Natural resource best management practices

Find comprehensive information on assessing, avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating road impacts on amphibians and reptiles in British Columbia.

• Guidelines for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation During Road Building and Management Activities in British Columbia (PDF, 8MB)

Find guidelines, scientific information and practical, cost-effective tools for mitigating development activity impacts on amphibian and reptile populations in the province.

• Guidelines for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation During Urban and Rural Development in British Columbia (PDF, 625KB)

In cases where impacts to occupied habitats cannot be avoided, a permit must be obtained to capture, hold, and relocate animals to a safe location – a "salvage operation". See how to plan and implement salvage operations that minimize impacts to amphibian or reptile populations.

• Best Management Practices for Amphibian and Reptile Salvages in British Columbia (PDF, 899KB)

Based on evidence and operational experience, these guidelines are used by commercial recreation and adventure tourism companies for planning outdoor recreation activities that will not negatively impact wildlife and their habitats.

• Wildlife Guidelines for Backcountry Tourism/Commercial

Read about the potential impacts of resource development and other human activities on bats and their habitats in B.C. and guidelines for minimize them.

Assessing the quality of bat habitat or the impact of activities on bats should involve an experienced bat biologist – these guidelines do not replace specific guidance from a qualified professional.

• Best Management Practices for Bats in British Columbia - Introduction to Bats (PDF, 2.8MB)
• Best Management Practices for Bats in British Columbia - Mines (PDF, 1.9MB)
• Best Management Practices for Bats in British Columbia - Caves (PDF, 1.8MB)
• Best Management Practices for Bats in British Columbia - Wind Power (PDF, 1MB)
• Best Management Practices for Bats in British Columbia - Agriculture (PDF, 625KB)
• Best Management Practices for Bats in British Columbia - Bridges (PDF, 3.1MB)

Species-at-risk are present in many places across B.C. Their presence can come into direct conflict with activities, such as forestry, mining, pipelines, transmission lines, communication towers, ski areas, recreation, and range use, that occur in these areas. Effective management guidance can support the recovery efforts for these species-at-risk while reducing the impact these efforts have on the activities in the area.

• Best Management Practices for Whitebark Pine (PDF, 4.6MB)
• Whitebark Pine Retention Guidelines for Harvest Practitioners (PDF, 13MB)

Translocating at risk plants is a strategy to mitigate threats and assist in the recovery of the species. However, deliberately moving plants from one location to another can:

• Cause inadvertent harm to natural ecosystems and species at risk
• Have low opportunity for success
• Be expensive
• Use significant amounts of limited resources available for species at risk recovery

Find information to help determine whether translocations are necessary for your project and get advice for developing a translocation plan, methodology and techniques.

• Guidelines for Translocation of Plant Species at Risk in British Columbia (PDF)

Get information on how to protect raptors whose ranges overlap with urban and rural development – including guidelines for:

• Activities undertaken within raptor ranges
• How to properly install audiovisual surveillance equipment (e.g. webcams) in nests without disturbing wildlife

The provincial government created these guidelines to protect the birds, their young and their nests, while not applying unnecessary legislative requirements.

• Guidelines for Raptor Conservation during Urban and Rural Land Development in British Columbia (PDF, 2.8MB)

This comprehensive guide outlines how to maintain environmental values during land development. It includes information on:

• Priorities of the provincial government and other agencies
• Green alternatives to standard urban development practices
• Riparian protection
• Climate change
• Waste management
• Protection of environmentally valuable resources
• Streamlining review processes

Read about the Develop with Care Environmental Guidelines for Urban and Rural Land Development (PDF, 

• Supporting Information – Air Quality (PDF, 411KB)
• Urban Ungulates Conflict Analysis

Wetlands are among the most biologically diverse, productive, and important life support systems on earth – they’re integral to many important ecosystems and life forms in B.C. and they provide beneficial services, like flood control, water supply or recreation. Often, wetlands are unrecognized and undervalued, making them costly or impossible to replace.

Use these guidelines and best practices during development activities on public and private lands to

• Avoid or minimize impacts on wetlands
• Maintain high ecological values in wetland areas
• Address sector-specific needs or management and regulatory considerations

These guidelines were prepared with input from many experienced reviewers and will continue to be updated.

• Share your comments or feedback by email to wsp@gov.bc.ca

Download Wetland Ways: Interim Guidelines for Wetland Protection and Conservation in British Columbia.

• Chapter 1 Introduction (PDF, 3.1MB)
• Chapter 2 General (PDF, 3.9MB)
• Chapter 3 Agriculture (PDF, 2.4MB)
• Chapter 4 Grazing (PDF, 1.6MB)
• Chapter 5 Forests (PDF, 1.7MB)
• Chapter 6 Mining (PDF, 1.7MB)
• Chapter 7 Oil and Gas (PDF, 1.3MB)
• Chapter 8 Recreation (PDF, 2.2MB)
• Chapter 9 Corridors (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Chapter 10 Development (PDF, 1.3MB)
• Chapter 11 Enhancement (PDF 2.3MB)
• Chapter 12 Monitoring (PDF, 865KB)
• Chapter 13 Glossary (PDF, 582KB)

These best management practices help us mitigate impacts to watercourses, aquatic ecosystems and private property when working around water.  

• Learn more about instream works
• Requirements and Best Management Practices for Making Changes In and About a Stream in B.C. (PDF, 1.6MB)

• Appendix B: Beaver Management Guidelines in British Columbia (PDF)
• Appendices to BMP - Land Development (PDF)
• Environmental Objectives and Best Management Practices for Aggregate Extraction (PDF)
• Sensitive Ecosystems Audit Summary (PDF)
• Sensitive Ecosystems Audit (PDF)
• Urban Bio-Inventory: Terms Of Reference (PDF)
• Vancouver Island Region - Beaver Management Guidelines (PDF)

• Guidelines for the Collection of Fish and Fish Habitat Data for the Purpose of Assessing Impacts from Small Hydropower Projects in B.C. (PDF)
• Instream Works Windows
• Mitigating the Impacts of Channel Maintenance in the Lower Fraser Valley - 2003-2004 Field Trial and Literature Review (PDF)
• SCR Guidance for Applications or Notifications for Changes in and About A Stream (PDF)

Flood guidance

• Access Guidance for Instream Works during a Flood Emergency

WSA Section 11 guidance

• Access Guidance for Water Sustainability Act Section 11 Applications

Foreshore Protocol

• Access Okanagan Large Lakes Foreshore Protocol

Species fact sheets

• Access Species Fact Sheets

Best management practices

• Best Management Practices for Tree Topping, Limbing and Removal in Riparian Areas (PDF)
• Guidance for Determining High Water Marks for Lakes in the Okanagan under the Riparian Areas Regulation (PDF)
• Guide to Identification of Low-Elevation Wetlands in the Okanagan Valley using Primary Indicators (PDF)
• Best Management Practices for Recreational Activities on Grasslands in the Thompson and Okanagan Basins (PDF)
• Best Management Practices for Timber Harvesting, Roads, and Silviculture for Williamson's Sapsucker in British Columbia: Okanagan-Boundary Area of Occupancy (PDF)
• Best Management Practices for Timber Harvesting, Roads, and Silviculture for Williamson's Sapsucker in British Columbia: Western Area of Occupancy (PDF)
• Snowmobiling and Caribou in British Columbia (PDF)
• Wildlife Information for Commercial Backcountry Recreation Opportunities in the North Central Monashee Mountains (PDF)

• Best Management Practices for Timber Harvesting, Roads, and Silviculture for Williamson's Sapsucker in British Columbia: East Kootenay Area of Occupancy (PDF)
• Timing Windows and Terms and Condition for Changes In and About a Stream Specified by MOE Habitat Officers, Kootenay Region

• Guidelines for In-Stream Routine Effectiveness Evaluation, Appendix A
• Guidelines for Off-Channel Routine Effectiveness Evaluation, Appendix B (PDF)
• Terms and Condition for Changes In and About a Stream Specified by MOE Habitat Officers, Cariboo Region (PDF)
• Timing Windows and Measures to Adequately Manage and Conserve Aquatic Resources in the Cariboo Region (PDF)

• A Compendium of Wildlife Guidelines for Industrial Development Projects in the North Area, British Columbia - Interim Guidance (PDF)
• Atlin Placer Mining Best Management Practices Guidebook (PDF)
• Skeena Region - Reduced Risk In-stream Work Windows and Measures

• A Compendium of Wildlife Guidelines for Industrial Development Projects in the North Area, British Columbia - Interim Guidance (PDF)
• Beaver Dam Procedures (PDF, 140KB)
• Fuel Handling, Transportation and Storage Guidelines 
• Reduced Risk Timing Windows and Measures for the Conservation of Fish and Fish Habitat for the Omineca Region
• Reduced Risk Timing Windows for Fish and Wildlife (PDF, 209KB)