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. 

 1. Terms of Reference

The CSWG has developed their terms of reference, updated on March 30, 2009.

2. Professional Networking Under FRPA

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.

3. Silviculture Systems and Stocking Standards

In May 2006 the CSWG released a document entitled “Silvicultural Systems and Partial Cut Harvesting Issues in the Coast Forest Region Discussion paper”.  The purpose of this paper is to review the issues, develop possible solutions and provide recommendations pertaining to silvicultural system issues. The CSWG has also developed FSP stocking standard guidance and messaging in 2006 and is developing a discussion paper related to FSP stocking standards.

4. Silvicultural Systems Monitoring

Further to the Silvicultural Systems and Partial Cut Harvesting Issues in the Coast Forest Region Discussion paper, the CSWG has developed monitoring protocols that allow industry and government members to carry out joint field inspections against the key principles contained within the discussion paper. In 2006 through 2008, the CSWG has carried out joint industry and government field monitoring on cutblocks within various coastal districts. Each year a summary report of the results of monitoring is produced for CRIT. The results of this monitoring are summarized in the "Silvicultural System and Partial Cut Harvesting Issues in the Coast Forest Region 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 Monitoring Results" report.

5. Silvicultural Systems Summary Messaging

A number of years ago the Coast Region Leadership Team (now Regional Management Team) challenged the CRIT to improve the application of silvicultural systems in areas with high levels of dispersed over-story retention. Significant progress has now been accomplished (as evidence of the information provided on this web page). A brief summary of accomplishments was provided to the Coast Region Leadership Team and the Chief Forester under covering memorandum to improve application of silvicultural systems in areas with high levels of dispersed over-story retention.

6. Chief Forester Recognition Letter

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 licensees, industry associations and CRIT.

7. Single Entry Dispersed Retention System Stocking Standards

The Silviculture Working Group completed work on the "Single Entry Dispersed Retention System Stocking Standards Discussion Paper" for use within the Coast Forest Region in November of 2009. The purpose of this discussion paper is to provide a stocking standard framework for a Single Entry Dispersed Retention Standard Retention System for use within the Coast Forest Region. This stocking standard guidance is meant to replace the multi-storied stocking standard, referenced in the Ministry of Forests and Range (MFR) publication titled: Reference Guide to Forest Development Plan Stocking Standards. This document is meant to be used as guidance material for practicing professionals and advice to decision makers.

This discussion paper is expected to be the first of a series of papers to address stocking standard related issues. The working group has just been assigned the task of developing the next discussion paper which will speak to variations to stocking standards for areas affected by Elk.

8. Opportunity Harvesting

The Forest Practices Board, Special Investigation Report #20 titled High Retention Harvesting and Timber Sustainability on the British Columbia Coast (2008:revised January 2009) recommended that the Ministry of Forests and Range (now Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations) develop policy relocated to 'opportunity cuts' on sites where there is no expectation of future yield. To this end, the SWG developed the Opportunity Harvesting in British Columbia's Coast Forest Region: Options Paper for the Ministry of Forests and Range April 19, 2010. This document was endorsed by CRIT during the June 24, 2010 meeting and forwarded to the West and South Coast Regional Management Teams for endorsement decision.

9. Roosevelt Elk and Reforestation

Under the former Ministry of Forests and Range (now Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations) Quick Win process, forest tenure holders identified Roosevelt Elk translocation and population increases for significantly increasing the failure rate of meeting their reforestation obligations. In response, the SWG developed the Roosevelt Elk Impacts on Reforestation: Mitigation Options paper dated June 29, 2011. The options paper and a work plan to address the paper's recommendations were endorsed by the Coast Operations Issues Forum on September 7, 2011. CRIT is in the process of implementing the work plan in response to the options paper recommendations.

10. Single Entry Dispersed Retention Stocking Standard Framework Implementation Guide

As follow-up to the discussion paper entitled Single Entry Dispersed retention Stocking Standard Framework (see above) the CRIT Silviculture Working Group and associated resource specialists have developed the Single Entry Dispersed Retention Stocking Standard Framework Implementation Guide. The purpose of the guide is to help practitioners in the implementation of the Single Entry Dispersed Retention Stocking Standard framework operationally. The guide incorporates feedback from participants at two field-based workshops and is intended to compliment and support the framework described within the discussion paper.

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