Tree Improvement Branch
The Tree Improvement Branch (TIB) consists
of a headquarters group in Victoria, six seed
orchard complexes located on the coast, and
in the north and central interior of the province,
and the Provincial Tree Seed Centre, located
in Surrey.
Tree Improvement Branch Mission
TIB's mission is to protect, manage, and conserve
British Columbia’s forest genetic resources
through excellence in cone and seed services,
seed production, policy, planning, management,
strategic planning, information management,
client services, and communication.
TIB provides critical support for the Chief
Forester’s Stewardship Vision and Stewardship
Framework and the Forest Tree Genetic Resource
Conservation and Management (GRM) to understand,
protect, and conserve the genetic foundation
of BC’s public forests.
Seed Orchards and the Tree Seed Centre
TIB’s seed orchards produce approximately
40% of the select seed used for reforestation
in the province. The Tree Seed Centre is responsible
for the processing, testing, registration, storage
and distribution of tree seed destined for crown
land reforestation.
Headquarters Policy and Planning
Support for the Chief Forester’s Office
includes information and decision support for
strategic and operational planning, timber supply
analyses, and develops and implements provincial
policies and regulations, including the Chief
Forester's Standards for Seed Use. TIB manages
complex information systems to maintain data
associated with tree seed collected in wild
stands and seed orchards, which are managed
by the ministry and private seed orchards.
TIB champions forest GRM by sponsoring research
and operational initiatives to increase wood
growth rate, quality, and pest resistance, and
to conserve the genetic resources of BC’s
tree species.