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Ecosystem-based Management  |
Scientific Basis of EBM

The Scientific Basis of Ecosystem-based Management describes the ecological basis of the recommendations in the CIT’s EBM Planning Handbook. The Scientific Basis of EBM consists of two components: the Scientific Compendium and the Scientific Compilation. The Scientific Compilation is a collection of background information created primarily for the CIT and various coastal LRMPs (see Background Reports), including seven technical papers on hydroriparian elements. The Scientific Compendium is a summary of information underlying the management targets and approaches in the EBM Planning Handbook and Hydroriparian Planning Guide. The Scientific Compendium is based on the Scientific Compilation, a review of the available ecological literature, and two expert panels on hydroriparian issues.

Content

The Scientific Basis of EBM begins with an annotated bibliography of the background reports in the Scientific Compilation and an introduction to the history of the concept of ecosystem-based management. Chapter 2 describes the ecological integrity of the CIT analysis area, including climate, physiography, natural disturbance regime, and ecosystems. Chapter 3 reviews relevant concepts in the ecological and conservation planning literatures. Chapter 4 summarizes the scientific information and reasoning behind specific management targets in the EBM Planning Handbook. Targets include those for representative old forest ecosystems, representative hydroriparian ecosystems, rare ecosystems, in-block retention, fish habitat, and riparian corridors. The structure of the Scientific Compendium parallels the structure of the EBM Planning Handbook as much as possible.

The ecological management targets explained in the Scientific Compendium include:

• Maintain 70% of the range of natural variability (RONV) of old-growth forest in each ecosystem type at the subregional (plan area) scale, where RONV is the amount of old-growth forest present under natural disturbance regimes.
• Allow no more than 50% of each ecosystem to be in mid-seral condition at the landscape and watershed scales.
• Retain 15-70% stand level retention in harvested areas.
• Create small stream protection areas to include riparian corridors. Maintain a minimum of 60% of streams with natural levels of cover along their length.
• Protect critical habitat and maintain connectivity for red/blue listed and focal wildlife species.

Much of the rationale provided in the Scientific Compendium and the application of concepts to the CIT regions is based on the “best available information.” Effects of management on many elements of ecological integrity remain highly uncertain. The Scientific Compendium describes low-risk management targets at which there is relative certainty that risk to ecological integrity is low. It also lists possible higher-risk thresholds that may be used to provide flexibility at smaller planning scales (see EBM Planning Handbook). The targets are subject to change as better information becomes available through further scientific research and effective monitoring.

Scientific Basis of EBM Report
( 1 Mb)

http://www.citbc.org.