The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has reached out to the Regional District of Nanaimo asking for assistance with protection of an at-risk species.
Northern goshawks, birds of prey similar in size to ravens, are known to reside in old-growth forests, with known occurrences on Crown and private land around Nanaimo, according to the ministry. The birds are at risk mainly because of diminutive numbers and diminishing habitat.
The ministry is developing implementation plans for goshawks and it said the plans are developed when existing management and protection doesn’t meet species-at-risk recovery objectives.
The ministry is asking that the regional district provides input.
Paul Thompson, regional district manager of long-range planning, said how the regional district reacts depends on the species involved. In the past, some areas have examined protecting bald eagle nest sites and heron rookeries.
“Generally we use a development permit area, which basically just identifies that there is some kind of ecologically sensitive area or species and then generally requires some kind of assessment to say how you’re going to protect or preserve that area or have the least amount of impact on their habitat, that kind of thing,” said Thompson.
Implementation plans are also being developed for marbled murrelets, small seabirds, but Greig Bethel, ministry spokesman, said nesting habitat for the birds around Nanaimo are difficult to find and not well known.
An engagement session was held in Nanaimo on Jan. 25 and Bethel said the feedback included questions about management of both Crown and private land, the effectiveness of current and proposed management approaches and inquiries about how species are managed in the U.S.
The information will be used by to guide future management actions.
“Input received at the engagement sessions will inform the province’s decision regarding management approaches for both species,” said Bethel in an e-mail. “It has been suggested by local governments that management guidance be developed to help achieve stewardship on lands under local government jurisdiction.”
The implementation plans are expected to be finalized before the end of 2016.
