135 resources found

John Prince Research Forest (JPRF) is a unique institution, envisioned, initiated and managed cooperatively between Tl'azt'en First Nation and the University of Northern British Columbia. Developing innovative approaches to natural resource conservation and management that combines First Nations' traditional and western scientific approaches to understanding the natural world, is what makes John Prince Research Forest special. Located in the dry sub-boreal spruce biogeoclimatic zone of the Nechako Plateau, the northernmost subdivision of BC' s Central Interior Plateau. The JPRF falls within the moist interior natural disturbance unit, characterized by large wild fire stand replacement events typically on a 100-200 year cycle. The natural forest types are an uneven-aged mix of Douglas-fir, spruce, pine, subalpine and deciduous types. These highly productive northern forests have distinctive understories of rose, spirea, soopallie, cranberry, thimbleberry, red osier dogwood, black twinberry, devil's club and huckleberry varieties. Explore John Prince Research Forest publications at: https://www.jprf.ca/research

This report compiles over 80 years of fire research to explain how human interventions have altered natural fire regimes, particularly in dry Western U. S. forests. The document emphasizes that accumulated fuels and dense forest structures, a departure from historical conditions, lead to more intense and severe wildfires, posing risks to both ecosystems and human communities. It details various fuel treatments, such as thinning and prescribed fire, as crucial strategies for restoring fire-resilient forests by reducing surface, ladder, and crown fuels. The report advocates for a landscape-level approach to fuel management, acknowledging that while models and observations inform these efforts, uncertainties remain in predicting exact fire behavior.

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.

This document addresses the challenge of balancing timber harvesting with the conservation of at-risk plant communities that depend on mature and old forest conditions in British Columbia's Coastal Douglas Fir biogeoclimatic zone. Recognizing the scarcity of these older forests, the document outlines silvicultural practices aimed at maintaining existing structural diversity in high-conservation areas and accelerating the development of old-growth characteristics in younger, more homogenous stands. Ultimately, it seeks to equip forest professionals with strategies to enhance the ecological functions of older forests within provincial forest lands.

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.

The CNC Research Forest area was entrusted to the College of New Caledonia as a critical resource to support and enrich student education via CNC's Natural Resources and Forest Technology program. The Research Forest provides for excellent experiential student learning and research opportunities and first-hand experience in forest resource stewardship. At the same time, northern British Columbia is afforded ready access to a venue for forest-based research, and an expert team of researchers to tackle your applied research and innovation challenges.

This learning resource outlines how forest practices are assessed to ensure they maintain or enhance the supply of economically valuable commercial timber. Using the Stand Development Protocol, the program evaluates previously harvested areas for tree species diversity, forest productivity, and health. It compares stands harvested before and after December 2005 to determine the effectiveness of forest regeneration practices. Supporting materials include detailed protocols and field cards for monitoring stand development and stump identification.

The target audience for this course includes silviculture surveyors, contract administrators and personnel involved with the creation of silviculture plans and prescriptions for multi-storey stands.

The Stand Tender program provides foundational knowledge for those involved in stand tending within forest management. This free, 2-hour online course covers essential techniques such as brushing, thinning, and pruning, along with assessing stand health and implementing stand tending plans

To promote effective forest management and stewardship, these training materials were developed as part of an ongoing commitment to sustainability of the province's forest resources with a focus on pruning, commercial thinning, fertilization, wood quality, stand density, and juvenile spacing.

This extension note explores the critical role of fire in the dry interior forests of British Columbia, which historically experienced frequent, low-intensity surface fires that maintained ecosystem health and biodiversity. The authors explain how human fire exclusion over the past 60 years has dramatically altered these forests, leading to increased fuel loads, higher tree density, altered species composition, and a greater risk of intense, large-scale crown fires. The documen then outlines four management options for these sites: continued fire suppression, controlled prescribed burns, mechanical fuel reduction, or a combination of these strategies, emphasizing the need to balance ecological, social, and economic considerations. Finally, the document highlights various ongoing research initiatives aimed at understanding fire regimes and developing integrated management solutions for these fire-adapted ecosystems.

This document from the BC Wildfire Service provides comprehensive guidance for developing Fuel Management Prescriptions, specifically for projects aimed at wildfire risk reduction funded by various government programs. It outlines the purpose and core principles of effective fuel management, emphasizing the need for specific and measurable targets for fire behavior reduction and site-specific considerations tied to WRR objectives. The document details the required sections and content for a FMP template, covering everything from project identification and descriptions of fuel treatment units to intricate details about soil characteristics, legal and non-statutory considerations, and precise fuel loading and treatment specifications. This document aims to equip qualified professionals with the necessary framework to design treatments that reduce fire intensity, support suppression efforts, and balance wildfire mitigation with other ecological and social values.

This document presents results from a long-term experiment examining the impact of spacing and thinning on coastal Douglas-fir plantations. The study, conducted over 28 years near Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, aimed to understand how different tree densities and thinning strategies affect various growth parameters like diameter, height, basal area, and total and merchantable volume. While acknowledging limitations due to site variation and a lack of replication, the report provides initial insights into managing Douglas-fir stands, emphasizing that higher density generally leads to smaller individual tree growth but greater overall stand volume, whereas thinning, especially heavy or early thinning, can positively influence tree size and merchantable volume.

This manual outlines the comprehensive process for implementing commercial thinning operations in British Columbia, driven by the need to address fiber shortages caused by natural disturbances. The document is structured to guide various users, from forest planners selecting appropriate stands and assessing economic viability, to field supervisors and machine operators executing the thinning process. It details crucial stages including identifying suitable stands based on specific criteria like species and age, meticulous planning at the block level encompassing pre-harvest assessment and selecting optimal harvesting systems, and the practical implementation with an emphasis on coaching operators and diligent monitoring. The manual also highlights the importance of post-harvest assessment and considers broader implications, such as the long-term impact on timber supply and the integration of non-timber values like wildlife habitat and wildfire risk reduction.

This document serves as a comprehensive manual for forest professionals, outlining best practices for thinning operations effective April 2025. Its primary purpose is to support sustainable forest management by providing science-based guidelines for developing and implementing thinning prescriptions, particularly for enhancing timber production and quality. The guidance emphasizes maintaining ecological and social objectives while focusing on operational efficiency, minimizing environmental impacts, and promoting innovative approaches. It also details the required data collection and monitoring processes to ensure the effectiveness and compliance of thinning activities, thereby fostering healthy, resilient forest ecosystems across British Columbia.

This technical report explores cost-effective thinning methods for densely regenerated lodgepole pine stands in British Columbia resulting from wildfires. The study evaluates semi-mechanized treatments, which combine machine-based strip mulching with manual thinning, against traditional manual-only thinning. The findings suggest that both fully and semi-mechanized methods were less expensive than solely manual approaches and preserved enough trees to meet basic provincial stocking standards, though meeting long-term density targets might require further investigation.

This document details a study using the TASS II growth model to assess how different forest management techniques impact the timber production of lodgepole pine in mixed stands with aspen. Prepared for the Interior Broadleaf Working Group, the report simulates various scenarios involving different densities of aspen and several treatments like brushing at different ages and herbicide application. The core purpose is to provide guidance on choosing the most effective brushing strategies to maximize conifer timber objectives in the Prince George Timber Supply Area, by analyzing the projected growth and yield of lodgepole pine under these varying conditions. The study meticulously examines factors such as site index, height growth, tree survival, and ultimately, the merchantable volume of pine achieved with and without intervention.

This document details the SADO management system, a conservation-focused approach specifically designed for sustaining old-growth characteristics in aspen, birch, and cottonwood forests within British Columbia's SBS zone. Recognizing the relatively short lifespan and successional vulnerability of these deciduous stands, the system provides a step-by-step guide for forest managers. Its core principles revolve around monitoring regeneration, selectively removing conifers, managing herbivore browsing, ensuring adequate light, and addressing regeneration capacity to promote the development of self-sustaining, all-aged stand structures that continuously exhibit old-growth attributes, with a particular emphasis on maintaining ecological values and biodiversity.

This document outlines how participating forestry companies and BC Timber Sales intend to manage forests sustainably, aiming to balance ecological, economic, and social values. The plan incorporates a Canadian Standards Association certification process and emphasizes a landscape-level approach to forest management, considering natural disturbance patterns. Key components include establishing values, objectives, indicators, and targets developed with public and Indigenous input, along with specific strategies for timber harvesting, reforestation, road access, wildlife habitat, and engagement with First Nations and the public. The SFMP serves as a guiding document for operational planning and continuous improvement in forest management practices within the defined area.

This document presents a study investigating how different methods of controlling aspen growth impact the future yield of white spruce and lodgepole pine. The research utilizes the Mixedwood Growth Model for British Columbia to simulate various scenarios, including different initial aspen densities and brushing treatments. By comparing the resulting timber volumes and mean annual increment at a rotation age of 75 years across different subzone site series, the study aims to identify the most effective brushing approaches for maximizing the productivity of the coniferous species in mixedwood stands.