15 resources found

This extension note offers practical guidance on managing paper birch and fireweed in British Columbia's coastal forests, specifically the Coastal Western Hemlock submaritime biogeoclimatic subzones. Recognizing a lack of specific research on these competing vegetation species, the authors synthesize existing knowledge, much of it adapted from interior regions, to provide Stand Establishment Decision Aids. The note details the site characteristics, harvesting and silvicultural considerations, and autecological characteristics of both species, aiming to help forest managers make informed decisions regarding their management to ensure successful conifer regeneration while considering biodiversity and long-term site productivity.

This report details a research project in the dry Douglas-fir forests of central British Columbia, initiated in 2001 at Farwell Canyon. The study investigated the effects of partial cutting on forest stand dynamics, specifically examining how different harvesting methods, coupled with pre-commercial thinning and prescribed burning, could achieve objectives like improved wildlife forage, enhanced residual tree growth, and increased fire resilience. The report presents data collected over 10-14 years following these treatments, analyzing changes in stand structure, tree growth, and regeneration patterns to assess the long-term outcomes of these forest management techniques in this specific ecosystem.

This technical report investigates the impact of silviculture practices on greenup delay in the Nelson Forest Region, specifically within the Cranbrook and Revelstoke Timber Supply Areas. Greenup delay refers to the time it takes for a newly harvested forest stand to reach a specified average height, signaling successful regeneration. The report evaluates how enhanced silviculture techniques, such as site preparation, planting, brushing, and the use of genetically improved stock, can reduce this delay and increase the short-term and long-term timber supply to optimize tree growth and forest yield.

This technical report details a study on how understory vegetation responds to different burn treatments and soil moisture conditions in the Interior Cedar-Hemlock dry warm subzone. The core purpose was to monitor and compare vegetation changes in areas that experienced no burn, moderate burns, or severe burns following a fall slashburn. The research highlights the dominant plant species that emerged in each environment over four years, noting differences in species composition and competition dynamics, particularly concerning the impact of a fall slashburn and soil seepage on vegetation development.

This document serves as a first approximation of guidelines for managing forests in British Columbia. Recognizing the historical influence of First Nations' cultural burning and the current challenges of overstocked stands and wildfire risk, it outlines a strategic shift in silvicultural practices. The report details Best Management Practices (BMPs), structured around key aspects like appropriate silvicultural systems, restoration thinning, regeneration, and resilience to disturbances like fire and pests. The document aims to guide practitioners and inform policy, moving towards healthier, more resilient Douglas-fir ecosystems that balance ecological values, community safety, and sustainable resource use.

This handbook outlines the principles and best practices for silvicultural systems in British Columbia, emphasizing a shift toward complex, multi-value forest management in the 21st century. Its primary purpose is to serve as a central reference and conceptual framework for forest professionals to design and implement silvicultural plans that move a stand from its current state to a desired future condition through planned interventions, known as stand development pathways. A crucial and recurring theme is the growing role of First Nations, including their traditional knowledge, values, and stewardship goals, which are integrated alongside ecological, social, and economic objectives. The document provides detailed guidance on technical aspects, such as managing for biodiversity, mitigating risks like windthrow and pests, and utilizing adaptive management for continuous improvement in forestry practices.

This document serves as a comprehensive manual for forest professionals, outlining best practices for thinning operations effective April 2025. Its primary purpose is to support sustainable forest management by providing science-based guidelines for developing and implementing thinning prescriptions, particularly for enhancing timber production and quality. The guidance emphasizes maintaining ecological and social objectives while focusing on operational efficiency, minimizing environmental impacts, and promoting innovative approaches. It also details the required data collection and monitoring processes to ensure the effectiveness and compliance of thinning activities, thereby fostering healthy, resilient forest ecosystems across British Columbia.

This paper presents the 8-year results of a silvicultural systems trial at Lucille Mountain in British Columbia's Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir zone. The study investigates the effects of different logging methods like clearcutting, patch cutting, and various partial cuts on climate, regeneration, tree growth, wind damage, arboreal lichens, and litter decomposition. The research highlights the complex environmental responses to forest harvesting in this high-elevation ecosystem and provides initial insights for better managing these sensitive forests, including considerations for reforestation practices and the challenges of adaptive management.

This document outlines how participating forestry companies and BC Timber Sales intend to manage forests sustainably, aiming to balance ecological, economic, and social values. The plan incorporates a Canadian Standards Association certification process and emphasizes a landscape-level approach to forest management, considering natural disturbance patterns. Key components include establishing values, objectives, indicators, and targets developed with public and Indigenous input, along with specific strategies for timber harvesting, reforestation, road access, wildlife habitat, and engagement with First Nations and the public. The SFMP serves as a guiding document for operational planning and continuous improvement in forest management practices within the defined area.

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.

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 details an analysis using the PrognosisBC model to evaluate various partial-cutting silvicultural options for long-term forest management compared to clearcutting. The authors explore how different harvesting methods in a specific forest type could meet sustainability targets, encompassing biodiversity, visual quality, old-growth recruitment, and timber production over a 100-year rotation. By modeling several scenarios and comparing their outputs, the study aims to familiarize readers with the PrognosisBC tool and demonstrate its utility in assessing trade-offs and informing complex forest management decisions, while also acknowledging the model's limitations and the crucial role of professional judgment.

This document is a comprehensive guide to address the increasing challenges of establishing healthy forests on drought-prone lands. Recognizing the impact of climate change and high seedling mortality, the report meticulously examines current silviculture practices and relevant research to identify best management practices for improved regeneration success. It provides a drought risk key for practitioners to classify sites and recommends specific treatment regimes encompassing planning, harvesting, mechanical site preparation, planting considerations, and post-planting surveys. The purpose of this guide is to offer practical, experience-based guidance to forest managers in the Thompson Okanagan region to enhance the resilience and successful reforestation of dry sites facing heightened drought risk.

This extension note reports on a 14-year study investigating how thinning young lodgepole pine stands to different densities and repeatedly fertilizing them with multiple nutrients affects their growth. The central question explored is whether these silvicultural practices can accelerate stand development enough to help offset future timber supply shortages anticipated due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic. The research measured the impact of these treatments on tree size and overall stand volume, aiming to determine optimal strategies for mitigating timber supply challenges in the interior of British Columbia.

This extension note serves as a guide for adapting forest and range management practices in the Skeena Region of British Columbia to the realities of climate change. Recognizing the significant impact of a warming and wetter climate with increased extreme weather on local ecosystems, it synthesizes current climate change research to project future conditions and their ecological consequences. The document outlines potential adaptation strategies for resource professionals and government staff involved in operational planning, effectiveness monitoring, and climate action plans. Ultimately, the goal is to foster resilient ecosystems that can continue to provide essential services and products in the face of ongoing climatic shifts.