In order to implement EBM legal requirements and monitor progress landscape scale reserve designs have been completed for much of the region. CFCI businesses with forest operations in the region have completed 70 of these designs producing maps of large landscapes delineating old growth forest reserves and habitat reserves for focal wildlife species.

The SLRDs provide spatial guidance for forest planners as they determine where forest stands will be reserved to meet riparian, focal species and old growth representation requirements, and which stands where harvesting will occur.

Example SLRD map

Above the Line

In 2011 the Joint Solutions Project began an adaptive management exploration of ways to concurrently achieve low ecological risk across the Great Bear Rainforest while minimizing the impact on the woodflow that supports commercial forestry's contribution to human wellbeing.

The Above the Line project is slated for completion by the end of 2011 or early in 2012. Project outcomes will include spatial distribution of old growth forest reserves, analysis of the impact on woodflow and adaptive approaches to resolving problems.

Focal Species

The EBM Handbook defines a focal species as "Species that warrant special protection and stewardship. As such, they help determine area for protection and stewardship actions to sustain and improve known populations." For the Great Bear Rainforest specialists identified five focal species:

• Grizzly bear
• Northern goshawk
• Marbled murrelet
• Mountain goat
• Tailed frog

In 2010 a series of expert workshops were held for the purpose of establishing habitat thresholds (high risk and low risk) for each species. The information provided by the expert workshops is being used to guide planning and development activities to avoid high-risk situations (insufficient habitat) and ensure the viability and persistence of each species. A conservation gap assessment completed in 2011 using the results of the expert workshops indicates that none of the focal species is currently at high risk.