The Minister responsible for the Wildlife Act may identify any or all of the following as a wildlife habitat feature:
(a) a fisheries sensitive feature;
(b) a marine sensitive feature;
(c) a significant mineral lick or wallow;
(d) a nest of:
(e) any other localized feature that the minister considers to be a wildlife habitat feature.
A wildlife habitat feature may be identified if the Minister responsible for the Wildlife Act is satisfied that the wildlife habitat feature requires special management that is not otherwise provided for under FRPA.
The authority to take this action is enabled by Section 11 of the Government Actions Regulation. Once the minister has identified the feature persons carrying out a primary forest activity or range activity must not damage or render ineffective the wildlife habitat feature.
On May 29th, 2018 the Minister of Environment & Climate Change Strategy signed the Order identifying 14 wildlife habitat features in the Kootenay Boundary region. The effective date of the Order is July 1st, 2018.