| The
Slocan Valley Ecosystem Based Plan was completed in 1996. It was
our first completely GIS-based planning project. The project was
carried out in the days of pen plotters and cross-hatched maps,
unlike the solid fill maps now produced in our ink jet plotters.
While the cross hatched maps look "old fashioned" by
today's standards, our maps have changed over time, along with
the technologies used to produce them. Many of the concepts and
approaches to landscape planning with GIS which we still utilize
can be traced directly back to the "Slocan Valley Plan".
The area was divided into several planning units. Here we will
use the "Hills" unit to illustrate the map set for the
entire valley.
Map 1. Landbase Unsuitable for Development
Map
The Landbase Unsuitable for Development maps show the areas which
have been removed from the potential timber management landbase
by the B.C. Ministry of Forests (MoF) and by the SFF due to ecological
sensitivity. Sites which are too steep, too wet, too high in elevation,
too dry, which have shallow soil, or which suffer other severe
limitations to tree growth are "netted out" of the landbase.
The map is hierarchical: All ecologically sensitive land identified
by the MoF is removed from the timber management landbase first,
followed by the ecologically sensitive portions in the remainder
which were identified by the SFF. We take a more conservative,
less risky view of ecological sensitivity than the government
and industry, so we usually identify as sensitive and wish to
protect more of the landbase than the MoF or the timber industry.
The white spaces left on the map indicate areas of stable, moderately
stable or helicopter accessible terrain which may be suited for
timber management, or which may be required for other uses, such
as water protection or wildlife habitat.
Map 2:
Logged and Old Growth Areas
Map
The Logged and Old Growth Areas maps show the distribution of
remaining old growth forests in the study areas. Old growth forests
are critical ecological resources, providing the only habitat
for numerous species, many of which are rare, threatened or endangered.
They are also ecological storehouses, which are needed in order
to maintain "managed" forests. We believe that old growth
forests occupied at least 50% of the Slocan Valley landscape prior
to European settlement, although the exact figure is impossible
to determine after a century of burning, mining, settlement and
logging. The maps shows how little old growth forest remains.
The maps also divide the remaining old growth forest by leading
tree species and site sensitivity. Very little Douglas-fir, cedar
and hemlock old growth forest on stable and moderately stable,
lower elevation sites remains. This distinct ecotype has been
greatly depleted by logging, clearing for settlement and human-caused
fire. Only higher elevation spruce, balsam and pine old growth
forests on cold, harsh, ecologically sensitive sites are still
"common" in some watersheds, and these are being actively
depleted by logging.
Map 3: Protected Landscape Network
Map
The protected areas identified outside of ecologically sensitive
areas are contentious. The forest industry would prefer to protect
only sensitive terrain with low timber productivity and/or difficult
access. However, we believe it is necessary to protect representative
portions of all ecosystem types, including stable, high quality
timber growing sites, in order to maintain healthy forest landscapes
and wildlife populations, and human societies.
This map shows the protected landscape network (PLN) which we
have designed. The objective of the PLN is to maintain forest
ecosystems and forest functions at the landscape level in forests
which are impacted by human use. The PLN is generally composed
of the following components:1. Old Growth Forests on Stable
Terrain. Less than 30% of the stable and moderately stable
terrain in all parts of the Slocan Valley is now covered by old
growth forests, a proportion which we believe is well below the
historical range of variation of old growth cover. We therefore
included all remaining old growth forests on stable terrain in
the PLN, in order to protect what remains of this critical ecological
resource.
2. Old Growth Forests on Ecologically Sensitive Terrain.
All ecologically sensitive terrain is to be protected from resource
extraction. These sites are classified separately on the map to
highlight the amount of old growth forest remaining.
3. Riparian Ecosystem Corridors. These corridors extend
along all streams, and include both the moist streamside ecosystem
or floodplain and a strip of drier upland forest in the riparian
zone of influence.
4. Cross Valley Corridors. These corridors climb hillsides
to find natural passes and travel routes, in order to increase
landscape connectivity and protect an elevation range of habitat
types. 5. Old Growth Recruitment Reserves. Less than 15%
of the stable and moderately stable terrain in some lower elevation
biogeoclimatic types is currently covered by old growth forest.
Old growth recruitment reserves were identified to increase the
area of old growth forests in these ecotypes as quickly as possible.
6. Ecologically Sensitive Terrain. All ecologically
sensitive terrain is protected from resource extraction in this
plan, so the ES terrain is effectively part of the protected landscape
network.
Map 4: First Nations Cultural Areas
Map
This type of map is prepared at the discretion of, and with the
assistance of First Nations in any study area. Issues such as
ongoing land claims and treaty negotiations may make idenification
of traditional use areas and patterns a politically sensitive
issues for First Nations.
SINIIXT
CULTURAL ZONES
Writeup prepared by Marilyn James of the Siniixt First Nation
Siniixt
traditional territory includes but is not limited to the proposed
mapping of the Siniixt Cultural Zones. The Siniixt purpose of
zoning as proposed in the Slocan Valley Mapping project is being
done for the following reasons:
1. To illustrate the historical and current importance of the
land to the Siniixt.
- There
are archeological studies that depict the Siniixt connection
to their traditional territory for a period of time no less
than five thousand (5,000) years.
- The
area known to us as Frog Mountain and to others as Airy Mountain
has great significance to the Siniixt as it directly relates
to its (the mountain’s) creation as a land survival history
of the Siniixt Peoples.
- Another
area specifically named as an identified area in the cultural
zoning and listed as an area of spiritual importance to the
Siniixt is the White Grizzly area. The White Grizzly are sacred
to the Siniixt in their belief system and have great significance
in the Siniixt connection to their land on a spiritual level.
To destroy any part of the White Grizzly habitat would be to
undermine spiritual beliefs.
- Identified
burial sites such as the Vallican Site, are important to protect
for all of the obvious reasons. The Siniixt people have repatriated
and reburied fifty-two (52) complete and fractured skeletal
remains of the Siniixt ancestors. It is a belief of the Siniixt
that there is a cultural law that states that, when one dies,
the physical form must return to the earth. When the physical
form of a human is not allowed to return to the earth then the
law is being broken and the person whom the remains represent
must be vindicated. The only clear way that the living can rectify
the mistake is to return the remains to the earth and let the
law be followed
2. Zoning
reflects the need to protect identified specific cultural sites
and areas.
- To allow
for protection in a specific area but not to delete the possibility
that other sites may exist.
- Once
an area is determined for development and that development will
occur in a cultural zoning area this will create the opportunity
for research teams to reconnaissance areas and identify specific
sites if they exist in the specified development area.
3. To allow
for protection of cultural sites yet to be determined.
- Once
an area is determined for development and reconnaissance has
identified a specific site, the importance of the site will
be determined and will create the protection value of the site.
- Zones
which have been depicted in the mapping process have been identified
in three modes:
- Identified
Areas of Spiritual Importance
- High
Cultural Use Areas
- Moderate
Cultural Use Areas
The zoning
boundaries as identified in the mapping process may fluctuate. As
an example, there may be areas in the moderate cultural use areas
which have not yet been identified but may be reclassified as High
Use or Areas of Spiritual Importance. The identified areas of spiritual
importance are areas that require the highest level of protection
and cannot be compromised. The other two areas allow for reconnaissance
and a determination of protection value priority.
4. To initiate current and future required participation of the
Siniixt in all land use planning.
- Siniixt
people are requiring an opportunity to reconnaissance areas
designated for development to inventory and identify cultural
sites that may or may not require protection.
- There
is an ongoing process which may determine that the Siniixt people
will have some specific land claims in their territory in the
future and will require participation on other levels. Involvement
on this level now will make the transition into that process
expeditious.
5. To encourage
that land use and development be proper, encompass, and include
all sector interests.
- When
the value of interests are determined in the land use planning
process the ultimate goal would be to create a higher value
of protection for those areas that are of interest to more than
one sector.
The development
of and the inclusion of cultural zoning is an important step in
providing useful information to land use planning. The expectation
of the Siniixt is that this aspect of land use planning will not
be ignored. Our hope is that the cultural zoning will supply further
enhancement to the consultation process in land use planning.
Map 5: Wholistic Forest Use Zones
Map
These maps show human use zones which were identified in the areas
between the components of the protected landscape network, and in
some parts of the protected landscape network. In human use zones,
all activities should be carried out in ecologically responsible
ways. Each human use zone is assigned a priority use which sets
the terms under which other uses may be carried out. For example,
commercial tourism zones may include areas used for ecologically
responsible timber extraction. However, all timber extraction in
such zones must protect all aspects of the zone that are valuable
for current and future tourism activities.
Because some of the zones may overlap, the total area of all Wholistic
Forest Use zones generally exceeds the total area of the landscape
analysis unit.
General principles for ecologically responsible forest use and specific
standards for ecologically responsible timber management are available
on this page.
Human use zones were identified through consultation with several
sectors represented in the Slocan Valley CORE Pilot Project. All
sectors were invited to participate in three consultation sessions
carried out by the Silva Forest Foundation, although some chose
not to participate.Human use zones proposed for establishment in
this ecosystem-based plan include:Siniixt Cultural Zones
As explained previously, Siniixt Cultural Zones cover the entire
Slocan River watershed. All forest uses, including large protected
areas, are subject to a just and lasting settlement of the land
question. In the interim, Siniixt culture and land will be protected
throughout the Slocan Valley by taking direction from the Siniixt
Nation. The three Siniixt Cultural Zones are:
- Identified
Areas of Spiritual Importance
- High Cultural
Use Areas
- Moderate
Cultural Use Areas
Consumptive
Use Watersheds
These are small watersheds within the larger Slocan Valley landscape
which supply water for domestic and agricultural purposes to
settlement largely in the main valley floor. Some aspects of
activities such as timber management, mining, commercial tourism,
outdoor recreation, and wildcrafting pose an unacceptable risk
to water quality, quantity, and timing of flow of water supplies,
and are not acceptable in these consumptive use watersheds.
Specific risks include introduction of sediment into water supplies,
destabilization of stream channels, deeper snowpacks and more
rapid snowmelt in logged areas, and introduction of human waste
into watershed areas. Future planning must identify specific
standards for ecologically responsible activities that are appropriate
for consumptive use watershed zones.Headwaters Protection
Zones
The headwaters areas of consumptive use watersheds regulate
water quality, quantity, and timing of flow throughout the watershed.
These areas are the storage basins in a watershed, and are often
wet and ecologically sensitive. Headwaters areas often contain
patches of old growth forests which are particularly important
for water storage and filtration. For these reasons, human activities
are excluded from headwaters protection zones in this plan.Large
Protected Areas
Existing and proposed protected areas are shown as zones within
this ecosystem-based plan. These large reserves provide critical
reservoirs for ecological communities, species, and genetic
diversity. Protected areas are essential blueprints of fully
functioning ecosystems which may provide a template for restoring
degraded ecosystems. Other than small-scale, minimal impact
recreational and tourism activities, no human uses are permitted
within protected areas. We hope that the combination of existing
protected areas, two proposed protected area extensions, and
establishment of the protected landscape network will enable
the Slocan Valley landscape to withstand future changes and
stresses, both man-made and natural.Commercial Tourism Zones
SFF used information from the Tourism sector to establish commercial
tourism zones in various areas throughout the Slocan River landscape.
Ecologically responsible timber management is permitted within
Stable, Moderately Stable, and Heli terrain within commercial
tourism zones subject to the needs of commercial tourism operators.
Because ecologically responsible timber management maintains
the composition and structure of natural forests, we have assumed
that ecologically responsible timber management can occur within
commercial tourism zones. However, the exact nature and extent
of timber management in tourism zones will require ground truthing
and the approval of affected commercial tourism interests.
Potential Wholistic Timber Zones
These are areas of stable or moderately stable terrain located
throughout the landscape of the Slocan Valley. Where these areas
can (likely) be accessed by road in an ecologically responsible
manner, logging systems that employ roads are planned. Where
ecologically responsible ground access does not appear possible,
potential wholistic timber zones are designated as “heli”.
Any timber extraction in these area must be carried out with
aerial logging systems, such as helicopters, that do not require
the construction of on-site roads.
In order to minimize negative impacts of timber extraction,
timber cutting must be planned and carried out on a “watershed-specific”
basis. Annual allowable cutting rates must be developed for
each particular watershed. Without this approach, timber cutting
activities will systematically over cut each watershed within
the Slocan River landscape, resulting in short- and long-term
degradation of ecosystem functioning.
Wholistic timber management is carried out by ecologically responsible
partial cutting or very small patch cutting. All ecologically
responsible timber cutting requires permanent reservation of
large trees, large snags, and large fallen trees, well distributed
spatially and by species throughout a logging unit.
For the purposes of this plan, a minimum of 25% of the timber
yield is permanently reserved in large trees, well distributed
spatially and by species, that are left on each site to grow
old and die. Eventually, as permanent leave trees die, replacement
trees will be designated, ensuring that a suitable population
of large old trees will always be maintained.
Individual cuts will seldom remove more than 10-15% of the trees
and will be separated by at least 15 years. Roads are small
(less than one-half the width of conventional timber cutting
roads) and fit into the terrain. For these reasons, wholistic
timber management can be carried out in portions of other zones
and in small portions of the protected landscape network.
To estimate an ecologically sustainable annual allowable cut
(AAC) for potential timber zones within the Slocan River landscape,
we made assumptions as to what portion of timber zones will
be available for ecologically responsible timber cutting. These
assumptions reflect the need to protect ecosystem functioning,
to protect non-timber zones where timber extraction may occur,
and to recognize the initial nature of this planning process.
The following assumptions were made regarding the availability
of land for timber cutting within Wholistic Forest Use Zones:
Proportion
of Potential Wholistic Timber Zone in Timber Management Landbase
| Wholistic
Forest Use Zone |
Stable
Terrain |
Moderately
Stable Terrain |
Heli |
| Wholistic
Timber Zones NOT found in combination with any other human
use zone |
100% |
50% |
75% |
| Wholistic
Timber Zones found in combination with other human use zones: |
|
|
|
| Commercial
Tourism Zones |
100% |
50% |
75% |
| Consumptive
Use Watersheds |
50% |
25% |
25% |
Riparain
Ecosystems on
otherwise stable terrain |
5
- 10% |
2.5
- 5% |
5
- 7.5% |
Restoration Zones
By removing or falling all or nearly all large old trees and snags,
and removing or damaging large fallen trees, clearcuts degrade and
may destroy forest functioning at the patch or stand level. In addition
to this loss of structure, roads (which are linear clearcuts), landings,
and skid roads degrade soil, cause soil erosion, including landslides,
and damage water quality. Removal of all large trees in an area
results in higher spring runoff, which scours stream channels, causes
siltation of streams, and contributes to erosion, landslides, and
debris flows. Clearcuts, particularly extensive clearcutting in
a landscape, result in loss of plant and animal habitat, and the
deaths of plants and animals.Therefore, all existing clearcuts in
the Slocan River watershed are classified as Restoration Zones.
Depending upon their location in relationship to old growth fragments
and cross valley corridors; and the need for old growth recruitment,
Restoration Zones are subdivided into:
- Restoration/Protect—Following
forest restoration, these areas will be added to the protected
landscape network.
- Restoration/Potential
Wholistic Timber Zones—These are clearcuts which have occurred
on stable and moderately stable terrain, and are in areas that
are not needed for the protected landscape network. Therefore,
once composition, structure, and functioning are restored to
these sites, they may be used for ecologically responsible/wholistic
timber management.
Forest restoration
is the price of timber exploitation. However, employment from
forest restoration activities is an important part of the economic
transition strategy for moving from an externally controlled,
non-sustainable economy to a locally controlled, sustainable economy.
Settlement Patterns
The extensive clearing of the riparian ecosystem of the Slocan
River and of portions of the riparian ecosystem of the Little
Slocan River for settlement purposes has greatly modified and
degraded the overall functioning of the Slocan River landscape.
No other ecosystem types within the Slocan River landscape can
substitute for the riparian ecosystem of the Slocan River. The
Silva Forest Foundation recommends that planning and carrying
out the restoration of the Slocan River riparian ecosystem be
a high priority for communities and rural areas in the Slocan
Valley.
We understand that this issue is complicated because nearly all
of the riparian ecosystem of the Slocan River is privately owned.
Means must be developed to work with private landowners in the
restoration of riparian ecosystem functioning. Such restoration
meshes with the needs of many interest groups and will improve
water quality, wildlife habitat, fish habitat, forest landscape
and stand level functioning, and agricultural pest control. Restoration
of the Slocan River riparian ecosystem would be eligible for funding
under Forest Renewal B.C., and could provide a model of cooperation
between private landowners, public interest groups, and provincial
agencies.
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