Between 2018 and 2021, Taan Forest Limited Partnership (Taan Forest) – a subsidiary of Haida Enterprise Corporation (HaiCo), wholly owned by the Council of the Haida Nation – utilized over $1.6 million in investments from FESBC to support ecological restoration of riparian and other key wildlife habitat areas in Haida Gwaii.
One major project restored close to 185 hectares of riparian area along the Yakoun River. These areas along the river, also referred to as benches, are identified as red and blue-listed ecosystems under the Haida Gwaii Land Use Objectives Order and contain protected areas for fish habitat.
Another similar project focused on spacing trees and pruning the lower branches in dense conifer stands to create and enhance forage habitat for the northern goshawk (Stads K’un), the national bird of Haida Gwaii and a threatened subspecies. Crews from local communities, including Old Massett and Skidegate, helped carry out this work.
At the time, activities included spacing trees farther apart, creating snags or standing dead trees, and the introduction of coarse woody debris to mimic the natural processes of riparian areas. The change in tree density attracted wood-boring insects and allowed sunlight to promote ground-level vegetation like berries. This resulted in increased food for animals such as birds and squirrels that Stads K’un prey upon.
All these projects had a goal to create structures for key species of wildlife on Haida Gwaii. Years later, this vision continues to be realized.
“It is always exciting to re-visit habitat restoration areas completed through FESBC’s Habitat Restoration Funding to see the objectives of the program becoming a reality. While the long-term objectives include Stads K’un and marbled murrelet nesting habitat, in the short term, objectives such as increased use by songbirds, sap suckers, woodpeckers and squirrels are what we’ve been seeing,” said Jeff Mosher, Registered Professional Forester, Chief Forester, Taan Forest. “Our hope with the increased use by smaller birds and mammals is we will start to see increased use of the area for forage by raptors such as sharp shinned hawks and Stads K’un.”
In addition, as part of the habitat restoration work along the Mamin River funded by FESBC, a den was created in 2022 using a large cedar stump uncovered during the forest management treatments. This served as a stop-gap habitat feature in the area, as all large cedar trees suitable for denning had been cut during logging operations over 25 years ago. The den was used by bears during the winter and spring of 2023, and annually since.
“Without the FESBC funding, none of this would have been possible. It’s significant towards reconciliation with the Nation and to restoring areas impacted by historic logging,” added Mosher.
Chief Forester Jeff Mosher, RPF, enlarging the cavity of a cedar stump for a bear den. Photo Credit: Taan Forest
Scan the QR code to watch the final stages of the bear den creation.
To read more about other Indigenous-led projects throughout British Columbia, read the full Special Report released by FESBC, in collaboration with the BC First Nations Forestry Council.