7 resources found

This technical report introduces a drought risk assessment tool designed to help forest managers in British Columbia navigate the challenges of a warming climate. By using a stand-level water-balance approach, the researchers calculated the ratio of water availability to evaporative demand to establish drought tolerance thresholds for ten common tree species. The study concludes that many species face significant threats of stress and mortality on drier sites, whereas moist, water-receiving areas may serve as critical climate refugia for conservation. This document provides a practical framework for applying this data to silvicultural decisions, such as selecting resilient species for reforestation and identifying areas at higher risk for wildfires or invasive species.

This FRDA Report #157 focuses on providing a detailed framework for identification and management of summer frost-prone sites within the Cariboo Forest Region of British Columbia. Recognizing that unexpected summer frosts severely impact the survival and growth of young tree plantations, the document establishes clear frost hazard assessments based on biogeoclimatic zones, landscape topography, and other site-specific factors. The main body of the text, supplemented by a concise field guide, outlines a methodology for determining the degree of risk associated with cold air accumulation. The authors supply comprehensive management recommendations regarding site preparation, species selection, and harvest practices designed to minimize damage to seedlings and improve reforestation success.

This LMH Document 60 outlines a management strategy for mule deer winter ranges in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of British Columbia, specifically focusing on transition and deep snowpack zones. Developed through years of research and aligned with existing land use plans, the document provides management objectives and strategies for forest harvesting to maintain and restore suitable habitat. Key areas addressed include access planning, stand age structure, tree species composition, opening sizes for harvests, and the spatial layout of openings. It also includes appendices detailing snowpack zones, biodiversity considerations, forest health management, and a history of related research and planning efforts, aiming to guide forest managers and monitor habitat preservation.

This paper provides an ecological and management overview of the old-growth forests in Canada's Montane Cordillera, a region spanning British Columbia and Alberta known for having the nation's most diverse range of old-growth coniferous forests due to its varied climates and natural disturbance regimes. The author emphasizes that a forest's history of climate and disturbance profoundly influences the abundance and structure of old-growth stands, noting that wetter climates support more abundant old forests and old-growth-dependent organisms, such as epiphytic lichens. The text critiques the challenges of defining old-growth, which is often arbitrary and dependent on an ecologist's viewpoint, and highlights the urgent need for a better ecological understanding to make informed land-use decisions for both the wet-belt rainforests and the drier forests, which are heavily impacted by human activities.

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 outlines best management practices for fuel treatment within British Columbia's interior-dry fire weather zone, a region characterized by dry ecosystems like Interior douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and bunchgrass zones. It emphasizes how wildfires significantly influence these forest ecosystems, historically maintaining biodiversity and grasslands through low-intensity burns. The guide details fuel management strategies for surface, ladder, and crown fuels, including thinning, pruning, and species conversion, all aimed at reducing the risk and intensity of high-severity wildfires. Additionally, it provides recommendations for mitigating impacts on forest health from treatments and includes case studies illustrating effective fuel management practices.

This case study outlines a detailed approach to employing planned burns for ecological benefits. The document details the ecological role of fire in the Okanagan, current fire management practices, and the proposed strategic plan. Key themes include the restoration and maintenance of ecosystem health and biodiversity through mimicking natural fire regimes, while also addressing risk management and collaboration among stakeholders. The plan likely specifies objectives, strategies, and implementation considerations for using prescribed fire as a vital tool in landscape management.