A Landscape Level Species Strategy For Forest Management In British Columbia

"The landscape-level species strategy project was initiated in 2009 in support of the Chief Forester's Future Forest Ecosystems Initiative. This scoping report explores the issues related to developing and implementing a landscape-level tree species strategy for forest management in British Columbia. It specifically aims to: identify the key elements of a landscape-level tree species strategy, assess the implementation considerations for a landscape-level species strategy within the existing management framework, develop an analysis methodology for portraying the landscape-level species composition and distribution for natural and managed stands."--Document.

"The landscape-level species strategy project was initiated in 2009 in support of the Chief Forester's Future Forest Ecosystems Initiative. This scoping report explores the issues related to developing and implementing a landscape-level tree species strategy for forest management in British Columbia. It specifically aims to: identify the key elements of a landscape-level tree species strategy, assess the implementation considerations for a landscape-level species strategy within the existing management framework, develop an analysis methodology for portraying the landscape-level species composition and distribution for natural and managed stands."--Document.

The landscape-level ecological tree species benchmarks pilot project was initiated in 2012 as the next phase of the landscape-level species strategy project (Mah et al. 2012) in support of the Chief Foresters Future Forest Ecosystems Initiative. This pilot project is an exploration in producing landscape-level ecological tree species benchmarks to aid the development of specific landscape- level tree species targets in five Timber Supply Areas (TSAs) in the Central Interior of British Columbia. A co-operative inquiry approach was used in three sessionsWilliams Lake, Prince George, and Smithersthat engaged individuals from multiple disciplines to produce first approximation landscape-level ecological tree species benchmarks for 35 Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) subzones/variants. This process was undertaken with limited data sources and within the context of a changing climate.

Addresses increasing public concern over environmental issues such as loss of biodiversity in managed forests, as well as continued strong economic pressure to harvest old growth forests. Looks at practical and scientific approaches to addressing environmental concerns.

Presents a summary of legislation (including the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and regulations), chief forester's policies and procedures, and related information regarding higher level plans related to provincial forestry. It contains direction that must be followed when preparing certain higher level plans and is intended for use by authorised decision-makers such as district managers and designated environmental officials. Higher level plans establish the broader, strategic context for operational plans, providing objectives that determine the mix of forest resources to be managed in a given area. Sections of this summary cover plans in two categories: those directly enabled through Part 2 of the Act, including objectives for resource management zones, landscape units, and sensitive areas; and those developed under non-Code legislation or policy. Includes glossary.

The forests of British Columbia are home to a variety of plant and animal life that is unequalled elsewhere in Canada. To conserve the full variety of these plants and animals, their habitats in the forest must be considered during silvicultural operations such as juvenile spacing. These guidelines describe the mandate for biological diversity, levels of forestry management, designing and executing spacing contracts to maintain stand level biodiversity, and example contract clauses.

This publication, written for non-foresters, is a guide for the management of small woodlands in British Columbia for a range of social, economic, & environmental values. It provides an overview of the steps involved in the practice of forestry, the types of decisions that need to be made, the kinds of work to be done, and where help can be obtained. Each chapter covers a management phase in woodland management, primarily for timber production but with consideration to the safeguarding or enhancement of other resource values. Topics of chapters include forestry basics, forest inventory, management planning, stand management (silvicultural systems, commercial thinning), multi-use forestry (agroforestry), forest access (woodland roads), harvesting, marketing timber & non-timber products, reforestation, stand tending, forest protection, business planning, forest legislation, and information resources.

Provides managers, planners and field staff with a recommended process for meeting biodiversity objectives - both landscape and stand level - as required under the Forest Practices Code.