Framework To Support Impact Analyses Of Renewal Strategies Of Forestlands Affected By Mountain Pine Beetle

We developed a decision-support framework that integrates scenario analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis and used it to analyze forest renewal in the study area of the Quesnel Timber Supply Area. Two consensus-based scenarios were constructed to represent the target future conditions: strong forest sector and forest resilience/economic diversification. Renewal strategies were constructed using multi-criteria decision analysis and sets of criteria specific to each scenario. Impacts of the renewal strategies are measured in terms of several timber and non-timber indicators. The key economic and timber-related impacts are linked to merchantable volume. Ecological impacts are assessed by analyzing wildlife communities associated with the broad habitat categories. None of the strategies generated for the scenarios was acceptable in terms of all criteria and outcomes. Further revisions of the scenarios and criteria, with the involvement of local stakeholders, is therefore recommended for decision-making. The integrated framework developed for this study is general and allows for other community and forest management concerns to be incorporated. The framework demonstrates how the stakeholders' goals regarding their community's future are formulated and how the conflicts between multiple criteria may be addressed. Impacts of the renewal strategies are measured in terms of several timber and non-timber indicators. The key economic and timber-related impacts are linked to merchantable volume. Ecological impacts are assessed by analyzing wildlife communities associated with the broad habitat categories. None of the strategies generated for the scenarios was acceptable in terms of all criteria and outcomes. Further revisions of the scenarios and criteria, with the involvement of local stakeholders, is therefore recommended for decision-making. The integrated framework developed for this study is general and allows for other community and forest management concerns to be incorporated. The framework demonstrates how the stakeholders' goals regarding their community's future are formulated and how the conflicts between multiple criteria may be addressed.

We developed a decision support framework that facilitates the assessment of alternative mountain pine beetle (MPB) management strategies on wildlife and other sustainable management indicators. Specifically, the framework permits the evaluation of ecological trade-offs (i.e., the probability of occurrence of bird species; landscape composition and configuration; wildlife habitat supply) under alternative salvage logging strategies. An additional function of the framework is to identify areas of uncertainty where data gaps continue to limit decision-making. We demonstrated the application of the decision support framework by evaluating the consequences of five specific salvage harvesting strategies in a case study of a forest landscape in northeastern British Columbia. The five strategies included: 1) a baseline scenario based on current management practices in MPB-affected landscapes; 2) a scenario for salvage-logging-only stands with high pine composition; 3) a scenario for salvage logging stands that included minimal pine; 4) a low retention scenario where relatively few trees are retained within large cutblocks; and 5) a high retention scenario where more trees are retained in large cutblocks than currently practiced. In our case study, we used a subset of the components identified in the conceptual framework since many parameters (e.g., stand-level attributes) were not widely available and could not be scaled up to the case study landscape. The components were for: 1) simulating infestation, salvage logging and forest succession, 2) tracking landscape-level changes in avian probability of occurrence and supply of broad habitat types, and 3) facilitating scenario analysis and decision-making. We identified some broad patterns in species responses over time and helped to identify areas of uncertainty that are the result of model limitations and data gaps. In our case study, avian response was dictated more by the bird species' natural history traits than by differences between management regimes. However, eligibility criterion for salvage logging (i.e., the amount of pine in the stand) was generally more important than the stand retention levels used in our simulations in governing post-harvesting avian response.

"This book presents a synthesis of published information on mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins [Coleoptera: Scolytidae]) biology and management with an emphasis on lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) forests of western Canada. Intended as a reference for researchers as well as forest managers, the book covers three main subject areas: mountain pine beetle biology, management, and socioeconomic concerns. The chapters on biology cover taxonomy, life history and habits, distribution, insect-host tree interactions, development and survival, epidemiology, and outbreak history. The management section covers management strategy, survey and detection, proactive and preventive management, and decision support tools. The chapters on socioeconomic aspects include an economic examination of management programs and the utilization of post-beetle salvage timber in solid wood, panelboard, pulp and paper products."--Publisher's description.

"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.

All indications are that the current mountain pine beetle outbreak will have a significant impact on a large proportion of the pine forests in British Columbia (Eng et al. 2004). It is neither desirable nor possible to harvest all of the affected pine forests. Nonetheless, any increases beyond current harvest levels must carefully consider all forest values. This document provides recommendations to the Chief Forester about the conservation of all forest values during large-scale salvage operations: 1. At the landscape level, there should be little, to no, salvage harvesting in the noncontributing land base and, at the very least, what was originally planned under existing landscape-level plans should be left. 2. At the stand level, there should be no changes to the provisions made for riparian management areas and riparian reserve zones. As well, there should be no changes to the management of wildlife tree patches, wildlife habitat areas, and other fine-filter measures. Legacies of coarse woody debris should be left throughout the blocks. 3. To the extent possible, the area chosen for salvage should have the highest level of infestation and the highest proportion of pine. 4. The creation of large openings (> 1000 hectares) will be appropriate; however, the legacies of unharvested areas within the openings should increase in proportion to the increasing size of the opening (up to 25% in the case of 1000-hectare openings). Other related recommendations are made about access structures, adverse effects on peak flows and soil erosion, silviculture that might lessen future problems with mountain pine beetle outbreaks, fire risk at the wildland-urban interface, and monitoring programs.

In stands with significant mountain pine beetle (MPB) mortality, forest managers face a range of choices including clearcut harvesting, partial cutting, various rehabilitation strategies, and non-intervention. These choices involve many long-term costs, benefits, and risks, some of which can be assessed through economic analysis. After reviewing the context for this issue, the authors provided case studies that span the more likely stand-level problems faced by decision makers. All analyses were conducted from the perspective of the landowner (i.e., government) rather than the user of the resource (i.e., licensee). The insights from the case studies form a basis to answer the following core questions: Are some stand types better left unsalvaged? What economic/silvicultural assumptions produce higher stand values when salvaging is foregone? In areas that cannot be salvaged, is reforestation a profitable investment? Finally, does partial cutting make sense economically?--Document.