Roberts Creek Study Forest: Silvicultural Systems Research in Douglas-fir Forests

ObjectivesRoberts Creek Study Forest: Silvicultural Systems Research in Douglas-fir Forests

  • Design and demonstrate a range of silvicultural systems in the lower elevation forests along the Sunshine coast.
  • 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 Results can be found here.
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Benefits & Relevance

  • Research has highlighting a range of issues related to the transition from clearcutting to alternative retaining trees (retention).
  • Research stimulated interest in the establishment of trials in other districts.
  • 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
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Key Components

  • 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
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