Silvicultural Systems Research and Consultation for Southern Interior Forest Region

1. Forest Science Program Research, Consultation, and Extension Southern Interior Forest Region Soils Plant Ecology Hydrology Geomorphology Silvicultural Systems Wildlife Ecology

2. 2006-2007 updateExamples of products 170 extension events and products 10-15 peer-reviewed publications “Guidance” information for MPB retention strategies for wildlife, biodiversity, and, hydrology Wildfire erosion Sarco and Mt. Caribou Soil value and FREP

3. Silvicultural Systems Researchers André Michaela Teresa

4. Provincial team Our Mission is to provide current and future credible and relevant science-based silviculture information and expertise

5. Silvicultural Systems ProjectsSouthern Interior Forest Region

6. André’s program Conservation Biology Silviculture Research Extension Disturbance Ecology

7. Dry-belt forests in the Southern Interior of British Columbia: Perspectives on Historic Disturbances and Implications for Management André Arsenault & Walt Klenner BC Forest Service Southern Interior Forest Region

8. Fire and lightning data Fire scars and tree rings Past harvesting and other disturbances Accounts by early explorers and surveys

9. Some Key findings • A complex mixed-severity fire and insect disturbance regime likely shaped historic conditions • Choosing a point in time for reference conditions is problematic making “ecosystem restoration” difficult • Identify key and measurable resource management objectives (e.g. human safety, wildlife habitat, livestock forage)

10. 2003 Post-wildfire management First Soil Seedbank study in the IDF Showing rapid recovery of vegetation post-fire Need to re-assess grass-seeding practices

11. A tool box for IDF forest management: Experimental TreatmentsThe Opax Mt. and Isobel projects Testing alternatives to partial cutting Dry forests in open conditions

12. Seed predation Performance A tool box for IDF forest management:2006-2007 field studiesThe Opax Mt. and Isobel projects Tree Regeneration

13. Extension Forest managers of the future Learning about IDF forests Summer Sisco 2006 >100 souls

14. Distribution ecology of lichens in ICH Inland rainforests Provided assistance to Arrow/Boundary District And Pope and Talbot in the Incomappleux Macrolichen Calicioid lichen • Comparison of young and old stands • Habitat requirements for old-growth-associated species • Cyanolichen distribution and tool for predicting diversity hot-spots • Information used during LRMPS • Many papers, presentations, Best paper award, new hypotheses

15. Management Issue:Can we harvest timber and maintain caribou winter habitat ?

16. Mountaincaribou Northern caribou

17. Group Selection based on openings up to 1.0 ha

18. Response of arboreal lichen biomass and composition

19. Conclusions:After 10 years post-harvest, the residual forest continues to provide adequate lichen forage for caribou. There is acceptable regeneration of the treatments, and there are minimal impacts on biodiversity (birds, small mammals, plants).

20. Management Issue:Are there alternatives to clearcutting that managers can use to address issues such as visual quality and species selection?

21. Uniform shelterwood silvicultural systems

22. Douglas-fir is an important species for timber harvesting and biodiversity. Can Douglas-fir be regenerated and grown on frost prone sites in the SBS using various levels of residual basal area retention?

23. Uniform shelterwoods or variable retention treatments can be used to manage visual quality and biodiversity but what are the implications to regeneration and overstory trees when partial cutting on root disease infected sites? Ice Road near Nakusp Mount Seven near Golden

24. Conclusions:The SBS shelterwood trial is adequately stocked with Douglas-fir in the seed cut treatments and the final cut is scheduled for 2010. The ICH trials are successfully regenerated with several species but growth is affected by the residual basal area. Survival is just starting to be affected by Armillaria.

25. Regeneration and Stand Tending • Regeneration in non-conventional silvicultural systems (i.e. small gaps, under shelterwoods) • Brushing (including broadleaf species) • Stand rehabilitation • Growth and yield of mixed species stands • Site preparation / planting treatments • Species Selection • Density management • Fertilization

26. Issue:How many aspen can be retained in a pine stand without compromising conifer productivity? Or to Brush or not to brush!!

27. SBSdw1 Depends on where you are SBPSxc IDFdk

28. And how much you have You can keep some

29. Current outcomes • Identified “best” method to predict level of competition in the field • Free growing guidelines have been altered • Able to predict future growth under different competitive environments

30. Issue:Over 130,000 ha of height repressed pine

31. Possible Solutions • Keep current growing stock – stand tending options • Start over – rehabilitation options

32. Outcomes: Fertilization / thinning worked (36 years old in the SBPSdc)

33. Program Challenges • To continue to address high profile issues: provincially and regionally • To promote implementation of research results where applicable and relevant

34. Program Successes • A network of well designed long-term research installations that are used for continuous learning by a diverse research community even within changing environments • Knowledge transfer to foresters, students, the public and the academic community • Continuous success in securing research funding through competitive process

35. Researchers at work!