'Namgis Forest Planning

‘Namgis forest values, trees, and plants are important elements being considered by the ‘Namgis Technical Team.

‘Namgis forest values are encompassing the duty to ensure that the cultural, environmental and spiritual vitality of the waters, lands, and resources are protected and used sustainably for future generations of people, plants and animals.

One of the very important forest species that is currently being discussed is cedar. Both red and yellow cedar live and thrive within various parts of ‘Namgis territory, and the roots, bark, wood, and branches of cedar trees are used for everyday uses as well as for ceremonial purposes.

Generally, cedar grows best in moist environments and when beneath the shade of other trees. These conditions allow for the trees to maintain healthy populations for generations of ‘Namgis to be able to sustainably harvest and use the bark for all different purposes.

Have any more questions about the Gwa’ni Project and Forest Landscape Plan? Email Brian Svanvik at Brian.Svanvik@namgis.bc.ca in the Natural Resources Department.

Cedar plays a crucial role within ‘Namgis way of life, including the creation of textiles, building materials, and carving wood for transportation and canoes.

There are three key cedar strategies the ‘Namgis Technical Team is recommending:

• Conserved areas: Conserved areas are designated spaces set aside to safeguard and preserve specific species, habitats, and ecosystems, including the protection of cedar trees. They are designed to promote connectivity and biodiversity within ecosystems.
• ‘Namgis Conservation Network: spans whole length of the Nimpkish watershed, surrounding major water areas/lakes and including areas of good cedar growing sites. Creating a network of connectivity, to restore forests, with a particular focus on cedar.
• Retention and reforestation: When designing harvest areas, large cedar trees and cedar groves are identified and protected in patches along with other trees and plants. Cedar is also planted everywhere it is ecologically viable.

The Gwa’ni Project aims to reflect the importance of protecting special cedar areas and engaging in retention strategies while also allowing for responsible timber harvesting.

Have any more questions about the Gwa’ni Project and Forest Landscape Plan? Email Brian Svanvik at Brian.Svanvik@namgis.bc.ca in the Natural Resources Department.

In addition to the proposed Lower Nimpkish area for conservation, the Gwa’ni Project is proposing the creation of a second conserved area. The proposed Upper Nimpkish area for conservation spans 880 hectares.

Here is more of what you need to know:

Ecological restoration

• The proposed Upper Nimpkish area for conservation includes many important areas including the mouth of the Yookwa River, which used to be a vital spawning ground for sockeye salmon. In part due to previous logging practices, the river has suffered substantial damage, disrupting its natural processes. In order for nature to restore itself, it will take time. The proposed Upper Nimpkish area for conservation aims to allow for that to occur.
• The Upper Nimpkish Conserved Area will contribute to stabilizing the existing 15-hectare Nimpkish River Ecological Reserve and its unique biodiversity
• The Upper Nimpkish Conserved Area will support:
  1. Key brood stock collection sites for the Gwa'ni Hatchery
  2. Salmon habitat restoration sites
  3. Protection of bear and bird species habitats

Recreation

• Accessible by road, the Upper Nimpkish conserved area connects to the road to Gold River, and routes to Woss
• The Vernon Lake campsite is also included in the proposed area

Have any more questions? Email Brian Svanvik at Brian.Svanvik@namgis.bc.ca in the Natural Resources Department and learn more about the conserved areas and more!

The Gwa’ni Project is excited to share more about the proposed Lower Nimpkish area for conservation!

Spanning approximately 780 hectares, one of the primary goals of the proposed Lower Nimpkish area for conservation is to ensure the long-term preservation of 'Namgis cultural heritage, fish values and biodiversity.

Here is more of what you need to know about the proposed Lower Nimpkish area for conservation:

• Aims to protect and preserve important archaeological and cultural sites, including traditional village sites, fish weirs, and a defensive point
• The southern end is accessible by road and in general, the proposed area surrounds the Lower Nimpkish Provincial Park, which is currently difficult to access
• Close to three 'Namgis IR’s - Ar-Ce-Wy_Ee #4, Ches-La-Kee #3, and O-Tsaw-Las #5

The proposal to conserve this area removes this section of land from the area currently considered available for timber harvesting. To learn more, email your questions to Brian Svanvik at Brian.Svanvik@namgis.bc.ca.

Building on what we’ve heard from members, the ‘Namgis Technical Team is actively working towards protecting wildlife, fish habitats, rare plant communities, and medicines of the Nimpkish Valley. As a key part of the project, we are pleased to introduce the ‘Namgis Conservation Network as a key component of work to increase existing ecosystem protection and to conserve key culturally significant sites.

Let's dig deeper into what conserved areas are and what they mean for the future of the Nimpkish Valley.

What is a conserved area?

The purpose of conserved areas is to protect cultural values, recreation areas, and manage the ecological integrity and biodiversity of existing habitats for present and future generations. By creating conserved areas, we are able to better preserve the homes of species of fish and wildlife from human activities such as timber harvesting. Examples of reasons for creating proposed areas for conservation include:

• Protecting habitat for fish species and wildlife
• Preserving rare plants and medicine
• Supporting ecosystems balance

Conservation is one of many important parts of the work that ‘Namgis is doing to update the Nimpkish Valley land use plan. Have any more questions about the Gwa’ni Project and Forest Landscape Plan? Email Brian Svanvik at Brian.Svanvik@namgis.bc.ca in the Natural Resources Department.

Conservation is one of many important topics being discussed and considered as part of the work that ‘Namgis is doing to update the land use and forest landscape plans for the Nimpkish Valley. Creating conservation areas is often done to protect and manage habitat to benefit different species of fish and wildlife, and ecosystems in general. For example, conservation areas may be created to protect species at risk, spawning and nesting areas, migration routes, and more. Identifying conservation areas can also be part of a strategy to protect Indigenous values and recreational uses.

In the portions of ‘Namgis territory that make up the Gwa’ni Project area, many important areas exist. The creation of conservation designations over some of these areas would protect a range of special values, including areas that have high cultural significance such as ancient habitation sites, archeological sites, and unique landscape features like caves. Including portions of the forest ecosystem located near rivers and streams, referred to as riparian areas, would protect the connectivity of rich valley bottoms across the landscape, allowing many species of plants and animals to thrive. Such a conservation network would include important fish habitat and rare plant communities. Areas that have previously been designated for old growth management, ungulate winter range, or wildlife habitat are also being examined and included in the new vision for conservation management within the Nimpkish Valley.

Implementing the vision of a network of conserved areas will better ensure that ‘Namgis needs are met and will add value to future ‘Namgis descendants use and enjoyment of the Nimpkish Valley.

As part of the work to develop consensus recommendations, the Gwa’ni Project Technical Team is looking at feedback from members as well as data collected from other technical sources on how these important areas may best be protected through the creation of conserved areas or other means.

There is still time for you to get involved! Visit the Gwa’ni Project Engagement Website, email your questions to Brian Svanvik at Brian.Svanvik@namgis.bc.ca, check out the posters that are up at Council Hall, and stay tuned for information coming about the community Open House happening soon in the Fall of 2022!

The Gwa’ni Project covers a large range of important topics. Here are some more details about topics that are being considered as part of the work that ‘Namgis is doing with the Province to update the land use plan for the Nimpkish Valley:

Land Use Designations

A simple way to understand land use planning is through land use designation zones and how different areas and natural resources are being managed, used, and protected by the land use plan. There are different types of land use designations that are currently used in the Nimpkish Valley:

• Protected Areas: Land where forest harvesting is not intended to occur and natural processes are generally left undisturbed.
• Low Intensity Resource Extraction Areas: Lands where environmental, recreational, and cultural values are prioritized, but logging will occur using harvest strategies that allow forests to grow older and remove lower volumes of timber.
• General Resource Management Zones: Land where logging activities occur following standard management strategies that attempt to balance timber values with environmental, recreation and cultural values.
• High Intensity Resource Extraction Areas: Land where logging activities have a higher priority, with the expectation that timber harvest could impact environmental, recreational and cultural values.

Through the work of the Gwa’ni Project, and with input from members, the Gwa’ni Project Technical Team will likely recommend that some of these designations change to better protect areas that are important while creating a balance between ‘Namgis values and economic and recreational activity in the Valley.

Aquatic habitats and riparian zones

Some of the most popular places that members visit in the Valley are the aquatic areas. Places like lakes, rivers, fish habitats and riparian areas (i.e., the forest ecosystem near natural water bodies) are often very rich habitats for plants and animals that rely on forest connectivity, which allows animals to move around and adapt to different environments. As part of the work to develop consensus recommendations, the Gwa’ni Project Technical Team is looking at data collected from a variety of sources over time including data from past ‘Namgis projects, speaking with members, and making decisions about how best to protect these important areas.

Forest values

‘Namgis members currently visit the Nimpkish Valley to gather things like cedar bark, devil’s club, mushrooms, and other plants and medicines. Protecting each of these plants and the areas they grow in is important for the health of the forest and to ensure that the Valley can be used for many generations to come.

These are just a few of the key topics that the Gwa’ni Project Technical Team are continuing to consider as they develop their consensus recommendations. As the project progresses, the Technical Team are using different forms of data, including input from ‘Namgis members about their land use planning perspectives and priorities.

There is still time for you to get involved! Check out the posters that are up at Council Hall, and stay tuned for information coming about the community Open House happening in the Fall of 2022!

Last year, the Gwa’ni Project Team heard from members on many land use topics through the Gwa’ni Project website, a members survey and an open house. Thank you to everyone who contributed so far! If you are interested in learning more, we have combined all responses into a ‘Namgis What We Heard report, which is on the Gwa’ni Project website.

Since the Gwa’ni Project is a Government-to-Government partnership, the Province has also been engaging with stakeholders in the North Island through a survey and virtual focus groups. The responses from that engagement is available on a BC Government website in their engagement report: Gwa'ni Project What We Heard

Members of the Technical Team regularly report to, and receive feedback from, the Steering Committee, which includes leadership from ‘Namgis and the Province. This year, we are planning more engagement opportunities for members and are undertaking the third phase of a Socio-Economic Environmental Assessment (SEEA), which is an important element of the project to help decision-makers understand the potential positive and negative effects of various land use directions. In the fall of 2022, the SEEA will begin its third and final phase.

Gwa’ni Project and Forest Landscape Planning – Desired Future Forest Condition

Based on the input received from members and ‘Namgis leadership; we know how important it is to recognize the cultural values of the Nimpkish Valley. More specifically, the Technical Team is considering the management of various ecosystems. Cedar is recognized as being especially precious, and trees of all ages help maintain the full natural function of the forest. The long-term availability of large cedar is important to ensure that future generations are able to harvest cedar for traditional uses such as carving poles and canoe logs.

In addition to cedar, devil’s club and other medicinal plants need to be managed to ensure they remain available for use by present and future generations of ‘Namgis, and to contribute to the health and function of the larger forest ecosystem. Once again, we want to thank everyone who took time to participate in the engagements last year to provide this crucial information. We hope that we will hear from even more people in the upcoming year.

The Gwa’ni Project Team is considering the feedback that ‘Namgis members have provided about existing land use designations. The Project Team is developing recommendations that could change some zoning areas to better recognize the significance of the Nimpkish Valley’s aquatic resources, especially fish and fish habitats. The new zoning will be designed to increase the protection of forests and cultural values near streams and other types of aquatic features. Better protection of those areas will also support the resiliency of plant and animal populations by creating greater forest connectivity, which allows species to move and adapt less inhibited.

We hope you have been able to participate in the various in-person and online engagement activities that have taken place thus far, including last November’s Open House, and online through the Gwa’ni Project website!

Last fall, we started our first of many engagement activities for this project, including a community survey and a community open house. We talked to members about how they use the Nimpkish Valley and what is most important to them as we work with the Province on recommendations for a new land use plan.

All the feedback from those activities were compiled into an engagement report, which is now ready to read! The report provides information about the project, the activities we did, and summarizes the survey results and what was shared during the open house.

Thank you to everyone who has participated and shared what is important to them when it comes to land use planning in the Nimpkish Valley.

Read the full report by following this link: https://engage.namgis.bc.ca/22670/widgets/109156/documents/78882