The Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment (RSEA) Old Forest 140 (RSEA_OLD_FOREST_140_PY) or “old growth” forests are generally described as forests late in the successional cycle of an ecosystem. A hallmark of old forests is that they contain old trees, but so much more is important about them. These forests provide ecologically valuable or critical habitats for animal and plant species as well as unique conditions and processes that are important for the conservation of biodiversity. Functional old forests deliver ecosystem services valued by people, including food, water, fuel, medicines, timber, recreation and tourism opportunities. Old forests provide cultural and spiritual values important to First Nations.

Provincial policy for managing old forest has been based on the concept that the further from the natural distribution of old forest the higher the risk to biodiversity and ecological health. In the RSEA context, risk also relates to the ability of First Nations to exercise treaty rights on the landscape. Note that the RSEA Old Forest assessment reports on current condition based only on the amount of forest, not at the condition of forested ecosystems.

The RSEA Old Forest Assessment applied two age thresholds (> 140 years and > 250 years) to assess the amount and distribution of all old forests. For the purpose of implementation and this RSEA assessment, old forest and contiguous old forest can be considered everything that is 140 years and older, that is contiguous, defined as touching or adjacent polygons.

Data Properties

Renewal Triggers and Service Levels

1. As Needed

References

1 Holt R.F, Myers D. “OLD FOREST CURRENT CONDITION: A CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS FOR THE NORTHEAST RSEA STUDY AREA – Final Report”. British Columbia’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative:Northeast Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment (RSEA), 01 JUN. 2019, https://www.bc-er.ca/files/gis/RSEA_Old-Forest_June2019_Version1.0.pdf

The Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment (RSEA) Old Forest 140 (RSEA_OLD_FOREST_140_PY) or “old growth” forests are generally described as forests late in the successional cycle of an ecosystem. A hallmark of old forests is that they contain old trees, but so much more is important about them. These forests provide ecologically valuable or critical habitats for animal and plant species as well as unique conditions and processes that are important for the conservation of biodiversity. Functional old forests deliver ecosystem services valued by people, including food, water, fuel, medicines, timber, recreation and tourism opportunities. Old forests provide cultural and spiritual values important to First Nations.

Provincial policy for managing old forest has been based on the concept that the further from the natural distribution of old forest the higher the risk to biodiversity and ecological health. In the RSEA context, risk also relates to the ability of First Nations to exercise treaty rights on the landscape. Note that the RSEA Old Forest assessment reports on current condition based only on the amount of forest, not at the condition of forested ecosystems.

The RSEA Old Forest Assessment applied two age thresholds (> 140 years and > 250 years) to assess the amount and distribution of all old forests. For the purpose of implementation and this RSEA assessment, old forest and contiguous old forest can be considered everything that is 140 years and older, that is contiguous, defined as touching or adjacent polygons.

Data Properties

Renewal Triggers and Service Levels

1. As Needed

References

1 Holt R.F, Myers D. “OLD FOREST CURRENT CONDITION: A CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS FOR THE NORTHEAST RSEA STUDY AREA – Final Report”. British Columbia’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative:Northeast Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment (RSEA), 01 JUN. 2019, https://www.bc-er.ca/files/gis/RSEA_Old-Forest_June2019_Version1.0.pdf