ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SKEENA REGION Prepared by LM Forest Resource Solutions Ltd. I Ronalds Ecological Consulting Silverwood Natural Resource Consultants March, 2018 Ecosystem Restoration Opportunities in the Skeena Region ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was made possible through the input of a broad range of individuals within the Skeena Region who took time from their busy schedules to discuss the ecosystem restoration work their organization is doing and offer insights into future priorities. This effort was greatly appreciated and it is hoped that their guidance will result in an effective framework for managing ecosystem restoration needs. Individuals and organizations who generously provided input during the development of the report included: Organizations: FLNRORD-SkeenaStikine FLRNORD-Tenures FLNRORD-Fire Centre FLNRO-Reg Operations FLNRORD-Ecosystems FLNRORD-Stewardship FLNRORD-Fish&Wildlife Natural Resource Canada FLNRORD-Major Projects FLNRORD-Research FLNRORD-Reg. Initiatives Min of Environ-EIAssessm FLNRORD-Nadina Min of Environ-Cons. Sci. BC Parks-Skeena Babine Wtshd Monit Trust DFO-Habitat Restoration Cheslatta First Nation NW Guide Outfitters MOTI Environmental Prog Skeena Watershed Coalit. Office of the Wet’suwet’en Gitanyow First Nation Gitxsan First Nation Burns Lake Comfor Terrace Comfor World Wildlife Foundation Skeena Wild Bulkley Stream Keepers Skeena Knowledge Trust Symbios Research UNBC Suskwa Research Kelson Tourism/Research Babine Outfitters Seymour Lake Cons. Soc. Individuals: Agathe Bernard, Allen Banner, Anita Davis, Ann Hetherington, Anne-Marie Roberts, Bill Oestreich, Bill Price, Brad Martin, Brian Kolman, Chaz Ware, Chris Schell, Cindy Verbeek, Dave Maloney, David Belford, Dave Skerik, Diedre Jackson, Darren Fillier, Dave Belford, Dave Daust, Don Morgan, Eric Smith, Erica Lilles, Erin Hall, Frank Varga, Glen Buhr, Greg Knox, Greg Tamblyn, James Rakochy, Jeff Anderson, Jane Lloyd-Smith, Jevan Hanshard, Jim Pojar, Joe de Gisi, Johanna Phalz, John Kelson, Jocelyn Campbell, John Stevenson, Kala Hooker, Karen Price, Kenny Rabnett, Kevin Koch, Kim Haworth, Kevin Kriese, Lana Miller, Len Vanderstar, Lisa Helmer, Loyd Hooper, Marc Schuffert, Mark Beere, Mark Parminter, Mike Robertson, Patrick Hudson, Phil Burton, Richard Wright, Ryan Holmes, Sean Wong, Shannon McPhail, Sybille Haeussler, Tobi Anaka, Veronica Gventsadze ii Ecosystem Restoration Opportunities In The Skeena Region TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Background And Genesis Of The Plan ..................................................................................................... 1 Purpose And Benefits Of The Plan ........................................................................................................... 1 Area Of Interest ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Plan Context ............................................................................................................................. 3 Bio-Physical Characteristics Of The Region ............................................................................................. 3 Climate Change Expectations ................................................................................................................... 5 Land Uses And Economic Development .................................................................................................. 7 Related Initiatives ...................................................................................................................10 Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations And Rural Development ................................................ 10 Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation – The Environmental Stewardship Initiative ......... 15 The Ministry of Environment ................................................................................................................... 16 First Nations ............................................................................................................................................ 17 BC Parks ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Other Stakeholders ................................................................................................................................. 17 Potential Ecosystem Restoration Opportunities ..................................................................20 Summary Of Potential Ecosystem Restoration Activities In The Skeena Region .................................. 20 Preliminary Priorities For Ecosystem Restoration in the Skeena Region ............................................... 23 A Process For Prioritizing ER Opportunities In The Skeena Region ...................................................... 23 Descriptions For Priority Ecosytem Restoration Opportunities In The Skeena Region .......................... 24 Governance .............................................................................................................................29 Organizational Structure ......................................................................................................................... 29 Operating Principles ................................................................................................................................ 31 Funding ....................................................................................................................................32 Next Steps ...............................................................................................................................33 Appendices .............................................................................................................................34 I - Glossary ............................................................................................................................................ 34 II - Defining Ecosystem Restoration And How Success Is Measured .................................................. 38 Ecosystem Stability And Resilience .................................................................................................... 38 Desired Future Condition .................................................................................................................... 38 Ecosystem Degradation ...................................................................................................................... 39 III - List Of Ecosystem Restoration Needs Identified By Stakeholders ................................................. 40 iii Ecosystem Restoration Opportunities In The Skeena Region INTRODUCTION Background And Genesis Of The Plan The B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) is responsible for stewardship of Provincial crown land and natural resources, and protection of B.C.’s archaeological and heritage resources. One aspect of the Ministry’s operations is their Ecosystem Restoration (ER)1 program which is responsible for developing regional ecological restoration plans, coordinating and monitoring restoration treatments, and providing advice on ecological restoration to FLNRORD staff and clients: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/restoration/. There are several regional ER implementing agencies that operate under this umbrella. One such agency is SERNbc (the Society for Ecosystem Restoration in Northern BC – www.sernbc.ca). SERN is a society under the B.C. Societies Act and its membership, funding, and Board of Directors come from many different stakeholders including, for example, FLNRORD, the Ministry of Environment, BC Parks, UNBC, the College of New Caledonia, the BC Trappers Association, the BC Fish and Wildlife Federation, the Nechako Environment and Water Stewardship Society, and Chucho Environmental from the Tsay Key Dene, amongst others. SERNbc and its precursor, have been operating in the Omineca Region since 2007, and in the Peace Region since 2017. The Society is now considering how it can further ecosystem restoration activities in the Skeena Region. Its mission is to identify, treat, and monitor vulnerable or degraded ecosystems to achieve a desired future condition that will sustain ecological services and human socio-economic needs. SERN focuses on identifying priority ecosystems that are degraded or at risk of becoming degraded and that have high functional importance for wildlife and biodiversity. Because SERN has no direct authority over crown or private land in BC, its role is often one of coordinating restoration activities, undertaking research, disseminating technical information, and fostering collaboration amongst First Nations and stakeholders. SERN is, however, also directly involved in managing ER programs and operations and, by virtue of its diverse membership, partners, and collaborators, can often respond to restoration needs more quickly and with greater independence, than other agencies. ● ● ● ● This plan is based primarily on a review of pertinent literature and information obtained from a selection of more than 50 government and First Nations resource specialists and stakeholders during meetings, phone calls, and email exchange in February and March, 2018. It is recognized that not everyone who may have an interest