Tree Improvement Branch

What Is a Seed Planning Unit?

Seed Planning Units (SPUs) are the new organisational units that form the basis for breeding and seed production planning. They are organised by species, seed planning zone, and elevation band. For example #17, the Pli BV Low is the SPU for interior lodgepole pine in the Bulkley Valley seed planning zone at elevations below 1100 m. Based on the Forest Genetics Council Strategic Business Plan, SPUs are designed to facilitate program development and strategic planning for tree improvement.

What Is a Species Plan?

For each Seed Planning Unit (SPU), the potential economic return from a breeding and seed orchard program is determined. The SPUs are then ranked according to those indicating the highest return. Forest Genetics Council Species Committees develop species plans for those SPUs with the highest expected return. Species plans contain breeding and seed production projections, plans for propagation and management activities, and analyses of current and proposed seed orchards. Species plans also show the timeline for genetic improvement, including projected supply and demand for planting stock, and projected genetic gain.

Each of the following files (PDF format) provides information on the timelines for a Species/Seed Planning Zone/Elevation Range combination.
Forest Genetics Council of British Columbia Forest Investment Account
Species		Planning Zone, Elevation and latitude
1	Coastal Douglas-fir	Maritime Low (1-900 m)  South 480 00’ - 520 00’
2	Western Redcedar	Maritime Low (1-700 m)  South 480 00’ - 520 00’
3	Western Hemlock	Maritime Low (1-600 m)  South 480 00’ - 520 00’
4	Interior Spruce	Nelson Mid (1000-1700 m)
5	Interior Spruce	Nelson High (1700-2100 m)
6	Sitka Spruce	Maritme Low (1-500 m) South  480 00’ - 540 00’
7	Lodgepole Pine	Nelson Low (700-1600 m)
8	Western White Pine	Maritime Low (1-1000 m)
9	Pacific Silver Fir	Sub Maritime Low (1-1000 m)
10	Lodgepole Pine	Thompson Okanagan Low (700-1400 m)
11	Yellow Cypress	Maritime All (1-1100 m)  South 480 00’ – 520 00’
12	Lodgepole Pine	Prince George Low (700-1400 m)
13	Western Larch	Nelson Low (700-1600 m)
14	Interior Spruce	Prince George Low (600-1400 m)
15	Western White Pine	Kootenay/Quesnel Low (500-1400 m)
16	Lodgepole Pine	Thompson Okanagan High (1400-1600 m)
17	Lodgepole Pine	Bulkley Valley Low (700-1400 m)
18	Lodgepole Pine	Central Plateau Low (700-1300 m)
19	Coastal_Douglas-fir	Sub Maritime Low (400-1200 m)
20	Lodgepole Pine	Nelson High (1600-2000 m)
21	Interior_Douglas-fir	Nelson Low (400-1200 m)
22	Interior_Douglas-fir	Nelson High (1000-1800 m)
23	Interior Spruce/Sitka Spruce	Sub Maritime/Nass-Skeena Transition (All elevations)
24	Western Hemlock	Maritime High (600-1100 m)
25	Interior Spruce	East Kootenay All (750-1900)
26	Lodgepole Pine	Prince George High (1400-2000 m)
27	Western_Redcedar	Sub Maritime Low (200-1000 m)
28	Interior Spruce	Thompson Okanagan High (1300-2100 m)
29	Lodgepole Pine	East Kootenay High (1500-2000 m)
30	Interior Spruce	Thompson Okanagan Low (700-1500 m)
31	Coastal_Douglas-fir	Maritime High (900-1200 m)
32	Lodgepole Pine	East Kootenay Low (800-1500 m)
33	Western_Redcedar	Maritime High (700-1500 m)
34	Western Larch	East Kootenay Low (800-1700 m)
35	Interior Spruce	Bulkley Valley Low (700-1400 m)
36	Grand Fir	Maritime Low (1-700 m)
37	Interior_Douglas-fir	Quesnel Lakes Low (700-1400 m)
38	Western Hemlock	Maritime Low South (see HW Prog #3) (1-600)
39	Interior_Douglas-fir	East Kootenay Low (700-1400)
40	Interior Spruce	Peace River Mid (650-1200 m)
40L	Interior Spruce	Peace River Low (<650 m)
41	Interior Douglas-fir	Prince George Low (700-1200)
42	Interior Spruce	Prince George High (1200-1550 m)
43	Interior_Douglas-fir	Cariboo Transition Low (600-1400)
44	Interior Spruce	Nelson Low (1-1000m)
45	Lodgepole Pine	Big Bar/Chilcotin (All elevations)
46	Sub-alpine fir	NST / BLK / MIC / MGR / WK / SA (All elevations)
47	Noble Fir	Maritime, Sub maritime (+300/-400) South 480 00’ – 520 00’
48	Aspen, Poplar, Birch	Commercial Broadleaves Interior (All elevations)
49	Alder, Bigleaf maple, Poplar	Commercial Broadleaves Coast (All elevations)
50	Western Larch	Nelson High (1200-1800)
51	Ponderosa Pine	Southern Interior (300-1200 m)
52	Douglas-fir	Thompson-Okanagan (600-1099 m)
53	Douglas-fir	Thompson-Okanagan (1100-1600 m)