Volume 1 - Resource Management
Chapter 2 - Silviculture

Policy 2.10 - Direct Seeding

Effective Date: 15-Feb-97
Updated: 14-Jul-98
Responsible Branch: Forest Practices Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy covers the proposal and operation of direct seeding projects by both the Ministry and licensees on Crown land.

Policy

Only direct seeding under experimental conditions which will further knowledge of the practice is approved and promoted by the Ministry. The Ministry does not recognize direct seeding as a standard reforestation method.

Definition

"Direct seeding" is the distribution of tree seed directly onto forest land.

Direct Seeding Proposals

When licensees or districts wish to carry out a direct seeding project, a proposal must be submitted to the District Manager. The District Manager will review and recommend the proposal and forward it to the region.

Regional Managers will review and approve, or reject proposals for direct seeding received from District Managers and from the Regional Forest Sciences Section. The Regional Manager will amend proposals where necessary, or provide the reason for rejection.

Direct seeding proposals initiated at the branch level will be reviewed and approved by the Director, Forest Practices Branch.

Working Plan

Proposals for direct seeding projects must be accompanied by a working plan, which will be approved and registered in the Silviculture Experimental Trial Catalogue. The working plan must comprise (Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, s. 70):

  • the purpose of the project
  • a description of the site and other conditions
  • seed to be used and treatment of it
  • method and timing of seeding
  • details and procedures for carrying out the seeding
  • sampling procedures
  • estimated cost
  • responsibilities of persons involved in the trial

The Director, Forest Practices Branch, will provide the regions with copies of working plans for Branch initiated direct seeding trials.

Seeding Operations

Once the direct seeding project has been approved, the Director, Forest Practices Branch, will provide a trial identification number to the District Manager. The Branch Director maintains a record of seeding projects in the trial catalogue.

The District Manager will define the stratification or other treatment of seed, bait, or alternative food for approved district seeding projects, while the Director, Forest Practices Branch, will do so for branch seeding projects.

District Managers are also responsible for carrying out the seeding operation according to the approved project working plan, and monitoring licensee seeding operations to ensure compliance with the approved working plan.

Regional Managers will maintain records of seeding projects carried out in the region.

Seeding Reports

Interim reports and final reports of the direct seeding operation must be written by the licensee or district staff and sent to the District Manager for review, who will then forward the reports to the region. The Regional Manager will review and approve interim and final direct seeding reports and forward report copies to the branch.

The Director, Forest Practices Branch, will provide the regions with interim and final reports on branch initiated direct seeding trials.

Final results of direct seeding trials may be prepared for publication as required.

Seed Use

Only registered seed will be used in direct seeding projects on Crown land.

Seed proposed to be used for direct seeding trials must not jeopardize the planting program of a forest district or licensee in a particular seed planning zone.

Seed sales and withdrawals are initiated by the District Manager, who will also review licensee seed sales and withdrawals to ensure compliance with the working plan. The Manager, Seed Centre, Surrey, will receive and process these seed sales and withdrawals.

Pesticides

Pesticides that will be applied in association with direct seeding must be used for their intended purpose. Their application must be approved in advance by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Pesticide Management Program Section.

District Managers are responsible for submitting to the Regional Administrator of Pesticide Use Permits, the necessary applications for approval to use pesticides, repellents, chemicals, or other toxic substances on the direct seeding operation NEW (Silviculture Practices Regulation, Part 3, Division 2).NEW

Research

The Director, Forest Practices Branch, will investigate new equipment or techniques for direct seeding and conduct or collaborate on experimental trials to evaluate them.

References

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