Footprint Characterization A Focus for Landscape Photo - Credit Tim Vinge Management Tim Vinge (GOA Lead) Photo - Credit Tim Vinge Landscape Restoration Ecologist Resource Integration Planning Branch Government of Alberta Photo - Credit Tim Vinge Dr Scott Nielsen (Technical Advisor) Associate Professor & Alberta Biodiversity Conservation Chair Photo Credit – Tim Vinge Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta
Outline for Discussion on Footprint Characterization and Planning Focus 1. Alignment With the Biodiversity Management Framework (BMF) 2. The Management Approach 3. The Toolkit 4. Making Good Decisions for Management (Decision Support Tools) 5. Current Provincial Initiatives (ALGAR, CEMA Stony Mountain 800 Access Pilot, ALPAC Dillon Wildlands Restoration and DART) 6. Pulling it all together (The management system) 5. Next steps (Our Commitment)
Alignment With the Biodiversity Management Framework (BMF) The BMF will inform the landscape evaluation in two important areas 1. Areas Containing Biodiversity Values The Biodiversity Areas have been identified under the BMF. The Landscape Management Plan will use the Biodiversity Areas in the BMF to help focus management actions. The goal is to create a strong network of areas across the landscape in support of biodiversity.
Alignment With the Biodiversity Management Framework (BMF) 2. Biodiversity Management Framework Indicators The BMF has identified indicators that represent a broad range of biodiversity in the region. The BMF indicators will be used as evaluation criteria to determine management focus areas. Additional values can be identified through the stakeholder engagement process and the BMF for use as evaluation criteria.
Managing Complex Landscapes What is a good approach? Solutions for Ecosystems have landscape form and function. management are We need to build a complex. Managers management must be able to see system around this through this understanding complexity to define effective management Disturbances are solutions important drivers Photo Credit - EMEND Research Study We must manage risk on the landscape on the landscape. We must develop a strategy to manage the landscape in the face of it’s complexity and diversity.
The Game of Landscape Musical Chairs Disturbances Provide the Music • Disturbances cause changes to the landscape over time. There is an adaptation to these changes. • Changes in the landscape can affect values in a + or – fashion. • Important to ensure that management maintains these Photo - Credit Tim Vinge Photo - Credit Tim Vinge Photo - Credit Tim Vinge values over time (i.e. wildlife habitat) Wildlife Example Photo - Credit Tim Vinge The music rarely stops and when it does there is never enough chairs
So What Should We Do? Build More Chairs Where ? Decision Photo - Credit Tim Vinge Support Capability What tools? 1. Avoid and minimize new footprint How? Photo - Credit Tim Vinge 2. Restoration of legacy linear footprint
Two Approaches to Building the Chairs Place Based Management Actions Fix Legacy Linear Disturbances Minimize New Disturbances Integrated Land Management Tools Restoration Tools • Innovative pipeline strategies Seismic Line Treatments • Multi use corridors • Site preparation (mounding) • Coordinated access management • Planting seeding • Wood applications Both are • Winter planting Important Integrated Land Management Linear restoration tools have been Tools Compendium developed over the last 5 years.
Building the Restoration Toolkit Use approaches that are inspired by nature Dr. John Spence University of Alberta Using good disturbances to fix legacy disturbances Positive responses of ecosystems to management interventions Photo - Credit Tim Vinge Old Legacy 2D Seismic Photo - Credit Tim Vinge 2.4 Million Dollars in research in the last 5 Mounding site Preparation years. Photo - Credit Tim Vinge
Linear Restoration Example Targeted Linear restoration and access management Road before treatment Road after treatment 3 years after treatment Photo - Credit Tim Vinge Photo - Credit Tim Vinge Mounding site Preparation
Building the ILM Toolkit The ILM tools already exist Application of ILM is place-based Depends on • Species involved • Habitat availability • Disturbance level • Site sensitivity • Type of development Photo Credit - Tim Vinge • Management objectives Access Management Goal of ILM is to minimize the impact of development.
Some Important Questions about the Tools Landscape Complexity What should I do? Where should I do it? How much should I do? Courtesy of the BC Ministry of Forests Lots of Land Uses How do we make Where should I start? the best decisions? Photo Credit – Natural Resources What tools do I have Canada available? Photo Credit - Brian Coupal Photo Credit – Tim Vinge ? We need a comprehensive approach to deal with complexity
Preliminary Phase I Results Seeing Through the Complexity Decision Support Tool The tools selected will help to focus Planning management options Units including ILM and restoration in the best Values Costs locations. The Partners Targets • University of Alberta • Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute Potential Options • Government of Alberta
Planning Units for Evaluating Management Options Study area = 72,554 km 2 Planning units = 101,101 (¼ sections) Summarize information within ¼ sections Target areas for biodiversity & restoration Photo credit: Tim Vinge ¼ section is ~800 x 800 m (~66 ha)
Determining Locations for Management Priorities Traditional (2D) Areas predicted to Restoration targets seismic line have failed natural within woodland footprint regeneration caribou range Forest Total = regen. 53,496 km ≥3m
Need to also Consider… • Other sources of biodiversity & values (Aboriginal Communities and Stakeholders) • Constraints to restoration • Prioritization & coordination of restoration projects • Identification of ILM priorities Photo credit: Scott Nielsen Photo credit: Scott Nielsen Photo credit: Scott Nielsen
Biodiversity Values BMF Indicators- Mammals Fruiting Rare plants Forest birds • 19 species • • Caribou shrubs Rare plants • 7 Old growth • Lynx List available • 16 species • 5 Cavity nesters • Fisher List available • Marten Habitats • Moose • Fens
Identifying Potential Options Considerations for Management Locations Anthropogenic Bitumen Disturbance footprint thickness Considerations ABMI footprint
Ranking Sites for Management in Consideration of Limitations Biodiversity Disturbance Restoration values Considerations targets Use software to identify & rank sites for restoration & biodiversity value, given the fewest constraints to restoration & conservation (“best bang for your buck”)
Prioritizing Sites for Management Several approaches can be used 2D lines & caribou & 2D lines caribou biodiversity
Comparison of BMF Biodiversity Areas to Preliminary Management Focus Areas in the LMP BMF Biodiversity Areas Map Restoration and ILM Focus Areas
Current Landscape Restoration Initiatives in Alberta • CEMA Cumulative Environmental Management Association Stony Mountain 800 Access management Pilot. Looks at managing access and reclamation of linear features in the RMWB. • ALGAR Linear Restoration Program. Completed under the Oil Sands Leadership Initiative (OSLI), now COSIA. The ALGAR program is using linear restoration techniques to restore caribou habitat in wetlands. • DART (Disturbance and Recovery Trajectories) Research conducted at the University of Alberta by Cassidy Van Rensen looking at seismic line recovery over time. The research will help to set priorities for seismic line restoration. • ALPAC Trans Canada Pipelines - Dillon Wildlands Caribou Habitat Restoration Project to offset new pipeline construction in the Dillon Wildlands area in north eastern Alberta. All of these initiatives will contribute to the Landscape Management Plan.
Footprint Characterization and Plan Phase 1 and 2 • Phase 1 will provide an evaluation of the footprint and associated biodiversity to determine the best locations for management actions. Phase I will use the BMF Biodiversity Values Areas and Indicators along with other biodiversity values to determine management focus areas. • Phase 2 of the FC will focus on the site level application of the management tools. (i.e. Which seismic lines, Which treatments). Phase II will incorporate additional stakeholder values and BMF Indicators to refine ILM and restoration applications. – Phase II will inform the Resource Management Plans (i.e. Moose Lake Access Management Plan and Birch River Conservation Area Ecosystem Forestry Plan, and the SAOS Plan) on site based application of restoration and ILM strategies .
Landscape Restoration Focus Process B ringing it all together
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