Project Approach
Ecosystem based planning is particularly suited to the boreal forest, our home ecosystem type. Due to a number of factors, including widely variable natural disturbance regimes, geologically young landforms and soils, and climate limitations, boreal forests are patchy landscapes. This widely variable landscape structure provides for a high degree of biological diversity, but also makes boreal forests vulnerable to degradation from resource exploitation.
Often resource developers target particular types of ecosystems that possess characteristics that they desire. This approach in boreal forests can result in the loss of particular patch types (uniform areas that differ from their surroundings) and therefore a loss of critical habitat resources for a wide range of animals and plants. An EBP avoids this problem by describing and mapping the patterns and processes responsible for the patchy diversity of boreal forests, and by designing networks of ecological reserves to protect patchy diversity.
Although the phases each have their own specific tasks, they are somewhat repetitive throughout the project. The four project phases are:
Phase I:
Community Awareness/Community Direction of the Plan
The EBP holds community workshops with the larger local community to develop a community vision for the planning process and to establish project partners. Community meetings are important throughout all phases of the project.
Phase II:
Data Gathering and Analysis
The data gathering and analysis process will also reoccur throughout plan development as the community works with the EBP team to help identify data gaps and refine analyses and interpretations. Phase II begins with examining and gathering available data including, but not limited to the following, some of which is already digitized in the Tribe’s GIS database:
· Maps and historical documents relating to the ecology, sociology, and economy of the planning area;
· Imagery (aerial photos and satellite imagery);
· Athabascan cultural information;
· Environmental data including water/hydrologic features, soils data, topographic features, vegetation/forest cover, fish & wildlife populations, habitat information/rare ecosystems and species, and geologic information;
· Administrative boundaries such as property ownership, state game management units, public recreation sites, community uses, trails, roads, right of ways, and tourism facilities;
· Past and planned industrial activities (including known impacts).
From the initial data analysis and interpretive maps, we develop a field sampling plan and a cultural interview process. Field sampling and cultural interviews are the heart of our EBP because they enable us to learn how our local ecosystems and our culture function together, and what is necessary for us to remain culturally connected to the land. When the field-sampling plan is complete, we will carry out the fieldwork, analyze our field data, and revise our initial interpretive maps as needed.
The goal of this project phase is to define the ecological sensitivity and ecological limits of our local ecosystems so that in the next project phase we can begin designing a land use plan that leaves ecologically important areas intact.
Phase III:
Plan Development
Using the summary and analysis of Phase II, we continue to update and modify our maps and data. Once data collection is sufficient, we finalize and use the interpretive maps and other gathered data to design maps showing ecologically desirable networks of low impact use, human use, and areas in need of ecological restoration. Both a written component and photos will accompany these maps. Once a draft of the ecological reserve design maps is complete, they will be presented to the community at a community workshop. Input from the community workshop will be incorporated into the maps for the economic planning process.
Phase IV:
Plan Implementation
In this phase, we design the plans for sustainable, low-impact businesses that follow the Ecosystem Based Plan. Sites for these small-scale businesses will be selected from the human use areas. Economic plan development will also include a discussion of tasks and schedules to implement the business plans, as well as procedures for monitoring and evaluating progress.
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