Stand Level Retention for EBM Objectives 2007 Guidance for Stand Level Retention Design. The CFCI and Symmetree Consulting Group Ltd

Transcription

1 Stand Level Retention for EBM Objectives 2007 Guidance for Stand Level Retention Design The CFCI and Symmetree Consulting Group Ltd

2 Steps in Designing a Retention Strategy: 1. Management Objectives: Why are we leaving trees? 3. Stand Recce: Translating the Design to the Ground 2. Stand Structural Design: What attributes are we looking for? 4. Developing silvicultural systems and retained structural options: Putting it all together: Leave tree opportunities Patterns of harvest / leave trees Available Harvesting Systems Risk Assessment 5. Implementation Strategy: What do we need to do to make it work?

3 Steps in Designing a Retention Strategy: 1. Management Objectives: Why are we leaving trees? 3. Stand Recce: Translating the Design to the Ground 2. Stand Structural Design: What attributes are we looking for? 4. Developing silvicultural systems and retained structural options: Putting it all together: Leave tree opportunities Patterns of harvest / leave trees Available Harvesting Systems Risk Assessment 5. Implementation Strategy: What do we need to do to make it work?

4 EBM Goals and Objectives EBM GOAL = Maintain Ecological Integrity of terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems CFCI Objective 1 Sustain or enhance ecological resilience and the ability to adapt to change CFCI Objective 2 No loss of species due to management BUT - What Does this mean for layout?

5 CFCI Objectives Key Strategies for Layout 1. Provide adequate protection for: Red, blue rare and underrepresented ecosystems, Hydroriparian functions, Sensitive terrain and sites Cw and Monumental cedar 2. Distribute well across the landscape: A diversity of species, habitat structures, ecosystem attributes, conditions, and seral stages

6 Steps in Designing a Retention Strategy: 1. Management Objectives: Why are we leaving trees? 3. Stand Recce: Translating the Design to the Ground 2. Stand Structural Design: What attributes are we looking for? 4. Developing silvicultural systems and retained structural options: Putting it all together: Leave tree opportunities Patterns of harvest / leave trees Available Harvesting Systems Risk Assessment 5. Implementation Strategy: What do we need to do to make it work?

7 CFCI Stand Level Strategies 2007 Guidance for Retention Design CFCI Objectives Key Strategies for Layout 1. Provide adequate protection for: Red, blue rare and underrepresented ecosystems, hydroriparian functions, sensitive terrain and other sensitive sites 2. Distribute well across the landscape: A diversity of species, habitat structures, ecosystem attributes, conditions, and seral stages 1. Amount of Retention 2. Retention Distribution 3. Retention Quality Including guidance for proportion of cedar and monumental cedar

8 1. Retention Amount Intent: To ensure enough stand level retention is present for ecological functions For: Biological legacies to enrich stands Lifeboating of species Connectivity in the managed matrix

9 1. Retention Quantity 2007 Direction: 15 % well distributed throughout the cutblock Intent is by volume or basal area Area-based will work if it reflects the stand in general Retention = long term (rotation)

10 STAND LEVEL RETENTION 2006 Implementation Monitoring Minimum QUANTITY of Retention (15 %) 96%% of blocks (26 of 27) met the minimum level of stand level retention. The average amount of retention was 22%.

11 2. Retention Distribution Intent: To ensure that retention is distributed through the matrix enough to provide a degree of connectivity.

12 2. Retention Distribution 2007 Direction: 1. Min of 50% of all harvest area in Retention Systems. > 50% influence Better distribution than clearcut with reserves few large openings. 2. The remaining harvesting in Clearcut (or other) with-reserves Retention with the minimum criteria for distribution.

13 STAND LEVEL RETENTION 2006 Implementation Monitoring Targets for Silvicultural Systems: 78% of blocks clearly met the criteria for the silvicultural system intended. 7% clearly did not fit with the intended silvicultural system. For 15% of the blocks it was not clear if they met the criteria. Biggest issue: Not meeting the criteria for an intended retention system

14 2. Minimum Distribution Criteria 2007 Direction For blocks larger than 15 ha - 50% of minimum retention requirement must be INTERNAL. It means 7.5% or more must be internal. Internal is interpreted to mean that retention must have harvesting on at least two sides. APPLIES TO ALL CUTBLOCKS Retention Systems will be expected to have better distribution inside the block

15 2. Minimum Distribution Criteria Clearcut-with-reserves example: > 7.5% and meets internal requirement. More retention here (part of 15% but not internal).

16 2. Minimum Distribution Criteria Clearcut-with-reserves example: Contributes to minimum internal requirement

17 2. Minimum Distribution Criteria Clearcut-with-reserves example: Retention < 15 ha OK to have all retention on edge

18 3. Retention Quality Criterion 2 - Intent: To ensure key habitats and structures are retained To ensure a diversity of structural approaches To ensure sufficient structure endures for the long term

19 3. Retention Quality - General Criteria: 1. Utilize general biological (or cultural) anchors where available (NEXT SECTION).

20 STAND LEVEL RETENTION 2006 Implementation Monitoring Quality of Retention: 96% of blocks clearly met the criteria for quality of retention. Most harvesting was in old growth so easy to leave high quality retention. But where second growth used generally choices were good. Only issue: Did not build a retention patch on a small wetland (swamp).

21 3. Retention Quality Cedar Retention INTENT of Ministerial Orders: Reflect desire to maintain similar or better presence of cedar in long term retention. Should not discourage added nonrepresentative retention: Biological anchors including key EBM features. Should capture mature and old component in representative manner.

22 3. Retention Quality Cedar Retention 2007 Direction: The first 15% of the retention MUST: AT LEAST - Reflect the general amount and quality of mature and old cedar (Cw and Yc) in preharvest stand. Or exceed that amount or quality. Retention above the 15% minimum is not subject to cedar requirement. If 25% retention - 10% is not subject to cedar requirement. For ALL silvicultural systems

23 3. Retention Quality Cedar Retention The Key Point: You still have options for the retention over and above 15% Rocky site Non-classified wetland Representative Cw retention (15%) Rocky site

24 3. Retention Quality Cedar Retention Tips: Where retention is in patches / groups 1. If total retention is just beyond 15% and concentrated a few groups: Get general amount of cedar and range of sizes from cruise. Do a couple prism sweeps in each group to check prior to finalizing layout.

25 3. Retention Quality Cedar Retention Tips: Where retention is in patches / groups 1. If total retention is much higher than 15% and in many groups: Target the first 15% in the dominant site series and timber type. OR Use a patch with more and/or larger cedar.

26 3. Retention Quality Cedar Retention Tips: Where some retention is dispersed The representative cedar can be in dispersed retention, group retention, or a mix of both. HOWEVER It is easier to satisfy this requirement with group retention. Dispersed retention will require a estimate of contributing dispersed basal area.

27 3. Retention Quality Monumental Cedar Clarify definition for monumental cedar and priorities with your planners. Will vary by First Nation and the area you are in. Look for opportunities to meet these objectives. Characteristics / quality. Amount.

28 3. Retention Quality Criteria ALSO: Consider Losses (mostly Windthrow) Retention should meet objectives over the long term

29 Windthrow - How much is too much? Biodiversity objectives? 55% blowdown? 80% blowdown 15% blowdown?

30 Windthrow - How much is too much? 55% may be alright for biodiversity objectives but What if other objectives are involved?

31 Windthrow - How much is too much? How are we doing? - For biodiversity? Riparian values (S6)?

32 Cutblock Design Criteria 1. Retention Quantity 2. Retention Distribution 3. Retention Quality REMEMBER: These are INTERIM NOT carved in stone Will be revisited. Annual implementation monitoring will track success.

33 Cutblock Design Criteria Other management objectives and design criteria must be integrated as well Steps in Designing a Retention Strategy: 1. Management Objectives: Why are we leaving trees? 3. Stand Recce: Translating the Design to the Ground 2. Stand Structural Design: What attributes are we looking for? 4. Developing silvicultural systems and retained structural options: Putting it all together: Leave tree opportunities Patterns of harvest / leave trees Available Harvesting Systems Risk Assessment Timber Management Species Growth and yield Forest Health Biological Hotspots 5. Implementation Strategy: What do we need to do to make it work? Identified Wildlife Species? Cultural Heritage? Visual Landscape Design?

34 CFCI Stand Level Strategies Cutblock Design Criteria The next step is to make it work on the ground.

35 Starting with Biological Anchors