11 resources found

This FRDA Report #196 is a synthesis of project results investigating the effects of fertilization and thinning on a Douglas-fir ecosystem at Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia. The research reports on a long-term, multidisciplinary study examining how these forest management techniques influence tree growth, physiology, and ecosystem processes. Key themes include the long-term impact on growth and yield, the mechanistic response of the trees to nitrogen, and the fate of nitrogen fertilizers within the soil and water systems. This document provides a comprehensive overview intended to inform better forest management practices by synthesizing decades of experimental data.

This study investigates the effects of forest thinning on the understory vegetation in ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests of south-central British Columbia. The study addresses the problem of forest in-growth due to fire suppression, which reduces grazing land and increases wildfire risk. Through a four-year data collection period at two sites, the researchers examined how thinning, which reduces tree density, impacts understory species diversity and biomass production. The findings indicate that while thinning may not consistently increase species diversity in the short term, it does lead to a significant increase in total understory biomass within a few years, suggesting its potential as a tool for ecological restoration and enhancing forage for livestock.

This FRDA Report #066 is an extensive information review regarding the complexities of managing hardwood timber resources, specifically aspen and poplar species, in northeastern British Columbia. The document organizes these challenges into 12 priority areas, highlighting the need for addressing outdated inventory and resolving land use conflict as the most urgent concerns. The review systematically synthesizes existing literature on topics ranging from stocking standards and growth projections to regeneration, soil erosion, and gene conservation. This document is intended to guide forestry practices toward the more effective utilization and management of the boreal hardwood ecosystem in the region.

This paper investigates the patterns of post-fire vegetation regeneration in two climatically distinct sites in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada, following a severe montane fire and subsequent abnormally dry conditions. The study aimed to quantify the recovery trajectories of herbaceous understory and conifer seedlings over five years, revealing that site environmental conditions were more influential than inter-annual drought in determining recovery. Notably, the moist site exhibited greater herbaceous biomass accumulation while the drier site demonstrated significantly higher lodgepole pine seedling recruitment, indicating a complex ecological resilience to drought in fire-prone montane ecosystems. This paper affirmed the utility of remotely piloted aircraft systems for spatially monitoring changes in vegetation height, cover, and biomass after a disturbance.

This document offers guidance for managing coarse woody debris on crown forest land, stressing its vital role in forest and ecosystem productivity, particularly in terms of soil function and habitat. The central objective of this document is to increase awareness and improve CWD planning and management both before and during harvest, with a critical emphasis on retaining a good variety of piece sizes which provide long-term ecological benefits. Furthermore, the guidance encourages the recruitment of CWD over time through the retention of standing trees, and uses monitoring data from the Forest and Range Evaluation Program to set target increases for the median density of large CWD pieces across different ecological zones.

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 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 document outlines a framework for restoring ponderosa pine and dry mixed-conifer forests on Colorado's Front Range, addressing the increased size and severity of recent wildfires. It emphasizes understanding the historical ecological dynamics of these forests, particularly changes in density and fire regimes, to inform modern management. The document details principles and guidelines for restoration and emphasizes the importance of spatial and temporal scale, enhancing desired and rare structural elements like openings and tree groups, and working with natural environmental gradients and disturbance patterns. This document provides a process for planning, implementing, and monitoring restoration projects, highlighting the crucial role of adaptive management and interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure forest resilience and sustained delivery of ecosystem services.

This document outlines British Columbia's Forest Carbon Initiative, a provincial program dedicated to leveraging forests for climate change mitigation. The initiative focuses on increasing carbon sequestration and avoiding emissions through enhanced forest management practices. It details specific modules, including fertilization, reforestation, road rehabilitation, and improved utilization of logging residues, each designed to optimize carbon benefits. The overarching purpose is to inform forest professionals and resource managers about these opportunities and provide guidance on project implementation, highlighting the significant role forests play as natural carbon storehouses.

This document explores the complex relationship between fire management in fire-prone forests of British Columbia and the dynamics of forest carbon. It highlights the challenge for natural resource managers in determining when fire management actions act as sources or sinks of greenhouse gases. The document discusses forest carbon cycles, the impact of climate change on fire regimes, and various forest management approaches, including fire suppression and fuel reduction, in the context of carbon storage and emissions. The docuemtn aims to inform decision-making by considering carbon dynamics alongside other crucial ecological and economic values in these fire-dependent ecosystems.