|
The Date Creek Silvicultural Systems Research Project |
|
A multi-discipline project headed by the B.C. Forest Service
and involving a broad spectrum of researchers from government, universities
and private consulting firms.
Keywords: silvicultural systems, partial cutting, canopy gaps, mixed species, stand structure, natural regeneration, windthrow, mushroom ecology, northern British Columbia, forest dynamics model, soil ecology, hydrology.
One section of the research project showing the four harvest intensities
used at Date Creek.
 |
In the past, the primary role of forest managers was to ensure that an economical supply of wood was available for local industry. With timber extraction as the main focus, large-scale clearcutting has been the dominant timber harvesting method used throughout British Columbia for the last 50 years. |
 |
Recently, our society has begun to realize that the forests provide us with far more than just wood products. This new awareness is leading to a different style of forest management. Today, in addition to managing for the essential production of timber, forest managers must also ensure that sensitive species and ecosystems are protected, natural diversity is maintained, water quality and scenic values are not degraded and the goals of many other forest users are considered. |
 |
 |
To help accomplish these diverse objectives, managers need a better understanding of how forest ecosystems function, how they change over time and what impacts timber harvesting may have. In 1990, researchers from the Prince Rupert Forest Region initiated the Date Creek project to examine these questions and provide some answers. Click Here for more details on the project.