Keyword: productivity

• Site index curves and tables for British Columbia: Coastal species.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0001.htm
  The objective of this report was to disseminate, in graphical and tabular format, site index relationships selected by the Coastal Forest Productivity Council in cooperation with the Ministry of Forest and Lands for use on the coast of British Columbia. The species included coastal Douglas-fir (pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn), amibilis fir (Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forb.), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.), and red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.). The figures and corresponding tables were produced by a computerized plotting system, GRAFLEX. ...

• A growth intercept model for coastal Douglas-fir.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0038.htm
  Site Productivity Working Group ...

• 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 ...

• Effects of red alder on stand dynamics and nitrogen availability (FRBC Project HQ96400-RE MOF EP1121.01).
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0161.htm
  This extension note provides a summary of results obtained to date from studies initiated in 1992 to document and demonstrate the effects of different amounts and spatial arrangements of red alder on forest productivity, stand dynamics, and nitrogen availability in broadleaf-conifer mixedwood stands in coastal British Columbia. Replacement series experiments have been planted at two locations in B.C. to evaluate the effects of various proportions of red alder when grown in mixture with Douglas-fir. Mixedwood plantations have also been established at three locations following an additive design. In the additive design, Douglas-fir and western redcedar were planted at a density of 1100 tph (with the two species planted in equal proportions at alternating planting spots), and one of eight "broadleaf" density treatments was subsequently applied to randomly selected plots. These treatments included: 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 red alder per hectare, 50 bigleaf maple per hectare, 200 Sitka alder per hectare, and a d ...

• Ecology and management of B.C. hardwoods.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0163.htm
  British Columbia has six major hardwood species: trembling aspen, paper birch, balsam poplar, black cottonwood, red alder, and bigleaf maple. Interest in utilization and management of British Columbia's broadleaved tree species (hardwoods) has grown substantially over the past decade. In B.C. broadleaved forests represent approximately 11% of the productive forest land base. Mixedwood forests, comprised of mixtures of conifers and broadleaves, represent approximately 35% of B.C.'s productive forest land base. In northeastern B.C. trembling aspen is being harvested for production of oriented stand board and pulp. In southwestern B.C. red alder is being harvested for sawlumber, with waste chips being used for pulp. As markets develop for B.C. hardwood products interest in the management of hardwoods is expected to grow. In addition, broadleaves serve important ecological roles and contribute to biodiversity and to the productivity and sustainability of our forests. ...

• Effect of climate variability on forest regeneration and productivity.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0205.htm
  Effect of climate variability on forest regeneration and productivity. ...

• Soil moisture after site preparation.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0215.htm
  In Sustained Productivity of Forest Lands - Proceedings, 7th.North America Forests Soils Conference. S.P. Gessel, D.S. Lacate, G.F. Weetman and R.F. Powers. (editors). Univ. B.C., Faculty of Forestry publ., Vancouver, B.C., pp. 80-94. ...

• A comparison of manual brushing treatments in the ICHdw at Redfish Creek: 10-year results from blocks 10-13.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0223.htm
  nd spring ungulate habitat, and can be important as a source of domestic water. As a result of these resource uses and public pressure, herbicides are rarely used for controlling competition to tree regeneration. The Redfish Creek Manual Brushing study was established in 1987 by Roger Whitehead of the Canadian Forest Service. The primary objectives of this research trial were to examine the cost effectiveness and productivity of motorized manual brushing treatments (Holmsen and Whitehead 1988) and to compare conifer and vegetation response to multiple motor-manual brushing treatments. This extension note summarizes the 1997 remeasurement of conifer and vegetation response data collected from blocks 10-13 (Figure 1). These blocks are adjacent to each other and provide a field demonstration of a range of brushing treatments. The objectives of the 1997 remeasurement were to compare brushing treatment vegetation, stocking, and conifer response 10 years after trial establishment. A more detailed report ...

• Forest soil rehabilitation in British Columbia: a problem analysis.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0400.htm
  This report summarizes issues and problems in forest soil rehabilitation in British Columbia. It presents an up-to-date review of the scientific literature and the activities of rehabilitation specialists and practitioners working for the forest industry and government. It is aimed at people who carry out rehabilitation projects, and those faced with developing and evaluating cost-effective new techniques for soil rehabilitation. The focus of this report is on techniques for restoring soil productivity, with the implied objective of re-establishing a productive forest ecosystem on a site that has suffered degradation. The causes of forest soil degradation and avoidance techniques are not addressed in detail, as these are dealt with else-where (e.g., Lousier 1990; Lewis 1991; and various Forest Practices Code guidebooks). Also, techniques for stabilizing slopes, preventing erosion, and for manipulating and restoring drainage patterns (i.e., techniques for road deactivation) are not specifically discusse ...

• Impacts of blading and burning site preparation on soil properties and site productivity in the sub-boreal spruce zone of central British Columbia.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0401.htm
  Impacts of blading and burning site preparation on soil properties and site productivity in the sub-boreal spruce zone of central British Columbia. ...

• Intensive fertilization to increase productivity of interior forests.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0486.htm
  Intensive fertilization to increase productivity of interior forests. ...

• Soil compaction on forest plantations following cattle use.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0636.htm
  Grazing cattle on forest plantations in the interior of British Columbia is a common practice. Soil compaction can occur following cattle use, although this may vary with stocking rate, vegetation type and age, soil type, soil water content, and climate. Several studies have shown that increased soil compaction can have a negative impact on growth of young tree seedlings and on productivity in older plantations. These negative impacts result from restricted root development, reduced water and nutrient availability, and reduced soil aeration. This study evaluated the effects of cattle grazing and domestic forage seeding on soil bulk density and soil penetration resistance (pr) in lodgepole pine plantations in the Montane Spruce very dry cool biogeoclimatic subzone. The study was replicated on three sites near Kamloops, B.C. ...

• Climatic causes of irregular mortality.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0870.htm
  Final report on PC 006 for Dr. J.H.G. Smith on behalf of the Productivity Committee of the Min. For., Fac. For., Univ. B.C., Vancouver, B.C. 36 pp. ...

• Forest productivity and soil conditions on rehabilitated landings: Interior B.C. Sept 1999.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0984.htm
  Forest productivity and soil conditions on rehabilitated landings: Interior B.C. Sept 1999. ...

• Soil rehabilitation research at the Aleza Lake Research Forest: Techniques for restoring productivity to fine-textured soils.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/0987.htm
  Soil rehabilitation research at the Aleza Lake Research Forest: Techniques for restoring productivity to fine-textured soils. ...

• Climate change: implications for the Boreal forest.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1124.htm
  The findings of the recent IPPC Second Assessment Report conclude that the boreal forest is more sensitive and will be more affected by climate change than either temperate or tropical forests. Results suggest that over the next century in response to projected changes in temperature and moisture patterns the boreal ecosystem will undergo major changes in ecosystem boundaries, growth and natural disturbances related to fire and insects. This paper outlines the key highlights of the IPCC and more recent literature in terms of the effects of climate change for the boreal forest over the next 100 years. As well, the boreal forest appears to be responding to environmental changes that have occurred over the last century and more particularly over the last 30 years. Changes in boreal ecosystems related to the permafrost zone, vegetation productivity, disturbances related to fire and the carbon cycle have been noted. This paper reviews some of the major highlights of the changes that have been noted. Many of ...

• Net Basal Area Response 9 Years after Fertilizing Thinned and Unthinned Douglas-fir.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1183.htm
  Equations to estimate net basal area response of Douglas-fir to nitrogen fertilization in terms of initial stand attributes were developed, based on remeasurement data over a period of 9 years from 176 plots (0.05- 0.10 ha in size) of the British Columbia Forest Productivity Committee study. The data suggest that, in the slightly dry, nutrient-poor to medium sites in the CWHxm1 subzone on Vancouver Island, fertilizing immature Douglas-fir stands has several effects: On the average, it results in a stand net basal area cumulative response of about 5% (2.0 m2 /ha) in the unthinned stands, and about 7% (3.2 m2 /ha) in the thinned stands, after 9 years with a single application of 225 kg N/ha. Doubling the fertilizer dosage from 225 kg N/ha to 450 kg N/ha on the average increased stand net basal area relative response 1.5-fold to about 11% in the thinned stands, but had no effect on the unthinned-stand response, after 9 years. Net basal area annual response dissipates wit ...

• Soil Fauna in the Sub-Boreal Spruce (SBS) Installations of the Long-Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) Study of Central British Columbia: One-Year Results for Soil Mesofauna and Macrofauna.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1186.htm
  Soil Fauna in the Sub-Boreal Spruce (SBS) Installations of the Long-Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) Study of Central British Columbia: One-Year Results for Soil Mesofauna and Macrofauna. ...

• Evaluation of Soil Degradation as a Factor Affecting Forest Productivity in British Columbia - A Problem Analysis - Phase II & III - Research Needs & Policy Evaluation
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1202.htm
  Evaluation of Soil Degradation as a Factor Affecting Forest Productivity in British Columbia - A Problem Analysis - Phase II & III - Research Needs & Policy Evaluation ...

• Growth Intercept Models for Western Larch
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1218.htm
  Western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) commonly grows in mixed stands, and is a relatively important tree species in the Nelson Forest Region. Researchers at the University of British Columbia undertook a larch productivity study, which included collecting data from 114 stem analysis plots. Of these, 99 plots were suitable for developing growth intercept models. The data were analyzed using a standard technique. The resulting set of 50 equations estimates site index for larch stands from breast height age 1 to 50. The models have accuracy comparable with those of interior spruce but are not as accurate as those for lodgepole pine. ...

• Growth Intercept Models for Black Spruce
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1222.htm
  Growth and yield information about black spruce in British Columbia is sparse. To help alleviate this situation, growth intercept models were developed using data from 91 stem analysis plots. These models, which are more precise than those for other species in British Columbia, provide a means of estimating site index (site productivity) in young black spruce stands. ...

• Silviculture treatments for ecosystem management in the Sayward: cost and productivity of harvesting, 2003.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1317.htm
  Silviculture treatments for ecosystem management in the Sayward: cost and productivity of harvesting, 2003. ...

• 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 ...

• Adaptation to climate change in forestry.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1397.htm
  Climate change adaptation strategies for the forest management sector should be based on the application of vulnerability assessment or risk management concepts. A planning framework for facilitating adaptation in forestry must address biophysical and socio-economic impacts, and will include policy and institutional considerations. The framework requires us to analyze the situation and assess current and future vulnerabilities of forests to climate change. We can then develop risk management strategies that include actions needed now and in the future to aid responses to climate changes. Adaptation needs to reduce current vulnerability to climate change and speed recovery after disturbance in a changed climate. The adaptation plan should include monitoring of the state of the forest to detect change. An example of using this framework to adapt to changing forest productivity is presented. Many forest ecosystems and species will have to adapt autonomously because management can only influence the timing and ...

• Seed source selection and deployment to address adaptation to future climates for interior spruce in western Canada.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1403.htm
  Climate change is already signficantly affecting the health and productivity of Canada’s forests. Planted forests that are adapted to today’s climate will be maladapted when they are harvested in 60-80 years. However, if seedlots for reforestation are selected so as to maximize their adaptation over the duration of their rotation, productivity of Canada’s forests could be enhanced by capitalizing on increased future temperatures. To ensure that the most economically important tree crop planted in Canada - interior spruce (white and engelmann spruce and their hybrids) - is adapted to future climates, forest scientists from western North America have initiated a long-term project that will act as a cornerstone to the genetic resource management of interior spruce in western North America, and as a model for other species and regions. Wild and domesticated interior spruce seedlots from 128 locations encompassing the climatic and latitudinal range of interior spruce in western North America have been caref ...

• Use of response functions in selecting lodgepole pine populations for future climates.
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/pubs/1414.htm
  Although growth response functions have previously been developed for lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.) populations in British Columbia, new analyses were conducted: (1) to demonstrate the merit of a new local climate model in genecological analysis; (2) to highlight new methods for deriving response functions; and (3) to evaluate the impacts of management options for existing geographically defined seed planning units (SPUs) for reforestation. Results of this study suggest that new methods for anchoring population response functions, and a multivariate approach for incorporating climate variables into a single model, considerably improve the reliability of these functions. These functions identified a small number of populations in central areas of the species distribution with greater growth potential over a wide range of mean annual temperature (MAT). Average productivity of lodgepole pine is predicted to increase (up to 7%) if moderate warming (about 2 degrees C MAT) occurs in the ...