316 resources found

This document outlines the strategic approach to silvicultural systems in the Great Bear Rainforest, focusing on Ecosystem-Based Management. A central theme is the retention silvicultural system, which involves deliberately leaving trees and vegetation within harvested areas to maintain forest structure and biodiversity. The application of this system is context-dependent, influenced by the proportion of mature and old forest at both the broader landscape unit and immediate cutblock scales, with increased retention mandated where older forests are scarce. Additionally, the document addresses windthrow considerations at both landscape and stand levels, providing guidelines to mitigate damage while prioritizing the retention system in areas of lower wind hazard.

This document outlines the corporate and operational implementation of VR, including specific targets and zoning strategies, alongside a monitoring framework to ensure intended ecological outcomes are met. The document asserts that VR is crucial for future forest management as it aligns with broader BC initiatives for biodiversity and ecosystem health.

The Sustainable Forest Management certificate is a flexible, career-focused program designed for forestry professionals aiming to advance their skills or pursue Registered Professional Forester designation. Delivered through three stackable micro-credentials, the program covers forest ecology, silviculture systems, harvesting practices, and forest health management. Learners gain practical, applied knowledge to assess forest disturbances and implement sustainable management strategies.

The Forest Management Planning micro-certificate will equip participants with foundational knowledge and tools to develop and evaluate forest management plans. Participants will learn to assess forest ecosystem services, balance competing objectives, and apply planning concepts across multiple scales. The program integrates case studies from British Columbia and emphasizes sustainable forest management practices. By the end, participants will be able to critically analyze management options and create effective, goal-oriented forest plans.

The Communication Strategies for Resource Practitioners micro-certificate is designed to help professionals in natural resource sectors develop impactful communication skills. Through four focused courses, participants will learn written, oral, multimedia, and social change strategies tailored to environmental contexts. The program emphasizes audience engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and reputation-building for the forestry industry. Learners will gain hands-on experience through case studies and campaign development, preparing them to communicate complex ideas effectively and persuasively.

The Forest Health Management micro-certificate will teach professionals how to detect, diagnose, and manage forest health issues caused by insects and diseases. Through four sequential courses, learners will explore insect and disease biology, ecology, identification, and mitigation strategies. The program emphasizes early detection and response to forest health threats, which are increasingly influenced by climate change and globalization.

The Co-Management of Natural Resources micro-certificate is a flexible online program designed to build competencies in collaborative resource management. It equips Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals with tools to foster institutional change, intercultural understanding, and effective partnerships. Participants will explore real-world case studies, including those from Haida Gwaii, and gain insights into law, governance, and strategies for navigating complex systems. The program is grounded in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

This course offers practical skills and knowledge to understand the effects of fires on natural environments through ecosystem decoding. The course also explores the impacts of, and the interactions between, fire management and forest management over the past 100 plus years. By the end of the course, participants will be able to prepare communities to respond to wildfire threats and create ecosystem resiliency through restoration methods - in fire and forest landscapes with multiple ecological objectives.

FPBC's professional development courses are designed to enhance the competence of forest professionals in British Columbia. These e-courses and micro-courses cover topics such as climate change, ethical conduct, forest stewardship, conflict management, and working with Indigenous communities. Learners gain practical skills in areas like visual resource management, fieldwork quality, and professional forestry practice rights. Each course supports ongoing learning and includes a certificate of completion to recognize achievement.

This document investigates how partial harvesting strategies, designed to enhance mule deer habitat and allow timber extraction in British Columbia's dry Douglas-fir forests, impact complex interactions with natural disturbances like insect outbreaks and wildfires. The study, spanning 30 years, found that while short-term harvesting altered forest structure and reduced the immediate risk of crown fires and Douglas-fir beetle infestations, many of these structural and susceptibility changes reverted over the long term. The removal of harvesting residuals proved more significant in mitigating long-term disturbance risks, particularly for Douglas-fir beetles and intense surface fires, than the time elapsed since the treatment itself. The authors conclude that sustainable forest management integrating timber extraction and mule deer habitat conservation is achievable if partial harvesting occurs at intervals of 30 years or less and residuals are promptly cleared.

Building a community of practice that shares ideas, insights, and experiences for advancing effective and efficient restoration in northern B. C. Who is a Restoration Practitioner Anyone interested in the delivery of a restoration project, including professionals, academics, authorities, First Nations, stakeholders, funders, partners, governmental and non-governmental groups, and individuals interested in restoration.

The aim of this community of practice is to create an open forum to discuss wildland fire and fuel management, share knowledge, find solutions, and develop new ideas. Representatives of FPBC and BC Wildfire Service provide updates on the regulation of the practice of professional forestry and the management of wildland fire and fuels during meetings.

The Private Forest Landowners Association represents managed forest owners across the province of British Columbia from the coastal to the interior, the large to the small, the veteran forester to the novice tree farmer. PFLA consistently participates in the public policy process to ensure government policy is fair, environmentally sound, fiscally responsible and sufficiently respectful of private property rights. PFLA offers regular workshops, training opportunities and communication updates to foster responsible and innovative forest management practices that encourage and promote the protection of key public environmental values on private forest lands.

The Ecological Restoration program offers specialized training in high-level ecosystem functioning and is designed for practitioners working in restoration and related environmental fields that see problems with current practices and want to investigate alternative and innovative solutions. This program develops critical thinking skills and asks challenging questions that require students to deal with the uncertainty that is present with problems in ecological restoration. Upon completion of this program, students will be able to conduct detailed site assessments and restoration projects that pay special attention to the unique conditions and challenges presented by built and otherwise highly altered environments.

Presented from both Indigenous and western perspectives, the online program provides a unique learning opportunity that combines knowledge of western fire science and Indigenous ways of knowing with landscape and fire ecology and social sciences to address a vital need for professional training in the increasingly complex area of wildfire management.

This interactive and self-paced short course is delivered through four e-learning modules. It is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about climate change, providing concepts, case studies, and perspectives with a focus on the B. C. context, aiming to enhance understanding and promote ideas for climate action.

This paper highlights the crucial role of boundary spanners in addressing the escalating challenge of wildfires in Western Canada. These individuals and organizations bridge critical gaps, spanning different knowledge systems, organizations, and geographical areas, to foster collaboration and implement proactive fire management strategies, such as cultural and prescribed burning. The authors emphasize that despite the vital work of boundary spanners in building trust, sharing knowledge, and developing capacity, their contributions are often undervalued and lack sufficient institutional support. The piece concludes by asserting the urgent need for dedicated investment in boundary spanning roles to effectively integrate diverse expertise and facilitate collaborative, equitable solutions for wildfire management.

This presentation focuses on managing forests for resilience as a crucial method for achieving both forest sustainability and value. It begins by establishing the importance of resilience in the context of forestry, defining it across ecological, engineering, and social-ecological perspectives, and distinguishing between general and disturbance-specific resilience. The presentation then explores how to promote resilient forests, emphasizing the role of diversity, complexity, and understanding ecological systems. Through case studies and management principles, it demonstrates practical ways to enhance forest resilience at various spatial scales, acknowledging the inherent trade-offs in managing for future uncertainties like fire, insects, drought, and climate change.