NEW! MPB Seed Planning Impact and Opportunity Mapping

Seed Planning Reference

Seed Planning is an important step in meeting British Columbia's forest stewardship and genetic resource management (GRM) objectives. 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. Suitable seed and vegetative lots must also be of a high quality and available in sufficient quantities to meet the specific stocking and forest health needs of a given planting site.

Seed planning, for both strategic and operational levels, is conducted at a number of geographic scales including: provincial, regional and/or district and local sites. Planning horizons can vary depending on whether the objectives of the forest manager or field forester are of a strategic or operational focus. In the majority of cases, seed supplies are managed to address both short and long term reforestation needs. Seed inventories, including forecasts (Species Plans - seed orchard production and genetic gain projections), are also considered in silviculture strategies, Mountain Pine Beetle strategies, timber supply analyses (TSA, TFL, Woodlot), Innovative Forest Practice Agreements (IFPAs), the Forest for Tomorrow (FFT) program and Future Forest Strategies (FFS).

Seed planning activities include: Seed Procurement - seed supply agreements, trades, purchase; Seed Use - collection, selection, transfer; and Seed Deployment (results, strategies, timber supply assumptions).