Checklist for the Seed Planner and Definitions

Objectives

This reference is intended to assist persons with planning operational seed needs.  Specifically, it is intended to

• Provide persons with a checklist for determining their tree seed needs and supply;
• Provide useful links and references, such as websites for the Seed Planning and Registry System (SPAR), SeedMap and the Chief Forester's Standards for Seed Use;           
• Assist in identifying seed available for specific areas of the province;
• Assist persons in meeting their reforestation goals, FRPA seed use regulations and the Chief Forester's Standards for Seed Use; and
• Avoid unnecessary seed shortages or redundant expenditures (e.g. cone collections).

This reference is not a detailed guide on how to use SPAR, SeedMap or on how to collect cones from natural stands, nor does it provide guidance for collecting vegetative lots. 

Introduction

Seed planning is important to ensure that sufficient seed of the right species and provenance is available to establish free growing stands. Seed used in Crown land reforestation must meet the Chief Forester's Standards for Seed Use to ensure regenerated stands are genetically diverse, adapted, healthy and productive, now and in the future. 

There are many variables and uncertainties in determining future seed and seedling requirements, including

• Changing harvest levels and operating areas;
• Silviculture systems used (e.g. clearcut, shelterwood, variable retention, seed tree);
• Stocking standards, including species selection and densities of planted stock and natural regeneration;
• Forest disturbances, including pests and wildfires;
• Changes in seed inventories, including the production of seed orchard seed; 
• Changes in seed transfer standards in response to climate change; and 
• Seed use efficiency.

Seed planners should take these variables and uncertainties into account when determining seedling and seed needs to the greatest extent possible.  Be as specific as possible about the variables used to calculate seed needs, as doing so will provide more realistic results.

Checklist for the Seed Planner

A. Determine needs

1. Determine the regeneration obligation for which you are planning seed - harvest areas only, or harvest plus natural disturbance?
2. Determine an appropriate timeframe.  It is recommended that persons retain at least a 3- to 5-year seed supply for their operating areas.  A timeframe of 3 years is optimal for A-Class seed when you have a seed supply agreement with the orchard, whereas 20 years is not uncommon, especially when accounting for severe forest disturbances. 
3. Determine the areas (forest development units) within which harvesting and planting operations will be carried out for the duration of your planning timeframe. 
4. Identify the seed planning zones (SPZs), seed planning units (SPUs) and biogeoclimatic zones (BEC) your forest development units fall within.

• To do so, use the SeedMap application http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hti/seedmap/index.htm (launch the application via the link at the bottom left hand side of the screen).  Take the tutorial if you are unfamiliar with the application http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/imf/HelpSystem/.

5. Calculate the probable net area (ha) to reforest by planting.
6. Determine the desired species mix(es) for planting, and calculate total estimated seedling needs (density of tree planting per hectare x hectares for each species).
7. Review recent seed use for given operating areas and compare to estimated future seedling needs.  Confirm that anomalies are rationalized or adjust estimates for future needs.

B. Determine seed supply

8. Identify the existing seed inventory of select and natural stand seedlots.

• Use the SPAR application *(http://apps.for.gov.bc.ca/spar/) Lot Search function or the Seedlot Reports to determine existing inventories by seed class (i.e. select or natural stand seed).  If you aren't familiar with SPAR you can take a tutorial to better coordinate your search at  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hti/spar/Tutorial/index.htm

Note: You will need either a BCeID or an IDIR (government) account to access SPAR (http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hti/spar/spar_access.htm)

An example of a lot search by owner agency and SPZ appears in Figure 1 below (note - the example shows part of a page). 

Figure 1. Lot search by owner agency  and seed planning zone.

C.  Acquire required seed supply

9. Short term seed needs may be met by searching SPAR for available seed. If your organization does not own seed or cannot meet its own seed needs then you can search SPAR inventories by species and SPZ for surplus seed and arrange to purchase existing surplus seedlots. If a suitable seedlot is identified but not available as surplus, the owner may be willing to sell a portion of the lot for your use.  
10. Determine the potential select seed production from orchards by species and seed planning unit. Consult the Forest Genetics Council's tree species plans, located on the TIB website at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hti/speciesplan/index.htm.  Where seed orchard production is providing all the seed needed for a seed planning unit, or is expected to meet the total seed need within a few years, it is advisable to check with the orchard owner(s) to determine availability. It is not advisable to collect large amounts natural stand seed when orchards are projected to meet needs within the SPU, as the Chief Forester's Standards for Seed Use require the use of select seed with a Genetic Worth of 5 or more to be used when available. Large natural stand collections will be redundant if orchard seed meeting CF Standards for Seed Use requirements comes available.

Species plans provide guidance on:

• Seed orchard production estimates by seed planning unit, and
• Current and anticipated genetic gain by seed planning unit.

An example of a species plan for the Interior Douglas-fir Nelson low seed planning unit is shown in figure 2 below:

Figure 2. Seed orchard production forecast

11. If an orchard is shown to be producing for your target area, check with the orchard seed owner/contact to determine the status and availability of seed. 
    

12. Where existing seed inventories do not meet present or future seed needs, a natural stand cone collection should be considered.  Cone crops are not plentiful each year.  Cone crop assessments for seed quality and quantity should be conducted prior to a decision to collect cones.  Work with an experienced cone collector; cooperate with other licensees operating in the area to optimize seed collection costs.   

• The following links provide some direction on how to complete a conifer cone collection
  • A Field Guide to Collecting Cones of British Columbia Conifers http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Frh/Frhcone.htm
  • A Guide to Collecting Cones of British Columbia Conifershttp://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Frr/Frr055.htm
  • For additional Pli cone collection suggestions, click on the link in the left side bar on the Tree Seed Centre page http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hti/treeseedcentre/index.htm
  • A correlation between cone volumes (hectolitres), seed yield (see lower table on the web link) and sowing requirements can be found at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hti/treeseedcentre/tsc/yields.htm. For example, on average, Fdi (natural stand) will yield 34.4 potential trees (K) calculated as 415B per hectolitre (Hl) of cones. Yield information is found in the lower table of the above web link.

13. Seedlots need to be registered as per the CF Standards for Seed Use and tested at the Tree Seed Centre prior to use.  Seedlots can be registered on-line using the SPAR application. 
14. After determining seed needs and determining your seed procurement, set a budget.  Guidelines for seed prices are located in the cone and seed fee schedule found at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/HTI/treeseedcentre/tsc/fees.htm. 
15. Remember to review your seed needs and the seed inventories annually.  Seed inventory and its classification, reserved and available, changes frequently throughout each year with registration of crops, deployment of seed, new parent-tree information, and surplus declarations.    

Lastly, remember that your seed planning and eventual seed deployment must meet with the Chief Forester's Standards for Seed Use.

There are several training tools for instruction on the CF Standards available on the web at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/code/cfstandards/InstructionalMaterials/.

For further information on seed planning, please contact one of the following persons:

Lee Charleson
Seed Policy Officer, Tree Improvement Branch
Ministry of Forests and Range
ph (250) 387-4839

Lee.Charleson@gov.bc.ca

Matt LeRoy
Decision Support Analyst, Tree Improvement Branch
Ministry of Forests and Range
Ph (250) 387-4836
matt.leroy@gov.bc.ca

Leslie McAuley
Decision Support Officer, Tree Improvement Branch
Ministry of Forests and Range
Ph (250) 356-6208
Leslie.McAuley@gov.bc.ca

Definitions and Acronyms