BC Ministry of Forests Lands and ... - Great Northern LCCgreatnorthernlcc.org/.../07b_lcc_adaptation_action... · Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (MOE) A history of collaboration:

BC Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations

Forest Stewardship Action Plan for

Climate Change Adaptation

Landscape Conservation Cooperatives May 15, 2012

Kathy Hopkins - Technical Advisor – Climate Change Competitiveness and Innovation Branch

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Today Forest Stewardship Action Plan for Climate Change Adaptation

• Why did we think we needed an action plan? • Goals and key actions • How could LCC partners benefit?

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Why do we care?

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• Improve sustainability of BC’s forests communities and industries

• Healthy forests, sustainable renewable resource • Maintain jobs and job opportunities Risks • More disturbance • Trees become poorly adapted to new conditions • Effect on other values

0˚

+2.0˚

+4.1˚

Source: G. O’Neill

Background and Context

Builds on BC’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (MOE) A history of collaboration: Future Forest Ecosystems Initiative (2005-)

– Aim: resilient forests – FLNRO & MOE

Future Forest Ecosystems Scientific Council (2008-2012) – Broader partnerships for research and assessment projects

Canadian Council of Forest Ministers Climate Change Task Force

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Goal: Resilient Forests

Aims to: • reduce risks, capture opportunities • improve the ability of BC forests to withstand

the full amplitude of climate change and variability.

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Vision BC’s forests provide a broad suite of goods and services that benefit society now and in a changing climate.

Management goal

• By 2017, BC’s forest management policy framework fully accounts for a changing climate.

Intent

• Set an agenda now for managing for resilient forests • Phase in over 5-20 years

Vision and Intent

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Adaptation Action Plan

• Sets out goals, objectives and actions • Modular framework • Build as we go

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Goal 1 Foster Resilient Forests

Key Actions

• Climate-based seed transfer • Assisted migration

• Tree species diversity

ANTICIPATE AND MANAGE FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE DIVERSITY

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Goal 2: Maintain Future Options and Benefits

Key Actions

• Forest level silviculture strategies that address climate change and strengthen forest health

• Fire-resilient landscapes

• Refocusing toward longer term

• Incorporate resilience in Ministry programs

MANAGE AND PROTECT RESOURCES AND VALUES MANAGE RISKS AND CAPTURE OPPORTUNITIES

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Goal 3 Build Adaptive Capacity

Key Initiatives

• Provide forest managers with

science, data, methods and decision

tools

• Increase extension and collaboration

in working toward adaptation

• Leverage resources

DEVELOP AND APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS INCREASE EXTENSION AND COLLABORATION ENSURE GUIDANCE AND COORDINATION

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95Mha 62Mha

How much of BC does the Action Plan apply to?

24Mha

38Mha

Non-timber harvest land base

Timber harvest land base

Annual harvest area

0.2Mha

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95M ha

Opportunities and Benefits • Help reduce risks, enhance future productivity and

value

• Strengthen links and synergy

• Share science and best practices: learn together

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Contacts & Websites

Forest Stewardship Action Plan for Climate Change Adaptation • Contact Kathy.Hopkins@gov.bc.ca

• Website: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/het/climate.htm

Future Forest Ecosystems Scientific Council • Contact Kristine.Weese@gov.bc.ca

• Website: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/future_forests/council/

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Thank you

Action Plan Team • Christine Fletcher • Dave Spittlehouse • Deb MacKillop • Don Morgan • Frank Barber • James Sandland

Input from: • Workshop participants

– (Nanaimo, Prince George, Kamloops, Creston)

• Branch Directors and Staff – Lyle Gawalko

• Kathy Hopkins (lead) • Katharine McCallion • Leslie McAuley • Ralph Winter • Rein Kahlke • Rob Bowden

• Provincial Forestry Forum • Minister’s Practices Advisory

Council • Operational Issues Forums

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