Partial Cutting Study

On the Steep Slopes in the CWHvh2

Determine residual stand health, 1992-2006 volume increment and loss of residual stand to windthrow
Measure growth of planted regeneration
Measure recruitment and growth of natural regeneration
Structure and composition of the non-timber understory
Use data and growth relationships to calibrate and test growth and yield models
Provide guidance for policy, support for decision makers and definition of objectives for improved forest management in the Queen Charlotte Islands and other outer coastal areas.
Publication and dissemination of results as extension materials and journal article(s)

Provision of firm guidelines for partial cutting practices in the CWHvh2. These guidelines will be used by field foresters planning partial cutting treatments and by decision makers in regulatory agencies for assessing the effectiveness of partial cutting practices and managing silvicultural costs.
A better understanding of the effects of partial cutting on stand growth. Analysts will use this information to better estimate timber supply.
Assistant in the development and calibration of natural regeneration recruitment and growth models for existing forest growth models.

In the coast-interior transition (Boston Bar) design and demonstrate dispersed retention over a range of densities to improve regeneration success and provide structural attributes for meeting biodiversity objectives.
Monitor attributes of interest (including regeneration and remaining overstory), and comparing actual outcomes with forecasts.
Develop and apply subsequent treatments necessary to meet target stand objectives making systems operationally relevant.
Disseminate results of research to operational staff to guide subsequent harvesting in applicable ecosystem.

Research has highlighting the effect of windthrow in the short and long-term and implications from meeting long-tern stand objectives
Interaction between windthrow and bark beetle attack has been highlighted.
establishment of Trial area has been a heavily utilized for extension promoting the discussion of alternatives to clearcutting in these ecosystems.
Implications of alternatives to regeneration growth have been highlighted.

Harvesting economics provide harvesting costs for a range of cutting patterns and comparisons to clearcutting and highlighted operational issues
Monitoring of residual trees determines the long term fate of trees including description of pattern and abundance of windthrow.
Monitoring of understory regeneration describes the development of subsequent stands and implications to meeting free-growing conditions.
Science support for development and implementation of FREP
Species at Risk recovery team membership and input to policy
Reduced funding restricted work in this project since the 1998 / 1999 fiscal year. Priority has been given to the remeasurement of planted and natural regeneration and tours have been provided to District staff interested in initiating partial cutting in the coast-interior transition. A presentation titled Partial Cutting in the Coast-Interior Transition: Seedfall, Regeneration, and Stand Structure Changes was presented in 1997 at the Managing the Dry Douglas-fir Forests of the Southern Interior held in Kamloops.

Enhancement of worker safety and efficiency through improved access and removal of danger trees
Restoration of access and ability to collect further data from an established research installation that is highly relevant to current questions