Assessment of a 14-year-old Mixed Western Redcedar - Red Alder Plantation in Southwestern British Columbia

This document examines the growth and yield dynamics of a 14 year-old mixed-species plantation featuring Western redcedar and red alder in British Columbia. By comparing various planting ratios, the authors explore how complementary resource use affects tree development compared to single-species monocultures. The study reveals that while individual cedar growth improved in a balanced 50:50 mixture, the total stand productivity did not exceed that of pure stands, suggesting that mixtures offer benefits in biodiversity and wood quality rather than overall biomass volume. This document serves as a guide for forest managers to consider the ecological advantages of mixedwoods and provides a density threshold for maintaining conifer health when growing alongside alder.