February 14, 2002

File: 18940-02

The data collected from silviculture surveys will now be used to answer two quite different questions:

Question 1: Has the minimum stocking requirement been met, and therefore is the area satisfactorily stocked or free growing?

Question 2: What is the total number of well-spaced or free growing trees per hectare?

• Select the survey objective: stocking OR free growing.

Check the stocking box to indicate that the objective of the survey is to determine the number of well spaced trees per hectare and if the regeneration date requirements as specified in the SP, or the requirement to maintain stocking above the minimum stocking standard, have been met.

Check the free growing box to indicate that the objective of the survey is to determine the number of free growing trees per hectare and if the free growing requirements as specified in the SP have been met.

When a surveyor wishes to fulfill both of these objectives, two FS657 cards are required.

• Complete the applicable acceptable tree characteristics for:

Stocking surveys: preferred and acceptable species, minimum height and age, quality,

Free growing surveys: preferred and acceptable species, minimum free growing height, quality conifer to brush ratio, and maximum density;

• Complete the survey parameters – target stocking standard, maximum/plot (M-value), minimum inter-tree distance, minimum stocking standard(s) and free growing guidelines that will be used to survey the stratum.

If stocking is selected as the objective, use the following procedures to complete the Silviculture Survey Plot Card - FS 658 and the Silviculture Survey Summary Card - FS659

When completing the plot card:

• Check the well-spaced box.
• Indicate the species that are preferred and/or acceptable, this is transferred from the FS657.
• Tally the number of trees within the plot by species that meet all of the size, quality and minimum inter-tree distance requirements, including those that exceed the M-value and record the total number of well-spaced trees in the appropriate species column.
• In the TOTAL W column, record the sum of the preferred and acceptable well-spaced trees in the plot, up to the maximum per plot indicated on the FS657 (M-value). If the maximum is reached, or exceeded, record the letter "M" rather than the numeric.

When conducting a stocking survey, the surveyor will maximize the number of well-spaced trees in each plot using the minimum inter tree distance (MITD) specified in the prescription.

When summarizing a stocking survey:

• Check the well-spaced box.
• Label the preferred and acceptable species (i.e. "p" or "a") counted in the survey in the appropriate boxes provided.
• Record the sum of the well-spaced trees by species including those that exceed the M-value (from the FS 658).
• In the TW field, record the sum of the total number of well-spaced trees (no M-value) of all species
• Calculate the silviculture component species % using the total number of well-spaced trees.
• In the TOTAL W field, record the sum of the well-spaced trees from the FS 658, not including M’s.
• In the CW field, record the number of times M was entered on the FS658.
• Calculate both the total well-spaced per hectare (no M-Value), well-spaced per hectare (with an M-value) and total preferred well spaced per ha. (see examples).

If free growing is selected as the objective on the FS657, use the following procedures to complete the Silviculture Survey Plot Card - FS 658 and the Silviculture Survey Summary Card - FS659.

When completing the plot card:

• Check the free-growing box.
• Indicate the species that are preferred and/or acceptable, this is transferred from the FS 657.
• Tally the number of free growing trees within the plot by species, including those that exceed the M-value and record the number of free growing trees in the appropriate species column.
• In the TOTAL FG column, record the sum of the preferred and acceptable free growing trees in the plot, up to the maximum per plot (M-value). If the maximum is reached, or exceeded, record the letter "M" rather than the numeric.
• In the TOTAL W column, record the sum of the all free growing and any additional well-spaced, but not free growing trees including those that exceed the M-value. Do not record an M when the maximum number of trees per plot is reached, record the actual total.

When conducting a free growing survey the surveyor will:

• Maximize the number free growing trees that meet the required crop tree to brush ratio using the MITD,
• Include all potentially free growing trees when determining the countable broadleaf height and thus the additional number of free growing trees (if any) that do not meet the crop tree to brush ratio, and
• Determine which additional trees are well spaced but not free growing. The surveyor does not maximize well-spaced trees, the additional well spaced trees must be at least the MITD away from selected free growing trees.
• Produce a silviculture label based on the free growing tree attributes.

When summarizing a free growing survey

• Check the free growing box indicating that free growing survey data is used for the compilation. (If a stocking survey was completed at the same time as a free growing survey, they must be compiled separately and two FS 659 cards must be completed).
• Label the preferred and acceptable species (i.e. "p" or "a") counted in the survey in the appropriate boxes provided.
• Record the sum of the free growing trees by species including those that exceed the M-value (from the FS 658).
• In the TW field, record the sum of the total number of free growing trees of all species, including those that exceed the M-value.
• Calculate the silviculture component species % using the total number of free growing trees.
• In the TOTAL (FG) field, record the sum of the free growing trees from the FS 658, not including M’s.
• In the CFG field, record the number of times M was entered in the TOTAL FG column on the FS658.
• In the TOTAL (W) field, record the sum of the free growing and any additional well-spaced trees but not free growing trees from the FS 658. The CW is left blank.
• Calculate the free growing stems per hectare (with the M-value), the total free growing trees (without an M-value), the total preferred free growing per ha., and the total well-spaced per hectare (without the M-value). (see examples).

The summarization and statistical calculations for this determination will not be changed.

The surveyor will

• Calculate the number of well-spaced or free growing trees per hectare (with M-value).
• Calculate survey confidence limits for well-spaced or free growing trees, and determine the land status for the stratum.
• There is no requirement for a statistical calculation on preferred species per hectare.

For a detailed description of the steps to completing the statistical calculations see the FS 1138B or FS660-8.

Form C reports the inventory and silviculture forest cover attributes for a specific cutblock. Licensees may choose to submit forest cover information electronically or via a paper form (see example).

Form C is used to report the inventory layer and a silviculture layer. Form C includes fields for well-spaced stems per hectare and free growing stems per ha. The total number of well spaced and free growing trees per hectare, calculated without the M-value, will be entered in the inventory layer. The inventory layer will therefore include a total well spaced and a total density figure after a stocking survey and total well spaced, total free growing and a total density figure after a free growing survey.

The number of well-spaced and free growing stems per hectare in the silviculture layer will be calculated using the M-value.

As with the Form C, the FS 922 and 810 report inventory and silviculture layer (label) information. The total number of well-spaced trees and/or total free growing, calculated without the M-value, will be entered in the inventory layer. The number of well-spaced and free growing stems in the silviculture layer will be calculated using the M-value.

Forest Practices Branch, BC Ministry of Forests
Paul.Rehsler@gems9.gov.bc.ca
250-387-8908

TSS = 1000; MSSp+a = 500; MSSp = 400, maximum per plot (M-value = 5)

• 1033 total well-spaced trees per hectare (disregarding M)
• 933 well spaced trees per hectare (used to assess compliance with stocking standards)
• 933 preferred well spaced trees per hectare (used to assess compliance with stocking standards)

• 1000 total free growing trees per hectare (disregarding M)
• 1200 total well spaced trees per hectare (disregarding M)
• 867 free growing trees per hectare (used to assess compliance with stocking standards)
• 867 total preferred trees per hectare (used to assess compliance with stocking standards)