Ungulate winter range management has been ongoing for over 20 years in some
portions of the province. Formal legal establishment of UWR and associated objectives began under the
Forest Practices Code and continue, under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA).
An Ungulate Winter Range (UWR) is defined as an area that contains habitat that is
necessary to meet the winter habitat requirements of an ungulate species. UWR are based on our
current understanding of ungulate habitat requirements in winter, as interpreted by the Ministry of
Environment (MOE) regional staff from current scientific and management literature, local
knowledge, and other expertise from the region. Sections 9 and 12 of the Government Actions
Regulation of the Forest and Range Practices Act outline the regulatory authority for
establishing UWR.
In August of 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Establishment of
Ungulate Winter Ranges and Related Objectives was developed between MWLAP, the Ministry of Forests
(MOF) and the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (MSRM). The purpose of the Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) is to expedite and facilitate the orderly confirmation and establishment of
ungulate winter ranges (UWR) and related objectives across the province, in order to support the
Forest Practices Code and the new Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). The MOU clarifies
general ministry roles and responsibilities and outlines procedures and considerations to facilitate
timely delivery of this initiative. It replaces previous agreements concerning coordination,
administrative processes, and consultation requirements. The MOU identifies 3 types of UWR and
objectives. The intent is to facilitate, through due process, the cooperative development of objectives
to support the FRPA while at the same time maintaining the foundation of stakeholder support, where
UWR and objectives have been established through Cabinet-approved strategic land use planning
processes.
Photos © Jared Hobbs
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