Varying basic green-up requirements

• OPR s68(1) and (2)

Requirements to satisfy green-up objectives may vary on a site-specific or district basis. Legislative provisions that authorize statutory decision makers to vary green-up requirements are described below. Variances are established through written notices given to any agreement holder that may be affected by the variance. If a decision is made to increase a green-up requirement, it is important that this information be communicated as soon as possible so forest development plans and harvesting practices can be adjusted accordingly. In the absence of written notices, proponents will plan and schedule harvest activities in accordance with the default standards established in the legislation.

• OPR s68(6)

This subsection is intended for specific circumstances where a stand may meet the basic green-up requirements but does not have an adequate stand structure to achieve other green-up objectives. This could occur when the green-up height requirement is, for example, six metres to ensure scenic values are adequately managed. In this case, the minimum countable tree height of 1.3 metres may not ensure a sufficient stand structure to meet green-up objectives. Although the basic green-up height, stocking and block coverage requirements have been met, the stand structure may not satisfy scenic green-up objectives for the area because the majority of trees may be too small. In this instance, the district manager may specify a required number of trees per hectare of three metres height for the area to be considered greened-up.

• OPR s68(7)(a)

This subsection addresses instances where the stand structure created by deciduous species, in areas where the deciduous species is considered a commercially valuable species, may not satisfy green-up objectives for hydrological, wildlife or scenic values. This clause enables the district manager to specify that deciduous species be excluded from the determination of green-up height.

• OPR s68(7)(b)

This subsection addresses the scenario where deciduous or other species satisfy green-up requirements but are scheduled for brushing or knock-down treatment, and the post-treatment stand structure will not satisfy green-up objectives. This may also apply to stands with serious forest health problems that are scheduled for rehabilitation.

• OPR s68(8)(a)

The district manager may approve a green-up height less than three metres if both the district manager and designated environment official are satisfied that the lowered height will adequately manage and conserve hydrological, wildlife, recreational and scenic values. This decision may be made on a block-by-block basis or for all or part of the forest district. It is intended to enable landscape-level decisions such as concentrating harvesting in one area in order to protect resource values in another area.

• OPR s68(8)(b)

Additional information on varying green-up requirements to a height that is greater than three metres, to address visual quality objectives, wildlife habitat needs and hydrological considerations is provided below.

Visual quality objectives

Visual quality objectives (VQOs) are established in higher level plans or by the district manager. To ensure that scenic values are adequately managed for known scenic areas, the district manager may increase green-up height requirements.

Requirements for green-up in a scenic area are commonly referred to as visually effective green-up (VEG). Visually effective green-up is the stage at which regeneration on a cutblock is perceived, by the public, as being a newly established forest. The district manager may specify a VEG default and/or a site-specific prescription based on reference to the Visual Landscape Management (VLM) Guidebook. The forest cover on the cutblock should generally be of sufficient height to block stumps, logging debris and bare ground from view and address concerns about visual impacts of cutblock/forest edges. The tree height to achieve VEG will vary based on the biophysical variables and site conditions that are present in a given area. Table 1 provides a guide to recommended green-up heights to meet VEG for adequately stocked stands by slope class for areas identified as "scenic areas" and made known by the district manager or through a higher level plan.

Table 1. Height to meet VEG by percent slope for adequately stocked stands*



Wildlife habitat needs

The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP) may request that the district manager consider varying green-up requirements to address wildlife habitat needs. Increased green-up requirements may provide improved hiding cover, security cover and thermal cover. For example, in areas important for Roosevelt Elk on Vancouver Island or moose winter habitat in some areas of the interior with deeper snow packs, an increased height may be required. Increased green-up requirements may also be used to manage forage production adjacent to important wildlife winter range. It may also apply to areas being managed for spring forage production. If the cutblock supports a deciduous stand, increased green-up requirements may be needed to provide adequate wildlife recovery.

Hydrologic considerations

The Operational Planning Regulation specifies that the following watershed types must undergo a watershed assessment (to assess hydrologic cumulative effect impacts) before a FDP is approved:

• all community watersheds (see the Community Watershed Guidebook for a list of all community watersheds in British Columbia)
• watersheds with high value fish streams or with high domestic water values that have been designated, by both the district manager and the designated environment official, as requiring a watershed assessment due to the potentially high hydrologic impact
• watersheds designated by the district manager.

Where a watershed assessment shows that basic green-up requirements cannot address hydrologic concerns, the recommendations from a watershed assessment must be incorporated into the FDP or a rationale must be provided in the FDP as to why the recommendations have not been incorporated.

The Interior Watershed Assessment Procedure Guidebook and the Coastal Watershed Assessment Procedure Guidebook describe, in detail, how to conduct a watershed assessment and how it is used to provide direction to the FDP.