Stand Level Biodiversity Management - Module 3, Figure 8 - British Columbia's wildlife tree classification system

Module 3 — Stand level components of biodiversity		British Columbia Ministry of Forests
Course Start \| Contents \| Help \| Index \| Ministry Home Module 3, Part B — Wildlife trees — continued Figure 8. British Columbia's wildlife tree classification system.

LIVE		DEAD					DEAD FALLEN
Decay class
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
					approx. 2/3 original height	approx. 1/2 original height	approx. 1/3 original height
Description
Live/healthy; no decay; tree has valuable habitat characteristics such as large, clustered or gnarled branches, or horizontal, thickly moss-covered branches.*	Live/unhealthy; internal decay or growth deformities (including insect damage, broken tops); dying tree.*	Dead; needles or twigs may be present; roots sound.	Dead; no needles/twigs; 50% of branches lost; loose bark; top usually broken; roots stable.	Dead; most branches/bark absent; some internal decay; roots of larger trees stable.	Dead; no branches or bark; sapwood/ heartwood sloughing from upper bole; decay more advanced; lateral roots of larger trees softening; smaller ones unstable.	Dead; extensive internal decay; outer shell may be hard; lateral roots completely decomposed; hollow or nearly hollow shells.		Debris; downed trees or stumps.
Uses and users
Nesting (e.g., Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron colonies, Marbled Murrelet); feeding; roosting; perching.	Nesting/roosting ¹—strong PCEs² (woodpeckers); SCUs³; large-limb and platform nests (Ospreys); insect feeders.	Nesting/roosting— strong PCEs; SCUs; bats.	Nesting/roostin g—PCEs; SCUs; insect feeders.	Nesting/roosting— weak PCEs (nuthatches, chickadees); SCUs; bats; insect feeders.	Weaker PCEs; SCUs; insect feeders; salamanders; small mammals; hunting perches.	Insect feeders; salamanders; small mammals; hunting perches; occasionally used by weak cavity excavators such as chickadees.		Insect feeders; salamanders; small mammals; drumming logs for grouse; flicker foraging; nutrient source.
¹Large witches' brooms provide nesting/denning habitat for some species (e.g., fisher, squirrels). ²PCE = primary cavity excavator ³SCU = secondary cavity user * This classification system does not recognize root disease trees specifically. Such trees become unstable at or before death.

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