[Table of Contents]
5. SILVICULTURE PRESCRIPTIONS
ALASKA
Silvicultural prescriptions are not required under the Act or Regulations. However, reforestation information is required as part of the Detailed Plan of Operations.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
A Silviculture Prescription (SP) must be signed and sealed by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) and approved by the District Manager prior to harvesting. Proposed practices must be in accordance with higher level plans. A SP must outline the harvesting, regeneration and stand tending measures necessary to achieve a free growing stand as well as the integrated resource management objectives (e.g. biodiversity, etc.) established for the stand. Silvicultural treatments to be applied after the regenerated stand has reached a free-to-grow state are described in a Stand Management Prescription. The SP also must include maximum allowable limits for soil disturbance.
Ecological information must be included in SP's. Forest ecosystems within an area must be described, classified and mapped. Classification (using the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification) provides the basis for choice of silvicultural systems, species selection, harvesting methods, season of operation and site treatments.
All silvicultural systems must be considered; the system selected must be the most appropriate for regenerating the stand and for attaining IRM objectives. The species and characteristics of all trees to be left standing must be described. Mixed species stands must be regenerated to mixed species.
The location and widths of reserve and management zones within RMA's must be indicated and allowable harvesting practices within the management zone must be described.
Forest disease control and prevention requirements must be addressed. Silvicultural treatments must be designed to reduce future risk to resource values and should not result in new or intensified damage from other forest health factors.
CALIFORNIA
Under Subchapters 4, 5 & 6, Article 3 of the Rules, silvicultural standards for various methods of regeneration cuttings (clearcutting, seed tree, shelterwood and selection) and for intermediate cuttings are presented.
Silvicultural prescriptions are required as part of the harvest plans. RPF's are given some discretionary authority in applying silvicultural standards. However, formal justification is required.
FINLAND
The forest management plan or the felling and regeneration plan, that must be approved by the District Forestry Board prior to harvesting, includes a silvicultural prescription. A minimum standard for silviculture is specified in Section 3 of the Private Forest Statute as follows: (cutting and regeneration plans shall include) the method of regenerating the forest and the work required by the regeneration as well as the time by which the work aiming at regenerating the forest shall be finished.
Before compiling a forest management plan, the forest owner is encouraged to consider site fertility, species composition, average diameter of the stand, and whether the area is a key biotope. Key biotopes identify habitats important for conservation. It is recommended that forestry owners use extreme caution when planning harvesting in key biotope areas.
Recommendations concerning each phase of forest use, from harvesting to the stabilization of the newly regenerated stand, are compiled and distributed by the National Forestry Centres. The proper cutting and regeneration methods are described for vegetation zones and recommendations on how to implement the methods are available to all forest owners.
State forest management plans are approved by the Forest and Park Service prior to the proposed forest activity. The plans include detailed silvicultural prescriptions for all areas (J. Heino, pers. comm.).
GERMANY
Federal Republic of Germany
The Federal Forest Law does not regulate forest operation activities.
Baden-Wurttemberg
The Administrative Forest Districts and the Forest Offices are required to prepare detailed silviculture prescriptions as part of the 10 year forest management plan. However, allowable techniques are not listed in the Forest Law.
Section 21 of the Forest Law requires forest owners to manage their forests according to current forest principles. Today, emphasis is placed on site-adapted silviculture techniques that mimic natural processes. Sites are classified on two levels: a regional classification based on regional climate, geology and topography; and a local classification based on local climate, topography, soil type, moisture regime, herb vegetation and stand productivity. Local site maps, at a scale of 1:10,000, have been prepared for all state and community forests and the majority of private forests. The site maps aid in the development of silviculture prescriptions.
Bavaria
The Forest Law does not require the preparation of silviculture prescriptions. However, they are routinely prepared by the Forest Offices as part of the planning process.
As in Baden-Wurttemberg, site maps are used to develop silvicultural prescriptions. The most suitable silvicultural treatment is chosen based on the water and nutrient balance data available from the site maps. Maps have been completed for all state forests. Site mapping of private and community forests is in progress (Bavarian Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Forestry, 1989).
Silvicultural treatments that enhance seed production and seed germination are favoured because natural regeneration is the reforestation method of choice. Techniques that will ensure natural regeneration, such as leaving seed trees, good seedbed preparation, thinning to provide light, and controlling the game density, are encouraged.
NOVA SCOTIA
Silvicultural prescriptions must be recommended in operational plans prior to commencement of harvesting operations, and all treatment prescriptions must be consistent with Forest/Wildlife Guidelines and Standards (M.O.P.S., 1994, Ch 5:1).
ONTARIO
Each Timber Management Plan shall include Silvicultural Ground Rules developed for the forest management unit by a Registered Professional Forester (Class Environmental Assessment, 1994:438). The Silvicultural Ground Rules must specify preferred silvicultural system, logging method, site preparation, regeneration and tending treatments and acceptable alternative silvicultural treatment packages, and regeneration stocking standards (Class Environmental Assessment 1994:439).
OREGON
There are no formal silvicultural prescriptions required. However, alternate plans for reforestation of clearcuts may be submitted in some cases.
Written plans for natural regeneration of logged areas must be submitted within 12 months after tree stocking is reduced. Written plans are also required for use of non-native species in reforestation.
SWEDEN
Silviculture prescriptions or stand management prescriptions are not required by the Forestry Act. However, the Act states that new stands must be established on forest land and that it is the responsibility of the forest owner to establish and tend the new stands (Section 8). The Act also grants government authority to regulate silvicultural practices such as, regeneration and scarification methods, sowing, planting, and tending of young stands. These regulations are enforced by the National Forestry Board.
The National Forestry Board is responsible for monitoring the re-establishment of new stands as recommended by the County Forestry Boards. The County Boards choose where, when and with which methods the monitoring will occur. Therefore monitoring intensity and technique varies over the country depending on forest owner structure, site conditions, and regeneration method. Monitoring may be by site visit or through an assessment of information received from timber buying companies and forest owner associations. In general, every area on private land (50% of Sweden) will be checked at least once during the five to 10 years following harvest (P. Kjellin, pers. comm.).
TASMANIA
THPs must show steps to be taken to sustain site productivity and ensure efficient timber harvesting, and to maintain and protect the forest (FPC, 1993:8). Detailed silvicultural prescriptions are required if reforestation or regeneration will occur following harvest (FPC, 1993:66). In addition, Forestry Tasmania has a series of silviculture bulletins with detailed specifications to be followed, based on forest type, site factors, fire management, commercial/marketing factors, operational constraints, resource allocations, non-wood values, and community attributes (Wilkinson, pers. comm.).
UNITED KINGDOM
Silvicultural prescriptions are required prior to logging, but are considered in guidelines only. It is up to the individual Forester to use his skills and knowledge to put forward silvicultural prescriptions for each site (Ogg, pers. comm.).
U.S. FOREST SERVICE (REGION 6)
Silvicultural prescriptions, prepared and monitored by a certified specialist, are required for all areas to be logged. The prescriptions are integrated with broader scale plans. Acceptable species and stocking, free-to-grow requirements and other details are established in various plans (including the silvicultural prescription), regional guides and contract specifications.
Silvicultural practices such as mechanical site preparation and use of herbicides are restricted, especially in riparian reserves, by practices given in the USFS report, "Managing Competing Unwanted Vegetation", as well as in policy and contract conditions.
VICTORIA STATE
Guidelines and principles of the Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production are prescriptions in the Forest Management Plan for each region and specific silvicultural prescriptions must be outlined in Forest Coupe Plans for public lands, and Private Forest Coupe Plans for private lands, prior to commencement of harvesting operations.
WASHINGTON
Reforestation is required under the Act and Rules unless the area is already satisfactorily stocked (for
example, some partially cut areas) or unless conversion to non-forest land is indicated on the application for forest practices. Standards for acceptable artificial and natural regeneration of clearcuts and partial cuts are given in the rules.
A reforestation plan is required as part of the application for forest practices. A landowner or his designee must file a report upon completion of planting or at the end of the normal planting season. For natural regeneration, a report must be filed within two years after seeding. DNR inspects within 12 months of receiving a report.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Silvicultural prescriptions are required and careful consideration must be given as to which silvicultural specification to use prior to commencement of treemarking and harvesting (MOLS, 1990:47). Numerous factors including stand composition and density, basal area, and status of regeneration must be considered. A separate Silvicultural Specifications manual provides full detail regarding current prescriptions (Clarke, pers. comm.). Silvicultural prescriptions are prepared by foresters working for CALM, and must be followed by the logging contractor (Clarke, pers. comm.).
