27 resources found

This document explores the critical and expanded role of First Nations Guardians in Canada's wildfire response and management efforts. The document argues that Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship, particularly through the growing Guardians movement, offers a powerful model for addressing both environmental challenges and reconciliation. The strategy addresses systemic challenges like climate change, the disproportionate impact of fires on Indigenous communities, and current barriers to First Nations participation in fire management, emphasizing the need to integrate Indigenous knowledge and science with Western practices. The doucment outlines a three-pronged approach for Guardians to contribute to emergency response, fire and forest management, and knowledge and science, emphasizing the need for sustained funding, training, and meaningful partnerships with Crown agencies to realize this vision.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of various strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within British Columbia's forestry sector. The study uses a systems perspective, evaluating the impact of different forest management and wood utilization practices not only on forest ecosystems but also on harvested wood products and the potential for wood to substitute for more emission-intensive materials. By quantifying GHG reductions alongside economic, socio-economic, and environmental consequences, the authors aim to provide an integrated framework for decision-makers to understand trade-offs and plan for long-term climate change mitigation in the land sector.

This paper explores the future of carbon storage within these vital ecosystems of British Columbia. Using a computer model, the researchers investigated how interactions between tree species, fire, forest management, and a changing climate might affect the ability of these forests to absorb and store carbon until 2050. A key aspect of their work was the introduction of a new metric, net sector productivity, which offers a more comprehensive way to account for carbon by including not only forest ecosystems but also harvested wood products. The study aimed to provide a better understanding for developing effective climate change mitigation and adaptive management strategies in these forests.

This document synthesizes existing research on forest fuel treatments and their effectiveness in modifying wildfire behavior. Recognizing that the local, currently wetter forests are projected to become similar to drier, fire-prone forests of the Western US due to climate change, the report explores how fuel treatments can reduce wildfire intensity and spread. It defines fuel treatments and outlines their objectives, such as ecosystem restoration and protecting communities, emphasizing that these actions aim to change fire behavior, not prevent fire ignition. Furthermore, the report delves into empirical evidence from past wildfires encountering treated areas, highlighting key principles for effective treatments in mature stands, including surface fuel reduction, increasing height to live crown, decreasing crown density, and retaining large fire-resistant trees. The ultimate purpose is to provide guidance for implementing appropriate and effective fuel management strategies in the Southern West Kootenays.

This report examines the projected impacts of climate change on British Columbia's forest and range resources. It begins by outlining future climate scenarios for British Columbia, emphasizing anticipated increases in temperature and shifts in precipitation patterns based on global climate model projections. The report explores the potential ecological and economic consequences of these changes, including effects on species distribution, forest disturbances like fires and pests, and resource management practices. Finally, it proposes a framework for developing adaptation strategies and offers recommendations to proactively address the challenges posed by a changing climate.

This paper investigates the interplay between future wildfire risk and the greenhouse gas mitigation potential of rehabilitating forests in British Columbia, Canada. Using modeling that simulates future fire scenarios and tracks carbon in forests and harvested wood products, the study assesses whether post-fire salvage logging and replanting can lead to a net reduction in GHG emissions compared to natural regeneration. The authors explore the conditions under which these rehabilitation efforts yield climate benefits and compare this potential mitigation against the substantial GHG emissions from the projected increase in wildfires, questioning if resources might be better directed towards preventing fires in the first place.

This document investigates the long-term effects of pre-commercial stand thinning in lodgepole pine forests in British Columbia, specifically examining 30-year responses across a range of thinning densities. The central focus is on whether heavy thinning can simultaneously enhance forest productivity, measured by merchantable wood volume and carbon storage, and accelerate the development of old-forest structural attributes important for wildlife conservation. Findings revealed that heavy thinning did create large dominant trees with substantial crowns and other old-growth features, partially supporting the goal of restoration of old-forest structural attributes, and restored much of the lost carbon storage through crown growth. This study suggests that the structural complexity created by heavy thinning, rather than forest age alone, may be sufficient to sustain comparable total abundance, species richness, and diversity of forest-floor small mammals to that found in old-growth stands, highlighting a viable silvicultural approach to address timber needs and ecological restoration.

This extension note examines the evolving management of boreal and sub-boreal mixedwood forests in British Columbia, specifically focusing on the integration of broadleaf trees like aspen and birch into traditionally conifer-dominant landscapes. While historical policies treated broadleaves as an impediment to timber production, this document highlights their essential contributions to ecological resilience, biodiversity, and soil health, alongside their potential for industrial diversification. Through a comprehensive literature review, the authors identify a critical trade-off in growth and yield, noting that while broadleaf competition can reduce individual conifer size, mixed stands often achieve a higher total wood volume than pure stands. This document serves as a call for enhanced research and policy reform to bridge significant knowledge gaps, seeking to balance economic timber supply with the diverse long-term benefits of a natural forest mixture.

This paper investigates how different forest harvesting methods impact both the amount of carbon stored and the variety of plant and tree life. The study compared the effects of clearcutting, varying levels of partial tree retention, and no harvesting across different climatic regions in British Columbia's Douglas-fir forests, ranging from humid to semi-arid. The central finding is that the intensity of harvesting significantly influences carbon storage and biodiversity, but importantly, the magnitude of these effects is strongly linked to the regional climate.

This document explores the increasingly severe wildland fire situation in B. C. , driven by climate change and accumulated forest fuels, with an emphasis on the urgent need for a whole-of-government provincial landscape resilience strategy. It is structured to detail the current wildfire context, analyze the significant social and ecological impacts of catastrophic wildfire, and examine the current governmental and non-governmental responses to wildfire governance in the province, including the critical role of First Nations and local governments. Ultimately, the primer The document calls for a fundamental shift toward proactive prevention and mitigation measures, highlighting the need to vastly expand fuel management efforts and adopt a comprehensive, collaborative approach to build lasting social-ecological resilience across B. C.

This webianr explored the use of biochar as a promising but highly variable soil amendment intended to enhance forest climate resilience, focusing on its potential for increased water holding capacity and long-term carbon storage. Lead researcher, Marcelo Windmuller-Campione, detailed multiple collaborative studies, primarily testing biochara?Ts effectiveness on Jack Pine survival and growth in Minnesota's porous, sandy soils. While initial benefits were sometimes observed in early field trials, long-term data and controlled experiments indicated that the biochar provided no significant or lasting improvement compared to control groups. The research concluded that while biochar presents a viable carbon storage strategy, its operational feasibility and ecological benefits are severely limited when applied to highly porous forest ecosystems.

This webinar introduces a new approach to managing the forest-based bioeconomy by challenging the assumptions about biomass supply availability for emerging industries. Dr. Greg Parody details his work on developing integrated open-source modeling frameworks, such as the Candies project, which link robust forest estate models with spatial ecological simulations to move beyond isolated planning. The core objective is advancing open modeling for cumulative effects by including industrial supply chain behavior, ensuring that Annual Allowable Cut projections are grounded in market realities and logistics. The work demonstrates that evaluating the sustainability of forest activities, particularly regarding climate change mitigation, depends entirely on what happens to the logs afterward and the subsequent displacement of other materials.

This document outlines best management practices developed by the Chief Forester to reduce the harmful effects of slash pile burning in British Columbia forest management. The core purpose is to minimize waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and maximize fibre utilization through integrated planning, silviculture, and harvesting techniques. Rather than offering prescriptive solutions, the document presents a range of options, such as promoting partial cutting and scattering woody debris, which must be evaluated based on site-specific factors like fire risk, biodiversity, and economics. This document seeks to treat forest management as a versatile tool to achieve diverse environmental and resource values.

This paper examines ecosystem management strategies for the paludified boreal forests of Canada, emphasizing how to simultaneously enhance wood production, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. The authors delve into how natural disturbances, particularly fire severity, influence forest dynamics, soil properties, and the diversity of plant and invertebrate communities. They then contrast these natural processes with the impacts of different logging methods on soil, productivity, and understory vegetation, highlighting how traditional clearcutting and careful logging compare to natural fire regimes. Finally, the paper discusses the critical role of these forests in carbon sequestration and proposes management approaches that emulate natural disturbances to maintain old-growth forest characteristics and mitigate climate change.

This extension note investigates recent changes in aboveground live-tree carbon within spruce and fir-dominated sub-boreal forests in the interior of British Columbia. The study specifically re-evaluated carbon stocks between 20032004 and 2018 at the Aleza Lake Research Forest to understand how carbon storage is impacted by tree species and size. The authors found that while younger forest stands generally accumulated carbon, older stands with larger trees showed a decline in aboveground live-tree carbon, largely due to increased mortality of these large trees. This highlights a critical concern regarding the role of mature forests in carbon sequestration amidst accelerating climate change and increasing tree mortality rates.

This extension note explores managing British Columbia's forests to act as ongoing carbon sinks in the face of a warming climate. It emphasizes that forest management for carbon sequestration needs to consider the likely changes in natural disturbances and offers various silvicultural tools and landscape-level strategies that managers can employ. The extension note highlights the importance of balancing carbon objectives with other forest values like biodiversity and timber production, acknowledging the complexities and uncertainties of long-term climate impacts.

This documentinvestigates the growth dynamics of mixed broadleaf-conifer stands and a push for improved forest management that better reflects multiple objectives, as outlined in the Forest and Range Practices Act. The report achieves this by reviewing existing literature on the silvicultural traits and competitive interactions of both planted conifers and naturally regenerating broadleaf species in the northern interior, alongside the ecological and silvicultural benefits of retaining broadleaves. The study proposes alternative free-to-grow criteria specifically designed to encourage the retention of broadleaf species in the Prince George, Robson Valley, and Mackenzie Timber Supply Areas, aiming for implementation within BCTS Prince George's Forest Stewardship Plan.

The Forest Carbon Management micro-certificate is designed for professionals in natural resource sectors. It provides foundational knowledge in forest carbon accounting, data analysis, project development, and market navigation. Through real-world case studies and applied learning, participants will gain practical skills to assess and manage forest carbon initiatives in both domestic and international contexts. The program is ideal for those seeking to diversify their expertise and contribute to climate action through sustainable forest practices.

This webinar presents an overview of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage options, including geological storage and biochar application. It highlights Western Canada’s favorable geology for long-term CO2 storage and discusses biochar as a stable form of carbon that can enhance soil health while sequestering carbon for centuries. The webinar emphasizes both technical feasibility and ecological benefits of carbon management strategies in industrial contexts. Presented by Malcolm Wilson

FESBC, in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, is a catalyst that unifies people around helping communities with sustainability, climate action, increasing First Nations participation in the forest economy, jobs for workers, abundant wildlife and healthy forests. The Forest Enhancement Society of BC continues to play a key role in the forests of B. C. , working with our partners to create healthier, more productive forests for the future. Through funding and direction from the government of BC, FESBC is able to support innovative projects throughout the province, delivered by Indigenous groups, communities, and contractors; projects which ensure value is generated from residual forest waste while reducing the risk from wildfires, improving wildlife habitat, and generating economic activity. The purposes of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC are: 1. To advance environmental and resource stewardship of British Columbia's forests by: Preventing and mitigating the impact of wildfires; Improving damaged or low value forests; Improving habitat for wildlife; Supporting the use of fibre from damaged and low value forests; and Treating forests to improve the management of greenhouse gases. 2. To advocate for the environmental and resource stewardship of British Columbia's forests 3. To do all such other things as are incidental and ancillary to the attainment of the foregoing purposes and the exercise of the powers of the Society.