Forest Practices > Forest Health > Forest Investment Account

Elgible Activities

Ground Detection and Information Systems for Bark Beetle Management

Objectives and Description of Eligible Activities:

READ THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR BARK BEETLE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FIRST

Following the receipt of aerial (overview and/or detailed) survey data, the recorded infestations are stratified into various treatment categories - conventional harvesting, small patch harvesting, single tree treatments, and other action.  Each treatment type requires different levels of ground survey information and are also funded differently.  

The following criteria are eligible for FIA funding only in Suppression Beetle Management Units 

For Holding BMUs (included in the Containment Emergency Management Units (EMU) of the Emergency Bark Beetle Management Area - EBBMA), ground survey information may be needed by the District Manager to justify small volume harvesting, blanket permits under the Bark Beetle Regulation (FPC) and equivalent sections of FRPA and the Planning and Practices Regulation. 

For sites determined to be suitable for conventional harvesting and small patch harvesting:

• Low intensity walkthroughs are conducted primarily to identify the cutblock boundary that will maximize the removal of current attacked trees.  These surveys are NOT eligible for FIA funding as they are considered to be included in existing appraisal costs (see Interior Appraisal Manual section 4.8.1 - Overhead).  For more information on defining eligibility see the Rationale page.

For sites identified for single tree treatment the following survey options are available:

• Intensive surveys (also known as walkthroughs for tree marking, star probes, expanding circle beetle probes, grid probes, or fall and burn layout surveys) are conducted to determine the precise location and number of single current attacked trees to be felled and burned during the winter months.  These surveys may only be necessary in sensitive areas that require more detailed and systematic survey information (for one or more reasons) and might only be necessary in 5% or less of the areas examined. 

Standards

Ground Survey 

Survey standards for all acceptable intensive surveys must include the following:

• A detailed description of the survey method for one of the following surveys: walkthroughs for tree marking, star probes, expanding circle beetle probes, grid probes, or fall and burn layout surveys;

• The description of the tree condition (attack) codes and tree marking requirements; 

• The requirements for ribboning, Point of Commencement (POC) establishment, and other navigational requirements; 

• The required information to be recorded in survey notes and tally cards; 

• The summary reporting requirements (format, deadlines, database input, etc.); and,

• The payment conditions

Some example survey standards from various districts are posted below. 

GPS Standards

• Ground Surveys – The infestation centre co-ordinates obtained during the detailed aerial survey are required to guide ground surveys for green attack detection and treatments based on the premise that the majority of new, green attacks occur within the immediate vicinity of the red attacks.  Because the ground survey is often conducted under a closed or partially obscured canopy, the accuracy obtained from recreational level autonomous GPS receivers can be about +30 m.  This accuracy may be acceptable to find the red tree but it may not be accurate enough to record the position of green attacks.  A minimum level of positional accuracy may be critical for treatment decisions but this level will vary by the operational conditions.  In most cases, ground survey requirements for better horizontal accuracy under a closed canopy will require the use of an external antenna,  high-end GPS receivers or differential GPS.  Consult the BMGS GPS specifications for more information.

Information System Standards

• Industry is encouraged to maintain the use of information system to facilitate project management and reporting.  These systems are described on the Forest Health Information Systems page.  
   

• The Forest Health Information Management Index provides links to the Provincial Bark Beetle Management Strategy and performance measures.
   

Sample District Specific Contract Specifications for Ground Surveys

The table below provides example schedule A contract standards for eligible forest health activities.

If a sample schedule A is not posted on this site, please contact the district forest health specialist for the district specific standards.  PwC may require additional standards to be included to ensure that the work is auditable.  

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Last updated on February 3, 2006
The contact for this web page is: tim.ebata@gov.bc.ca