Thetis Island Sch F - Sensitive Ecosystem Map - OCP Bylaw No. 88

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What is a Sensitive Ecosystem? 
 
For the purpose of this study, an 
ecosystem is considered to be a portion of 
the landscape with relatively uniform 
dominant vegetation.  
 
Sensitive ecosystems are those which are 
fragile and/or rare, or those ecosystems 
which are ecologically important because 
of the diversity of species they support.  
 
 
 
 
Rationale 
 
Intense  development  pressure  fueled  by  population  and 
economic  growth  has fragmented  and  degraded  many 
terrestrial    ecosystems.    A    high    proportion    of    these 
ecosystems   are   now   designated   as ‘at   risk’   in   BC. 
Sensitive    ecosystems    typically    have    high    biological 
diversity  and  are  a  vital  part  of  the  landscape.  They 
provide ecosystem services for a healthy economy and for 
social  well  being.  They  regulate  climate,  clean water, 
generate  and  clean  soils,  recycle  nutrients  and  pollinate 
our  crops.  To  protect  these  areas,  sensitive  ecosystems 
must  be  located, identified  and  mapped.  From  1993  to 
1999  the  Provincial  and  Federal  Governments  completed 
a   Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory   of   East   Vancouver 
Island  and  the  Gulf  Islands.  This  mapping  product  is  an 
updated version of that product. 
 
 
 
 
Purpose 
 
The  purpose  of  this Sensitive  Ecosystems map is  to 
identify the  location  of sensitive ecosystems. The  goal  of 
this  mapping  exercise is  to  encourage  informed  land use 
decisions  that  will  conserve  sensitive  ecosystems. This 
map   and   the   accompanying   data provide   site-specific 
ecological  information  that  can  be  used  to  flag  sites  of 
conservation concern, to promote land stewardship and to 
prompt   detailed   field surveys and   consideration   of 
ecological values before changes to the land are initiated. 
 
Methodology 
 
Mapping methods are based on the Resource Information 
Standards   Committee   (RISC)   Standard   for   Terrestrial 
Ecosystem   Mapping   (TEM) in   BC.      This Sensitive 
Ecosystems map  was  themed  from TEM  data  using  the 
RISC  Standard  for  Mapping  Ecosystems  at  Risk  in  BC. 
Field   survey   protocols   followed   Describing   Terrestrial 
Ecosystems in the Field (RISC 1998).  
 
Data Limitations 
 
The Sensitive Ecosystems map is  a  tool  to  alert  decision 
makers    to    the    existence    of    sensitive    ecosystems. 
However, when   land-use   changes   are   proposed, 
detailed on-the-ground site assessments are 
necessary.  For  sites that  were not  field  checked,  the 
accuracy  of  the  data  depends  heavily  on  the expertise, 
local knowledge, and professional judgment of the mapper 
and  the quality  and  quantity  of available  source  data. 
Because  the  area is  changing  rapidly,  reference  to  the 
data set(s) used as the information source is advised. 
 
Due to  the  mapping  scale of  the  aerial  photographs, the 
minimum polygon size is generally ½ hectare. 
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