Results Prescribed Fire Summary

The objective of this project was to to document the changes in understory plant community following thinning and prescribed burning of ingrown forests. Two sites (Douglas-fir dominant or ponderosa pine dominant) in the East Kootenay region were selected for restoration and study. Pre-harvest sampling for understory herbaceous plants and shrub cover, microbiotic crust, understory light, duff, fine fuel, and forage production was completed in 1999 at two sites. The restoration treatment consisted of partial cutting of the stands to thin the forest canopy and remove intermediate layer trees. Slashing consisted of cutting pre-commercial, intermediate layers to reduce the risk of crown fire during prescribed understory burns.

The Douglas-fir site was treated in June 1999 and the Ponderosa Pine site was treated during June-July 2000. Plots were re-sampled in 2000, 2001 and 2003 through 2006. Douglas-fir site The harvest pass removed an average of 68 m3/ha of tree volume leaving 59 m3/ha. Merchantable stem density decreased by 261 stems/ha, leaving 243 stems/ha on the site. Understory light increased by 27% following harvest. Ponderosa Pine site The harvest pass removed an average of 48 m3/ha of tree volume leaving 27 m3/ha. Merchantable stem density decreased by 513 stems/ha, leaving 192 stems/ha on the site. Understory light increased by 30% following harvest. The Ponderosa Pine site was subjected to a prescribed fire in April 2004.

Newman, R., J. Parminter, and S. Wurtz. 2005. Understory Succession following Ecosystem Restoration of Ingrown Dry Forests. FSP Annual Technical Report: Y051069. Research Branch, B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range, Kamloops, B.C. Hillary Page, Edward Bork, and Reg Newman. 2005. Understorey responses to mechanical restoration and drought within Montane forests of British Columbia. B.C. Journal of Ecosystems and Management Volume 6(1):8-21 Page, H. 2002. Monitoring ecosystem restoration of Montane forests in Southeastern British Columbia. M.Sc. thesis, Dept. Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, U. Alberta, Edmonton, AB. Link to All Publications Trench Steering Committee for Ecosystem Restoration Rocky Mountain Forest District Ross Range and Reclamation (Tim Ross). Reg Newman, Sheryl Wurtz and John Parminter: Research Branch, BC Ministry of Forests and Range Hillary Page: Sage Ecological Research The following people/organizations provided support for the project. Darrell Smith Dave White Gail Berg Rocky Mountain Forest District staff - BC Ministry of Forests and Range This study was funded in part by the FIA Forest Science Program of the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.

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Last Modified: 2007 April 25. Ministry contact: Reg Newman. Webmaster: For.Prodres@gov.bc.ca