Objectives:
The overall objective of this project is to study and demonstrate selective cutting and fertilization in mature (80-100 year- old) lodgepole pine stands, to determine:

• if commercial thinning is economically feasible with current technology;
• if residual stand growth responses and condition will provide increased volume or value-yield for this rotation;
• if stand susceptibility to attack by mountain pine beetle and other insects is affected;
• if a mixed species stand can be initiated through release of advanced regeneration, or underplanting of thinned stands, in a shelterwood management system;
• how wildlife habitat attributes (thermal cover, snow interception, forage) and domestic forage values are affected by thinning and fertilization (added 1997).

Experimental Design:

For most studies, two levels of fertilization will be considered as a split plot experiment overlaid on four overstory reduction treatments applied in a randomized complete block design with three replicates (sites).

Treatments:

Four levels of overstory reduction were applied to 10 to 20 ha treatment units (main plots) at each site:

• thin from below to uniform 4 metre inter-tree spacing;
• thin from below to uniform 5 metre inter-tree spacing;
• complete pine removal (clearcut with fir or larch reserves);
• no harvest (control)

Two levels of fertilization (0; 175 kg N/ha as 35:0:0:10S forestry blend) were applied at the end of the third growing season following harvest (split plots).

Layout:

[Haha Creek] [Elk River] [Parsons]
Sampling and statistical design for individual studies varies with study objective; however, sample locations for most studies are concentrated within two separated 100m x 100m macroplots laid out within each overstory treatment unit such that a three tree-height treated buffer is maintained around the pair (2 macroplots/treatment unit x 4 treatment units/site x 3 sites = 24 macroplots). One macroplot within each overstory treatment unit was fertilized at the end of the third growing season following harvest.

Each 100 m x 100 m macroplot is divided into a 25 metre grid, providing sixteen gridcells and nine central grid intersection points to facilitate leave-tree marking and location of sample plots for various studies.

History:

This project is a partnership effort involving researchers from the Canadian Forest Service Pacific Forestry Centre, and the Forest Engineering Institute of Canada, and the operations staff of Crestbrook Forest Industries Ltd., Galloway Lumber Co. Ltd., and the B.C. Ministry of Forests.

• 1991 - Project development
• 1992 - Pre-treatment assessments
• 1992/3 - Harvest Haha Creek and Elk River (winter)
• 1993 - Harvest Parsons Site (winter)
• 1993 - 1999 Annual measurements
• 1998/9 - Wind and snow damage to Elk River site, harvested treatments were salvaged, only the unthinned (E1 and E2) and clearcut (E7 and E8) plots are being monitored now.
• 2000 Elk River plots were assessed for the last time
• 2000 Haha Creek and Parsons locations reassesed.
• 2001 Reassessments at Haha Creek and Parsons

Funding for the project has been provided by the Canada B.C. Partnership Agreement on Forest Resource Development (FRDA 2), the Government of Canada Green Plan; and Forest Renewal BC.

Status: Active

Reports and Publications:

Mitchell, J.L. 1994. Commercial thinning of mature lodgepole pine to reduce susceptibility to mountain pine beetle. For. Can. and B.C. Min. For., Victoria. FRDA Rep. 220.

Allen, E. and T. White. 1997. Decay associated with logging injuries in western larch, Larix occidentalis, and in lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta. Can. For. Serv. Pac. For. Cent. Tech. Trans. Note No. 7..

Safranyik, L., T.L. Shore, and D.A. Linton. 1997. Attack by secondary bark beetles (Coleoptera:Scolytidae) in spaced mature lodgepole pine stands in the east Kootenays of British Columbia. Can. For. Serv. Pac. For. Cent. File Rep. P58001-97-02

Whitehead, R.J., L. Safranyik, B.N. Brown, R.A. Benton, T.L. Shore, and D.A.Linton. 1997. Modifying silvicultural systems for mature lodgepole pine, a research and operations partnership Research Working Plan 1992-2002. Can. For. Serv. Pac. For. Cent. File Rep. P58001-97-00.

Whitehead, R.J. and B.N. Brown. 1997. Windthrow after commercial thinning in mature lodgepole pine. Can. For. Serv. Pac. For. Cent. File Rep. P58001-97-01

Safranyik, L., T.L. Shore and D.A. Linton, 1999. Attack by barkbeetles (Coleoptera : Scolytidae) following spacing of mature lodgepole pine (Pinaceae) stands. Can. Ent. 131:671-685.

Anon. 2001. Mountain Pine Beetle. http://www.pfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/entomology/mpb/index_e.html

This project is part of the Forest Ecosystem Research Network of Sites (FERNS).