Silviculture Working Group

The CRIT Silviculture Working Group (CSWG) was established in 2004 to address issues related to silvicultural systems and partial cut harvesting.  The CSWG is equally represented by members from both industry and government that have significant experience and/or interest in the practice of silviculture.  The CSWG deals with silviculture issues as directed by the broader CRIT such as FRPA related stocking standards and silvicultural systems.  The CSWG has developed their terms of reference, updated in spring 2007.

As a member of the CRIT Silviculture Working Group, Paul Barolet has written an article (Professional Networking under FRPA ) that describes CRIT, current CRIT issues and what CRIT and the Silviculture Working Group is doing to promote professional networking under FRPA. The article has been published in the Association of BC Professional Forester's BC Forest Professional magazine, September-October 2007 edition.

In May 2006 the CSWG released a document entitled “Silvicultural Systems and Partial Cut Harvesting Issues in the Coast Forest Region Discussion paper”.  The CSWG also developed monitoring protocols that allowed industry and government members to carry out joint field inspections against the key principles contained within the discussion paper.  In 2006 the CSWG carried out joint industry and government field based monitoring on cutblocks within various coastal districts.  Each year a summary report of the results of monitoring is produced for CRIT.  Additional monitoring of partial cutting practices is planned for 2008.  The CSWG also developed FSP stocking standard guidance and messaging in 2006 and is planning to develop a discussion paper related to FSP stocking standards in 2008.

The CSWG released their "Silviculture System and Partial Cutting Harvest Issues in the Coast Forest Region 2006/2007 Monitoring Results" report. This report is a result of monitoring carried out by the SWG consistent with recommendations contained in the 2006 CRIT Silviculture System and Partial Cut Harvest Issues in the Coast Forest Region Discussion Paper. This report has been sent to the Ministry of Forests and Range Chief Forester under covering memorandum that highlights the efforts of CRIT and the CSWG to improve application of silvicultural systems in areas with high levels of dispersed over-story retention.

One of the recommendations resulting from the 2007 Silvicultural Systems and Partial Cut Harvesting Monitoring Results report was to provide more silvicultural systems and partial harvesting planning and implementation training. In October 2007, a workshop on silvicultural systems and partial harvesting was offered to practicing professionals. Based on the results of this workshop a High Retention Harvesting in Coastal BC Summary Report has been produced.

The Chief Forester has acknowledged that there is a variety of planning and practice issues associated with silvicultural system and partial harvesting applications within the Coast Forest Region and recognized the efforts of the CSWG to address these issues in his letter addressed to coastal licencees, industry associations and CRIT.

For questions or comments regarding these publications, please contact the CRIT secretary