Pre- and Post- Prescribed Burn Habitat and Species-at-Risk Monitoring Surveys at Columbia NWA Wilmer Unit

In British Columbia, wildfire is an important natural disturbance and a key driver of landscape resilience. Abundant research and government strategic initiatives have identified prescribed burning and mechanical fuel reduction treatments as essential components of restoration and proactive management in fire-adapted ecosystems subjected to fire exclusion.Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has identified prescribed burning as a key management strategy for a portion of the Wilmer Unit of the Columbia National Wildlife Area (CNWA). The CNWA is located in the southern portion of the Rocky Mountain Trench, near the District of Invermere, BC. The CNWA is home to multiple protected species and sensitive habitat features that are dependent on fire as a disturbance process. As part of this treatment plan a) pre- and post- mechanical thinning and prescribed burning habitat monitoring at treatment and reference stations at Wilmer Unit; and b) Species at Risk (SAR) monitoring surveys within treatment and reference sites are required.The project area is the upland portion of the Wilmer Unit of the Columbia NWA (~145 ha). Thinning and prescribed burning, are some treatments methods in a larger strategy for building resilience, maintaining biodiversity, and restoring critical habitat for wildlife in the CNWA. The project area includes three treatment unit areas (67 ha) as well as reference ecosystems. Treatment Unit 1 (CV1, (38 ha) has been proposed for prescribed burning treatment, whereas Treatment Units 2 and 3 (CV2, CV3; 29 ha) are proposed for thinning treatment only. SAR monitoring surveys will help determine the effectiveness of thinning and prescribed burning treatments in creating habitat suitable for SAR such as American Badger (Taxidea taxus), Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), and Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis).Monitor the effectiveness of mechanical thinning and prescribed burning on species at risk and their habitats in the biological monitoring project area of the Columbia NWA Wilmer Unit.The period of the Contract is from date of Contract to December 15, 2024 inclusive.The maximum budget allocated for this project must not exceed $55,000.00 applicable taxes extra, including all labour, associated costs and subcontractors.