Resources Information Standards Committee

This document is also available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Click on the icon to view/download.

Back to Task Force Index

Table of Contents

CIP

Preface

Abstract

Executive Summary

Acknowledgments

Changes from April 1998 Standards

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose and Scope of this Manual
1.2 Capability and Suitability Ratings Defined
1.3 Ecological Mapping: the Framework for Habitat Evaluations
1.4 Capability and Suitability Ratings: Limitations and Alternatives
1.5 Using Wildlife Capability and Suitability Ratings for Habitat Evaluation

2. Wildlife Habitat Rating Criteria

2.1 Provincial Benchmarks
2.2 Density Assessment as a Basis for the Ratings
2.3 Rating Schemes
2.4 Habitat Use
2.4.1 Seasons
2.4.2 Life Requisites
2.4.3 Rating Habitat Use
2.4.4 Other Effects to Consider in the Ratings
2.5 Minimum Requirements for Rating Habitat Use

3. Managing Wildlife Habitat Assessment Projects

3.1 Role of the Project Manager
3.2 Role of the Project Wildlife Biologist
3.3 Project Co-ordination Meeting
3.4 Quality Control and Correlation
3.5 Co-ordination with Ecosystem Mappers
3.6 Minimum Requirements for Project Management

4. Procedures for Developing Wildlife Habitat Ratings

4.1 Project Plan
4.1.1 Define Purpose
4.1.2 Define Project Area
4.1.3 Select Map Scale and Survey Intensity
4.1.4 Determine Mapping Methodology
4.1.5 Select Wildlife Species
4.1.6 Clarify Timing and Duration
4.1.7 Determine Products Required
4.1.8 Develop a Budget
4.1.9 Minimum Requirements for Project Plans
4.2 Preliminary Species - Habitat Model
4.2.1 Collect Existing Data
4.2.2 Identify Information Gaps
4.2.3 Develop a Species Account
4.2.4 Develop the Habitat Ratings
4.2.5 Information Sources
4.2.6 Minimum Requirements for Species-Habitat Models
4.3 Field Sampling
4.3.1 Prepare Sampling Plan
4.3.2 Undertake Field Work
4.3.3 Complete, Edit and Store Data
4.3.4 Minimum Requirements for Field Sampling
4.4 Final Species-Habitat Model and Wildlife Report
4.4.1 Refine Species Account
4.4.2 Revise Preliminary Ratings
4.4.3 Develop Final Ratings Table
4.4.4 Assign a Reliability Qualifier
4.4.5 Draft the Wildlife Final Report
4.4.6 Minimum Requirements for Final Products

References

Glossary

Appendix A: Ratings Criteria (Reconnaissance Level) for BC Wildlife Species

Appendix B: Chart of Seasons By Ecoprovince

Appendix C: Example Contract Schedule A for Wildlife Habitat Capability and Suitability Mapping Projects

Appendix D: Checklist for Wildlife Capability and Suitability Mapping Projects

Appendix E: Example Species Accounts

Appendix F: Example Preliminary Ratings Tables

Appendix G: Procedures for Defining Seasonal Ranges

Appendix H: Provincial Benchmarks for Selected Species

Appendix I: Example Final Ratings Table

Appendix J: Guidelines for Detailed Wildlife Habitat Capability and Suitability Ratings

List of Tables

Table 1. The hierarchical structure of the Ecoregional and Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem classification used for ecological mapping in British Columbia

Table 2. Physical and biological processes or parameters considered when defining ecosystems at three different ecosystem classification scales in British Columbia.

Table 3. Relationship between mobility of an animal, size of the mapped habitat (polygon) and the units used for density measures.

Table 4. Habitat capability and suitability rating schemes for three levels of knowledge about a species' use of habitat.

Table 5. Four levels for describing seasons of habitat use.

Table 6. Life requisites used in capability and suitability ratings: definitions and codes

Table 7. Relationship between life requisites and seasons and the requirements for capability and suitability ratings

Table 8. Minimum requirements for rating habitat use (life requisites and seasons) and the rating scheme to use for some commonly rated vertebrate species at two map scales.

Table 9. Minimum qualifications for wildlife biologists and technicians undertaking wildlife habitat capability and suitability projects

Table 10. Activities and responsibilities for review of wildlife habitat capability and suitability mapping projects.

Table11. Survey intensity levels for wildlife habitat capability and suitability mapping

Table 12. Template for identifying the seasons and life requisites of a species being rated for a project.

HTML Created: June 1999

Copyright © 1998 Province of British Columbia


Published by the Resources Inventory Committee