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A silvicultural system is a planned program of activities by which a forest stand or a group of
trees is harvested, regenerated and tended over an extended period to achieve a predictable yield
of benefits.
In BC there are seven (7) different
silviculture systems
in use and their variations. These 7 systems can be grouped into two basic classes: even-aged and
uneven-aged. The even-aged systems consist of clearcutting, coppice, patch cutting, retention,
seed tree and shelterwood. The selection system is often used in uneven-aged systems. [NOTE:
The ‘selection’ system is not to be confused with ‘selective’ systems. Selective systems have a
tendency to take the best individual trees and leave the worst to regenerate. Selective systems are
not considered ecologically sound.]
In the Fort Nelson Forest District, even-aged silviculture systems are most commonly used due to
the forests' character as a fire-based system. Fire-based systems are commonly created from single
disturbance events that mimic fire, e.g. fire, logging, etc. In the Fort Nelson area there are two
silviculture systems that have been utilized, the clearcutting system and a variation of the
shelterwood system - strip shelterwood. Both systems mimic fires that have created even-aged stand(s).
The Fort Nelson Forest District is comprised of pure coniferous (Gymnosperm) and pure deciduous
(Angiosperm) stands, as is the case in the rest of BC. But, in the Fort Nelson District there is
another type of stand commonly called a 'mixedwood' stand. This area of BC has one of the highest
concentrations of mixedwood stands. And yet 'mixedwood' stand dynamics are very poorly understood
when modelling for various timber supply scenarios.
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Land Management Handbooks
that may be useful for silviculture and site prescriptions within the Fort Nelson Forest District
are listed below:
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A Field Guide for Identification and Interpretation of Ecosystems of the Northwest
Portion of the Prince George Forest Region
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A Field Guide for Identification and Interpretation of Ecosystems of the Northeast
Portion of the Prince George Forest Region
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Silviculture of Temperate and Boreal Broadleaf-Conifer Mixtures
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Plant Indicator Guide for Northern British Columbia: Boreal, Sub-Boreal, and
Subalpine Biogeoclimatic Zones (BWBS, SBS, SBPS, and northern ESSF)
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Overall, there is sparse information regarding
Growth and Yield Modelling
of Mixedwood stands in the Growth and Yield literature. In BC and Alberta, there has been
development of a Mixedwood Model for mixed stands of conifers and deciduous tree species.
The model is called the
Mixedwood Growth Model
(MGM).
The
Mixedwood Growth Model
(MGM) is a stand growth model developed for the boreal forests of Alberta and North-Eastern
British Columbia. MGM is calibrated for white spruce and trembling aspen, typically growing
together in varying degrees of mixture. Lodgepole pine and black spruce are also included but
less emphasis has been placed on development of relationships for these species.
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The Forest Practices Branch has an
Enhanced Forestry Program
(EFP) virtual resource centre on the internet. This website is designed to support more
informed silviculture decisions. Please view this website, as there are a number of useful
links that help improve forest practices in eight key management areas. These areas are:
- silviculture decisions
- growth and yield
- partial cutting
- backlog reforestation
- stand tending
- forest health
- habitat/biodiversity
- adaptive management
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Boreal Forest
in the Fort Nelson Forest District
FORREX - Forest Research Extension Partnership
FRPA Resource Evaluation Program (FREP)
Growth and Yield Modelling
Integrated Pest Management
Program
Land Management Handbooks
Mixedwood Growth Model
Reference Guide for
Regional FDP Stocking Standards [pdf]
Silvicultural Publications and Products
Silvicultural Systems Handbook for BC [pdf]
SIBEC - Site Index estimates
Soils
Forest Practices Links
Wildlife Trees and Coarse Woody Debris Publications and Products
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