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Adjusting Free-growing Guidance Regarding Aspen Retention in the Cariboo-Chilcotin - Research to Operational Implementation
This document details a research project in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia focused on revising free-growing guidelines to better account for the interactions between young conifer plantations and broadleaf trees, particularly trembling aspen....This document details a research project in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia focused on revising free-growing guidelines to better account for the interactions between young conifer plantations and broadleaf trees, particularly trembling aspen. The central theme is understanding the competitive relationships between aspen and various conifer species across different biogeoclimatic zones. Through long-term experimental studies and field verification, the researchers gathered data on tree growth, health, and density to propose scientifically supported adjustments to the regulations that determine when a reforested area is considered successfully established. The goal of this study was to create more ecologically informed and practically applicable guidelines that recognize the potential benefits of broadleaf presence while ensuring successful conifer regeneration for timber production. -
Maintaining Fire in British Columbia's Ecosystems - An Ecological Perspective
This study explores the critical role of fire as a natural process in shaping and sustaining the diverse ecosystems of British Columbia. The first describes the various historical fire regimes across different ecosystem types in the province, categor...This study explores the critical role of fire as a natural process in shaping and sustaining the diverse ecosystems of British Columbia. The first describes the various historical fire regimes across different ecosystem types in the province, categorized by the frequency and intensity of fire events. It then emphasizes the ecological importance of fire, highlighting its contributions to biodiversity, ecosystem complexity, and nutrient cycling. Finally, the text examines ecological approaches to fire management, advocating for strategies that recognize and maintain the beneficial presence of fire on the landscape, while also considering factors like climate change and the presence of species at risk. This report serves as a guide for land managers and decision-makers to integrate ecological perspectives into fire management plans for the long-term health and resilience of British Columbia's forests and rangelands. -
Microclimate Studies in Silvicultural Systems on the Chilcotin Plateau of British Columbia the Itcha Ilgachuz Project (1997 2003)
This technical report evaluates how different timber harvesting methods affect the microclimate of the Chilcotin Plateau to determine the best strategies for preserving threatened woodland caribou habitat. By comparing traditional clearcuts with part...This technical report evaluates how different timber harvesting methods affect the microclimate of the Chilcotin Plateau to determine the best strategies for preserving threatened woodland caribou habitat. By comparing traditional clearcuts with partial cutting systems, such as group selection and shelterwoods, researchers tracked critical variables including soil temperature, frost frequency, and snow-melt dates over a seven-year period. The study found that while clearcuts offer warmer soils, partial cuts provide a vital sheltering effect that significantly reduces the occurrence and severity of lethal summer frosts for young trees and essential lichens. This document suggests that strategically managing opening sizes and microsite placement can balance the needs of timber production with the environmental conditions necessary to sustain caribou forage and forest regeneration. -
Itcha-Ilgachuz Alternative Silvicultural Systems Project 1995-2005 - Research Update
This document summarizes a decade of experimentation aimed at balancing timber extraction with the preservation of northern caribou habitat in British Columbia. The document outlines various alternative silvicultural systems, such as irregular shelte...This document summarizes a decade of experimentation aimed at balancing timber extraction with the preservation of northern caribou habitat in British Columbia. The document outlines various alternative silvicultural systems, such as irregular shelterwood and group selection, to protect the terrestrial and arboreal lichens essential for caribou winter survival. Beyond wildlife management, the text evaluates how these harvesting methods influence forest regeneration, microclimate stability, and windthrow risk compared to traditional clearcutting. This document serves as a scientific foundation for regional recovery plans and sustainable land-use strategies for threatened species in the Southern Interior Forest Region. -
FRDA Identification and Management of Summer Frost-Prone Sites in the Cariboo Forest Region
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...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. -
LMH Management Strategy for Mule Deer Winter Ranges in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Part 1a Management Plan for Shallow and Moderate Snowpack Zones
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 exi...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. -
A Note on the Ecology and Management of Old Growth Forests in the Montane Cordillera
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 t...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. -
Stock Type Selection and Ordering Guidelines
This document assists silviculturists in British Columbia with the process of stock type selection for reforestation efforts. The document details the characteristics and definitions of both container-grown and field-grown stock, emphasizing that the...This document assists silviculturists in British Columbia with the process of stock type selection for reforestation efforts. The document details the characteristics and definitions of both container-grown and field-grown stock, emphasizing that the correct choice significantly impacts a plantation's survival and early growth. Key sections are dedicated to factors influencing selection, such as species, site limiting factors, and logistics related to ordering and tracking stock types, as well as proper receiving and handling stock upon delivery. This document serves as a comprehensive reference to match specific seedling characteristics with site-specific conditions and cost considerations. -
Integrating Ecosystem Restoration into Forest Management Practical Examples for Foresters
This core purpose of this document is to present ideas and case studies demonstrating how to integrate ecological restoration into routine forest management practices to enhance biodiversity, reduce risks, and achieve sustainable certification. This ...This core purpose of this document is to present ideas and case studies demonstrating how to integrate ecological restoration into routine forest management practices to enhance biodiversity, reduce risks, and achieve sustainable certification. This document outlines key ecological issues, such as landscape fragmentation and the loss of natural stand structural elements, and details corresponding restoration approaches across eleven distinct case studies, from restoring open forest and open range through commercial thinning to mitigating road impacts and restoring riparian habitat integrity. Finally, the document prioritizes specific forested ecosystems with high priority restoration needs in BC, offering tailored solutions for zones like the Interior Douglas-fir and Coastal Western Hemlock. -
Cariboo Forest Region Forest Health Stand Establishment Decision Aid
This document introduces crucial tools for silvicultural practitioners in the Cariboo Forest Region. This document synthesizes research and local knowledge to provide guidance on managing factors like competing vegetation and forest health, rather th...This document introduces crucial tools for silvicultural practitioners in the Cariboo Forest Region. This document synthesizes research and local knowledge to provide guidance on managing factors like competing vegetation and forest health, rather than dictating decisions. Specifically, the document details stand establishment for various issues affecting lodgepole pine, including Comandra and Stalactiform Blister Rust, Lodgepole Pine Dwarf Mistletoe, Lodgepole Pine Terminal Weevil, Pine Needlecast, and Western Gall Rust. For each issue, hazard ratings are offered based on biogeoclimatic zones and subzones and outline silvicultural considerations for establishment, regeneration, and plantation maintenance, empowering practitioners to make informed management strategies. -
Fisher Wildife Habitat Decision Aid
This document provides essential guidance for forestry practitioners in British Columbia on managing timber operations to protect fisher habitat. Fishers are a forest-dependent carnivore considered a Species of Special Concern, relying on specific la...This document provides essential guidance for forestry practitioners in British Columbia on managing timber operations to protect fisher habitat. Fishers are a forest-dependent carnivore considered a Species of Special Concern, relying on specific late-successional forest structures, such as large-diameter trees with cavities for dens and diverse habitats for foraging and resting. The guide outlines habitat requirements, distribution, and critical forest management considerations at landscape, stand, and patch levels, emphasizing the need to retain and recruit vital structural components that are often removed by conventional harvesting. The purpose of this document is to inform sustainable forestry practices that ensure the long-term survival of fisher populations within managed forests. -
Seeking Alternatives to Clearcutting in British Columbia - The Role of Large-Scale Experiments for Sustainable Forestry
This document reports on a government initiative, the Silvicultural Systems Program, established in response to public criticism of widespread clearcutting in British Columbia's forests starting in 1990. The paper describes the program's goal of expl...This document reports on a government initiative, the Silvicultural Systems Program, established in response to public criticism of widespread clearcutting in British Columbia's forests starting in 1990. The paper describes the program's goal of exploring and demonstrating diverse forest harvesting practices through numerous large-scale, long-term experiments across the province. It outlines the program's history, funding, and key accomplishments, including the operational feasibility and varied environmental impacts of alternatives to clearcutting, and concludes by offering lessons learned for future large-scale forestry research endeavors and reflecting on the challenges of translating research into widespread changes in forestry practices. -
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. -
British Columbia's Interior Fisher Wildlife Habitat Decision Aid
This document synthesizes scientific and experiential knowledge regarding the habitat needs of fishers, a forest-dependent carnivore considered a Species at Risk. The guide offers practical considerations for managing forests within fisher territorie...This document synthesizes scientific and experiential knowledge regarding the habitat needs of fishers, a forest-dependent carnivore considered a Species at Risk. The guide offers practical considerations for managing forests within fisher territories, covering aspects like denning, resting, and foraging habitats, aiming to help maintain essential resources during forestry operations such as harvesting and silviculture. This document seeks to integrate fisher conservation with forest management practices in British Columbia's interior. -
Tomentosus Root Rot Forest Health Stand Establishment Decision Aid
This document serves as a stand establishment decision aid for forest managers in British Columbia dealing with tomentosus root rot, a fungal disease prevalent in spruce and pine forests. It outlines the characteristics and spread of the disease, emp...This document serves as a stand establishment decision aid for forest managers in British Columbia dealing with tomentosus root rot, a fungal disease prevalent in spruce and pine forests. It outlines the characteristics and spread of the disease, emphasizing its impact on forest health and productivity through mortality, growth reduction, and windthrow. The guide details how to identify susceptible stands based on species composition and site conditions, discusses methods for assessing disease presence after harvesting, and presents silvicultural considerations like inoculum reduction and the planting of less susceptible tree species to mitigate future issues. The purpose of this document is to inform forest management practices in areas where tomentosus poses a significant risk to ensure healthy and productive future forests. -
Southern Interior Forest Region Forest Health Stand Establishment Decision Aids
This extension note serves as a practical guide for silvicultural practitioners. It addresses critical operational concerns identified by the forestry community, specifically focusing on competing vegetation and forest health. The core of the documen...This extension note serves as a practical guide for silvicultural practitioners. It addresses critical operational concerns identified by the forestry community, specifically focusing on competing vegetation and forest health. The core of the document presents Stand Establishment Decision Aids for nine distinct forest health issues prevalent in the Southern Interior Forest Region of British Columbia, such as the black army cutworm, various root diseases, and blister rusts. Each SEDA provides essential information on identifying susceptible stands, understanding the biology of the damaging agent, and outlining relevant harvest and silviculture considerations, including regeneration and plantation maintenance strategies, ultimately aiming to support informed decision-making for healthy forest establishment. -
Natural Regeneration of Lodgepole Pine Following Partial Harvesting on Northern Caribou Winter Range in West-Central British Columbia
This paper investigates how well lodgepole pine forests naturally regrow after partial harvesting in important winter habitats for northern caribou in west-central British Columbia. The study compares the density and growth of new pine seedlings in s...This paper investigates how well lodgepole pine forests naturally regrow after partial harvesting in important winter habitats for northern caribou in west-central British Columbia. The study compares the density and growth of new pine seedlings in small harvested openings across two different subzones and under three different partial harvesting methods over a seven-year period. A key focus is understanding if these methods can successfully regenerate the forest without harming the lichens that the caribou rely on for food, ultimately aiming to inform forest management practices that balance timber harvesting and wildlife conservation. -
Status of British Columbia Long-Term Silvicultural Systems Research Trial
This document is a detailed inventory of numerous forestry research projects across British Columbia. It systematically catalogues various long-term studies examining different silvicultural systems, which are methods for managing forest growth and h...This document is a detailed inventory of numerous forestry research projects across British Columbia. It systematically catalogues various long-term studies examining different silvicultural systems, which are methods for managing forest growth and harvesting timber. The document is structured geographically, listing trials in the Southern Interior, Northern Interior, and Coast regions, as well as smaller, province-wide trials, university research forests, demonstration areas, and operational case studies. For each listed project, the document typically provides information such as the establishment year, location, ecological zone, tested silvicultural systems (like clearcutting, shelterwood, and group selection), trial objectives (e.g., impacts on regeneration, wildlife, or disease), and often a list of associated publications and contact information, highlighting the extensive research network in the province. -
Alternative Silvicultural Systems and Harvesting Techniques for Caribou Habitat
This study investigates alternative forestry practices to mitigate the negative impacts of conventional clearcutting on caribou habitat. Recognizing that clearcutting leads to habitat loss and increased predation on caribou through apparent competiti...This study investigates alternative forestry practices to mitigate the negative impacts of conventional clearcutting on caribou habitat. Recognizing that clearcutting leads to habitat loss and increased predation on caribou through apparent competition, the report reviews various silvicultural systems and harvesting techniques, analyzing their potential to maintain old-growth characteristics, limit forage for other ungulates, and minimize access. Through a literature review and expert interviews, the study assesses the applicability of methods like partial harvesting, understory protection, and intensive silviculture in the Alberta context, considering ecological, economic, and practical challenges. The report aims to identify strategies that balance timber harvesting with caribou conservation, acknowledging that site-specific conditions and careful implementation are crucial for the success of any alternative approach. -
Central Plateau Fire Weather Zone
This document outlines Best Management Practices for fuel treatment within British Columbia's Central Plateau Fire Weather Zone, a region historically shaped by frequent, stand-destroying wildfires. It details the zone's diverse ecosystems and vegeta...This document outlines Best Management Practices for fuel treatment within British Columbia's Central Plateau Fire Weather Zone, a region historically shaped by frequent, stand-destroying wildfires. It details the zone's diverse ecosystems and vegetation, highlighting how species like lodgepole pine thrive in fire-prone areas, while others like Douglas-fir develop fire-resistant bark. The guide also classifies common fuel types using the Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction system, emphasizing management strategies for surface, ladder, and crown fuels, including techniques like thinning and encouraging deciduous species to reduce wildfire risk. Finally, it provides examples of past fuel management projects and discusses considerations for forest health, such as preventing pest outbreaks and maintaining stand integrity.
