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T.J.B. Boyle
Many of the strategy's 85 actions relate to forests and forestry. Some of
the more prominent ones are abandon forestry practices that encourage
resource degradation, reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems by using land
already under cultivation more efficiently, incorporate biodiveraity
conservation into the management of all forests , undertake national
biodiversity inventories , and promote basic and applied research on
biodiversity conservation.
Americas's Interhemispheric Geo-Biosphere Organization (AMIGO)
has recently developed a proposal for a project, involving monitoring
and inventorying biodiversity along four east-west transects, two in North
America and two in South America. This project should make a major
contribution in filling one of the research gaps previously noted, the lack
of a comprehensive study for anyone forest site in the coastal forests.
Provincial Program
The newly developed coastal forest management plan has already been
described. The British Columbia Ministry of Forests is also conducting a
number of associated projects, including the development of a genetic
conservation strategy for economically important tree species, the compilation of an inventory of biodiversity " hotspots," and the preparation of
gap analyses (E. Hamilton, British Columbia Ministry of Forests , personal
communication) . In addition, the British Columbia Ministry of the Environment is developing a new management direction for its wildlife
program: " Managing Wildlife to 2001" (British Columbia Environment,
1991). One of the six " challenges" outlined in this program is managing
wildlife for diversity and sustainability. A number of different activities
are included under this challenge , including legislation for wildlife,
inventory, and evaluation of species and habitats, and stronger control
of habitat.
The coastal forests of British Columbia are particularly rich in all
components of biodiversity , compared with other regions of Canada. The
current status of forest biodiversity in the region is also much better than
many other parts of the world. However, there is now a recognition of
the major impact of past forest practices on aspects of biodiversity that
are not as obviousnor as dramatic as the species extinctions that tend to
foster public concern . In recent years there has existed a somewhat
confrontational interaction between forest sector agencies and environmental organizations. This is now being replaced by progressive consensusbuilding decision-making processes , such as those being fostered by the
Commission on Resources and the Environment (CORE) , under the
British Columbia Ombudsman. Such a constructive approach to forest
management is the only appropriate way to deal with the highly complex and interactive processe s that are responsible for maintenance of
biodiversity.
T.J.B. Boyle
Many of the strategy's 85 actions relate to forests and forestry. Some of
the more prominent ones are abandon forestry practices that encourage
resource degradation, reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems by using land
already under cultivation more efficiently, incorporate biodiveraity
conservation into the management of all forests , undertake national
biodiversity inventories , and promote basic and applied research on
biodiversity conservation.
Americas's Interhemispheric Geo-Biosphere Organization (AMIGO)
has recently developed a proposal for a project, involving monitoring
and inventorying biodiversity along four east-west transects, two in North
America and two in South America. This project should make a major
contribution in filling one of the research gaps previously noted, the lack
of a comprehensive study for anyone forest site in the coastal forests.
Provincial Program
The newly developed coastal forest management plan has already been
described. The British Columbia Ministry of Forests is also conducting a
number of associated projects, including the development of a genetic
conservation strategy for economically important tree species, the compilation of an inventory of biodiversity " hotspots," and the preparation of
gap analyses (E. Hamilton, British Columbia Ministry of Forests , personal
communication) . In addition, the British Columbia Ministry of the Environment is developing a new management direction for its wildlife
program: " Managing Wildlife to 2001" (British Columbia Environment,
1991). One of the six " challenges" outlined in this program is managing
wildlife for diversity and sustainability. A number of different activities
are included under this challenge , including legislation for wildlife,
inventory, and evaluation of species and habitats, and stronger control
of habitat.
The coastal forests of British Columbia are particularly rich in all
components of biodiversity , compared with other regions of Canada. The
current status of forest biodiversity in the region is also much better than
many other parts of the world. However, there is now a recognition of
the major impact of past forest practices on aspects of biodiversity that
are not as obviousnor as dramatic as the species extinctions that tend to
foster public concern . In recent years there has existed a somewhat
confrontational interaction between forest sector agencies and environmental organizations. This is now being replaced by progressive consensusbuilding decision-making processes , such as those being fostered by the
Commission on Resources and the Environment (CORE) , under the
British Columbia Ombudsman. Such a constructive approach to forest
management is the only appropriate way to deal with the highly complex and interactive processe s that are responsible for maintenance of
biodiversity.