Background
Ecosystem-based management (often referred to as "ecosystem management", or EM for short) is a totally new approach to our renewable resources, an approach that is both challenging and exciting. EM is a new paradigm that recognizes the finite limits of our resources, and the paramount importance of long-term sustainable harvest levels. While not rejecting technological and energy-intensive approaches, EM acknowledges the fundamental wisdom inherent in natural systems, and attempts to work with nature whenever possible, rather than against it or in spite of it.

Ecosystem management can often sound vague and all-embracing, but a few key operating principles emerge:

• Ecosystems are not just a collection of diverse species, they possess inherent processes as well, and over the long term, we must maintain not only the species but the processes.
• Proper management embraces multiple resources, and recognizes the non-extractive values associated with endangered species, recreation and esthetics.
• EM looks down to the stand and site level, while at the same time looking upward to the landscape and watershed level.
• Maintaining healthy ecosystems is the preferred option, but the principles and techniques of ecosystem restoration are frequently brought into play.
• First Nations values and knowledge are fundamental to successful EM.

What does the Ecosystem Management program do?
Similar to Ecosystems and Stand Management, this program provides information to resource managers and others on the concepts of ecosystem-based management and how these concepts can be translated into strategic planning, policy development and field practices. However, this program's main focus is to provide advice, extension and decision support for:

"Thanks very much for the copy of your excellent booklet on ecological restoration."
Les McDonald,
BC Ministry of Environment

• Landscape ecology principles.
• The field of natural disturbance regimes such as fire-maintained ecosystem management, as a key "cutting edge" area of ecosystem management in BC.
• The integration of non-timber values (wildlife, range, endangered species, non-timber forest products) into planning and operations.
• Long-term monitoring of ecosystem states and processes.
• Identifying and sharing knowledge gaps in ecosystem-based management with researchers and encouraging the implementation of research projects to fill these gaps.
• Ecosystem restoration projects.
• Extension programming by other agencies.

As a specialist in the field, a big part of Don Gayton's job is to digest current ecosystem management research literature on an ongoing basis, adapt the concepts to our local conditions, and make them available to resource managers, planners, policy makers, and NGO groups. Conversely, he also seeks out our own local EM success stories and makes them known to the wider public.

Staff
Don brings extensive experience in grasslands, dry forest ecology, fire-maintained ecosystems and disturbance ecology. Previous to joining the Partnership in 1998, Don worked as Range Ecologist for the BC Ministry of Forests, as well as Provincial Range Specialist in Saskatchewan. He also has experience in multi-sectoral natural resource conflict resolution, and maintains an active interest in linking Indigenous Peoples' Knowledge with western science in natural resource management. Don has an extensive writing portfolio of technical bulletins, books and popular scientific articles. Putting complex scientific material into clear, understandable and engaging prose is Don's specialty. His writing has been recognized by the Canadian Science Writers Award, the US National Outdoor Book award, and shortlisted for the BC Book Awards. Don holds an undergraduate degree in Agronomy from Washington State University and an M.Sc. in Plant Ecology from the University of Saskatchewan.

Workshops
Disturbance is a key ecosystem process, and much of Don's professional work has revolved around the twin disturbance processes of fire and grazing and their impacts on the dry, low elevation forests and grasslands of British Columbia’s Southern Interior.

Our most intractable resource problems often have their roots in sociology, not ecology. A condition of the profession of ecosystem management is the ability to work with diverse groups, and bring people of opposing views together using the practical, science-driven principles of sustainable multiple resource management. Don would be happy to apply his experience and credentials to your ecosystem management challenges, and work with you towards creative and sustainable solutions.

"The Structural Attributes workshop was a significant step towards putting Natural Disturbance Type 4 management on an ecological foundation."
Mike Fenger, Forestry/Biodiversity Specialist, BC Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC.

"We wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed and learned from the Grass Identification course."
Trevor Kinley and Nancy Newhouse, Sylvan Consulting

"I have just received my copy of The History of the Nelson Forest Region and I must commit to writing my sincere thanks to everyone associated with the production of this remarkable book. It frankly is nothing short of outstanding."
Greg Koyl, BC Ministry of Forests and Range

Fire-maintained Ecosystems - An Issue For Everybody
The ecology of dry ecosystems of BC's Southern Interior, including the Rocky Mountain Trench, has historically been maintained by frequent, light fires. One of the many changes to the Trench in the last fifty years has been the interruption of this fire cycle.

In October of 1999, the Partnership organized a workshop in Cranbrook, BC, to discuss the issues of restoring fire-maintained ecosystems - issues that cut across many disciplinary lines. The 160 participants included hunters, ranchers, rural small landholders, environmentalists and consultants, as well as representatives from First Nations, the BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, and the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.

Workshop participants analyzed the consequences of this interruption from the perspectives of livestock, wildlife, forest health, rare species and fire protection. The workshop focused on restoration case studies in order to pass that knowledge on to local people, enabling them to develop their own local solutions.

We gratefully acknowledge the efforts of our volunteer Working Group in helping define our cluster's operational objectives and activities. View the list of current members of the Ecosystem Management & Conservation Biology Working Group.

Create an extension request
For further information on the extension program and the services we provide, please contact:

Don Gayton
Box 851, Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0
Phone: (250) 494-1858
Email: Don.Gayton@forrex.org