Executive Summary (summarized)
This report presents the results of Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) of the Coastal Douglas-fir moist maritime (CDFmm) biogeoclimatic subzone in British Columbia. An expanded legend and map legend also accompany this document for interpreting the mapping deliverables.
The CDFmm subzone occupies about 252,000 hectares of land in the Georgia Depression on southwest portions of mainland BC, the central and southern Gulf Islands and southeastern Vancouver Island. This project excludes the Lower Fraser Valley and Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR). Therefore, the resultant study area covers 212,660 hectares for which TEM mapping was completed.
The purpose of the project was to complete ecosystem mapping for the CDFmm study area in order to provide baseline information that can be used in support of future land-use planning initiatives.
The provincial TEM standards were followed for mapping and capturing the digital terrain and ecosystem data, using level-five survey intensity. Terrain and ecosystem mapping, field sampling and air photo interpretations were completed at a scale of 1:16,000 using the appropriate provincial standards and methods.
A stratified sampling strategy was designed to collect field data from as many types of ecosystems as possible throughout the study area. Field inspections were distributed across the study area on a wide range ecosystems and site conditions on accessible lands in the CDFmm. Field sampling resulted in over 1458 total plots, as well as 331 background plots, resulting in 1234 field checked polygons, which provided ecosystem information for final ecosystem mapping. Level-five survey intensity was accomplished with 9% polygon inspection (including background plot data).
Overall, with the addition of ecosystem mapping results from the lower Fraser Valley and the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, land use planning in the CDFmm can be integrated into a single database and used to guide priorities for regional outcomes for conservation and management.
