Keyword: commercial

• Interim validation of the western hemlock growth intercept model.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0092.htm
  Growth intercept models estimate site index (a measure of site productivity) from average tree height growth measured immediately above breast height. These models have been developed for four species: coastal western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) (Nigh 1996a) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) (Nigh 1996b); interior lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) (Nigh 1995a) and spruce (P. glauca (Moench) Voss, P. engelmannii Parry, and P. glauca x engelmannii) (Nigh 1995b). Growth intercept models are expected to be developed for all commercial species in British Columbia. It is important that these models be validated (tested). Growth intercept models are empirical; hence they strongly reflect the behaviour of the model development data. Therefore, testing them with independent data (that is, data that were not used to develop the model) is important because the model development data may be atypical (Picard and Cook 1984). If a model vali ...

• Forest management and climate change.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0186.htm
  : A clear definition the problem, that is, the level of change at which action is needed. The determination of the sensitivity of forest organisms to a changing climate. The development of management responses to be implemented when the changes occur, and implementation of actions needed now. Monitoring of forests to assess if and when changes are occurring. Disturbances of forests, such as harvesting and forest fires, provide opportunities for forests to adjust to the changing climate. The success of adjustment will depend on factors such as the sensitivity of species to climate change and the availability of alternate species. We may be capable of aiding managed forest and commercial tree species to adjust to a changing climate; however, in parks and wilderness areas we will probably have to 'let nature take its course'. Forest management already addresses many of the problems, such as fire, disease, insects and reforestation failures, that are will occur under a changed climate; it is the location a ...

• Effects of Thinning and Fertilizing Mixed Western Hemlock-Sitka Spruce Stands.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0313.htm
  Limited information exists on the growth and yield of young mixed western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) stands on the Queen Charlotte Islands following pre-commercial thinning and fertilization. As a result, research into thinning and fertilization was initiated by the South Moresby Forest Replacement Account research committee. Our research project (Experimental Project [EP] 1097), conducted on Graham Island, investigates tree and stand growth responses to thinning and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization in young Sitka spruce-western hemlock stands. In this extension note, we describe this project, present the 5-year response results taken from remeasurements after the 1996 growing season, and offer some preliminary conclusions. ...

• The effect of commercial thinning on the growth and yield of lodgepole pine.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0606.htm
  The effect of commercial thinning on the growth and yield of lodgepole pine. ...

• Ecological description and classification of some Pine Mushroom (Tricholoma magnivelare) habitat in British Columbia.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1087.htm
  The purpose of this study is to describe the ecological characteristics and forest site classification of pine mushroom habitat in British Columbia. Soil, vegetation, and forest descriptions were made across six areas of the province known to support commercial crops of pine mushrooms: the Nass and Shumal river valleys near New Aiyansh, the Chilcotin Plateau, the Bella Coola Valley, the Columbia River Valley (Upper Arrow Lake) near Nakusp, the Lillooet River Valley near Pemberton, and the Nahatlatch Valley near Boston Bar. Forest subzone, elevation, slope, aspect, and landform all varied between study sites. However, soil moisture and nutrient regimes fell within a relatively narrow range. Soil moisture was in almost all cases drier than average for the subzone (subxeric–submesic: 2–3), and soil nutrient regimes fell almost exclusively within the range of poor to medium (B–C). Soils tended to be well or rapidly drained, with an Ae horizon, coarse soil texture (sand to loamy sand), and often a high coarse f ...

• Silviculture Treatments for Ecosystem Management in the Sayward (STEMS): Establishment Report for STEMS 1, Snowden Demonstration Forest
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1336.htm
  Silviculture Treatments for Ecosystem Management in the Sayward (STEMS) is a large-scale, multi-disciplinary experiment that compares forest productivity, economics, and public perception of seven silvicultural regimes replicated at three sites in the Sayward Forest. The STEMS experiment uses silvicultural systems and treatments to create diversity in forest structure that results in a variety of canopy layers (vertical structure) and spatial patchiness (horizontal structure) to enhance biodiversity and wildlife. The STEMS experiment examines seven different treatment regimes, namely: Extended Rotation (non-treatment control) Extended Rotation with Commercial Thinning Uniform Dispersed Retention Aggregate Retention Group Selection Modified Patch Cuts Clearcut with Reserves These silvicultural regimes create a range of gap sizes and frequencies that emulate natural variation in forest structure. STEMS is a replication of the "Silvicultural Options for Harvestin ...

• Integrating climate change adaptation into forest management.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1394.htm
  Future climate change will affect society's ability to use forest resources. We take account of climate in forest management and this will help us adapt to the effects of climate change on forests. However, society will have to adjust to how forests adapt by changing expectations for the use of forest resources because management can only influence the timing and direction of forest adaptation at selected locations. There will be benefits as well as loses and an important component of adaptation will be balancing values. Adaptation options to respond to impacts on the timber supply in Canada for the next 50 to 100 years are limited mainly to forest protection and wood utilisation because these forests are already in the ground. Adaptation through reforestation will focus on commercial tree species. It is important to start developing adaptation strategies now. These include assessing forest vulnerability to climate change, revising expectations of forest use, determining research and educational needs, dev ...