Ministry of Forests and Range Vegetation Resources Inventory

Information for Contractors

Table of Content

• Understanding the BC Vegetation Resources Inventory
• Implementing the Vegetation Resources Inventory
• Responsibility for conducting the Vegetation Resources Inventory
• Bidding on VRI Contracts
• Training for VRI Contractors
• Upcoming Training Programs
• Funding of Training
• Locating Trained Contractors
• Finding out More about the Vegetation Resources Inventory
• Ordering VRI Standards and Procedures Manuals and Other Relevant Publications

Understanding the BC Vegetation Resources Inventory

The BC Vegetation Resources Inventory (VRI) provides an account of British Columbia's trees and other vegetation resources that is of known accuracy and more complete than past forest inventories. It replaces the standards and procedures of the previous forest inventory, which was primarily forcused on timber. The Vegetation Resources Inventory is broader in scope and more reliable than past forest inventories because it uses statistically accurate procedures and detailed ground sampling to augment photo-interpreted estimates.

The Vegetation Resources Inventory covers all lands and forests in the province, including timber supply areas, tree farm licences, private land and parks. The VRI uses a method of classifying land cover that is not biased toward timber management. The previous inventory system classified land as "productive" or "nonproductive", depending on its forest cover. In the new system, all BC land falls into two main categories: vegetated and nonvegetated. Within these two main categories, there are a number of others for example, vegetated, treed, upland, coniferous, dense.

The VRI uses a three-pronged process involving photo interpretation, ground-sample measurements, and statistical analysis and adjustment of the initial estimates. Ground sampling will collect information about a range of landscape features: for example, timber, shrubs, herbs, woody debris, and soil condition. The sampling process will create a pool of randomly selected field plots that other resource inventories can use to collect and compare different kinds of information.

Implementing the Vegetation Resources Inventory

The Vegetation Resources Inventory is designed to determine:

• the amount of vegetation cover in the province
• the location of vegetation resources in the province
• changes in the amount and location of vegetation resources over time (monitoring program)

The principles guiding the implementation of the new inventory are:

• to incorporate VRI standards into the provincial inventory process as soon as possible
• to implement new inventory projects to satisfy business needs as defined in business plans

Two-Pass Implementation Strategy

The proposed implementation strategy for the Vegetation Resources Inventory consists of two separate stages, or passes. The first pass will involve translating the existing inventory database to VRI specifications (database rollover) and then establishing VRI ground samples across the province on a district-by-district basis. The database rollover is scheduled to begin in July 1997. The process of establishing ground samples will begin in the 1997 filed season and will continue until all Forest Districts are complete (estimate six to seven years). Depending on needs, the photo estimates will be upgraded either before or after the sampling.

A key to this strategy is using the District as the unit for conducting the inventory. The number of ground samples within a Forest District will be large enough to produce District-level statistics for timber volume, site index, and other stand parameters with reasonable sampling errors (that is, 15%, at the 95% probability level).

All management units (for example, TFLs, parks) within the Forest District will be sampled. The number of sample plots within each management unit will be proportional to the area. For management units of special interest (for example, TFLs), the number of plots will be large enough to produce statistics with reasonable sampling errors. The intent is not to have two separate inventory systems but rather one provincial inventory process that can be enhanced when additional plots are added to satisfy management unit requirements.

The second pass of the implementation process involves improving District-level inventories. This part of the process could occur at the same time as the database rollover and the establishment of ground samples, but the timing will depend on local priorities and availability of resources.

The activity required to improve the unit inventory would be determined through a pre-inventory analysis embedded in a business plan. Activities could include:

• upgrading the existing inventory to VRI specifications

• new photo interpretation/estimation

• addition of more VRI or special plots

Using this approach, it will take approximately seven years (until 2004) for full implementation of the new inventory standards. This will minimize the length of time that dual standards are in use. Full implementation of both passes of the Vegetation Resources Inventory is expected to take 20 years for the entire province. The implementation schedule will need to be developed in consultation with the Forest Regions, Districts, and TFL holders.

In the first pass of implementation at the district level, ground sampling will provide a statistical framework for the existing inventory and will help define the need for additional ground sample plots to address the needs and objectives defined in business plans. Initially, the inventory will be improved by having statistically reliable volume estimates at the District level. This will improve the Inventory Audit information by permitting statistical adjusment in those units that do not meet the required overall accuracy.

It will be possible to use the results of the first pass of implementation (database rollover and gound sampling) for provincial inventory reporting for all lands, including TSAs, TFLs, parks, and private land. The Forest District estimates will be used for TSRs. In addition, the ground sample plots will contribute to the Canada National Forest Inventory and Monitoring Program thereby satisfying C&I needs.

Clearly, some District inventories will need to be improved in the second pass. The purpose of these activities is to improve on the information from the first pass in an organized (priorized) manner based upon defined needs that are embedded in a business plan.

The application of a two-stage Vegetation Reosurces Inventory driven by business plans may also provide an opportunity to integrate with other sampling programs (for example, components of the operational Growth and Yield Program). Business plans can be expanded to include growth and yield permanent sample plots and monitoring plots.

Responsibility for Conducting the Vegetation Resources Inventory

The Ministry of Forests and Range is responsible for conducting the inventory in timber supply areas. In tree farm licences, private industry will conduct the inventory using the standards and procedures approved by the Resources Inventory Committee (RIC). Ground sampling will be conducted by contractors who have received certification through training programs approved by the Ministry of Forests.

Bidding on VRI Contracts

Once contractors have received the Vegetation Resources Inventory training they may bid on contracts across the province. Each ground-sampling project will begin with two days of familiarization with the specific site.

Contractors will be able to do work on the Vegetation Resources Inventory when they have successfully completed the training program and received a certificate of qualification or have received a certificate as a result of passing the Training Challenge.

Training for VRI Contractors

VRI Ground Sampling Training Program

The VRI Ground Sampling Training Program gives potential contractors the training and qualifications they need to carry out VRI ground sampling. It also trains staff who monitor and audit the ground sampling.

The VRI Ground Sampling Training Program lasts for 13 days and consists of eight different modules which cover the following topics:

• Overview of the Vegetation Resources Inventory
• Field Orientation and Navigation
• Principles of Sampling and Plot Establishment
• Inventory Cruising
• Call Grading and Net Factoring
• Plants, Soils and Old Growth Determination
• Measuring Coarse Woody Debris
• Forage Measurments

The training modules are strongly oriented to field training, with some classroom instruction. In addition to the eight subject modules, the curriculum includes two field days - a full plot day and a cross-training day. The full-plot day provides trainees with an opportunity to complete an entire sample plot before being evaluated.

Trainees can take all eight modules together or one at a time. When you take all eight modules together, you will attend the first three and the last two modules as a group. In the middle, the group splits for a six-day period, during which you can take either the cruising and call grading modules or the plants, soils, and old growth module. If you choose the cruising and call grading modules, you will be evaluated in the timber stream of the VRI. If you choose the plants, soils, and old growth module, you will be evaluated in the ecology stream.

Note: If you are certified for VRI Ground Sampling, you will be able to work on VRI projects anywhere in BC, regardless of the locale where you received your training.

VRI Ground Sampling Challenge Process

If you are a potential contractor with previous training or experience, you can gain certification under the VRI Ground Sampling Training Program by challenging either the pre-requisites for admission or the training modules themselves.

To pass the Vegetation Resources Inventory Training Program Challenge you must:>

1. present a portfolio that documents previous learning and experience relevant to the VRI. (For people who have more training and experience than is required for this program, the portfolio assessment will be enough to challenge the program.)

2. show that you have the skills and knowledge needed to carry out the tasks taught in the VRI Ground Sampling Training Program. (People who have an adequate portfolio but no previous training in VRI ground sampling may challenge appropriate parts of the module training.)

3. pass an oral examination.

Air Photo Interpretation Certification Program

The British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range requires photo interpreters who work on the Ministry's inventory and update projects to be certified through the Air Photo Interpretation Certification Program. Certification usually takes one to two years.

To enter the Air Photo Interpretation Certification Program, submit a summary of your qualifications, experience, training, and education. The Photo Interpretation Certification Committee reviews the information, and if you meet the qualifications (at least three months of prior photo interpretation experience) you move on to the Basic Workshop. The workshop lasts for five days and covers procedures for estimating and describing attributes of vegetation cover: for example, tree species composition, age, height, crown closure, soil moisture, nutrient classes.

After completing the Basic Workshop, you will spend a period of time working with a certified air photo interpreter in a supervised situation. During this period, you will have an opportunity to apply your skills, knowledge, and experience and gain exposure to the Vegetation Resources Inventory process.

The next stage of the training is a hands-on workshop that lasts four days and includes practical application of the procedures for measuring and describing the polygon attributes included in the Vegetation Resources Inventory. At the end of the workshop, candidates take a certification exam. If you pass the exam, you will receive a Certificate for Vegetation Inventory Photo Interpretation which is valid for five years.

Upcoming Training Programs

For more information on the VRI Photo Interpretation Certification Program and upcoming training opportunities, contact:

Laurence Bowdige
Chair, Photo Interpretation Certification Committee
Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch
Ministry of Forests and Range
Phone: (250) 387-5509
Fax: (250) 387-5999
Email: Laurence.Bowdige@gov.bc.ca

For more information on the VRI Ground Sampling Training Program and upcoming training opportunities, contact:

North West Delivery Centre
BC Forestry Continuing Studies Network
Phone: (250) 847-8833
Fax: (250) 847-3135

Funding of Training

The Ministry of Forests and Range does not pay contractors for attending Vegetatation Resources Inventory training programs.

Locating Trained Contractors

Contractors are responsible for providing proof of their own training and certification. To find out who has taken the VRI training and who may be certified, contact Laurence Bowdige, Ministry of Forests and Range, Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch Branch in Victoria (for training programs held through 1996) or  the BC Forestry Continuing Studies Network, which administers the training programs.

Finding out More about the Vegetation Resources Inventory

For general information about the Vegetation Resources Inventory, contact the Resource Inventory Branch.

For information about the VRI activities in the regions, contact the regional VRI Coordinator.

Phone List of VRI Contacts

Ordering VRI Standards and Procedures Manuals and Other Relevant Publications

Standards and procedures for the Vegetation Resources Inventory have been developed in coordination with other resource inventories in the province under the direction of the Resources Inventory Committee (RISC). All RISC approved manuals will be accessible at no charge via the Internet from a central location at: http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/risc

Hard copies are also available and can be purchased from Crown Publication.

A listing of all RISC publications, including prices and order information, is also available on the internet at: http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/risc

All RICS publications will be linked to an electronic bookstore to allow direct purchase over the Internet. RISC publications will also be available on CD ROM or diskette for purchase.