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Symmetree continues to explore sustainability issues for landscapes, communities and regions, using a variety of methods to evaluate and plan for sustainable futures through ecosystem-based management and certification. |
BC Coastal Framework Agreement on Conservation and Management of Endangered Old Growth Rainforests:
During 2001-2003 Ken Zielke of Symmetree Consulting Group was an active member of three working teams for the Coast Information Team:
Wellbeing Assessment Team – In 2002-2003 Symmetree worked with Warren Mabee of the Lui Centre for Global Studies at UBC and Robert Prescott-Allen, on a wellbeing assessment for the Central Coast, North Coast, and Haida Gwaii,. The work was part of the information package being provided to the Coastal planning teams by the Coast Information Team, under the Joint Solutions Project.
Ecosystem-based Management Framework (EBMF) Team - During 2003 Symmetree assisted a large team of specialists for the Coast Information Team to design a Ecosystem-based Sustainable Resource Planning Approach for use on the BC Coast.
The Hydroriparian Decision Guide (HDG) Team - During 2001-2003, Symmetree helped the Coast Information Team (CIT) develop a Hydroriparian Decision Guide, that attempts to go beyond simplistic buffers based on stream width or fish presence. Instead a multi-spatial - multi-temporal approach is used, with risk assessment criteria for key coastal hydroriparian functions, making riparian protection much more watershed-specific.
- For more information see:
www.coastforestconservationinitiative.com or
http://www.citbc.org.
North Island Sustainability Assessment:
In 2003 Symmetree worked with Warren Mabee of the Lui Centre for Global Studies at UBC, Robert Prescott-Allen, and Weyerhaeuser BC Coastal Group to complete the North Island Sustainability Assessment for the Northern end of Vancouver Island, using the same wellbeing assessment methodology that was used by the CIT (see previous).
As consultants to the Forest Project Team for MacMillan Bloedel Ltd (now Weyerhaeuser BC Coastal Group) in 1997/98 Symmetree principals Ken and Bryce helped the company develop a strategy intended to establish itself as a leader in sustainable resource management with a focus on biodiversity conservation.
Symmetree trained over 250 company foresters, engineers and loggers in methods to apply this strategy on the ground. Symmetree continued to provide assistance and advice to company foresters, engineers and loggers to facilitate implementation of the strategy, which phased out clearcutting on most of Weyerhaeuser BC Coastal Group tenures in five years. 
As part of the Adaptive Management Program, Ken Zielke and Bryce Bancroft of Symmetree conducted the implementation monitoring during the five-year phase-in period. The Symmetree reports were used to demonstrate Weyerhaeuser implementation progress to the scientific panel ENGO’s and government. As well, Symmetree’s approach to monitoring provided valuable feedback to field staff. 
In 2003 Symmetree worked with Tolko Industries (Hefley Woodlands) to develop retention strategies and guidelines for each of the four major groups of biogeoclimatic zones with unique disturbance regimes. The project involved an assessment of past partial-cutting and a literature review to design effective strategies for biodiversity without unnecessarily compromising harvest efficiency and timber management objectives. This strategy was also embraced by the licencees in the Kamloops Timber Supply Area (TSA), and is being considered for incorporation into Riverside Forest Product’s Sustainable Forest Management pilot project on its Tree Farm Licence (TFL) near Kelowna. 
Symmetree is currently working with the Sustainable Forest Management Network to help translate eight years of research into several operational guides (landscape and stand level) to help operations managers conserve biodiversity in the Canadian boreal forest. 
The Provincial Old Growth Strategy Project - As the consultant to the Management Practices Team of the Old Growth Strategy Project in 1990-91, Ken Zielke helped to articulate a provincial vision for addressing old growth forests and biodiversity in the context of the managed forest. This vision was later incorporated into the Forest Practices Code and the Protected Areas Strategy. 
Forest Practices Branch - Symmetree helped The Forest Practices Branch of the Ministry of Forests produce the document, Age to Green-up Height: Using Regeneration Survey Data by Region, Species and Site Index . This document provides a reference for ages to green-up heights by species and site index for the six forest regions of British Columbia. The age to green-up is an important operational scheduling parameter and a key element in timber supply analysis. 
During 2000-2002 Symmetree helped Weyerhaeuser BC Coastal Group with various aspects of the CSA certification process in some company divisions. Also, Symmetree provided advice for the Weyerhaeuser Stillwater Pilot Project that helped establish one of the first BC prototypes for a Forest Stewardship Plan. In 2000, Symmetree helped Western Forest Products Ltd to evaluate the Kingcome TSA Timber Supply Review in the context of FSC Principles 6, 9 and associated criteria. 
AAC implications of the FSC Draft 3 Standards - In 2002 Symmetree coordinated a timber supply modeling team to spatially analyse allowable annual cut impacts of Draft 3 of the BC FSC standard on three selected Tree Farm Licences for Bill Bourgeois, of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) BC Steering Committee. Symmetree synthesized and interpreted the analysis results, managed the project and prepared a report. 
In 2001 Symmetree authored the report entitled A Comparison of Riparian Protection Approaches in the Pacific NW and British Columbia - Jan. 2001, for the Forest Stewardship Council BC Regional Standards Team, and the Coast Forest Conservation Initiative. 
In 2000-2001 Symmetree helped the Forest Sector group of forest companies prepare “Achieving FSC Certification in British Columbia: A Forest Sector Submission in Response to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Regional Certification Standards for British Columbia, Draft 2 (September 10, 2001). 
Currently Symmetree is working with Ecotrust Canada to prescribe partial-cutting prescriptions and manage both the private and public parcels. As well Symmetree and Ecotrust are assisting the Tsleil-Watuth to become certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).