Biological diversity (or biodiversity) is the diversity of plants, animals and other living organisms in all their forms and levels of organization, including genes, species, ecosystems and the processes that link them. The intent of this guidebook is to provide forest managers, planners and field staff with recommendations and a process for establishing and meeting objectives to maintain biodiversity-- at both the landscape level and stand level consistent with the Forest Practices Code.
The approach is based on ecological principles. The underlying assumptions are that native species and ecological processes are more likely to be maintained if forest activities are managed to resemble natural disturbance agents such as fire, wind, insects and disease.
This guidebook is structured around the concept of Natural Disturbance Types (NDT's). The province is divided into five NDT's based on the frequency and type of the major natural disturbances. Recommendations within the guidebook are further structured around biogeoclimatic subzones within these NDT's.
Recommendations are provided for addressing the following at the landscape level: seral stage distribution; temporal and spatial distribution of the cut and leave areas; old-growth retention and representativeness; landscape connectivity; stand structure and species composition. At the stand level, recommendations are provided for addressing coarse woody debris and wildlife tree management.
The implementation of the recommendations in the guidebook may be difficult in some situations due to past harvesting history and social and economic impacts.
Thus, guidance is provided for developing a long-term strategy to achieve the biodiversity objectives while minimizing the short-term impacts.
The Managing Identified Wildlife Guidebook provides species specific management recommendations for identified wildlife. Identified wildlife are species at risk for which the deputy minister of Environment, Lands and Parks and the chief forester agree will receive special management attention under the Forest Practices Code. Identified wildlife may be red-listed (endangered or threatened), blue-listed (vulnerable or sensitive) or regionally important (yellow listed species that are considered to require management beyond that provided in the Biodiversity and Riparian guidebooks).
The goal of this guidebook is to provide habitat management guidelines which mitigate the effects of forest practices. Government staff and licensees will use the information and management recommendations provided in the guidebook when preparing landscape unit or operational plans (e.g., forest development plans).
Because the habitat needs of wildlife vary, two basic conservation strategies have been recommended: wildlife habitat areas (WHAs) and general wildlife measures (GWMs).
Some wildlife require a combination of a WHA and a GWM.
Six versions of the Managing Identified Wildlife Guidebook have been produced, one for each forest region. Each additional guidebook contains three sections. Section 1 is an explanation of the context and use of the guidebook. Section 2 provides tables of identified wildlife by forest district, maps of each forest district, and specific accounts for all identified wildlife in each region. Section 3 contains the glossary, references and appendices.
The Managing Identified Wildlife Guidebook is being prepared in stages. Not all wildlife currently considered candidates for "identified" status are included in this version (MIWG 1.0). Preparation for the second version is currently underway.
The Boundary Marking Guidebook provides information and assistance in the establishment of boundary marking requirements for cutblocks, resource features, and those areas considered sensitive or classified within the forest district.
It provides instructions on when and how to mark trees to define the boundaries as to where harvesting is and is not permitted. Color of paint and ribbon, dimensions and location of tree marks, and the required level of accuracy for delineating the actual boundary line in the field are some of the items covered in this guidebook.
Caves are a unique non-renewable resource with geological, scenic, educational, cultural, biological, hydrological, paleontological and recreational values. The protection and management of caves on Crown land is considered to be an essential part of integrated resource management.
The Cave Management Guidebook outlines the responsibilities of the Ministry of Forests and licensees with respect to cave management, provides guidance on the impacts of forest operations on caves, and identifies measures that may be taken to minimize environmental and recreational impacts on caves. It also provides a brief description of caves in the context of outdoor recreation management. This background information will assist the reader in understanding the broad principles of recreation management.
Cave management in the context of Forest Development Planning (FDP) is also discussed. It sets out the legislative authority for managing and protecting caves and includes information on identifying cave features; it also specifies measures that will be taken to protect caves, to provide opportunities for review and comment, and to facilitate other matters related to cave management as part of the FDP.
A brief description of the province's cave inventory and classification system is also included. This information will help the reader to identify and classify cave features. As well, the guidebook discusses the surface considerations that should be taken into account when proposing forest operations near cave features and discusses guidelines for managing the recreational use of caves.
A glossary of terms, a listing of the key references related to cave management, and sample formats for a cave inventory are also included.
The Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act requires that a visual impact assessment (VIA) be submitted with the Forest Development Plan when timber harvesting, road construction or modification, or other operations are proposed in a scenic area with visual quality objectives (VQOs).
The purpose of this guidebook is to document the recommended procedures for completing a VIA and to identify the evaluation criteria that will be used to assess whether or not proposed operations would meet the visual quality objectives. A VIA simulates the visual impacts that proposed operations would have on visual resources and is used to assess whether or not the VQOs would be achieved.
A brief description of VIA in the context of visual landscape management is provided. This background information will assist the reader in understanding the broad concepts, principles and techniques of visual landscape management. VIA is discussed in the context of forest development planning. It sets out the legislative authority for VIA and includes information on the timing, opportunity for review and comment, and other matters related to submitting a VIA as part of the Forest Development Plan.
Also included are a glossary of terms and a listing of the key references related to visual landscape management generally and VIA specifically. The guidebook's appendices include sample formats for a VIA report and examples of how sight lines and visible areas may be calculated, as well as techniques for carrying out visual force analysis and visual simulation of proposed operations.
The Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act requires that a person obtain the consent of the district manager before constructing, rehabilitating or maintaining a trail or recreation facility on Crown land.
Section 102 of the Act (unauthorized trail or recreation facility construction) was designed to encourage better planning of trail and recreation facilities.
It was introduced to ensure public safety, protection of the environment and management of resource use conflicts.
The consent of the district manager is not required if the activity is permitted under another enactment.
The purpose of the guidebook is to assist outdoor recreation groups and the public in preparing trail or recreation facility proposals that involve construction, rehabilitation or maintenance and obtaining the consent of the district manager for such proposals.
The guidebook provides information on the:
The guidebook also contains a map of the forest district and directory of the forest district offices.
This guidebook provides current information and standards regarding the processes and output required in forest road layout and design. It is aimed at users who are capable of carrying out the technical operations related to this subject area, but who require guidance on how to meet the requirements of the regulations. Both field and office practices are described, and standards regarding form and format are discussed.
The subject areas that are covered link operational plans such as the Forest Development Plan and the Access Management Plan to road and drainage structure construction, and include:
The guide also provides minimum expected results; operational practices that meet the objectives in the regulations; sketches of components; and design and construction constraints. Please note that numerical analysis is used only to illustrate the procedures.
The Forest Road Construction and Modification Guidebook provides current information and standards regarding the processes and output required in forest road construction and modification.
Direction is provided in how to carry out basic road and drainage construction. The guide outlines objectives to meet the requirements of the regulations, and describes detailed processes for which no other documentation is readily available (i.e., log culvert and ford construction). Proper management is emphasized, particularly with regard to protecting other resources and meeting operational and safety requirements. Topics covered include:
This guidebook provides current information and standards on the processes and output required for forest road maintenance. It is aimed at users who require guidance on how to meet the requirements of the regulations.
Field and office practices related to road inspection and maintenance are discussed in terms that facilitate safe use and minimize any environmental impact. In addition, the rationale and procedures used to establish frequencies of inspections are also discussed. The frequencies of inspections relate to risk management, and depend on the level of hazards present along a road, and the consequences of a problem occurring. Samples of data collection sheets and report forms are included. Specific topics include:
Logging plans are one of seven operational plans that will be a legal requirement under the Forest Practice Code of British Columbia Act .
The Logging Plan Guidebook uses examples to illustrate the information that will now be required in all logging plans. It also outlines the type and display format for information that must be included on the map accompanying the logging plan, such as applicable map scale and cartographic symbols.
The Lake Classification Guidebook identifies the distinct variations in lake characteristics and recreational use across the province. There is a lake classification guidebook for each region.
This guide will assist in establishing management goals for individual lakes or groups of lakes. It will also be a useful tool for any district lake classification committee that is beginning the lake classification process.
The classification criteria and lake attribute list includes such categories as public recreation, commercial interest, fisheries and wildlife concerns, and other known defined uses. The guide also recommends forest management practices associated with each lake class, ranging from proposed harvesting practices to access management.
Rivers and streams are the primary source of drinking water for the majority of British Columbians. Approximately 675 watersheds are classified as community watersheds. They serve more than 70 per cent of the provincial population. The total area of community watersheds in B.C. is 2.5 per cent of the provincial land mass.
This guidebook describes the forest practices necessary to protect the quality and quantity of water in these watersheds. There are 22 sections dealing with topics such as terrain hazard mapping, watershed assessment, long-term forest development planning, cutblock size and greenup requirements, riparian management, range practices, pesticides, fertilizers, forest road hydrology, stream crossings, and water quality monitoring. An administrative section describes the classification of community watersheds and an appendix lists all of the community watersheds and their areas in B.C.
Watershed cumulative effects are impacts on water quality and stream channel habitat from change in stream flows, suspended sediment loading, coarse sediment loading, and streamside activities. Many of these impacts result from road building and harvesting. While a number of watersheds show evidence of cumulative effects, other watersheds, in spite of a long harvest history, do not. This guidebook of Watershed Assessment Procedures (WAP) shows how to evaluate the occurrence and risk of cumulative effects for any proposed Forest Development Plan.
Watershed Assessment Procedures focuses on five potential hydrological hazards: peak flows, suspended sediment, landslides, riparian impacts, and stream channel stability. The procedure relies on simple-to-measure proxy indicators such as total road length, area of cutblocks, second-growth height, numbers of landslides and amount of streamside logging.
Level 1 WAP can be completed by an experienced forest technician. A score sheet is provided to translate these measurements into a single rating for each of the five hazards. A process is described for incorporating the broad-level landscape prescriptions from the watershed assessment into the Forest Development Plan.
There are two versions of this manual: the Interior Watershed Assessment Procedure (IWAP), intended for interior, snowpack-dominated watersheds; and the Coastal Watershed Assessment Procedure (CWAP), intended for rain- dominated coastal watersheds.
The channel assessment procedure (CAP) is the Level 2 manual of the Watershed Assessment Procedure. It is a channel stability assessment procedure that is completed only for those watersheds that score a high hazard rating in the Level 1 Watershed Assessment Procedure.
CAP is intended to be completed by a hydrologist or a geomorphologist. Standardized methods are described for evaluating stream channel stability based on airphoto and field evidence. Stream channel morphology is one of the key indicators used for assessment. A channel stability score is developed for use in the prescription component of Level 1 WAP.
Gullies are primary sources of sediment and debris entering fish streams in coastal watersheds. Timber harvesting in unstable gullies can greatly accelerate these problems, and in some instances can lead to large debris torrents. Other gullies are not geomorphically active and harvesting across or within these gullies has no measurable impact.
The purpose of the Gully Assessment Procedure (GAP) is to determine the hazard level of a particular gully and to prescribe an appropriate harvesting treatment. An evaluation is made of the entire gully system_not just the reach being harvested. Upslope and downslope characteristics are just as important as the character of the gully within the proposed cutblock.
The evaluation procedure is approximately 20 questions. The answers are ranked from low to very high hazard, and to either mass wasting or to washout. Prescriptions depend on the severity of the hazard, and can range from leave strips to clearcut harvest with cross-stream yarding.
The GAP is intended only for coastal watersheds.
Range use plans are required under the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act for all tenures issued under the Range Act. The Range Use Planning Guidebook provides information instruction, and a comprehensive checklist for those required to write such plans. Requirements for advertising and review periods are outlined. Included is an example plan which illustrates how some resource issues may be addressed in a plan.
General guidance to forest practitioners on techniques to limit the spread of noxious weeds is offered by this guidebook. It includes discussions on the many different site treatments and machinery practices that can help in limiting the spread of noxious weeds into previously uninfested areas.
This guidebook provides information for those responsible for planning and building fences on Crown rangeland. It covers such topics as design, maximum height allowances and proper wire spacing to address wildlife issues.
This guidebook describes the process and minimum criteria for designing general harvest patterns and specific cutblock boundaries. Design information at both the landscape level and stand level is included.
A silviculture prescription must be prepared prior to harvesting timber or embarking on a program to reforest backlog not satisfactorily restocked areas or other areas where timber has been damaged or destroyed. This guidebook outlines the requirements for silviculture prescriptions and provides guidance on how to find information and preparing a prescription.
Some of the areas covered by this guidebook include:
There is also information on how a silviculture prescription sets the limits for soil disturbance during harvesting and site preparation operations and establishes the standards and time-frames for reforestation.
The Forest Practices Code requires appropriate species selection, stocking, and specified free growing requirements for all silviculture prescriptions. The Establishment to Free Growing Guidebook focuses on the legal requirements for stand establishment, maintenance, and the production of a free growing stand.
It covers the legislative content, background, definitions, and procedures relating to species selection, stocking (including maximum density for conifers), establishment, and free growing. A chart is included which displays the important dates between the commencement of harvesting and free growing, and their relationship to one another.
Also included are the regional forest establishment criteria tables. These tables contain information required by the Code for forest establishment and for the determination of free growing, including tree species selection, stocking standards for conifers and hardwoods, regeneration delay period, earliest and latest free growing assessment dates, minimum tree height, and the percentage of tree over brush required to meet free growing.
Seven versions of this guidebook have been prepared. One is provincial in scope and includes all regional forest establishment criteria tables. The other six each detail a single forest region and contain only the tables applicable to that region. Appendices include background and support information referenced in the text. Among these are the Regionally Organized Provincial Forest Health Charts and Provincial Forest Health Free Growing Damage Standards.
Site preparation is any planned measure to prepare a site for the favorable reception and satisfactory growth of naturally disseminated seed, sown seed, or planted seedlings. Key site preparation issues include: ensuring compliance with any silvicultural prescriptions; ecological suitability of species and site; and consistency with specified soil/forest disturbance limits.
This guidebook provides users with the information needed to create stand management prescriptions (SMPs) required under the Forest Practices Code. It outlines the steps in preparing a SMP. Many of the steps are similar to those for preparing a silviculture prescription (SP) so portions of the process will refer to guidelines in for the creation of silviculture prescriptions (formerly known as Pre-harvest Silviculture Prescriptions).
Spacing activities are an important part of silviculture prescriptions (SP) and stand management prescriptions (SMP). This guidebook provides direction for the planning and implementation of spacing activities. Information is provided to set different silviculture prescription maximum stand density numbers for timber, wildlife habitat areas, and special ecosystems. The guidebook also provides information on spacing that should be considered in the development of stand management prescriptions.
Other factors identified include: forest level, biodiversity, forest health, fuel management, special visual cover, and other stand and site characteristics that should be considered in the planning and implementation of spacing activities.
The Pruning Guidebook provides direction on the considerations and standards necessary for planning and implementation of pruning activities in silviculture prescriptions (SP) and stand management prescriptions (SMP).
Pruning can be a basic silviculture requirement in areas where forest health is a concern, or in low-density stands being managed for wildlife habitat.
Other factors identified include: forest level, biodiversity, forest health, fuel management, special visual cover, other stand and site characteristics that should be considered in the planning and implementation of any pruning activities.
This guidebook provides direction on the considerations and standards necessary for planning and implementation of fertilization activities in silviculture prescriptions and stand management prescriptions. Fertilization may be a basic silviculture requirement in certain areas with nutrient deficiencies or where it is likely that free growing standards would not be otherwise met within specified time periods.
The key considerations and standards for water quality and no treatment zones for community watersheds and other areas are also identified. Fertilizer transport, storage, application and monitoring procedures are included.
This guidebook provides direction for the planning and implementation of commercial thinning activities in silviculture prescriptions and stand management prescriptions. It identifies stand and site selection criteria, minimum leave-tree considerations, leave-tree damage standards, and free growing assessment dates that should be included in silviculture prescriptions.
It also provides information that can be used to develop stocking standards and post-spacing densities for silviculture prescriptions or stand management prescriptions designed to provide future commercial thinning entries on a site.
Forest level, biodiversity, forest health, access, stand and site factors that should be considered in the planning and implementation of commercial thinning activities are identified.
Silviculture surveys are used to determine if the development of newly regenerated forests, meets the obligations established in silviculture prescriptions. This guidebook will help develop an operational understanding of the silviculture survey system, including stratification, data gathering techniques, sampling intensities and summary procedures.
The surveys covered in the guidebook are:
An example of a complete free growing survey report is included.
The Major License Silviculture Information System (MLSIS) is an on-line, integrated data entry and reporting system. It is designed to satisfy information needs for the Forest Service and major license holders to meet their obligations under the Silviculture Practices.
This guide provides the framework for the accurate and timely collection of the required silviculture activity information beginning with the silviculture prescription through to the free growing declaration.
The following sections are included:
This guidebook provides direction on how to prepare a Five-Year Silviculture Plan and present the required information to the public and other agencies. It also provides direction on amendments to the 5-Year Silviculture Plan resulting from public and referral agency input.
Where the Crown is required to prepare a silviculture prescription or a stand management prescription, district managers must prepare a Five-Year Silviculture Plan. Major license holders must prepare and obtain district manager approval for a Five-Year Silviculture Plan for any areas where the holder is required to prepare a silviculture prescription or stand management prescription.
Forest vegetation management interacts with all forestry practices. An integrated approach to forest vegetation management, similar to integrated pest management in agriculture, is recommended. The Vegetation Management Guidebook describes a process for planning activities and includes a brief description of the various vegetation management techniques.
It describes the prescription process for vegetation management treatments and a process for choosing the most appropriate method. Selection is based on biological, environmental, social, economic, and safety factors. Livestock grazing and pesticide use are referred to briefly. These subjects are described in more detail in other reference material. However, some guidelines for Pesticide Free Zones are included. Recommendations for appropriate worker safety equipment are made for all vegetation management treatments.
This guidebook outlines the Forest Practices Code requirements for the planning, collection, registration, and use of seed and vegetative material used for reforestation. It includes descriptions of the principles of cone, seed and vegetative material planning, the seed planning zones established in B.C., and the sources of seed and vegetative material which can be used to produce propagules for planting operations.
The procedures, processes, and options presented are arranged from collection to planting and include:
Also included are samples of forms and a map of the provincial seed planning zones.
Defoliating pest species native to British Columbia periodically cause localized and widespread damage to both coniferous and deciduous forests. Defoliating insects attack both mature and immature trees, causing growth and quality loss, mortality, and increased rotation lengths. In the past, no monitoring and prediction systems were available for defoliators and the only method of control was spraying with chemical insecticides. However, in the past decade, significant programs have been established using a variety of techniques that can minimize damage and help predict areas where problems may occur.
The Defoliator Management Guidebook discusses management approaches for Douglas-fir tussock moth, western spruce budworm, western hemlock looper, eastern spruce budworm and western blackheaded budworm. It provides recommended practices for hazard rating of stands and landscapes, survey procedures to estimate damage levels and population trends, decision criteria for the application of treatments, and available treatments. This integrated approach can work well.
This guidebook is not comprehensive in its explanations of various remedial activities, or the biological background on the defoliator species. Only defoliator species for which there are proven management practices are included. However, it does provide the basic knowledge necessary for development of a management plan to effectively reduce defoliator damage.
Bark beetles are the most serious insect problem in mature stands of lodgepole pine, spruce, and Douglas-fir in British Columbia. These insects attack and kill large diameter, mature trees and are capable of reducing stand volumes by 80 per cent within a few years. In the past, direct management have been minimal. Efforts have concentrated on salvaging killed timber before substantial degradation occurs. However, in the past decade, significant programs have been established using a variety of techniques that can minimize damage and predict areas where problems may arise.
The Bark Beetle Management Guidebook discusses management approaches for mountain pine beetle, spruce beetle and Douglas-fir beetle. It outlines recommended practices for hazard rating of stands and landscapes, survey procedures to estimate damage levels and population trends, criteria for treatment decisions, and treatments available.
It is not comprehensive in its explanation of various activities, or the biological background of the beetle species. Only bark beetle species for which there are proven management practices are included. However, it provides the basic knowledge necessary for development of a management plan to effectively reduce bark beetle damage.
This guidebook outlines forest health issues and the incidence of forest health factors in high-hazard forest ecosystems. Hazard and risk rating for high-risk ecosystems are defined and described for defoliators, bark beetles, spruce weevil and diseases. Also listed are the basic requirements for summaries of forest health surveys, a necessary part of forest development planning. Topics covered include aerial overview surveys, pest incidence surveys, and predictive sampling surveys for defoliators and bark beetles.
The basic forest health survey requirements to complete silviculture and stand management prescriptions are included. A Prince Rupert Forest Region multi-pest survey is also included.
Dwarf mistletoes are native seed plants that infest coniferous tree species in forested ecosystems of North America. This guidebook covers important biological features and management practices for four dwarf mistletoes: lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum); western hemlock dwarf mistletoe (A. tsugense); western larch dwarf mistletoe (A. laricis); and Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe (A. douglasii).
Although dwarf mistletoe is an integral part of forested ecosystems, offering preferred habitat for some birds and animals, it can also cause reduced tree growth, reduced wood quality, and reduced longevity of infected trees. Dwarf mistletoes have a significant affect on tree health in coastal western hemlock forests, interior lodgepole pine forests, and southern interior stands of western larch and Douglas-fir.
The Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and regulations require evaluations and suitable treatments for dwarf mistletoe during the preparation of forest management plans and prescriptions. The guidebook illustrates the distribution of dwarf mistletoe species in British Columbia, the host tree species and symptoms of infection by dwarf mistletoe. It describes dwarf mistletoe biology and dynamics; lists forest ecosystems units that are often infected and damaged. Detection survey techniques and infection rating systems are included. The guidebook describes management treatment options; and lists criteria and procedures for assessing free-growing status of susceptible trees or stands.
Tree root diseases are widespread throughout all forested ecosystems in British Columbia. They can reduce tree growth, lower wood quality, and cause mortality. The Root Disease Management Guidebook provides a reference for detecting, identifying, assessing, and, if necessary, treating root disease in managed forest stands. It is intended to be of use in the preparation of silviculture and stand management prescriptions and may also be useful in helping assess the hazard and risk of root disease over larger areas.
Stem rusts and foliar diseases are widespread throughout many forested ecosystems in British Columbia, they can reduce tree growth, lower wood quality, and cause mortality. Silvicultural activities, such as spacing, can be greatly influenced by the presence of stem rusts.
The Stem Rust and Foliar Disease Management Guidebook provides a reference for detecting, identifying, assessing, and, if necessary, treating stem rusts, and foliar disease in managed forest stands. It is intended for use in the preparation of silviculture and stand management prescriptions and may also be useful in helping assess the hazard and risk of stem rusts over larger areas.
Terminal weevils are widespread throughout many spruce and pine ecosystems in British Columbia. This guidebook provides a reference for detecting, identifying, assessing damage, and, if necessary, treating the spruce weevil, (Pissodes strobi); and the lodgepole pine terminal weevil, (Pissodes terminalis). Terminal weevil damage does not cause direct mortality, but can produce unacceptable growth loss and stem deformation in young spruce and pine stands resulting in loss of volume and wood quality, and longer rotation time. This guidebook is intended for use in the preparation of silviculture and stand management prescriptions and may also be useful in helping assess the hazard and risk of terminal weevils over larger areas.
This guidebook covers a range of forest health factors that have the potential to damage young trees and stands. It provides a reference for identifying, detecting, assessing, and, if necessary, treating young-stand pests. It outlines procedures developed for the management of the most important young-stand pests and abiotic factors not already covered in other guidebooks.
The Soil Conservation Guidebook is designed to ensure that the soil resource is adequately protected during the conduct of forestry operations. It provides direction for preparing operational plans and prescriptions that require specification of soil disturbance limits.
Recommendations are provided for the maximum allowable site occupancy by permanent access structures; for estimating the area that will be occupied by the proposed permanent access; and for determining when to include sidecast soil material. Examples are provided for site-specific measures that should be specified for the construction of temporary access structures.
Recommendations are also provided for the maximum allowable soil disturbance and forest floor displacement within the net area to be reforested, on both coastal and interior sites.
A careful evaluation of the landslide hazards in any area proposed for forest development is critical to good forest resource management. This guidebook contains recommendations on practical terrain stability mapping and assessment procedures that will help to minimize the frequency and magnitude of landslides.
The procedures discussed include reconnaissance mapping, detailed mapping, field assessments, and reports. Specific recommendations are provided on appropriate terrain survey intensity levels, classification of terrain stability, landslide-induced stream sedimentation, surface erosion potential, and potential for sediment delivery from surface erosion sources. Field indicators of potential slope instability are provided. The qualifications required of professionals conducting terrain stability mapping and assessments are also included.
One of the goals of good forest stewardship is to protect, maintain, and enhance the long-term productivity of forest soils. This can be achieved in forestry operations by carefully planning and implementing harvesting and silvicultural practices. Where detrimental soil disturbance takes place, the appropriate use of soil rehabilitation can help restore productivity and control erosion.
This guidebook provides a "toolbox" of techniques and suggestions to help design and carry out soil rehabilitation treatments for the following features:
For each of these features, rehabilitation strategies are provided for restoring natural drainage patterns, controlling surface soil erosion, restoring soil properties, and re-vegetating with herbs, shrubs, and trees.
Soil disturbance surveys are sometimes used to determine whether harvesting and silvicultural treatments have been conducted in a manner that is consistent with the soil disturbance limits specified in a silviculture prescription.
This guidebook describes procedures for measuring the area occupied by roads, landings, and dispersed soil disturbances. Categories of dispersed soil disturbance are described and examples are provided that demonstrate various measurement scenarios. Direction is given for laying out a field survey and sample field forms are provided.
In order to ensure that forest soils are adequately protected, silviculture prescriptions must include a determination of the inherent sensitivity of the soil to disturbance. This guidebook identifies the soil and site data that should be used to assess the sensitivity of a site to compaction, soil displacement, surface soil erosion, mass wasting, and/or forest floor displacement. Keys are provided so that the collected soil data can be used to rank soil sensitivity.
The Silvicultural Systems Guidebook provides standard terms for describing silvicultural systems in the Province of British Columbia to facilitate communication and avoid misunderstanding. All of the major recognized system types and variants are described and major characteristics compared so that prescribers will be able to choose names for silvicultural systems in a consistent manner.
The guidebook then describes a general six-step process to prescribe a silvicultural system for a given site. Following this process provides a mind-set for the prescriber and minimizes the chances of missing any major factor necessary in the prescription process, including those considerations required by the Forest Practices Code. The process begins with reviews of higher level plans, proceeds through setting stand level management objectives, setting general stand structure goals, site assessment, refinement of stand structure goals and finalizing and naming the silvicultural system.
The guidebook deliberately does not provide any recommendations for use of specific silvicultural systems in specific ecosystems since systems should be prescribed on the basis of specific site characteristics. Any specific administrative restrictions relating to the use of specific silvicultural systems for sites will be described in applicable land use designations and higher level plans.
An example of a checklist for silviculture prescription content requirements and recommend supporting information for different silvicultural systems and an integrated silviculture information system/major licensee and silviculture information system key to recording silvicultural systems is also provided.
