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Performance Reporting — Continued Goal 2: Maintain and restore the natural diversity of ecosystems, and fish and wildlife species and their habitat.The 2002/03 – 2004/05 Service Plan contains an objective for each of three different program areas under this goal: species at risk, wildlife and wild fish, and habitat conservation in parks and protected areas. The objectives have been restated in the 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan to reflect key components of the approaches being used by the ministry to achieve its goals, including implementing shared stewardship and science- and results-based approaches. During 2002/03, the ministry continued to focus on improving its performance measures for this goal. Some performance measures from the 2002/03 – 2004/05 Service Plan have been replaced with new ones in the 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan to support the restated objectives, more effectively monitor environmental outcomes or progress in implementing the new approaches, and better link with the government's strategic plan.
Source: Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Conservation Data Centre, 2001 Figure 3. Number of Threatened, Endangered or Special Concern Species Figure 3 provides an overview of the number of species at risk and their location throughout the province. The Southern Interior ecoprovince has the largest number of species at risk (319), followed by the Southern Interior Mountains (276), Coast and Mountains (256), and the Georgia Depression (253). The information presented below describes the achievements and challenges associated with the performance measures used in the 2002/03 – 2004/05 Service Plan for this goal. Each performance measure is linked to the ministry objective it assesses, and the rationale for the choice of each measure is explained. Objective: Species at Risk — Identify, protect and restore
species at risk and
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| Performance Measure | 2002/03 Target | 2002/03 Actual | 2002/03 Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| An appropriate species management measure reflecting the Biodiversity Strategy and priority-setting. | Measure to be developed in 2004/05 | There was no deliverable for 2002/03. Two new measures related to species management were identified in the new Service Plan. | None. |
Source: Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Rationale for the Performance Measure
Biodiversity refers to life in all its forms and the habitats and natural processes that support it, and encompasses genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity is a commonly used indicator of environmental sustainability, and as such is a key factor in achieving industry, societal and government sustainability commitments.
In British Columbia, biodiversity is affected by a number of pressures. This performance measure was selected to help track the ministry's effectiveness in protecting and restoring species of concern.
Achievements and Key Issues
The target for development of this measure was originally set for 2004/05. This was moved forward, however, with the identification in the 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan of two new measures related to species management.
- An outcome measure — the percentage of known native species that are threatened or endangered in the province — is in both the new Service Plan and the government's strategic plan. Measures of species at risk are used nationally and internationally to indicate the status of biodiversity.
- An output measure — the number of nationally listed species at risk being addressed by recovery teams — will indicate ministry progress towards meeting requirements under federal endangered species legislation.
Objective: Wildlife and Wild Fish — Manage and protect fish, wildlife and their habitat.
The 2002/03 – 2004/05 Service Plan identified the following strategy for this objective:
- Support industry-led identification of potential Wildlife Habitat Areas (under Forest Practices Code).
Performance Measure
Number of established Wildlife Habitat Areas
| Performance Measure | 2001/02 Actual | 2002/03 Target | 2002/03 Actual | 2002/03 Variance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of established Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHA). | 65 WHAs | 75 WHAs | 86 WHAs | Target exceeded |
Source: Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Rationale for the Performance Measure
Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs) are mapped areas of Crown land that contain habitat (such as for breeding, feeding and denning) critical to identified wildlife species. Within WHAs, mandatory practices are specified, including measures to protect plant communities and species at risk from development impacts while recognizing forestry's social and economic benefits.
This performance measure was selected because WHA designation is one of British Columbia's major mechanisms for protecting the habitat of threatened and endangered species, as required under the National Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk.
Achievements and Key Issues
Tracking the "number of established WHAs" is an indicator of the ministry's progress towards attaining its objective of managing and protecting fish, wildlife and their habitat. In 2002/03, the ministry established 86 WHAs, 11 more than its target for the year. It accomplished this with the support of contractors funded by the Forest Investment Account.
However, with new objectives set in the 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan, this performance measure (an output measure) is not included because other measures have been identified that are more directly linked to environmental outcomes regarding the status of species. Protection of habitat for wildlife is still included in several strategies in the new Service Plan.
Objective: Habitat Conservation — Manage conservation in Parks and protected areas system.
The 2002/03 – 2004/05 Service Plan identified the following strategies for this objective:
- Continue park management planning and ensure protected areas have approved management direction.
- Respond to known significant threats in protected areas.
Performance Measures
Number and percentage of protected areas with approved management direction
| Performance Measure | 2001/02 Actual | 2002/03 Target | 2002/03 Actual | 2002/03 Variance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number and percentage of protected
areas with approved management direction.
(Total number of protected areas = 807) |
226
28% |
555
69% |
520
64% |
89% of target met; shortfall (35) expected to be met in early 2003/04. |
Source: Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Rationale for the Performance Measure
The protected areas network is an integral part of British Columbia's strategy to protect the province's biological diversity and to enable people to visit and enjoy nature. Protected areas have become an important component of land use planning, contributing to the maintenance of ecosystems, species and genetic resources, as well as economic opportunities related to tourism and recreation opportunities. The management planning program of the Environmental Stewardship Division consists of management direction statements and plans that provide both long-term vision and guidance for the day-to-day stewardship, management and development of protected areas.
- Management direction statements describe significant protected area values and management issues, and recommend priority objectives, strategies and actions to respond to these issues. They provide direction where a more extensive protected area management plan is not required or feasible.
- Management plans, in contrast, provide a more comprehensive statement of objectives and strategies for the conservation, development, management and interpretation of the protected area, and normally include substantive public involvement in their preparation.
The ministry is striving to put in place "approved management direction" for all protected areas as soon as possible.
This performance measure provides an indication of the ministry's progress in having the information required to conserve habitat in the protected areas system, while identifying areas suitable for increased tourism activities. It is an important ministry output for which data is readily available at minimal cost.
Achievements and Key Issues
The target for 2002/03 was for approved management direction to be provided for an additional 329 protected areas (to more than double the number of areas with approved management direction as of the end of 2001/02). Direction was provided for an additional 294 protected areas (89% of the target). The remaining 35 protected areas are expected to be addressed in the first quarter of fiscal year 2003/04.
This output measure is a proxy for the desired outcome of habitat conservation that would result from the implementation of the management direction for protected areas. This performance measure has been included in the 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan, but only the number of protected areas with approved management direction will be reported. The percentage is not as meaningful because the total number of protected areas in the system will change as a result of implementation of decisions from land use planning processes.
Number of responses to known significant threats in protected areas
| Performance Measure | 2001/02 Actual | 2002/03 Target | 2002/03 Actual | 2002/03 Variance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of responses to known significant threats in protected areas. | 130 | 80 | 135 | Target exceeded |
Source: Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Rationale for the Performance Measure
Conservation of protected areas is key to meeting the provincial objective of environmental stewardship. This performance measure reflects the conservation management process of acquiring natural values information, identifying risks and threats to those values, and implementing strategies and projects to reduce the threats. The measure was originally selected because it was thought to offer a reasonable assessment of the ministry's efforts (i.e., output) in attaining the objective.
Achievements and Key Issues
The target for this performance measure was exceeded in 2002/03 because funding from the Forest Investment Account was made available to address issues that arose. However, this performance measure is not included in the 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan for two reasons:
- It is an output measure that is not adequately related to the new objectives set for this goal in the new Service Plan.
- Experience has shown that it is difficult to report on this output measure in a reliable and meaningful way. The main problem is that it is not clear whether an increase or decrease in the number of responses to threats indicates progress. For example, a change in the number of responses could be due to a change in the number of environmental threats, or in the amount of resources available to address threats, or in the resources required to address individual threats. Furthermore, the total number of responses is derived from adding up responses that are not comparable in terms of resources required or environmental implications.
Nevertheless, responding to significant threats in protected areas continues to be important to the ministry and has been included as a strategy in the 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan.
Objective: Sustainable Development — Assist industry, local government and business to develop sustainably.
The 2002/03 – 2004/05 Service Plan identified the following strategies for this objective:
- Set environmental standards in a revised Forest Practices Code by the end of 2004.
- Work with other ministries to establish clear environmental stewardship guidelines and standards for industrial activities.
- Assist industry and the Ministry of Forests to manage the mountain pine beetle epidemic in a way that maintains environmental values.
- Support other ministries in standard setting for waste management (for example, agriculture, aquaculture).
Performance Measures
An appropriate environmental stewardship standards and/or inspections measure
| Performance Measure | 2002/03 Target | 2002/03 Actual | 2002/03 Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| An appropriate environmental stewardship standards and/or inspections measure | Measure to be developed in 2003/04. | There was no deliverable for 2002/03. The specific focus for the measure was identified in the new Service Plan. | None. |
Source: Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Rationale for the Performance Measure
The ministry is moving from taking a prescriptive approach to environmental protection, to setting science- and results-based environmental standards, allowing flexibility in how they are met, and then monitoring or inspecting to ensure compliance. This new approach is aimed at facilitating the simultaneous attainment of economic development and environmental protection goals. This performance measure was selected to measure the ministry's progress in making this strategic shift.
Achievements and Key Issues
The specific focus for this performance measure was identified in the 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan. An appropriate measure relating to environmental standards for the Forest and Range Practices Act will be developed in 2003/04.
An appropriate environmental stewardship compliance measure based on standards and/or inspections
| Performance Measure | 2002/03 Target | 2002/03 Actual | 2002/03 Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| An appropriate environmental stewardship compliance measure based on standards and/or inspections. | Measure to be developed in 2003/04. | There was no deliverable for 2002/03. Work was conducted on developing the ministry's overall compliance strategy, of which compliance reporting will be a part. | None. |
Source: Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Rationale for the Performance Measure
This performance measure was selected because compliance with environmental standards is an important means of attaining sustainable development.
Achievements and Key Issues
The ministry continued in 2002/03 to conduct inspections and, where non-compliance was detected, appropriate investigations and enforcement actions were taken.
A key ministry achievement in 2002/03 related to compliance was the establishment of a call centre. A partnership with the Provincial Emergency Program, the centre enables the public to phone in reports of environmental violations or concerns. This not only puts into action the ministry's commitment to shared stewardship, but it will provide the ministry with important information it can use to identify priority compliance issues and resource allocation needs to support monitoring and enforcement efforts. The 2003/04 – 2005/06 Service Plan includes an additional performance measure related to call centre trends to inform decision-making for allocating compliance resources.
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