on the previous versions (including Version 3.1) and reflects a full year of SFM Plan implementation in the Lakes TSA. The overarching task of establishing an Adaptive Management System for SFM in the Lakes TSA requires the persistent commitment of many stakeholders and individuals. The ongoing, systematic pursuit of SFM will require elements of modesty, patience, persistence and co- operation to ensure that we are managing the forests and associated resources to meet our local values and expectations for generations to come. Original signed by Jim Burbee General Manager Morice and Lakes Timber Supply Areas Innovative Forest Practices Agreement Lakes TSA Sustainable Forest Management Plan – Morice & Lakes IFPA 1 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.1. Historical Context of the Lakes TSA............................................................................................................................. 3 1.2. Objectives of the SFM Plan for the Lakes TSA............................................................................................................. 4 1.2.1. The Morice & Lakes Timber Supply Area Innovative Forest Practices Agreement................................................. 5 1.2.2. Linkages to other Processes...................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3. Overview of the SFM Plan for the Lakes TSA.............................................................................................................. 7 2.0 THE DEFINED FOREST AREA OF THE LAKES TSA.................................................................................................. 8 2.1. The Lakes TSA land base – Area breakdown................................................................................................................ 8 2.1.1. Geography and Terrain........................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2. Ecosystems ............................................................................................................................................................. 10 2.1.3. Forest Types ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.3.1. Epidemic beetle infestations ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.4. Wildlife and Fish .................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1.5. Geology .................................................................................................................................................................. 14 2.1.6. Soils........................................................................................................................................................................ 14 2.2. Socio-economic Description of the Lakes TSA........................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1. Population............................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.2.2. Administration........................................................................................................................................................ 14 2.2.3. First Nations ..........................................................................................................................................................