Glossary of Resource Planning Terms

Select the first letter of the word you are looking for
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

W

Watershed: an area of land that collects and discharges water into a single main stream through a series of smaller tributaries.

Watershed assessment: defined in the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act Operational Planning Regulation as an evaluation of the cumulative impact that proposed activities and developments would have on stream flows, suspended sediment, landslide and stream channel stability within the watershed.

Wetland: a swamp, marsh or other similar area that supports natural vegetation that is distinct from adjacent upland areas.

Wilderness: an area of land generally greater than 1000 hectares that predominantly retains its natural character and on which the impact of humans is transitory and, in the long run, substantially unnoticeable.

Wilderness area: a part of the Provincial forest designated by order-in-council as wilderness under authority of Section 5.1 of the Forest Act.

Wildlife: defined in the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act as

(a) a vertebrate that is a mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian prescribed as wildlife under the Wildlife Act,

(b) a fish, including

(i) any vertebrate of the order Petromyzoniformes (lampreys) or class Osteichthyes (bony fishes), or

(ii) an invertebrate of the class Crustacea (crustaceans) or class Mollusca (mollusks) from or in the non-tidal waters of the Province, and

(c) an invertebrate or plant listed by the Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks as an endangered, a threatened or a vulnerable species, and includes the eggs and juvenile stages of these vertebrates, invertebrates and plants.

Wildlife habitat: areas of land and water that support specific wildlife or groups of wildlife.

Wildlife habitat area (WHA): defined in the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act Operational Planning Regulation as a mapped area of land that the Deputy Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks, or a person authorized by that deputy minister, and the chief forester, have determined is necessary to meet the habitat requirements of one or more species of identified wildlife.

Wildlife habitat feature: defined in the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act Operational Planning Regulation as a significant mineral lick or wallow, an active nest of a bald eagle, osprey or great blue heron, or any other feature agreed to by the district manager and a designated environment official.

Wildlife tree: defined in the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act Operational Planning Regulation as a tree or group of trees that are identified in an operational plan to provide present or future wildlife habitat.

A wildlife tree is a standing live or dead tree with special characteristics that provide valuable habitat for the conservation or enhancement of wildlife. Characteristics include large diameter and height for the site, current use by wildlife, declining or dead condition, value as a species, valuable location and relative scarcity.

Windthrow: (see blowdown)

Woodlot licence: an agreement entered into under Section 41 of the Forest Act which grants the rights to harvest timber on a small parcel of Crown and private land (less than 400 hectares on the Coast or 600 hectares in the Interior). A woodlot licence has a term not exceeding 15 years and requires a management plan (see also allowable annual cut (AAC)).