Adapting Forest Practices to Changing and Constrained Landscapes in the East-central BC Interior:
Field Applications of Partial Cutting and Innovative Silviculture.
The sub-boreal and continental plateau and montane forests of central and east-central BC Interior, in the traditional territories of McLeod Lake Band and the Lheidli T’enneh, have been profoundly influenced and modified over the last century by a wide range of natural and anthropogenic factors. These changed and changing landscapes – including increasing importance of second-growth to the managed landbase – provide both old challenges and new opportunities for communities and current forest managers.
The two-day 2023 NSC Field Tour will travel into Central Interior forests both north and east of Prince George, BC to look at many questions challenging today’s silviculturists, such as:
- Can older silvicultural practices can provide new perspectives and insights for current-day stand management?
- Can we modify commercial thinning and use “lighter-footprint” harvesting to provide benefits for other forest values, as well as support extract sustainable timber volumes?
- How can we plan and implement innovative silvicultural practices (including partial cutting) to maintain or enhance stand quality and productivity in changing climates?
- How do we best assess stand stocking, and regeneration success in non-clearcut systems? And;
- How do we manage forest health and resilience in dynamic future climates?
As always, the NSC Fall Field Tour is a great opportunity to not only explore these questions, but also network with colleagues, ask an expert, catch up with old friends, and enjoy the Fall colours.
The NSC 2023 Fall Field Tour will be taking place in the Prince George Forest District.
Dates: October 3-4, 2023
Costs: Regular $300.00
Student: $175.00
Extra Banquet ticket: $50.00 (for a guest)
Schedule
Day 1 – Hwy 16 east of Prince George
Stops 1-3: Canfor Partial Cutting Operations: Vama Vama, Bowron and Beaver FSR’s.
Stop 4: Commercial Thinning Treatment in the Willow River Demonstration Forest – Mike Trepanier and Nathan Atkinson (IFS).
Day 2 – Hwy 97 north of Prince George
Stop 1: Partial cutting treatment to promote biodiversity values – Carl Pollard and Vanessa Uschenko (CNC Research Forest).
Stop 2: Provincial initiatives relating to innovative silvicultural systems – Shannon Pearce (MOF).
Stop 3: Summit Lake residual basal area trial (EP 1162) – Hardy Griesbauer (MOF) and Mike Jull (ALRF).
Stop 4: Pidherny wildfire hazard reduction project – Hayley DiBianchi (MOF).
To register: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/NSCFall2023/home