In the very most northern Rocky Mountains, the Muskwa-Kechika
(MK) encompasses boreal plains, muskeg, and alpine peaks, forming a wilderness
ecosystem of incredible magnitude. Fifty inter-connected wilderness watersheds
support elk, moose, caribou, and Stone’s sheep and other ungulates,
which in turn support populations of grizzly bears, wolves, and other carnivores.
Current Situation
The Muskwa-Kechika
Management Area continues to be widely heralded as "one of the leading models
of land use planning and conservation biology in action" (National
Round Table on Environment and Economy) and "Šome of the most
stunning successes achieved at a Land Use Planning table in BC." (CPAWS)
Despite this, the BC government has continued to re-negotiate the governance
model for the MKMA and to redefine the independent role of the MK Advisory
Board. These negotiations include discussions regarding funding commitments
from the Crown and the availability of matching funds (as incentives
for third party donations), the goals and objectives for projects in
the MKMA, the composition of the board, and even language in the MKMA Act
itself.
In light of these uncertainties, serious questions remain as to whether
the original conservation intent of the Muskwa-Kechika-to maintain wilderness
and wildlife values in perpetuity, and to be a truly world class example
of wildlife and wilderness conservation-will be realized.
Background
Beginning in 1997, through a series of land planning
processes, the British Columbia government created the Muskwa-Kechika
Management Area (MKMA) (www.muskwa-kechika.com), a conservation system of
over 16 million acres containing over 2.5 million acres of parks, with the
remaining area as special management zones. According to the resulting
MKMA legislation resource development may continue within special management
zones, but only while accommodating and protecting important wildlife, wilderness,
and environmental values.
The British Columbia government, through resource development plans and
permits, will implement management plans for the Muskwa-Kechika. These
plans and permits for recreation, timber harvesting, or oil and gas development
must be consistent with the conservation intent of the Muskwa-Kechika
if the goal of this initiative—to be a truly world class example of wildlife
and wilderness conservation—is to be realized.
This is the challenge of the Muskwa-Kechika—how to link general objectives
at the landscape level with local development activities. In particular,
there is a need to ensure that conservation values are sustained within
the protected areas and the special management zones, while pursuing
innovative management approaches with appropriate precautions in place.
To help answer these challenges, in 2003 Round River and its partners the
Nature Conservancy of Canada and Dovetail Consulting, were contracted by
the British Columbia government to develop a Conservation Area Design, and
to integrate the CAD into a management oriented, decision-support framework.
The resulting CAD and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Toolkit for the
MKMA has set a new standard for creating adaptable and accessible information
systems for implementing conservation in large intact landscapes.
Early in 2006, Round River again engaged with the MK Board and stakeholders
by conducting two workshops aimed at introducing the MK CAD Toolkit to
decision-makers and potential end-users. These events may have helped to garner important
support for deployment of the CAD and Toolkit. Out of the workshops
emerged the MK CAD Working Group, organized and supported through the Board’s
Science committee and charged with developing a work plan for CAD maintenance
and deployment.
The following MKMA CAD reports and maps may be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat pdf format:
MKMA CAD Map
mk_cad_10_1.pdf
Support Maps
wolf_core_6_7c.pdf
umbrella_elu_4_1.pdf
sheep_core_6_1c.pdf
moose_core_6_4c.pdf
mk_spec_els_8_2.pdf
mk_spec_el_loc_8_1.pdf
mk_freshwater_eco_5_1.pdf
shp_core_connect_9_3.pdf
grizz_core_6_2d.pdf
goat_core_6_5c.pdf
elk_core_6_6c.pdf
core_connect_9_2.pdf
caribou_core_6_3c.pdf
