Competitive Effects of Trembling Aspen on Lodgepole Pine Performance in the SBS and IDF Zones of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Region of South-central British Columbia

This document investigates how trembling aspen competition impacts the growth and survival of lodgepole pine within the Southern Interior Forest Region of British Columbia. By monitoring several forest sites over a seven-year period, researchers determined that tall aspen density is the most effective metric for predicting declines in pine diameter and overall vigor, likely due to competition for available light. The study reveals that pine performance drops significantly once aspen density exceeds specific ecological thresholds, which differ between the moist Sub-Boreal Spruce and the drier Interior Douglas-fir zones. This document serves as a management guide for foresters, offering scientific recommendations on the maximum amount of aspen that can be retained in young stands without compromising timber productivity.