Landscape Ecological Assessment And Planning (LEAP)

The Oil Sands Leadership Initiative (OSLI – now COSIA) is a network of oil sands companies working together to improve environmental sustainability, social well-being and economic viability. Silvacom was engaged by OSLI to: (1) benchmark the area of interest on which OSLI operates and its surrounding areas (over 3.7 million ha of land); (2) use forest modeling and analytical expertise to identify expected changes in landbase forest composition over time based on management options; and (3) use this benchmark and modeling to navigate from a strategic environmental platform to tactical implementation by providing work plans to mitigate the impact of Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) development in the Northern Boreal forest. Silvacom used the Landscape Ecological Assessment and Planning (LEAP) process, a four part process in which the current landbase is benchmarked, forest ecosystem growth is modeled, and the goals for the future landscape are established.

This project represents the first two parts of the overall Landscape Ecological Assessment and Planning (LEAP) process: (1) defining objectives & assembling data, including benchmarking the current landbase (see Benchmarking Report) and (2) modeling forest ecosystem growth and composition over time based on different management options (see Modelling Report). This resulted in a suite of alternative management options that optimize a defined landscape objective for the future (see Restoration Prioritization Report). Three areas in particular were highlighted as restoration priorities, taking into account caribou habitat areas, conservation areas, seismic line density and net present value. The next two parts in the LEAP process involve (3) implementing the selected approach and (4) monitoring results over time.