Cultural Heritage Resource
Management in Provincial Forests
Issued: April 3, 1996
Revised: May 7, 1997
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this directive on cultural heritage resource management
in Provincial forests is to provide guidance to Archaeology Branch staff,
archaeological consultants, and Ministry of Forests (MOF) staff regarding
the responsibilities of the Archaeology Branch in implementing the "Ministry
of Small Business, Tourism and Culture and Ministry of Forests Protocol
Agreement on the Management of Cultural Heritage Resources" (October
1996). Please refer to the protocol agreement for information concerning
MOF's responsibilities. The protocol agreement facilitates the requirements
of the
Heritage Conservation Act (RSBC, Chap. 187, s. 12, 13
and 14), and has been amended to conform with the requirements of the
Forest Practices Code of B.C. Act (s. 17(2)(c)
and 51) and Operational Planning Regulation (s. 26 and 63).
MANDATE:
To recognize that cultural heritage resources (archaeological and traditional
use sites) are an integral component of Provincial forest lands, and
to ensure that these resources are managed in accordance with the provisions
of the protocol agreement.
This agreement applies to the Sub-Regional Plan Level (i.e., Land and
Resource Management Plans, forestry Management Plans), Operations Plan
Level (i.e., Forest Development Plans), and Operations Level (e.g.,
forestry Cutting Permits and Road Permits).
AUTHORITY:
The protocol agreement facilitates the requirements of the
Heritage
Conservation Act (RSBC, Chap. 187, s. 12, 13 and 14), and has been
amended to conform with the requirements of the
Forest Practices
Code of British Columbia Act (s. 17(2)(c) and 51) and Operational
Planning Regulation (s. 26 and 63).
Sub-Regional Plan Level
POLICY STATEMENT:
Archaeological overview assessments (AOA's) will be carried out under
contract to the Archaeology Branch in conjunction with the development
of Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMP's). AOA's determine the
archaeological resource potential of areas proposed for forest management
activities, and result in predictions regarding archaeological site
variability, density and distribution.
PROCEDURES
The Archaeology Branch will:
- set standards and policies for AOA's;
- manage the information collected in AOA's (e.g., archaeological
resource potential maps);
- coordinate and fund AOA's in accordance with the LRMP schedule,
contingent upon funding availability;
- present AOA results for incorporation in LRMP's;
- communicate the results of AOA's to MOF and Inter-agency Management
Committees.
Operational Plan Level
POLICY STATEMENT:
Archaeological impact assessments (AIA's) and Traditional Use Studies
(TUS) should be undertaken for Forest Development Plans. AIA's determine
impacts to archaeological sites as well as site significance, and assist
forest licencees in designing, planning and implementing proposed forest
activities while minimizing impacts to archaeological resources.
TUS' differ from AIA's, and focus on the identification, assessment
and protection of traditional, ceremonial and sustenance activities
of aboriginal groups; thereby assisting the province in meeting its
legal obligations as determined in the Court of Appeal's decision in
Delgamuukw v. The Queen (1993).
PROCEDURES
The Archaeology Branch will:
- review the results of AIA's to ensure they meet the standards identified
in the British Columbia Archaeological Impact Assessment Guidelines;
- develop, and provide ongoing review of, methodological guidelines,
policies and procedures for conducting TUS;
- incorporate site inventory data in the Provincial Heritage Register,
in accordance with Memoranda of Understanding between MOF and First
Nations.
Operations Level
POLICY STATEMENT:
Archaeological impact management measures (AIM) are to be implemented
for operations authorized through pre-harvest silviculture prescriptions,
cutting permits, logging plans, road permits, etc. These measures are
intended to prevent, avoid or reduce adverse effects of forest management
activities on archaeological resources and include mitigation, compensation,
surveillance, monitoring and emergency impact management.
PROCEDURES
The Archaeology Branch will:
- notify MOF of impact management measures required in forest documents
(i.e., permits, prescriptions, plans, licences, etc.) upon completion
of the branch's review and acceptance of the relevant archaeological
impact assessment report.
|
