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Seedling Response Following Partial Cutting in Lodgepole Pine Forests on Caribou Winter Range in West-Central British Columbia
This paper details a study examining how different forestry practices, specifically partial cutting methods like group selection and irregular group shelterwood, impact the survival and growth of planted lodgepole pine and interior spruce seedlings. ...This paper details a study examining how different forestry practices, specifically partial cutting methods like group selection and irregular group shelterwood, impact the survival and growth of planted lodgepole pine and interior spruce seedlings. The research compared these outcomes to those in clearcut areas, with the overarching goal of identifying silvicultural systems that can maintain suitable habitat for northern caribou, which rely on terrestrial and arboreal lichens found in these forests. By analyzing seedling survival and growth over five years in relation to different harvesting techniques, the study aimed to determine if partial cutting could effectively regenerate desired tree species while minimizing negative effects on critical caribou forage. The findings provide insights into balancing timber harvesting with the ecological needs of threatened caribou populations in this region. -
Impact of Partial Cutting on Lichen Diversity in Lodgepole Pine Forests on the Chilcotin Plateau of British Columbia
This study investigates the impact of partial cutting logging practices on lichen diversity within lodgepole pine forests of British Columbia's Chilcotin Plateau, an important habitat for northern caribou that rely on lichens for winter forage. The s...This study investigates the impact of partial cutting logging practices on lichen diversity within lodgepole pine forests of British Columbia's Chilcotin Plateau, an important habitat for northern caribou that rely on lichens for winter forage. The study compares different partial cutting methods, including variations in removal intensity and harvesting techniques, against unlogged control sites. Through pre- and post-logging measurements of lichen richness, diversity, and abundance, the authors aim to determine how these forestry practices affect the lichen communities and, consequently, the caribou's food source, with a focus on the influence of solar radiation and logging slash. This study aims to inform silvicultural systems that can balance timber harvesting with the maintenance of crucial caribou habitat. -
Ecology and Management of Interior Douglas-fir at the Northern Extreme of its Range
This study addresses the ecology and management of interior Douglas-fir at the northern extent of its range in British Columbia, particularly within the Prince George Timber Supply Area. The study delves into concerns about a perceived decline in Dou...This study addresses the ecology and management of interior Douglas-fir at the northern extent of its range in British Columbia, particularly within the Prince George Timber Supply Area. The study delves into concerns about a perceived decline in Douglas-fir abundance, exploring its ecological, cultural, and economic significance in this northern environment. It synthesizes existing knowledge on Douglas-fir, examining past and present management practices, its role in local ecosystems including wildlife habitat and soil health, and challenges related to its regeneration, often comparing it with other species like lodgepole pine and spruce. The document serves as a problem analysis and aims to inform the development of an interim management strategy and future research directions for sustaining Douglas-fir in these unique northern landscapes. -
Caribou Fire and Forestry A Literature Review
This document synthesizes existing research on the intertwined relationships between woodland caribou, wildfire, and forestry practices in Canada. It systematically explores how these two types of landscape disturbances impact various aspects of cari...This document synthesizes existing research on the intertwined relationships between woodland caribou, wildfire, and forestry practices in Canada. It systematically explores how these two types of landscape disturbances impact various aspects of caribou ecology, including habitat selection, movement patterns, population demography, and the availability of their primary forage. The review compares the effects of wildfire and forestry, aiming to inform sustainable forest management strategies and caribou recovery efforts by understanding how human activities can better emulate natural disturbance regimes. -
Long-term Silviculture Experiments Contribute to Science-Based Forest Management in British Columbia's Public Forests
This paper discusses long-term silviculture experiments in British Columbia aimed at informing science-based forest management on public lands. It highlights two key projects, MASS and Sicamous Creek, which compare different harvesting methods, incl...This paper discusses long-term silviculture experiments in British Columbia aimed at informing science-based forest management on public lands. It highlights two key projects, MASS and Sicamous Creek, which compare different harvesting methods, including variations of clearcutting and retention forestry, and their impacts on ecological values like regeneration, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity. The authors explore how the findings from these experiments can contribute to decisions about balancing timber harvesting with environmental considerations, noting the varying degrees of influence these projects have had on actual forestry practices due to differing socio-economic contexts. The paper emphasizes the complexity of applying ecological research to forest management and the importance of considering both ecological understanding and societal pressures. -
Implementing New Forest Management Principles in Coastal British Columbia Case Study 3
This case study investigates the economic and operational feasibility of implementing variable retention harvesting in coastal British Columbia. It details a specific trial on northern Vancouver Island, comparing a clearcut and a dispersed retentio...This case study investigates the economic and operational feasibility of implementing variable retention harvesting in coastal British Columbia. It details a specific trial on northern Vancouver Island, comparing a clearcut and a dispersed retention compartment within the same cutblock, analyzing the productivity and costs associated with different harvesting systems and equipment. The study aims to provide information on the practical challenges of adopting new forest management principles focused on sustaining ecological values alongside economic viability, ultimately contributing to the refinement of these techniques through adaptive management. -
Implementing New Forest Management Principles in Coastal British Columbia Case Study 2
This case study investigates the economic and operational feasibility of implementing variable retention harvesting in coastal British Columbia. It details a specific trial on northern Vancouver Island, comparing a clearcut and a dispersed retention...This case study investigates the economic and operational feasibility of implementing variable retention harvesting in coastal British Columbia. It details a specific trial on northern Vancouver Island, comparing a clearcut and a dispersed retention compartment within the same cutblock, analyzing the productivity and costs associated with different harvesting systems and equipment. The study aims to provide information on the practical challenges of adopting new forest management principles focused on sustaining ecological values alongside economic viability, ultimately contributing to the refinement of these techniques through adaptive management. -
Implementing New Forest Management Principles in Coastal British Columbia Case Study 1
This case study investigates the practical application and economic implications of ecosystem-based management in coastal British Columbia. It details a specific harvesting operation undertaken with Canadian Forest Products Ltd. , examining the produ...This case study investigates the practical application and economic implications of ecosystem-based management in coastal British Columbia. It details a specific harvesting operation undertaken with Canadian Forest Products Ltd. , examining the productivity and costs associated with different harvesting methods when implementing principles that emulate natural forest disturbances and conserve biodiversity. The study aims to provide empirical knowledge to foresters by analyzing a real-world example of this relatively new forest management paradigm, considering factors like retention levels of trees, operational feasibility, and potential impacts on the residual stand and soil. -
Timber-focused Evaluation of Partial Cutting in BC Under the Forest and Range Evaluation Program
This document details a timber-focused evaluation of partially harvested forest areas within a specific management unit. Its core purpose was to determine if the resulting stand conditions aligned with the government's objectives for timber, as outli...This document details a timber-focused evaluation of partially harvested forest areas within a specific management unit. Its core purpose was to determine if the resulting stand conditions aligned with the government's objectives for timber, as outlined in the Forest and Range Practices Act. The evaluation employed both routine and intensive assessment methods to analyze various indicators, such as stocking levels, wood volume, and tree quality, and even used growth simulation to predict future stand development under different management scenarios. The report aimed to assess the effectiveness of partial harvesting practices in meeting timber objectives and to provide recommendations for improvement in practices, evaluation methods, and related policies. -
Adaptive Management Newsletter - Single and Double Loop Learning Summer 2000
This newsletter aims to inform readers about the concepts, projects, and events related to adaptive management, particularly within British Columbia. A central theme is the distinction between single-loop learning, which focuses on fixing immediate p...This newsletter aims to inform readers about the concepts, projects, and events related to adaptive management, particularly within British Columbia. A central theme is the distinction between single-loop learning, which focuses on fixing immediate problems within existing assumptions, and double-loop learning, which involves questioning the underlying assumptions and objectives. The newsletter champions adaptive management as a method for incorporating double-loop learning into organizational routines to better manage complex ecological systems. It discusses practical aspects of implementing adaptive management, including project updates and addressing barriers like the challenge of replication in experimental design, offering potential solutions and emphasizing the importance of learning and adapting management strategies based on experience. -
Silviculture Treatments for Ecosystem Management in the Sayward (STEMS) Establishment Report for STEMS 1 Snowden Demonstration Forest
This document details the establishment of a significant forestry experiment called Silviculture Treatments for Ecosystem Management in the Sayward. The core purpose of STEMS is to compare different forest harvesting and management techniques beyond ...This document details the establishment of a significant forestry experiment called Silviculture Treatments for Ecosystem Management in the Sayward. The core purpose of STEMS is to compare different forest harvesting and management techniques beyond traditional clearcutting in second-growth Douglas-fir stands. This comparison evaluates their impacts on forest productivity, economics, and public perception, aiming to provide scientific data for making informed decisions about sustainable, multiple-use forest management. The project replicates a similar study in Washington State to enhance the reliability and broader applicability of its findings, addressing the increasing demand for forestry practices that balance timber production with ecological and social values. -
Silviculture Options in the Central Coast
This document explores alternatives to clearcutting in British Columbia. It details the environmental context of the Central Coast, including its physical environment, diverse biota, and natural and human-caused disturbances, emphasizing the unique c...This document explores alternatives to clearcutting in British Columbia. It details the environmental context of the Central Coast, including its physical environment, diverse biota, and natural and human-caused disturbances, emphasizing the unique characteristics of its three ecological subunits: the Hecate Lowland, the Outer Coast Mountains, and the Inner Coast Mountains. The document explores silvicultural systems, contrasting traditional methods with more ecologically sensitive approaches like variable retention, and analyzes the operational and economic implications of implementing partial cutting in this distinctive operating environment, ultimately providing strategic recommendations for sustainable forest management tailored to British Columbia's Central Coast's ecological and socioeconomic realities. -
Partial Cutting and Helicopter Yarding on Environmentally Sensitive Floodplains in Old Growth Hemlock-Spruce Forests
This case study details a study conducted in British Columbia in 1991 where the central focus is on methods of timber harvesting, specifically partial cutting and helicopter yarding, in ecologically sensitive floodplain areas within old-growth hemloc...This case study details a study conducted in British Columbia in 1991 where the central focus is on methods of timber harvesting, specifically partial cutting and helicopter yarding, in ecologically sensitive floodplain areas within old-growth hemlock-spruce forests. The case study explores the environmental impacts and effectiveness of these yarding techniques in such delicate ecosystems. -
Comparing Clearcutting and Alternatives in a High-Elevation Forest Early Results from Sicamous Creek
This extension note reports on the early findings of the Sicamous Creek Silvicultural Systems project, a long-term study comparing different forestry practices in high-elevation forests of British Columbia. The central theme is the evaluation of clea...This extension note reports on the early findings of the Sicamous Creek Silvicultural Systems project, a long-term study comparing different forestry practices in high-elevation forests of British Columbia. The central theme is the evaluation of clearcutting versus alternative harvesting methods, such as small patch cuts and individual tree selection, regarding their impacts on various ecological and economic factors. The purpose of this note is to summarize initial results concerning harvest costs, regeneration, soil conditions, microclimate, and biodiversity, ultimately aiming to inform more ecologically diverse and sustainable forest management in these sensitive ecosystems. -
Adapting Forest and Range Management to Climate Change in the Skeena Region Considerations for Practitioners and Government Staff
This extension note serves as a guide for adapting forest and range management practices in the Skeena Region of British Columbia to the realities of climate change. Recognizing the significant impact of a warming and wetter climate with increased ex...This extension note serves as a guide for adapting forest and range management practices in the Skeena Region of British Columbia to the realities of climate change. Recognizing the significant impact of a warming and wetter climate with increased extreme weather on local ecosystems, it synthesizes current climate change research to project future conditions and their ecological consequences. The document outlines potential adaptation strategies for resource professionals and government staff involved in operational planning, effectiveness monitoring, and climate action plans. Ultimately, the goal is to foster resilient ecosystems that can continue to provide essential services and products in the face of ongoing climatic shifts. -
Two Decades of Variable Retention in British Columbia A Review of its Implementation and Effectiveness for Biodiversity Conservation
This paper is a comprehensive review of variable retention forestry as it has been implemented and studied in British Columbia over the past two decades, focusing on its effectiveness for biodiversity conservation. It traces the origins and evoluti...This paper is a comprehensive review of variable retention forestry as it has been implemented and studied in British Columbia over the past two decades, focusing on its effectiveness for biodiversity conservation. It traces the origins and evolution of VR in response to concerns about traditional clearcutting, detailing its adoption by major forestry companies and its integration into provincial regulations and land use plans. The authors examine the ecological outcomes of VR, including its impacts on forest structure, wind damage, tree growth, understory vegetation, and various animal groups like birds and invertebrates, often drawing upon long-term monitoring projects and adaptive management experiments. The review aims to synthesize the lessons learned about balancing timber production with biodiversity goals through VR, offering insights into best practices and future directions for forest management in BC and potentially other regions. -
Alternatives to Clearcutting in BC Coastal Montane Forests
This paper details the establishment and early findings of the Montane Alternative Silvicultural Systems partnership, formed to investigate alternatives to clearcutting in the high-elevation old-growth forests of Vancouver Island. The study compares...This paper details the establishment and early findings of the Montane Alternative Silvicultural Systems partnership, formed to investigate alternatives to clearcutting in the high-elevation old-growth forests of Vancouver Island. The study compares the operational costs and biological impacts of Uniform Shelterwood, Green Tree Retention, and Patch Cuttings to traditional clearcutting and an old-growth control. Initial results highlight differences in harvesting expenses, windthrow, site disturbance, nutrient cycling, understory vegetation response, and coniferous regeneration, emphasizing the complexity of balancing timber harvesting with ecological sustainability in these montane ecosystems. -
Maintaining Attributes of Old-Growth Forests in Coastal BC Through Variable Retention
This case study details the adoption and implementation of variable retention, a new forestry approach by Weyerhaeuser's British Columbia Coastal Group. Recognizing the ecological importance of residual structures after natural disturbances, VR aims ...This case study details the adoption and implementation of variable retention, a new forestry approach by Weyerhaeuser's British Columbia Coastal Group. Recognizing the ecological importance of residual structures after natural disturbances, VR aims to sustain old-growth forest characteristics within harvested areas by leaving behind live and dead trees. The paper outlines the origins of VR, the establishment of different landscape zoning strategies, and the practical considerations for its application, including harvesting techniques, economic impacts, and silvicultural adjustments for regeneration, emphasizing a commitment to biodiversity conservation alongside timber production. -
Management Strategy for Mule Deer Winter Ranges in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Part 1b Management Plan for Transition and Deep Snowpack Zones
This document outlines a management strategy for mule deer winter ranges specifically within the transition and deep snowpack zones of the Cariboo-Chilcotin region. It's structured in two main parts: the first details winter range management objectiv...This document outlines a management strategy for mule deer winter ranges specifically within the transition and deep snowpack zones of the Cariboo-Chilcotin region. It's structured in two main parts: the first details winter range management objectives, including long-term spatial goals, access considerations, and stand-level targets for forest structure and species composition, largely employing a group selection silviculture system. The second part provides guidance on planning forest harvests to align with these objectives, offering practical steps and a checklist for implementation, aiming to integrate timber harvesting with the maintenance and restoration of suitable mule deer habitat. -
Successional Responses to Natural Disturbance Forest Management and Climate Change in British Columbia's Forests
This extension note outlines the successional pathways of various forest ecosystems in British Columbia and how these natural trajectories are influenced by natural disturbances, forest management practices, and projected climate change. The authors ...This extension note outlines the successional pathways of various forest ecosystems in British Columbia and how these natural trajectories are influenced by natural disturbances, forest management practices, and projected climate change. The authors describe typical disturbance regimes like fire and insect outbreaks within different Ecoprovinces and their characteristic Ecosystem Types. Furthermore, the note discusses how human interventions, particularly logging, have altered these successional patterns, and it concludes by considering the potential future impacts of changing temperature and precipitation on these vital forest dynamics, emphasizing the need for management that fosters resilient and resistant forests.
