Kootenay Boundary Wildlife Habitat Features Order
In the fall of 2016, the Province initiated a project in the Kootenay Boundary region to establish a Wildlife Habitat Feature Order and assess the implementation process. This is the first Order identifying wildlife habitat features (WHFs) since the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) was enacted.
Agreement holder information sessions were held around the region from January to March 2017 to introduce the proposed Order and supporting materials. Formal consultation of the proposed Order was conducted from September to December 2017.
On May 29, 2018 the Minister of Environment & Climate Change Strategy signed the Order identifying 14 wildlife habitat features in the Kootenay Boundary region. The effective date of the Order is July 1, 2018.
The following processes and document support the implementation of the Order by FRPA agreement holders:
The Wildlife Habitat Features Field Guide: Kootenay Boundary Region (PDF) has been prepared to assist Forest Act and Range Act agreement holders to:
- identify wildlife habitat features (WHFs)
- understand how forest and range activities may damage or render ineffective a WHF
- understand reporting requirements (Forest Act agreement holders only) when a WHF is encountered
- prepare an exemption request when compliance with the Order may not be practicable
This field guide also provides information for Forest Act and Range Act agreement holders to consider when choosing which practices to apply in order to not damage or render ineffective a WHF.
Field Guide Note
The information contained in the Field Guide does not constitute a legal or professional practice requirement.
This information does not create any mandatory obligations on a person undertaking forest or range practices and cannot establish the site-specific prescription for compliance with the requirements of regulation.
It is up to the prescribing professional, and forest or range manager, to determine the most appropriate practices given site-specific situations and circumstances, and with due consideration of the best current technical information available to that person.
This approach is consistent with the results-based professional reliance approach required for forest and range management under the Forests and Range Practices Act.
Field Guide By Section
- Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Introduction (PDF)
- 1. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Bald Eagle (PDF)
- 2. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Osprey (PDF)
- 3. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Flammulated Owl (PDF)
- 4. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Western Screech Owl (PDF)
- 5. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Great Blue Heron (PDF)
- 6. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Lewis's Woodpecker (PDF)
- 7. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Williamson's Sapsucker (PDF)
- 8. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - American Badger Burrow (PDF)
- 9. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Grizzly Bear Den (PDF)
- 10. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Mineral Lick (PDF)
- 11. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Wallow (PDF)
- 12. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Bat Hibernaculum (PDF)
- 13. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Bat Nursery Roost (PDF)
- 14. Kootenay Boundary Field Guide - Hot Spring or Thermal Spring (PDF)
The Wildlife Habitat Feature Field Cards have been developed to assist Forest Act and Range Act agreement holders and their field staff or contractors to:
- recognize where on the landscape a wildlife habitat feature (WHFs) might occur
- identify WHFs in the field
- understand sensitive timing windows for a WHF
- choose the most appropriate actions and practices to adequately protect a WHF
Field Cards Note
- The information contained in the Field Cards does not constitute a legal or professional practice requirement.
- This information does not create any mandatory obligations on a person undertaking forest or range practices and cannot establish the site-specific prescription for compliance with the requirements of regulation.
- It is up to the prescribing professional, and forest or range manager, to determine the most appropriate practices given site-specific situations and circumstances, and with due consideration of the best current technical information available to that person.
- This approach is consistent with the results-based professional reliance approach required for forest and range management under Forests and Range Practices Act.
Field cards have been designed to print on 5” x 7” field card paper but can also be printed on standard letter size. Field card files can also be loaded into tablets and iPads or other digital devices.
Field Cards by Section
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Bald Eagle (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Osprey (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Flammulated Owl (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Western Screech Owl (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Great Blue Heron (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Lewis's Woodpecker (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Williamson's Sapsucker (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - American Badger Burrow (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Grizzly Bear Den (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Mineral Lick (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Wallow (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Bat Hibernaculum (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Bat Nursery Roost (PDF)
- Kootenay Boundary Field Cards - Hot Spring or Thermal Spring (PDF)
Reporting, tracking and viewing of WHF data is a critical component of the Order. It is important to track the locations of WHFs to ensure effective management and data access and availability for two reasons.
First, it will identify all known WHFs in a common data base for those undertaking primary forest and range activities. Second, it will allow the location of WHFs to be known for compliance and effectiveness evaluations.
Forest Act and Range Act agreement holders are responsible for informing themselves of locations of known WHFs. Forest Act agreement holders are required to report locations of undocumented WHFs that are within or contiguous to a cutblock or road.
Woodlot licence holders must report new WHFs on or before May 31st of each year (WLPPR s. 76(2) and 76(3)); all other forest licence and agreement holders must report new WHFs on or before June 1st of each year (FPPR s. 86(3)(b)). Currently, there are no reporting requirements for Range Act agreement holders.
Instructions for submitting and retrieving WHF data are outlined below.
Submitting Wildlife Habitat Feature Data
Online Submissions
There are two ways to use the submission site:
- Enter one or more records directly using an online data entry form
- Attach a completed WHF data template (Version 2022-05-31) (XLSM)
Detailed instructions for data submission are available on the WHF data submission site.
To submit online submissions, complete the following steps:
- Read the registration instructions (PDF) and register for access to the WHF data submission site (may take 3 business days)
- Go to the WHF data submission site
Submitting Delivered Wood Cost Data
The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is tracking the impacts of the Wildlife Habitat Features Order to delivered wood costs through self-reporting. Forest Act agreement holders are encouraged to submit reports to habitat_rsd@gov.bc.ca using this DWC reporting template (XLSM).
Delivered Wood Costs (DWC) are considered for operational issues including; road development, harvesting, hauling and silviculture treatments related to managing a wildlife habitat feature under the FRPA WHF order. Increased DWC are calculated as, the difference between delivered wood costs with the feature and delivered wood costs without the feature. i.e. Increased DWC = [DWC ($/m3/ha) with feature] minus [DWC ($/m3/ha) without]
Mail Submission
If you do not have internet access you can submit an observation form by mail. Print the Observation Form (PDF) or request a paper copy be mailed to you. Completed forms, or requests for paper copies should be submitted to:
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Suite 401 - 333 Victoria Street, Nelson BC V1L 4K3
Attention: Ecosystems Program
Front Desk: 250-354-6333
The locations and descriptions of known WHFs are available as a data layer in Habitat Wizard, iMapBC, MapView and the BC Data Catalogue. Habitat Wizard is the simplest, user friendly option for people with limited experience with online mapping tools. Users with more experience in online mapping may prefer one of the other options.
- Habitat Wizard is a map-based platform that allows users access to spatial information about wildlife habitat features and other fish, wildlife and ecosystems.
- iMapBC is a public mapping portal that allows users to view and analyze the thousands of geographic datasets stored in the B.C. Geographic Warehouse, upload their own map data and print or email the results of their work. iMapBC is designed for all modern browsers, including: iPads, iPhones and Android devices. It is open to public users and provides access to a large quantity of B.C. Government data.
- Mapview is a web-based mapping and reporting tool that provides clients with access to maps and reports for various business areas, including Forest Stewardship, Genetic Resources, Vegetation, Silviculture and Forest Tenures.
- The B.C. Data Catalogue contains thousands of government datasets and is designed to help users find, access, explore and reuse this extensive collection of data. All ministries and some Broader Public Sector agencies maintain data in the Catalogue
Information about species and ecosystems in Province of British Columbia data systems are available to the public. A limited amount of data is secured for a variety of reasons, such as possible persecution.
Locations of secured WHFs (e.g. significant licks and wallows) will be visible but masked. Masked data has a random offset buffer creating a large polygon around the actual location and limited attribute data. The polygon ID number can be referenced to obtain more specific information if deemed necessary upon request.
Various Forest and Range Practices Act provisions allow Forest Act and Range Act agreement holders to seek exemptions from the requirement to protect a wildlife habitat feature. Before providing an exemption, the decision maker must be satisfied that compliance with the Order is not realistic.
This will depend on the circumstances or conditions related to the area in which the feature occurs. An exemption request must include a rationale describing the nature of the problem and any options that might minimize the impacts to the feature. The decision maker may attach conditions to an exemption.
A discussion between the agreement holder and regional staff must precede formal requests for exemptions. Please contact:
Ecosystems Program
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Suite 401 - 333 Victoria Street, Nelson BC V1L 4K3
Front Desk: 250-354-6333