WHEREAS the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has established the multi-agency Coastal Douglas Fir and Associated Ecosystems Partnership CDFCP to provide a strategic and collaborative approach to conservation of these ecosystems and which is intended to be funded by the participants; AND WHEREAS local governments have limited means to raise revenues outside of property taxes to fund initiatives such as the Coastal Douglas Fir and Associated Ecosystems Partnership: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to ensure the Province adequately resources the CDFCP, including the implementation of recommendations made.
Ministry of Forests, Lands Natural Resource Operations Over the past several years, the provincial government has taken steps to preserve specific ecosystems within the Coastal Douglas-fir zone. In 2010, 1,598 hectares of provincial Crown land was protected to bring the total amount of provincial Crown land protected in the Coastal Douglas-fir zone to 9,167 hectaresapproximately 39 percent of the total amount of Crown land in the zone. Given that about 80 percent of the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem is on private land, the provincial government has limited direct influence. However, ministry staff is working collaboratively with local governments, private landowners and environmental groups to assess the environmental health of the Coastal Douglas-fir zone and examine options to best manage these unique forest ecosystems. Effective resource management and ecosystem stewardship draws on the expertise of individuals and organizations with specialized knowledge in these fields. The provincial government is a member of the Coastal Douglas-Fir and Associated Ecosystems Conservation Partnership and is working with other members to assess environmental issues and conservation objectives in the region. Over the past year 2013, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations contributed about 3,000 to help establish the organization and support outreach activities to raise awareness of conservation issues amongst stakeholders, local governments, environmental groups and the general public.