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A review of government policy on protecting wildlife habitat and more collaboration between government and industry are needed to protect the threatened marbled murrelet, the Forest Practices Board reported today.
The report investigated a complaint by Carmanah Forestry Society that approval of logging near Jordan River, Vancouver Island, would reduce or eliminate murrelet habitat. The logging was approved in an ammendment to a forest development plan prepared by Western Forest Products for its Jordan River operations.
In this specific case, the board found the district manager reasonably concluded the approval would adequately manage and conserve murrelet. It also praised the licensee's proactive approach to identifying potential habitat areas, but urged the licensee to work in closer collaboration with the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, the agency responsible for murrelet conservation.
However, the investigation confirmed general concerns noted in earlier board reports with respect to government policy imposing a one percent timber supply constraint on the creation of wildlife habitat areas, which are key needs for preserving murrelet habitat.
"This report demonstrates that licensees and government agencies are finding it challenging to provide sufficient protection for murrelets, given an arbitrary limit unrelated to scientific data on the species," said board chair Bruse Fraser. "The board urges government to follow through on its commitment to review the impact of the one percent timber supply cap for wildlife habitat areas, and make adjustments if the policy proves to be limiting as effective recovery response to threatened species such as the marbled murrelet."
In 2003, the board found BC's marbled murrelet population was threatened by loss of nesting habitat due to forest practices. A follow-up report in 2004 noted some positive industry-led measures to identify and protect key murrelet habitat, but stressed the lack of specific government objectives for protecting murrelet habitat and requested that government follow through on a previous commitment to review the one percent timber supply cap.
The Forest Practices
Board is an independent public watchdog that reports to the public about
compliance with the Code and the achievement of its intent.
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