bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A test of Ontario's Habitat Suitability Matrix as a forest management planning tool for forest birds
Authors: Holmes Stephen B , Venier Lisa A , Naylor Brian J , Zimmerling J. Ryan
Published: February 2014

We used point-count data collected as part of Bird Studies Canada's Boreal Forest Bird Program to validate habitat suitability models for 22 forest bird species in Ontario's Habitat Suitability Matrix. We found that many of the species'models performed relatively poorly in discriminating between occupied and unoccupied sites, primarily due to the high error of commission rates (false positive predictions). Since species presence and abundance were assessed by single, five minute point counts, insufficient sampling was at least partly responsible for some of the observed over-prediction. Results suggested that model parameters for at least nine of the species tested (hairy woodpecker [Picoides villosus], blueheaded vireo [Vireo solitarius], red-eyed vireo [Vireo olivaceus], red-breasted nuthatch [Sitta canadensis], Swainson's thrush [Catharus ustulatus], hermit thrush [Catharus guttatus], Tennessee warbler [Vermivora peregrina], Blackburnian warbler [Dendroica fusca] and dark-eyed junco [Junco hyemalis]) should be reviewed to improve the predictive capability of the models and to ensure appropriate consideration of the habitat needs of these species during forest management planning. Key words: boreal forest, forest birds, discrimination capacity, habitat models, habitat suitability matrix, model accuracy, model validation, relative operating characteristic curve, ROC
Multiple use, overlapping tenures, and the challenge of sustainable forestry in Alberta
Authors: Aumann Craig , Farr Daniel R , Boutin Stan
Published: February 2014

Public lands in Alberta are managed under the principle of multiple use. The two case-studies considered highlight the current and likely future impacts of this policy on forestry and other ecological values as development pressures continue to increase. Ultimately, sustainable forestry management in Alberta should not be about forestry policy alone, but a much broader land-use framework that embodies the principle of "envision–do–check–adapt." Key words: multiple use, management policy, cumulative effects, petroleum development, land use, interdisciplinary, adaptive management
The National Tree Seed Centre Celebrates 40 Years
Authors: Simpson J D , Wang B S.P.
Published: February 2014

The National Tree Seed Centre has been providing seed of known origin and quality for research for 40 years. Seed is also stored for long-term gene conservation purposes to provide a source of germplasm for future research and restoration. This is particularly important for species facing such threats as insect attack, disease, climate change, or conversion of forest land to non-forest uses. The Centre's inventory focuses on native tree and shrub species, striving to store samples from throughout their ranges. Over 26 000 seed samples have been sent to researchers in 65 countries, 70% of these samples being distributed within Canada. Seed research has always been a component of the Seed Centre's program. One notable accomplishment is the development of the Petawawa Germination Box. The Seed Centre participates in and contributes to activities of the Association of Official Seed Analysts, the International Seed Testing Association, and the IUFRO Seed Physiology and Technology Research Group. Key words: collection, dormancy, ex situ gene conservation, germination, research, seed, storage
Forest management in a changing climate: building the environmental information base for southwest Yukon
Authors: Ogden A E
Published: February 2014

This paper provides an overview of a project that synthesized available information on climate change for the southwest Yukon. This was done as a first step in a longer-term process of evaluating climate impacts, assessing risks to ecosystem and community values, and developing scenarios for adaptation. The overall intent of the work was to support informed forest management decision-making for the Champagne-Aishihik Traditional Territory (CATT) in the light of climate change. The objectives of this stage of the project were to: compile and improve access to existing baseline information needed to support informed management decisions in the face of climate change; to make this information available using several communication tools for various target audiences; and to create an opportunity for scientists, government; and local residents to share observations and concerns on climate change as related to the management of forest resources within the study region. Key words: climate change, impacts, adaptation, sustainable forest management, southwest Yukon, Dendroctonus rufipennis, spruce bark beetle, Yukon Territory, champagne and Aishihik Traditional Territory
Les intentions des programmes de participation du public appliqués par l’industrie forestière : état de la situation au Québec
Authors: Bouthillier Luc , Roberge Amélie
Published: February 2014

Public participation is acknowledged as a part of the decision-making process in forest management. However, industries and organizations related to forest management understand and implement “participation” in different ways, resulting in a variety of mechanisms used to involve citizens in the decision-making process. In this research, seven public involvement processes conducted within forest certification initiatives were analyzed using a scale of intentions. The results showed that each norm studied implied a specific intention with respect to public participation. These intentions also demonstrate that the forest industry still has some efforts to do in order to reach a real adaptive management. Key words: public participation, forest certification, stakeholders’ involvement, intentions
Elements and rationale for a common approach to assess and report soil disturbance
Authors: Curran Mike , Maynard Doug , Heninger Ron , Terry Tom , Howes Steve , Stone Doug , Niemann Tom , Miller Richard E
Published: February 2014

Soil disturbance from forest practices ranges from barely perceptible to very obvious, and from positive to nil to negative effects on forest productivity and / or hydrologic function. Currently, most public and private land holders and various other interested parties have different approaches to describing this soil disturbance. More uniformity is needed to describe, monitor, and report soil disturbance from forest practices. We describe required elements for attaining: (1) more uniform terms for describing soil disturbance; (2) cost-effective techniques for monitoring or assessing soil disturbance; and (3) reliable methods to rate inherent soil susceptibility to compaction, rutting, mechanical topsoil displacement, and erosion. Visual disturbance categories are practical for describing soil disturbance. Soil disturbance categories for the Pacific Northwest are described in detail to illustrate essential elements for attaining Element One. A number of potential products are listed to meet the other elements. Completion of these will facilitate collecting comparable data and sharing research and training information. Coordinated efforts will also ensure a more seamless process for assessing and reporting for sustainability protocols, and responding to third-party certification protocols. Additionally, these products will improve operational relevance of research results. Key words: soil disturbance, forest productivity, hydrologic function, monitoring, Montréal Process, risk ratings for soils, soil compaction, soil displacement, soil erosion, sustainability protocols, third-party certification
The role of salal in forest regeneration problems in coastal British Columbia: problem or symptom?
Authors: Prescott Cindy E , Sajedi Toktam
Published: February 2014

The ericaceous shrub, salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursch) is associated with forest regeneration problems on a variety of site types along the west coast of North America. On dry sites, salal is a serious competitor for water; on wet (cedar-salal) sites, salal is thought to limit nutrient availability to trees by competing, interfering with mycorrhizae and "short-circuiting" the nitrogen cycle through production of phenolic compounds. Short-term field experiments and laboratory and greenhouse studies provided some evidence of each of these effects. However, long-term results from a suite of silvicultural trials and associated ecological studies indicated that salal is not the fundamental problem for regenerating conifers on cedar-salal sites. Fertilization of cedar-salal sites caused a large and sustained response in tree growth regardless of the presence of salal, and growth responses to salal removal were much smaller than fertilization responses. Greenhouse experiments indicated that salal does not have allelopathic effects on germination or growth of conifer seedlings. In laboratory studies, salal did not demonstrate a greater capacity to take up organic N forms than the conifers, and molecular studies uncovered a vast diversity of mycorrhizal fungi associated with salal and hemlock roots. Together these findings indicate that the nutrient "short-circuiting" hypothesis, based on assumptions about ericoid versus non-ericoid mycorrhizal plants does not adequately describe the nutrition of plants in these ecosystems. We conclude that salal should be viewed as a symptom of the underlying problem of poor nutrient supply on cedar-salal sites, and that fertilization, rather than salal control, is the optimal solution for improving forest regeneration on these sites. Key words: ericaceous shrubs, fertilization, scarification, allelopathy,mycorrhizae, Gaultheria shallon, nitrogen
Modelling vegetation management treatments with the Tree and Stand Simulator
Authors: Harper George J. , Polsson Ken , Goudie Jim
Published: February 2014

The Tree and Stand Simulator (TASS) has been used for over 20 years in British Columbia to generate yield tables for managed stands. In order to explore the impacts of weed control on site productivity we chose two vegetation management research trials where 10- to 15-year post-treatment data were available (Boston Bar and Mica research sites). Tree survival and height growth results were used to adjust the TASS input parameters to simulate the various brushing treatments. At the Boston Bar site, all vegetation reduction treatments shortened the Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca [Beissn.] Franco) physical rotation age by up to 10 years and culmination mean annual increment (cMAI) was increased 8% to 11% relative to the untreated control. At the Mica site, the glyphosate and all repeated manual cutting treatments resulted in a shortening of the Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry) rotation age by seven years and increased cMAI by approximately 11% to12%. Key words: growth and yield modelling, vegetation management, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Picea engelmannii
Impact of a spruce budworm outbreak in balsam fir and subsequent stand development over a 40-year period
Authors: MacLean David A , Andersen Allison R
Published: February 2014

Nine 0.04-ha plots were established in 1956 (age 35 years) in a balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.) stand in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada to determine the impact of an uncontrolled spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) outbreak on stand development. The plots were measured annually from 1956 to 1961 and at five-year intervals from 1965 to 1995. Moderate to severe defoliation occurred from 1951 to 1957 and again in 1975 to 1977, 1981, and 1986 to 1988. Budworm-caused mortality from 1956 to 1961 (age 35 to 40 years) varied considerably among plots, reducing volume by 35 to 113 m3/ha (34%-84%), and resulting in a wide range of post-outbreak plot densities. Plots were grouped into three post-budworm outbreak (1965, age 45 years) basal area classes, of ≤ 20 m2/ha, 21 to 27 m2/ha, and ≥ 28 m2/ha, to examine stand recovery. Recovery of volume up to age 60 years ranged from 72 to 132 m3/ha, in the lowest to highest basal area classes, respectively. From age 60 to 75 years, five plots declined in volume due to the onset of stand break-up and four plots increased in volume. By age 60 years, survivor growth was greatest in the high basal area plots, ranging from 6.2 to 9.0 m3/ha/yr in seven plots, versus 2.6 to 3.2 m3/ha/yr in two low basal area plots. From age 60 to 75 years, survivor growth averaged only 2.8 to 5.2 m3/ha/yr, and the stand exhibited major decline, with 63%, 74%, and 78% mortality of fir ≤ 15 cm DBH in the low to high basal area plots, respectively. Budworm-caused "thinning" in the 1950s largely determined subsequent stand development and the rate of stand break-up 25 to 35 years later. The timing and rate of natural stand decline was strongly influenced by post-outbreak stand density. Key words: budworm-caused mortality, stand structure, stand development, growth, mortality, stand density
Forest regeneration standards: are they limiting management options for Alberta's boreal mixedwoods?
Authors: Lieffers Victor J , Armstrong Glen W , Stadt Kenneth J , Marenholtz Eckehart H
Published: February 2014

Regeneration standards in Alberta have developed incrementally over the last 40 years to ensure that cutover areas are regenerated with commercially valuable species that will contribute to timber yield. These standards have been controversial for the boreal mixedwood forest, because they do not appear to be producing forests that are similar in composition and structure to those found naturally. In this paper we discuss several components of the standards that are problematic: the issue of landbase designations that force relatively pure stands of spruce onto the landscape early in stand development compared to natural conditions where spruce establishes below deciduous canopies; the need for the free-to-grow standard, which requires removal of a large proportion of the deciduous trees in these mixedwood forests; and the overall philosophy that stands should be managed to maintain relatively simple composition and canopy structures. Regeneration standards need to be better-linked with forest management planning to allow managers to produce stands of a range of composition and structure. Key words: policy, free-to-grow, competition, forest composition, succession
A novel approach for the operational production of hybrid larch seeds under northern climatic conditions
Authors: Colas Fabienne , Perron Martin , Tousignant Denise , Parent Carol , Pelletier Monique , Lemay Patrick
Published: February 2014

Hybrid larch ([Larix × marschlinsii Coaz], HL) is sought after by the forest industry because of its growth characteristics, excellent wood quality and disease resistance. However, the difficulty in obtaining HL seeds limits the production of seedlings for reforestation. Both European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi [Lamb.] Carrière) produce few seeds and the time lag in their flowering phenology complicates their natural pollination. We have developed a novel type of sheltered seed orchard, dedicated to the production of HL seeds from grafts grown in pots. Inverting the arches of a conventional tunnel provides a sturdy structure which is easy to maintain. Because of its height, the tunnel can accommodate the rapid growth of the trees, which reduces the need for pruning. The tunnels are covered in the winter and spring. In the winter, the covers prevent snow accumulation. In the spring, they create a "greenhouse effect" inside the tunnels, accelerating flower development, preventing pollen contamination from trees outside the tunnels and protecting the flowers from late spring frosts. Over the past five years, flowering has been regular and abundant. Bagging the crowns for pollen harvest is cost-effective and yields large quantities of high quality pollen. Pollination operations are conducted using an electrostatic pistol. Because of the large number of available clones, large quantities of seeds with a high genetic variability can be produced at a competitive cost. In 2006, this seed orchard concept was implemented operationally at the Berthier forest nursery (Québec, Canada). Key words: Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi [Lamb.] Carrière), European larch (Larix decidua Mill.), seed production, electrostatic pollination, indoor seed orchard
Bark particleboard: pressing time, particle geometry and melamine overlay
Authors: Blanchet Pierre , Cloutier Alain , Riedl Bernard
Published: February 2014

Previous research has shown the possibility of making particleboards from bark residues. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the possibility of making black spruce (Picea mariana) bark particleboards with a short curing time in the pressing schedule, and to assess the effect of bark particle geometry on the mechanical and physical properties of bark particleboards. Additionally, melamine films were applied on bark composite boards and assessed. Mechanical and physical properties such as internal bond, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, linear expansion and thickness swell were evaluated from five to two minutes curing time with a one-minute step. Mechanical and physical properties were also evaluated for four particle combinations. Different particles were used to qualify the effect of particle geometry. Combinations were made from two types of bark particles and two types of wood particles. These particles are hammermilled bark particles, refined bark, wood particles, and wood fibres (MDF). Melamine overlay was applied on the particleboard made with these four particle combinations to evaluate the behaviour of the film with the presence of bark in the composite. Good mechanical properties were obtained with a four-minute curing time. The use of wood fibres such as fibres from the MDF industry instead of wood particles, as in the particleboard industry, helped to reduce the linear expansion results. None of the particleboards produced in this study were able to meet ANSI standard requirements for linear expansion. The pressing of white melamine overlay results in a different colour according to the colorimeter results when it is applied on a bark particleboard compared to conventional particleboards. No differences were observed when a black film was applied. Key words: black spruce bark, bark particleboards, bark particle geometry, particleboard laminations, value-added wood products
Making the case for cumulative impacts assessment: Modelling the potential impacts of climate change, harvesting, oil and gas, and fire
Authors: Yamasaki Stephen H , Duchesneau Robin , Doyon Frédérik , Russell Jonathan S , Gooding Ted
Published: February 2014

The cumulative impacts of human and natural activity on forest landscapes in Alberta are clear. Human activity, such as forestry and oil and gas development, and natural processes such as wildfire leave distinctive marks on the composition, age class structure and spatial configuration of the forest. Also, other processes such as climate change may be slowly and subtly modifying forest dynamics and may lead to important changes over time. Given the importance and ubiquitous nature of these cumulative impacts, a forest management plan that does not adequately take such impacts into account cannot be expected to adequately manage the forest, neither its components nor its processes. In order to address the question of cumulative impacts in the context of forestry, a landscape model was designed and built in order to simulate forestry, oil and gas, climate change, wildfire, and demographic change for the Whitecourt forest management area over a long time horizon. This paper presents the model and the forest landscape states it forecasted with cumulative impacts, and evaluates the fate of some key indicators of biodiversity and forest productivity. Simulations of harvesting as the only disturbance, the nearest analogue to the current approach to forest management planning, yield results that differ greatly, in every respect, from the results of simulations of harvesting combined with other disturbance agents. The simulation of multiple disturbance agents together allows for the detection of interactions among disturbance agents, and indeed, there are important interactions between the processes of fire and oil and gas. Results also show that climate and demographic change will intensify the impact of fire on the supply of timber and other values. Also, the continued development of petroleum resources will lead to an important erosion of the forest landbase. Overall, this paper makes a strong case for cumulative impacts assessment and the use of spatial and temporal stochastic modelling in forest management. Key words: cumulative impacts, forest management, climate change, landscape modelling, APLM
Would harmonizing public land forest policies, Criteria and Indicators, and certification improve progress towards Sustainable Forest Management?: A case study in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Golec P J , Luckert M K
Published: February 2014

As the concept of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) has evolved, governments and other stakeholders have pursued three important frameworks for defining and pursuing SFM: public land forest policies, Criteria and Indicators and certification. In Canada, these three approaches frequently operate simultaneously as policy frameworks for private firms managing forests on public lands. Harmonization of these three frameworks could create potential benefits by simplifying a complicated array of sometimes conflicting forest management standards. But there are also potential costs of harmonization that could arise out of the diverse conditions that embody SFM. The diversity of social values and ecological conditions associated with forests creates difficulties in designing processes that are representative of stakeholders' interests. Moreover, this variety poses challenges to designing standards that are sufficiently flexible to address local conditions, yet useful in contributing to SFM planning and reporting at regional, provincial and national scales. Within this context, we suggest that the diversity inherent in SFM will continue to be accommodated by multiple management frameworks, unless a single framework arises that shows itself capable of being trusted by stakeholders and of being sufficiently flexible to accommodate various definitions of Sustainable Forest Management. Key words: Sustainable Forest Management, forest certification, Criteria and Indicators, public forest policy, harmonization of Sustainable Forest Management frameworks, case study, Canada, Alberta
Valuing multiple forest outputs
Authors: Lantz V A
Published: February 2014

In today's society, there is increasing pressure placed on forests to provide multiple forest outputs. Forestry organizations have responded by promoting identification and valuation of these outputs for trade-off, criteria and indicators, or other analyses. However, in the process of conducting such analyses, many forest outputs are dropped at the evaluation stage owing to a stated lack of available and reliable data. In an effort to help increase our understanding of the value of multiple forest outputs and trade-offs, I have been refining and applying a number of socio-economic measurement tools. In this article, I provide an overview of my (and my students') research activities and contributions to this growing area of research. Key words: non-market valuation, market valuation, forest value trade-offs, criteria and indicators
Teaching forest operations planning and operations research: An integrated approach to learning
Authors: Richards Evelyn W , Robak E W. (Ted)
Published: February 2014

The Forest Engineering program at the University of New Brunswick is the only accredited forest engineering program in Canada, and one of the few in North America. One of the primary learning outcomes of the program includes the ability to design and analyze production systems, especially forest operations. This requires that Forest Engineering students be competent in use of operations research tools and techniques. Experience to date has confirmed that a progressive learning approach that requires students to apply operations research techniques to increasingly complex and realistic problems is essential for achieving these learning outcomes. Key words: forest management, operations design, modelling, learning outcomes, forest engineers, curriculum, wood supply chain, progressive learning, education
Photo-interpretation and remote sensing at the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, UNB
Authors: Leblon Brigitte , Merzouki Amine , MacLean David A , LaRocque Armand
Published: February 2014

Classically, remote sensing has been used as input data for land cover mapping. Through remote sensing studies at the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, broader applications have been developed. These include: 1) fuel moisture mapping using optical and thermal infrared NOAA-AVHRR and MODIS images, as well as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images (single-polarized images from ERS-1 and RADARSAT-1 and polarimetric images from RADARSAT-2); 2) determination of plant nitrogen and chlorophyll content using narrow-band hyperspectral data; and 3) imaging system applications in the wood industry. The third type of applications include: 1) mapping of internal wood features using X-ray computer tomography images, 2) monitoring of wood deformations using digital images acquired in the visible band, and 3) use of near-infrared spectroscopy to identify and sort wood by species, colour, physical properties, and surfacing/aging history. This last technology will also be used to determine lignin, cellulose and hemi-cellulose contents of wood products for value-added applications. Key words: optical, thermal infrared, radar, fuel moisture, crop nitrogen, X-ray CT images, image correlation, wood scanning, NOAA-AVHRR, MODIS, ERS-1, RADARSAT-1, radar polarimetry, RADARSAT-2
The human factor in forest operations: Engineering for health and safety
Authors: Rickards Jeremy
Published: February 2014

Human Factors Engineering is an interdisciplinary science concerned with the effect of work on the human body and its relationship to the workplace. Since the 1970s, UNB – Forest Engineering has been a major contributor to teaching and research in this discipline, and in its application to forest operations. Rapid advances in mechanized tree-harvesting systems resulted in significant new workplace issues for operator health, safety, and machine design. Researchers responded by creating a CSA standard, working cooperatively with FERIC, CPPA and more recently the CWF, and founding the International Journal of Forest Engineering, which is a unique source for research results and developments in this discipline. Future research will involve multi-national teams of Human Factors Engineers, supported by related disciplines in healthcare and engineering. Key words: human factors, forest engineering, workplace health, workplace safety, mechanized forest operations
The Forestry Research Partnership: Developing the partnership
Authors: Bruemme George
Published: February 2014

Initiated in 1999 by Tembec Inc., the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Canada, and housed at the Canadian Ecology Centre, the Canadian Ecology Centre – Forestry Research Partnership (referred to as the CECFRP) quickly evolved into an effective and successful catalyst, facilitator, and funding source for integrated forest research and development in Ontario. This paper highlights the development of the partnership and serves as an introduction to a collection of papers that highlight some of the forest science and research projects undertaken by the CECFRP over 7 years. Key words: government-industry partnerships, science to operations continuum, enhanced forest productivity, research Implementation
Patching together the future of forest modelling: Implementing a spatial model in the 2009 Romeo Malette Forest Management Plan
Authors: Rouillard Dan , Moore Tom
Published: February 2014

We describe a pilot project on the Romeo Malette Forest in northeastern Ontario that used a spatially explicit strategic model as an element of the hierarchical modelling process used in forest management planning. We integrated 2 different and slightly overlapping modelling tools, the traditional aspatial Strategic Forest Management Model (SFMM) and the newer spatial Patchworks model, to form a comprehensive decision support system for planning. Results from the conventional modelling approach using only SFMM served as comparison. The pilot project’s goals included satisfying Ontario’s rigorous planning and public consultation requirements, addressing technical issues associated with using 2 separate models, and engaging planning team members in the decision-making process. Implementation of a new technology (spatial modelling) into a highly regulated organizational process presented the planning team with a series of challenges. For example, the higher resolution of the data used for the Patchworks model and changes in conventional concepts and procedures required that the planning team adjust and adapt its approach. One clear advantage of the combined approach was that the long-term effects of spatial and operational adjustments, such as landscape-level policies or harvest block deferrals, were evaluated comprehensively and immediately, leading to greater confidence that the forecast outcomes are sustainable. The hierarchical-spatial modelling process used in this pilot provides a significant improvement to forest management planning and results in improved confidence in the overall sustainability of the long-term management direction. The lessons learned have provided a base for future planning teams to take advantage of the many benefits of a decision support system that includes spatial modelling. Key words: forest management planning, spatial modelling, decision support, Patchworks
Examining the effects of sampling point densities on laser canopy height and density metrics
Authors: Lim K. , Hopkinson C. , Treitz P.
Published: February 2014

Forest resource managers rely on the information extracted from forest resource inventories to manage forests sustainably and efficiently, thereby supporting more precise decision-making. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a relatively new technology that has proven to enhance forest resource inventories. However, the relationship between LiDAR sampling point density (which is directly related to acquisition and processing costs) and accuracy and precision of forest variable estimation has not yet been established across a range of forest ecosystems. In this study, 2 airborne LiDAR surveys using the same sensor, but configured with disparate parameters, were carried out over the York Regional Forest near Toronto, Canada producing 2 data sets characterized by different sampling point densities. The effects of 2 sampling point densities on 23 laser canopy height and density metrics typically used in forest studies at the plot level were examined with comparisons grouped by first and last return data. The minimum (hmin) and maximum (hmax) laser canopy heights were statistically different for first and last returns. The proportion of laser returns (i.e., canopy density) in the upper (d1) and lower (d10) range of laser canopy heights was statistically different for the first returns, whereas only a single canopy density metric was different for the last returns (d9). These results suggest that changes in sampling point density (due to changes in scan angle and altitude) only affect laser canopy height and density metrics that are characterized by the small percentage of returns from the very top (hmax; d1) and base of the canopy (hmin; d10) (i.e., those metrics that characterize the tail ends of the distributions of laser canopy heights). Consequently, higher sampling point densities may add little value to current LiDAR forest research or operations at the stand level, as metrics derived from the canopy profile can be implemented for biophysical variable estimation. Implications for forest management are in terms of identifying which aspects of LiDAR project design: a) impact the quality and cost-effectiveness of derived FRI information; b) should be specified within a LiDAR request for proposals; or c) scrutinized within LiDAR project tender documentation. Key words: LiDAR, airborne laser scanning, FRI, canopy profile, biophysical variables, sampling density
A simple growth and yield model for assessing changes in standing volume across Canada’s forests
Authors: Ung C -H. , Bernier P Y , Guo X J , Lambert M -C.
Published: February 2014

We have adjusted two growth and yield models to temporary sample plots from across Canada, and used climate variables in lieu of phytometric indices such as site index to represent, in part, the site-level variability in growth potential. Comparison of predicted increments in plot-level height, basal area and merchantable wood volume to increments of these variables measured in permanent sample plots shows a moderate to poor predictive ability. Comparison with the performance of four operational growth and yield models from different provinces across Canada shows comparable predictive power of this new model versus that of the provincial models. Based on these results, we suggest that the simplification of regional growth and yield models may be achieved without further loss of predictive power, and that the large error in the prediction of growth increment is mostly associated with the use of temporary sample plots which, by definition, contain little information on stand dynamics. We also suggest that, because of the empirical nature of these growth and yield models, the scale of application should determine the appropriate scale of the model. National estimates of forest growth are therefore less likely to be biased if obtained from a national model only than if obtained from a combination of regional models, where those exist, gap-filled with estimates from a national model. Key words: yield model, merchantable wood volume, stand age, climatic variables, simultaneous regression, robust regression
Salvage logging in the boreal and cordilleran forests of Canada: Integrating industrial and ecological concerns in management plans
Authors: Saint-Germain Michel , Greene David F
Published: February 2014

Fire has been part of the North American boreal and cordilleran ecosystems for thousands of years. Because fire and harvesting compete directly for the same wood supply, and provinces have, within the last few decades, tended to reach their annual allowable cut, salvage logging has emerged as a practice to minimize the impact of fire on long-term wood supply. In most parts of the boreal and cordilleran forests, fire-killed boles rapidly degrade after their death, as wood-boring insects, stain, wood-decay fungi and checking lead to significant loss of grade or volume in the months following the fire. Because of this impending degradation, salvage operations are often hurried and other considerations, including the potential ecological impacts of salvage logging, have seldom been taken into consideration when defining harvesting strategies. The ecological consequences of rapid salvage have been widely studied only in the last 5 years, and it is now clear that salvage logging can have negative impacts on natural regeneration by seed, water quality, and fire-associated animal species. In this paper, we review both industrial and ecological constraints to salvage logging and discuss how both can be integrated in salvage plans. In particular, we focus on the issues of salvage timing and retention. At this point, some type of retention of merchantable stands, even if only for a few years, appears to be the only way to alleviate the negative ecological impacts of post-fire logging. On-site operational constraints, e.g., stands that cannot be harvested due to lack of accessibility, represent an important starting point for any retention strategy. Key words: boreal forest, forest fires, salvage logging, biodiversity, natural disturbances, regeneration after fire
Pattern and process in forest bird communities on boreal landscapes originating from wildfire and timber harvest
Authors: Wyshynski Sarah A , Nudds Thomas D
Published: February 2014

Policy direction to emulate natural disturbance in managed boreal forests has spurred a need to contrast the dynamics of biota on landscapes originating from timber harvest and from wildfire (hereafter, “managed” and “natural”). Typically, emphasis is on pattern emulation, and less on processes, such as competition, predation or habitat selection. Knowing how communities in the boreal forest assemble can provide further insight to the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on the processes responsible, permitting assessments about whether forestry practices emulate processes as well as patterns. We contrasted variation in species richness among forest types, with stand area, and between local (forest stand) and regional (landscape) scales on managed and natural boreal landscapes in NW Ontario. Species richness varied more among forest stand types than between landscapes, or with stand area, on either landscape. On both landscapes, mean local species richness was 1/3 of regional richness, consistent with the hypothesis that competition structured stand-level assemblages regardless of stand origin. We further compared the structure of stand-level assemblages from randomized null models using presence/absence and abundance data with observed assemblages on each landscape, while controlling for variation in habitat structure among stands. Local bird assemblages were over-dispersed in niche space relative to random assemblages, also consistent with the competition hypothesis, regardless of stand origin. We found no evidence that patterns of variation in diversity of songbirds and woodpeckers, nor the processes that govern them, differed between managed and natural boreal forest landscapes. Our results suggest that past forest practices in this region, if by default, nevertheless emulated natural patterns of variation in diversity and species assembly of bird communities. Key words: boreal forest, songbirds, woodpeckers, community assembly, null models, natural disturbance emulation, forestry, Ontario
Forest management and stick-nesting birds: New direction for mitigation in Ontario
Authors: Naylor Brian J
Published: February 2014

Forest management operations (harvest, renewal, tending, road construction and use) may affect the occupancy or productivity of nest sites used by stick-nesting birds (eagles, ospreys, herons, hawks, owls, corvids) either by directly disrupting breeding activities, altering habitat suitability, or creating new access that may lead to subsequent disturbance of nest sites by other forest users. On public land in Ontario, potential effects are mitigated through an area-of-concern planning approach that involves placement of buffers around nests that restrict the timing of forest management operations, habitat alteration, and the construction of new roads. Early direction developed in the 1980s was based largely on expert opinion. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) has reviewed and revised this direction to incorporate new understanding of habitat requirements and the effects of forest management operations. Case studies are provided to show how published literature, directed studies, and the precautionary principle were used to revise direction for ospreys and great blue herons. For many species, this review led to a reduction in the size of buffers deemed necessary to mitigate the effects of forest management operations. Despite the increased use of scientific evidence, there is still uncertainty about the effects of forest management operations on stick-nesting birds and the effectiveness of proposed direction. OMNR is developing a monitoring plan to evaluate the effectiveness of revised direction as part of its cycle of adaptive policy development. Key words: buffers, stick-nesting birds, eagles, ospreys, herons, hawks, owls, disturbance, habitat alteration, access
An analysis framework for linking regeneration standards to desired future forest conditions
Authors: Farnden Craig
Published: February 2014

This paper highlights the potential for moving from stocking standards as simple tools for administering contractual or policy-based stocking requirements to regeneration standards that play an active role in forest management. A framework is introduced for developing simplified models on which regeneration standards can be based. A case study for boreal mixedwoods is presented in which simplified models based on quadrat stocking summaries are used to predict total yield and species composition for various admixtures of white spruce and trembling aspen. It is suggested that these values can be used to satisfy both the evaluation of basic reforestation obligations and cut block level contributions to landscape level species composition objectives. Key words: regeneration standards, stocking standards, surveys, simulation, mixedwood management, forest management objectives
Learning from community forestry experience: Challenges and lessons from British Columbia
Authors: Bullock Ryan , Hanna Kevin , Slocombe D. Scott
Published: February 2014

A multiple case study approach is used to investigate community forest implementation challenges in British Columbia, Canada. Stakeholder interviews, document review and visits to the case sites (Denman Island, Malcolm Island, Cortes Island and Creston) were used to collect data on events occurring between 1990 and 2005. In addition to case-specific challenges, our analysis confirmed common challenges related to a lack of support, consensus, and organizational resources as well as poor forest health and timber profiles, resistance from conventional forest management, and competition for land and tenures. Development pressure emerged as a challenge for communities without land use decision making authority. The final section offers some lessons and recommendations. Key words: community forest, community forestry, forest management, community-based natural resource management, local control, challenges, case studies
Biological carbon sinks: Transaction costs and governance
Authors: van Kooten G. Cornelis
Published: February 2014

Activities that remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in forest and agricultural ecosystems can generate CO2-offset credits that can thus substitute for CO2 emissions reduction. Are biological CO2-uptake activities competitive with CO2 offsets from reduced fossil fuel use? In this paper, it is argued that transaction costs impose a formidable obstacle to direct substitution of carbon uptake offsets for emissions reduction in trading schemes, and that separate caps should be set for emissions reduction and sink-related activities. While a tax/subsidy scheme is preferred to emissions trading for incorporating biologically generated CO2 offsets, contracts that focus on the activity, and not the amount of carbon sequestered, are most likely to lead to the lowest transaction costs. Key words: carbon sequestration, transaction costs, climate change
A model for predicting the value of forest stands in various market conditions in British Columbia
Authors: Pavel Mihai , Andersson Björn O
Published: February 2014

A model for predicting the value of forest stands was developed at FPInnovations – Feric Division. The model uses standard cruise data collected in British Columbia (BC) and company sort descriptions to predict the distribution of wood volume by species and grade sort for each proposed harvest site. The model is capable of quickly analyzing different scenarios (i.e., different sort sets) to reflect changing market conditions. Within the model, a taper equation is applied to each tree to calculate the diameters inside the bark, and quality and pathological descriptors from cruise data are used. A Dynamic Programming algorithm is used to predict the combination of logs that maximizes the value of each stem, and results are summarized and extended from individual trees to cruise plots, then to harvest blocks and/or stands. The model was successfully tested for second-growth stands with relatively few defects on Coastal BC. Improvements are being implemented to enhance its applicability to more complex stands. Key words: value of forest stands, economic operability, optimal bucking of trees, Dynamic Programming, computer model, inventory systems
Characterizing the wood attributes of Canadian tree species: A thirty-year chronicle
Authors: Middleton G.R. (Gerry) , Zhang S.Y. (Tony)
Published: February 2014

In 2007 Forintek Canada Corp merged with the other forest research institutes—Paprican, FERIC and the newly formed Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC)—to become FPInnovations. This merger offers opportunities for synergies across a range of research activities from the forest to final product markets, and the first step to achieving these synergies is to provide a better understanding of past and current research roles. This paper chronicles delivered results from the Resource Program in response to Forintek member priorities. Of necessity due to limited resources, the Resource Assessment Program at Forintek was built on both internal and external collaboration. It was also built on a legacy of wood quality research inherited from the Eastern and Western Wood Product Laboratories of the Canadian Forest Service from which it was formed through privatization in 1979. FPInnovations now has custody of this legacy. This paper was prepared as a contribution to a workshop organized by the CWFC to promote better understanding of research capabilities residing within FPInnovations. It is aimed at identifying opportunities for future collaboration by describing Forintek's resource characterization program and our members' priorities for future wood quality research in Canada. Key words: resource characterization, wood quality, stand management, future forests, present forests, CT imaging, product Recovery
The “emulation of natural disturbance” (END) management approach in Canadian forestry: A critical evaluation
Authors: Klenk Nicole L , Bull Gary Q , MacLellan James I.
Published: February 2014

The “emulation of natural disturbance” (END) is an ambiguous forest management approach that embodies an environmental ethic of “following nature” and the values associated with the nature/culture dichotomy. Given climate change projections, the emulation of natural disturbance or any approach that commits itself to reproducing a snapshot of the past history and evolution of forests may not be appropriate over large areas of the forested landscape. The adoption of a naturalistic forest management approach may appear to make sense for biodiversity conservation, but such an approach may not be adaptive in a rapidly changing climate. Rather than aiming to “follow nature,” Canadian forestry should strive to be innovative in its efforts to manage its forests. Key words: emulation of natural disturbance, TRIAD, environmental ethics, naturalistic forest management, climate change, adaptation