CBA Ltd. has considerable experience designing and implementing effectiveness monitoring programs to assess the success of management outcomes with respect to planning goals and objectives. CBA Ltd. and its staff are dedicated to working cooperatively with government, industries and non-government agencies to develop and implement high quality effectiveness monitoring projects to evaluate current management practices. CBA Ltd. has completed effectiveness monitoring projects in various forest types and regions throughout British Columbia. Projects include wildlife tree patch (WTP) retention re-assessments, coarse woody debris (CWD) benchmark investigations, riparian areas forest management evaluations and wildlife tree use surveys.
Coarse woody debris post-harvest sampling in the Fort St. James Forest District (2007)
Post-harvest CWD surveys were completed within the Fort St. James Forest District for purposes of Sustainable Forest Management Planning (SFMP) and monitoring of biodiversity objectives. All sample sites were within mesic SBSmk1 ecosystems and had been harvested in 2006. The average total volume (m3/ha) was calculated for each site and compared to Indicator 23 (of the FSJames SFMP) for CWD.
Wildlife tree patch (WTP) re-measurement in the Morice and Bulkley TSA (2007) and Kispiox Forest District (2008)
Conduct stand structure surveys (all vegetation and CWD) to provincial Forest & Range Evaluation Program protocols in approximately 100 cutblocks. These blocks were harvested in 1995-96 with dispersed and patch retention. This project investigates the effectiveness and stand integrity of retention practices 10 years post-harvest. Patches will also be described for the effects of windthrow and wildlife use.
CWD benchmark investigations in the Prince George Timber Supply Area (2006 & 2007)
An inventory of Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) in mature forest stands within the SBS, ESSF and ICH biogeoclimatic units of the Prince George Timber Supply Area was completed to established benchmark data for Sustainable Forest Management Planning and refining of biodiversity objectives. CWD benchmarks established during this project represent local level targets for post-harvest CWD retention and Natural Disturbance Units across the Prince George TSA.
Wildlife use and stand structure assesments in the Nimpkish Valley (2005 & 2007)
Inventory of coarse woody debris (CWD) and all vegetation layers within wildlife tree patches (WTPs) and dispersed retention harvesting systems.
Evaluation of retention harvesting systems for maintaining biological indicators (2004 & 2005)
Developed and implemented (year 1 of three year project) a monitoring program for evaluating the effectiveness of retention harvesting systems in maintaining biological divesity (forest songbirds, woodpeckers and terrestrial salamanders used as indicator guilds in coastal forests.
CWD and vegetation structure benchmark project on Vancouver Island (2003-2006)
CBA Ltd. worked with the University of British Columbia to deliver this project, which collected detailed Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) and vegetation (all trees, shrubs, herbs and mosses) measurements for old growth forest areas on Vancouver Island, and in retention patches (WTPs) on the Queen Charolette Islands. The purpose of this project was to establish benchmark data for refining management objectives and targets for biodiversity planning during forest development.
Effectiveness monitoring program for riparian area forest management (2003 and 2004)
This project focussed on the development and field trial of a protocol for evaluating the effectiveness of riparian management areas (i.e. nest to forest openings) for maintaining key ecological indicators (e.g. stnad structure, aquatic indicators, terrestrial salamanders).
Nest mortality of migratory birds due to reservoir operations in Kinbasket and Arrow Lakes Reservoirs (2008-2017)
CLBMON 36 is a 10-year research program that
monitors reproductive patterns and processes of birds nesting in the drawdown
zones of two large reservoirs operated under constraints of the Columbia River
Treaty. CLBMON 36 also monitors the effectiveness of revegetation and physical
works projects to enhance habitat for breeding birds in these reservoirs. The
project was initiated in 2008, and study areas were established in Revelstoke
Reach (Arrow Lakes Reservoir) and Canoe Reach (Kinbasket Reservoir).
Neotropical migrant use of the drawdown zone: Revelstoke Reach, Arrow Lakes Reservoir (2008-2017)
CLBMON 39 is a 10 year monitoring program designed to
determine the effects of reservoir operations on fall neotropical
migrant birds. The specific objectives of this study are to 1) determine the
migration patterns of neotropical migrants during the fall mgration in
Revelstoke Reach; 2) assess whether reservoir operations affect migratory
populations of neotropical songbirds that use the area as a stopover site; 3)
determine whether there are specific times during the migratory season when
adjustments to flow rates or water levels will enhance the ability of the
drawdown area to support neotropical migratory birds; and 4) provide
information with respect to how wildlife physical works or revegetation can
enhance riparian habitat for migratory songbirds.
Three
approaches were developed to guide the study design: 1) a migration monitoring
station including constant effort mist-netting of birds and daily census, 2)
analyses of blood metabolites, corticosterone and feather isotopes of four
focal species, and 3) habitat assessment. CBA Ltd has extensive expertise in
operation of migration monitoring stations and partners with Simon Fraser
University on components
of this study.
Wildlife effectiveness monitoring of revegetation in the Kinbasket Reservoir (2008-2018)
CLBMON 11A is an 11-year wildlife effectiveness
monitoring study of revegetation enhancements in the drawdown zone of Kinbasket
Reservoir The program is intended to assess the effectiveness of enhancing
habitat to increase utilization of the drawdown zone by three indicator groups
of wildlife: small mammals, terrestrial arthropods and ungulates. Long term
monitoring transects have been established in control and treatments sites and
studies are conducted annually.
Arrow Lakes Reservoir waterbird and shorebird monitoring program (2008-2017)
CLBMON 40 is a 10-year program, initiated in
2008, consisting of several monitoring components. Aerial surveys are used to
monitor the distribution and abundance of waterbirds throughout the entire Revelstoke
Reach study area Land-based surveys for waterbirds occur during spring and fall
migrations. Land-based surveys and boat-based surveys for shorebirds occur in
summer and early fall. Productivity of waterbirds is monitored with brood count
surveys. Raptor productivity is determined by finding nests and tracking their
outcomes. Effectiveness monitoring of revegetation and physical works projects
to enhance habitat for waterbirds and shorebirds is a key component of the
study.
Forest songbird and woodpecker monitoring in the Fort Nelson Forest District (2006-2009), Quesnel Defined Forest Area (2008-2009), Prince George Forest District (2006-2009), Radium Defined Forest Area (2007-2008), Nimpkish Valley, and TFL 37 (2003-2007)
Forest management impacts biological
diversity on a landscape scale.
To
monitor effects of forest harvesting on biological diversity, some forest
products companies include monitoring of indicator wildlife species or groups
within their Sustainable Forest Management Plan. Indicator groups include
species with unique or generalized habitat associations. Monitoring of these
indicators allows assessment of how well the managed forest landscape maintains
wildlife populations. Adaptive management regimes can then be deployed when
current management regimes prove to be unsatisfactory.
CBA Ltd leads many effectiveness monitoring projects
related to forest birds throughout British
Columbia. CBA Ltd has collaborated with University of British
Columbia on meta-analyses of songbird and woodpecker data from
various areas in British Columbia.
Northern Goshawk nest territory monitoring, northern Vancouver Island (2000-2008)
The Northern Goshawk laingi subspecies is a key species for effectiveness monitoring in
coastal British Columbia.
Most forest companies monitor nests and plan forest harvest to accommodate
habitat needs of this species at risk. CBA Ltd monitored Northern Goshawk
territories over much of northern Vancouver Island,
developed habitat models and helped implement conservation of habitat in
Sustainable Forest Management Plans. Ongoing monitoring of nesting territories
is critical for assessment of effectiveness of SFMPs.
Donna Creek breeding bird and nest-cavity monitoring (2006-2007)
This project was developed to test the use and
effectiveness of alternative timber-harvesting techniques on cavity-nesting
birds and songbirds. This 2-year study in the shrub-seral stage of forest
regeneration is a follow-up study to surveys conducted 10 years prior.
Results of this project are
available at the Peace/Williston Fish and Wildlife compensation Program website
http://www.bchydro.com/pwcp/reports2.html
(see reports No. 326 and 327).
