Provincial Non-Spatial Old Growth Order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Provincial Non-Spatial Old Growth Order?
The order legally establishes new landscape units as well as old growth forest retention objectives for those units identified in the order.
The intent of the order is to help confirm the extent of timber harvesting opportunities, while also taking clear action to conserve biodiversity values and species associated with old growth forests.
This order was made by the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management (now Integrated Land Management Bureau) under Section 4 of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act.
The word “non-spatial” is used to differentiate this order – which defines target amounts but not specific areas to be retained – from those orders that “spatially” describe actual old growth management areas.
This order does not apply where objectives for old growth or landscape units have already been formally established.
The order reflects existing policy on old growth conservation as well as strategies in the Landscape Unit Planning Guide of March 1999.
What’s in it for the forest industry?
The forest industry will get the necessary legal direction they need regarding old growth values. It assures a clear and consistent approach for addressing this value, and therefore offers increased certainty for forest tenure holders.
This order is an important part of the new results-based code under the Forest and Range Practices Act.
By applying the existing policy for old growth conservation, the measures in that policy for reducing impacts on timber supply and harvesting costs are maintained.
What does the order mean for other sectors - such as tourism, mining, oil and gas, agriculture and others?
The objectives for old growth established under this order do not affect subsurface resource exploration and development, as these activities are not subject to objectives set for the Forest and Range Practices Act.
Other sectors such as grazing, recreation or tourism will also not be affected, as their uses are normally entirely compatible with old growth management.
How will the order benefit environmental values?
The order benefits environmental values by conserving old growth across forest landscapes, and providing greater certainty for this value.
The order essentially dictates the amount of forest that needs to be retained as old growth, according to ecosystem type and biodiversity emphasis (the latter refers to an area’s priority for biodiversity conservation).
How does this order work in relation to the new Forest and Range Practices Act?
Objectives in this order are “objectives set by government” as specified in the Forest and Range Practices Act (Act). Under the Act, a licensee’s Forest Stewardship Plan must demonstrate that it is consistent with objectives set by government, including those that are specified in this order.
How will the order affect First Nations interests?
The order should have no significant affect on the interests of First Nations.
The order will not limit negotiations with First Nations in the treaty process. In addition, it will not affect the province’s obligations to consult or provide accommodation for any infringement of aboriginal interests when more detailed planning is done to locate old growth management areas on the ground.
Will there be other orders regarding old growth?
Yes. The establishment of more-detailed objectives for old growth is expected to be an ongoing process. When the Integrated Land Management Bureau or a delegated regional official establishes more detailed old growth objectives for a given area, they will replace the general direction contained in the provincial order.
This new provincial order will not affect existing orders that address old growth forest retention.
How will you adjust the order to address changes on the ground or respond to new scientific knowledge?
Regional ministry officials have been delegated the authority to establish or vary landscape units and objectives in response to any on-the-ground issues or new scientific knowledge.
In addition, the order contains a commitment by the minister to review the effectiveness of the order by March 31, 2007, to assess whether adjustments to the order are appropriate in light of new environmental, social, or economic information.
What will happen in the many areas where draft old growth management areas (OGMAs) have already been specified?
A government official may specify that draft OGMAs meets the requirements of the order, as noted in the order. Where this occurs, it is expected that licensees will be able to save time and money in developing their Forest Stewardship Plans by simply referencing and retaining these draft OGMAs.
How can old growth be conserved in areas that are being devastated by insects or fire?
The order makes provision for a strategy to recruit old growth forest in response to these types of events.
Why are you proposing to apply this order in areas with active Land and Resource Management Planning processes?
The intent of the order is to provide a baseline standard across the province.
The order makes it clear that any new order with objectives on old growth forest retention will take precedence over the applicable contents of this order.
In this way, the order will be entirely respectful of the ongoing LRMP processes and their role in providing specific recommendations to government on this and other land use issues.
What will the order mean for woodlot licences?
Woodlot licences have their own specific requirements for biodiversity, and will not be subject to this order.
What will the order mean for private land?
Only private land within a Tree Farm Licence will be subject to the order. It will not affect any other private land.
