Valuing the Fisheries Production of Temperate Coastal Rainforests in Southwestern British Columbia

The main objective of the project is to quantify the trade-offs between forestry activities in the face of climate change (specifically logging roads) and fish functional responses in the Lower Fraser. This project has prospective use as an ecosystem valuation framework or as a decision-support tool for Ecosystem-Based Management in forestry - fish interactions. The main objective will be achieved by using an ecological simulation approach. The structure of the model will be composed of three sub-models representing the hydrology in the watersheds affected by factors such as rainfall events and terrain slope, the sediment generation for given levels of forestry activity, and the impact of sediments on fish functional responses and survival. In addition an economic component will serve as a complement for the biological output. The study area is a priority region for the province in regards to conservation in the face of climate change and its associated consequences for natural resource management. The region presents important fisheries values, vulnerability to degradation from land-use, and conservation significance as a hotspot for threatened and endangered species.

Researcher: Andy Cooper (REM)
Student: Andres Araujo (REM)