pur " | ° | a Terrace Review — Wednesday, July 10, 1991 A9 ‘ft { 4 1 eke basta i Sn nn tag REPRE sae eS "SSS —. . ee Pioneer forest management plan launched Ministries to share computer data base — by Tod Strachan In the southern half of the Kalum Timber Supply Area from the lower Nass to Kitimat a new man- agement plan is being developed that will be the first of its kind in the province, a plan aimed at inte- grated resource management rather than simply timber management. It is a plan in which the Ministry of Forests and Ministry of Envi- ronment will share a single data base containing existing forestry information already in the Ministry of Forests computer-based Graphics Information System (GIS) as well as information on recreational fisheries, wildlife and water management. Also, some federal fisheries information is already in the GIS and more will be added in the near future. . Planning coordinator Glenn Smith explains that the Kalum Forest District’s GIS is the largest system available in the area and Ministry of Environment staff are now working on re-entering their inventory data in a format compat- ible with their software. Smith says that once the two data pases are merged, they will be able to overlay one set of mapping information on another, allowing more informed decisions. In the past, he says, there have been a lot of ad hoc decisions made because the appropriate information wasn’t readily available. Eventually, says Smith, they hope all other resource-based ministries will add their information as well. A single resource inventory for the entire province is one to the recommendations that came from the Forest Resources Commission, says Smith, but the system being developed in the Kalum Forest District is really at the leading edge. Work began on the concept about a year ago — well ahead of the Forest Resources Commis- sion’s recommendation — and will likely be the first to be im- plemented in the province. "This is our own initiative," says Smith. And for that reason, Vic- toria is interested in watching the plan as it is developed. Computer data base aside, though, how good will this new resource management plan really be? It depends to a great extent on the quantity and quality of the information received by the district planning team, says Kalum Forest District manager Brian Downie. ‘ Downie explains that the proccss in which the planning team is currently involved is similar to the process used to develop the Kalum TSA plan and analysis in 19841, But this time, he expects one sig- nificant difference — greater pub- lic involvement. The general public didn’t seem too interested 10 years ago, says Downie, but the minis- try’s more recent experience in developing the Thunderbird Resource Management Plan was much different. It gave a good indication of how much the public interest in environmental matters has changed. Work began on the process of developing the Kalum South Resource Management Plan in January by selecting a eight-mem- ber district planning team. Repre- senting the Ministry of Forests on this team are resource officer Joe Katasonoff, who will be meeting with local government and native organizations, resource officer John Perras, who will hear the concerns of forest companies; and operations manger Erle Holt, who will be listening to environmental, recreational and cultural groups. From the Ministry of Environ- ment is habitat protection officer Kathy Stuart, who will meet with commercial fishing and wildlife * concerns. And from the federal Department of Fisheries are habitat = biologists Shawn Hamilton and Erro Karanka, who will serve as resource people for other members of the planning group. Also from the Ministry of Forests are the planning coordinator, Glenn Smith, and planning facilitator Brad Pol- lard. Team members have identified over 90 groups and organizations who should be concerned about resource management in our area and have already met with seven. Downie says they plan to bring all 90 groups together for a workshop in Terrace this fall, where Concems will be turned into options which will form the basis of the plan. With options developed, it may not be easy to come to a consensus on which options are really the best, but as was proven with the Thunderbird planning process everyone involved should be able to make a few compromises and come up with a workable plan. Next spring, technical data analy- sis in their newly developed inven- tory will begin. And if everything goes as planned the South Kalum Resource Management Plan will be submitted to the chief forester in the fall of 1992. Downie says he is optimistic the plan will be accepted as submitted. "If we get agreement locally on how our resources should be managed," he explains. "That should carry a lot of weight." But it will take more than just agreement. Downie will have to demonstrate that the agreement comes from a wide and diverse range of individuals and groups. “There are a number of areas in the Kalum South where there are potential conflicts, and we need a strategy,” says Downie. And, "The more specific and comprehensive the public looks at the Kalum ~ South, the better the project will be." Any group or individual who wants to become a part of the plan should contact Brad Pollard at 638-3290. vote > Xe 7 Q Focn Lake e Y , + — Se , Gi madoix + > S a River No r «htada ob - a NN wee ? areas ay é A RITIMAT. a, TFL 4 SSA FOREST) \. . Klepiox Kitwoncoo! ° Loke ( HAZELTON @) a ( ‘ Keend / PCrossing “ a Ay ; _— { a an a a. a ag, bme Big Falls” 'MUN! C1 PAU ; i Lake \ N v (a Jesse__ KS) Johnston Leke ry Lake Gilttoyees\\ | oa intet Ay y YI Kalum South Resource Management Plan Planning Area KS Timber Supply Area — —- Provinelal Forest Tree Form Licence Recreation Area Ecological Reserve Muntclpal Boundary STS a ts. The 2, 4 and 6HP outboards may be the babies of the Suzuki family, but they’re built with the same technological integri- ty as their big brothers. Available in 15 and 20°’ transom versions (unique for a 2HP), all three of these little guys have features that set them apart. The ultra-light 2HP has dual clamp brackets. The 4HP has electronic ignition, a built-in 2.6-liter fuel tank and a durable stainless-steel water pump housing. The 6HP has a unique dual-output (80/30 watt) lighting coil for running lights without using a battery. Come and play with these water babies. You'll have nothing to cry about. 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