What is the EBM Matrix

The EBM Matrix and the EBM Wheel are two ways to illustrate the same concept: that Ecosystem Based Management can be partitioned into logical Elements. By individually defining the Elements of EBM, we hope to clarify its meaning.

The Matrix lists 12 Elements top to bottom, organized into 4 EBM Pillars in the left hand column. Steps taken to achieve EBM progress from left to right. We begin with traditional forestry practices. From here elements either progress one step at a time or accumulate components in an additive way. The transitions may include multiple steps—click on one to reveal them. On the far right are the descriptions of each Element in its ideal EBM form.

The Matrix shows that progress is itself EBM. It’s the journey as much as the destination.

EBM Pillar

EBM Element

No EBM

Transition Type

Full EBM

Individual activities

Knowledge Acquisition

All relevant neighbours

Comprehensive and inclusive

Incorporating Variation

Not applicable

Progressive

Representing full range of variation

Defining Targets

Not applicable

Progressive

Science-based stakeholder process

Not required

Natural pattern knowledge is not used in planning

Progressive

Begins with NRV being used as background information, to being used as a primary, secondary or parallel filter and finally as a primary filter in the planning process.

Planning foundation

Natural pattern knowledge is the foundation of planning

Individual activities

Management activities are conducted in isolation of one another

Progressive

From sharing operational activities among sectors to blending those activities, shifting activities to achieve shared outcomes, and finally full integration to focus on shared outcomes.

Shared results

Management outcomes are fully integrated across all sectors (e.g., wildfire, forestry, energy sector)

Single component

Pieces of the ecosystem are managed individually (e.g., “active/working” forest, wetlands, water)

Progressive

Beginning with a focus on merchantable forest to the working forest, all forest, all vegetation, all land, and finally the entire landscape ecosystem.

Complete ecosystem

Entire landscape ecosystems are managed as a whole.

As required

Individual operational tools (e.g., harvesting, prescribed fire) are used to achieve discrete management goals.

Additive

The toolbox includes timber harvesting, vegetation management, prescribed fire, managed fire, restoration and protection among others.

Disturbance plan

Disturbance plans that integrate and coordinate a wide range of tools to achieve shared management goals.

As required

No monitoring of management activities.

Progressive

Options include implementation monitoring, fine-filter specific, passive adaptive and, in a best case, active adaptive management.

Active adaptive

Active adaptive management fully integrates management, science, and monitoring.

As required

Single source, uncoordinated, and/or difficult to defend.

Additive

Including local, independent, collaborative or generic research, traditional knowledge, or involving a research group will advance knowledge acquisition.

All forms

Many sources (e.g., TEK, trials, academic, “grey” studies) combined and coordinated.

Not applicable

No collaboration with embedded, adjacent, or overlapping neighbours.

Additive

From tenured harvesters to third-party operators, salvage operations, the energy sector to adjacent parks, municipalities or federal lands, including neighbours is closer to EBM.

All relevant neighbours

All relevant neighbours are included in all planning and management activities.

Command and control

Command and control through rules and regulations.

Progressive

Options are for regulators to require information sharing, encourage or require collaboration, exploit opportunities for simple collaborations, participate as a planning partners or finally for governments to lead on EBM.

Co-managers

Regulators also become full management partners.

As required

Stakeholder / partner input requirements are unique to each agency, and vary widely.

Progressive

Options to improve on how decisions are made now include sharing knowledge, partitioning decision-making, raising the bar, limited collaboration and finally, full collaboration and inclusion.

Comprehensive and inclusive

Decision-making involves all stakeholders and partners via a single process.

Not applicable

Natural pattern knowledge is not used in planning

Progressive

Types and scales of NRV indicators. Types include disturbances, climate, ecosystem conditions, and biological consequences. Scales range from sites measured in square meters to biomes measured in thousands of square kilometres.

All types and scales

Comprehensive list of indicators that include both disturbance types and scales.

Not applicable

Management targets are fixed.

Progressive

Indicator targets progress from average conditions, to thresholds, ranges, range groups and finally frequency distributions.

Representing full range of variation

Management targets allow for the full range of variation (e.g., via frequency distributions).

Not applicable

NRV metrics are not considered.

Progressive

From fixed targets within a fixed range, to regionally or locally filtered targets (such as certification standards), directional targets and finally stakeholder defined targets.

Science-based stakeholder process

Stakeholders and partners are fully engaged to help establish the most robust thresholds.

The 4 Classes of EBM

EBM Wheel

The EBM Journey

Click on any topic to learn more

The journey is the process of supporting and sharing knowledge that will allow us to shift current forestry management towards EBM

Wheel

List

Click on the wheel BELOW to learn more about an EBM topic

...Loading EBM Wheel...

Partners

Who are we working with as we manage?

How do we conduct our work?

Operational Tools

Monitoring

Knowledge Acquisition

Strategy

Why are we managing the resource?

What are we trying to achieve?

Defining NRV

Incorporating Variation

Defining Targets

Interested in exploring
case studies?

Learn More

What is the Healthy
Landscapes Program?

Overview

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