Red-Listed Ecosystem Status of Interior Wetbelt and Inland Temperate Rainforest of British Columbia, Canada

Dominick A. DellaSala, James R. Strittholt, Rebecca Degagne, Brendan Mackey, Jeffery R. Werner, Michelle Connolly, Darwyn Coxson, Andrew Couturier and Heather Keith
Additional contact information
Dominick A. DellaSala: Wild Heritage, a Project of Earth Island Institute, 222 Joseph Drive, Talent, OR 97540, USA
James R. Strittholt: Conservation Biology Institute, 136 SW Washington Ave, Suite 202, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
Rebecca Degagne: Conservation Biology Institute, 136 SW Washington Ave, Suite 202, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
Brendan Mackey: Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia
Jeffery R. Werner: Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada
Michelle Connolly: Conservation North, 606 Freeman Street, Prince George, BC V2M 2R2, Canada
Darwyn Coxson: Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada
Andrew Couturier: Birds Canada, P.O. Box 160, 115 Front Road, Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0, Canada
Heather Keith: Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: The Interior Wetbelt (IWB) of British Columbia, which includes the globally rare Inland Temperate Rainforest (ITR), contains primary forests poorly attributed and neglected in conservation planning. We evaluated the IWB and ITR using four IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Criteria: geographic distribution, environmental degradation (abiotic and biotic factors), and likelihood of ecosystem collapse. Clearcut logging (3.2M ha) represented 57% of all anthropogenic disturbances, reducing potential primary forest by 2.7 million ha (28%) for the IWB and 524,003 ha (39%) for the ITR. Decadal logging rates nearly doubled from 5.3% to 10.2% from 1970s–2000s. Core areas (buffered by 100-m from roads and developments) declined by 70% to 95% for the IWB and ITR, respectively. Vulnerable was assigned to karst, the only abiotic factor assessed, because it was associated with rare plants. For biotic factors, Old-Growth Birds were Vulnerable, Southern Woodland Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) habitat and Sensitive Fish were Endangered, and Old-Growth Lichens habitat was Critical. Overall, the IWB was ranked as Endangered and the ITR as Critical with core area collapse possible within 9 to 18 years for the ITR, considered one of the world’s most imperiled temperate rainforests.

Keywords: British Columbia; inland temperate rainforest; interior wetbelt; endangered; critical; collapse (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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