Wildlife tree committee program aims to maintain species and protect worker safety

Forestry practices have been chang- ing during the past decade as the in- dustry is hopefully becoming more responsible in the way it harvests tim- ber. Environmental protection and the maintenance of wildlife species are now deemed essential elements in the basics of forestry planning.

Today's experts are examining the importance of wildlife trees in the re- tention of wildlife habit. "Wildlife trees" are defined as trees which pro- vide present or future critical habitat for the maintenance or enhancement of wildlife.

Throughout the province of British Columbia over 90 species of wildlife or 16% of vertebrates depend on wildlife trees in some way. Whether they be a black bear that dens in a hollow cedar, or caribou which browse on the lichen of a wildlife tree, researchers are now finding out more about the issues at hand. The preven- tion of loss of habit is crucial in our forests. Today there are 13 species on

the provincial "red" (endangered list) and 18 species on the "blue" (vulnera- ble list) due to the loss of wildlife habit. Overall there are approximately 560 species of wildlife in B.C.

The safety of bush- workers must be first and foremost in the discussion about wildlife trees

Since 1985 a group of government agencies and a conglomeration of in- terest groups have been participating in a body called the Wildlife Tree Committee of British Columbia (WTC). The committee has been examining the importance of wildlife trees in the maintenance of wildlife habitat while maintaining a safe working environ- ment.

Its members include representa- tives from the Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Environment, the Work- ers! Compensation Board, the Canadi- an Wildlife Services, IWA-CANADA, the B.C. Truck Loggers’ Association, MacMillan Bloedel and various public groups such as the B.C. Federation of Naturalists.

According to Todd Manning, R.P. Bio., who acts as the co-ordinator for the WTC, the IWA's participation has been very helpful in searching for some proper guidelines to the wildlife tree issue.

"It's a sign of the times where we are getting good intergroup co-opera- tion with people such as the IWA who understand the industry, especially from a safety point of view, and can talk about safety and environment is- sues in a common way," says Mr. Man- ning.

IWA-CANADA Local 1-71 Safety Di- rector Bob Patterson, who has been involved with the committee since March of this year says that the ongo- ing committee process has been a learning experience for all.

"They (the WTC) have allowed us to educate them as to our concerns," says Brother Patterson. "We have been able to put our thoughts over safety issues on the table."

Timber fallers and other loggers only know too well that dangers exist when working near dead or dying trees. In logging lingo they are known as "snags" which can be among the most dangerous places to work around.

Under Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines pursuant to the Workers' Compensation Act, there are current provisions which spell out snag falling procedures. The regula- tions say that "fallers assigned to snag removal operations shall be experi- enced and competent workers."

In short, falling snags is a deadly task only for seasoned fallers. Acci- dents involving the falling of snags are a leading cause of death and injury in the woods.

Particular care must be taken in falling and in working around snags, say the regulations, and where practi- cable snags shall be felled.

In addition "no falling, bucking or limbing activities shall be undertaken in an area made hazardous by a lean- ing snag, or a snag which has been brushed by a tree, until the hazard snag has been felled." Further, accord- ing to the regulations; "All snags which could endanger workers shall be felled before yarding or skidding operations commence."

Since the WCB regulations are so strict, getting changes to them in or- der to maintain wildlife trees will be no easy task, nor should it be.

Worker safety must always take precedence over any other considera- tions. Otherwise changes to WCB reg- ulations, which are now being considered under a regulation review process, will adversely affect workers.

Wildlife trees, according to Mr. Manning, can be either dangerous or non-dangerous to workers. A "Danger Tree" is defined as "a live or dead standing tree whose trunk, root sys- tem, or branches have deteriorated or have been damaged to an extent that it is a potential danger to workers in the vicinity."

Mr. Manning says that the WCB reg- ulation review committee has re- ceived a number of submissions from the WTC which point out that the words "Danger Trees" and "Wildlife

Trees" can replace the word "Snag" in the regulations. The WTC has recommended that the

PHOTO COURTESY OF TODD MANNING

¢ A feller buncher creates potential wildlife habitat by leaving tree stubs. Usual density is 8-12 stubs per hectare.

word "snag" be removed from Section 60 of the WCB Industrial Health and Safety Regulations and be replaced by the terms "wildlife tree" or "danger tree."

He believes that, under the right as- sessment procedures, some snags can be left on the site intact to preserve species habitat as wildlife trees, and not create a safety threat. Also as a side benefit, logging operation costs can be reduced.

Mr. Manning points to three major issues at hand that should be ad- dressed by any regulation changes.

First and foremost, the mainte- nance of high standards of worker safety must take precedence over all issues. Secondly, forest practices can be modified to maintain crucial wildlife habitat for species that de- pend on wildlife trees. And thirdly, changes can be implemented to main- tain or enhance efficient forest opera- tions. :

All of the above issues are being hammered out by the committee in an atmosphere of co-operative planning,

TODD MANNING

M25 dialogue, and discussion.

be 3-5 metres in height.

The WTC is developing a course that.

‘ 3 ers on the issue of wildlife trees. The

S course will instruct on 3 major areas;

The course, which began in October focuses both on assessment of indi- vidual trees as well as how to plan for wildlife tree retention in silvicultural operations and along roads and treat- ment unit boundaries where safe to do so. In this context the course will teach participants to diagnose what type of trees will make good wildlife habitat. That will include analysis of such factors as tree species, their state of decay, and height and size fac- tors.

Workers will be able to learn what makes a tree unsound and at what point a wildlife tree or danger tree can become a hazard depending on the ac- tivity around it.

The committee will put on 6 cours- es by the end of March, 1993. The first pilot course took place at Cowichan Lake. The course was taught to fall- ers, WCB officers, habitat biologists and foresters.

According to Mike Fenger, Forestry Specialist with B.C. Environment there's a lot of work to do to get con- sistency in course instruction and common criteria on root systems, branches, and stages of decay.

He says that the committee also wants to avoid a situation where a WCB inspection officer thinks some procedure is O.K. in one area and not

in another.

Continued on next page

20/LUMBERWORKER/DECEMBER, 1992