Resource Management Plan 2002-2006Skeena-Bulkley Region

Resource Management Plan 2002-2006Skeena-Bulkley Region

2.0SUSTAINABLE HARVEST (SH) REPORT

2.1Regional Silviculture Priorities and Issues

Harvesting forests and milling timber into lumber and chips has been a major industry in the Prince Rupert Forest Region (PRFP) for many years. It was not until 1982 that replanting these forests began in earnest and in 1987 planting trees after harvest became the duty of the logging companies. Since the highest risk in growing forests is at establishment, the government passed legislation requiring the companies to manage these stands, past the establishment stage into a period called Free Growing.

Today, many of these forests are at this free growing stage. It is therefore critical that these forests be set on a management path which will achieve the product objectives set for the timber supply area. These product objectives could include high quality clear logs suitable for value-added industries, large saw logs which minimize the costs of harvesting and processing, smaller sawlogs which maximize the volume produced, etc. Ideally, each timber supply area will have several product objectives to ensure that the economic returns to the diverse land base are maximized. Developing the SH program will help Forest Districts minimize risk yet maintain options for the future of the forests. It is generally provincial policy not to manage areas for pulpwood production. It has always been assumed that "pulpwood" would be produced as a by-product of sawlog regimes from the forest and mill waste in the form of chips.

Some forests in the PRFP have a higher value as unmanaged forests. These natural values include wildlife, fisheries, soil, biodiversity, water quality and visual quality. Some of these forests can produce log products as well, but not at the cost of these other values.

The SH component of this RMP contains resource priorities for enhanced and backlog reforestation (blocks that were harvested, damaged or destroyed before 1987 are backlog).

Planned activities must:

• be consistent with acts, regulations, guidelines and priorities set in higher level plans;
• be consistent with government goals;
• include MoF’s guiding principles for silviculture;
• incorporate the Incremental Silviculture Strategy for British Columbia (interim) (
• consider riparian and habitat issues;
• result in no expected loss of investment due to fire, forest health issues, or alienation of land;
• have reasonable cost estimates within the cost caps provided;
• include activities that fit within FRBC strategic or operational commitments;
• have activities that fit within criteria for forest health maintenance and current fire and pest management.

The SH component of this RMP is broken down by Forest District beginning in the east with the Lakes Forest District and progressing west to the North Coast Forest District. The silviculture priorities for each Forest District are summarized in the next section. Following this section, the Sustainable Harvest Component is reviewed in greater detail, by Forest District.

Although each Forest District attempted to address Sustainable Harvest in a consistent format, a great deal of variability exists between Forest Districts because available information differs, issues are wide ranging and priorities vary. It should be noted that all districts in the Prince Rupert Forest Region have completed a Silviculture Type 1 Silviculture Strategy and Kalum FD, TFLs 1 and 41 are just wrapping up detailed Silviculture Type 2 Strategies as per agreements with FRBC for SH investment planning in future RMPs.

2.2Summary for Each Management Unit of Silviculture Priorities

Lakes Forest District:

The SH component of the RMP for the Lakes Forest District was written in consultation with industry and representation from local First Nations to outline the best possible investments to be undertaken within the TSA to ensure a long term, high quality fiber supply, continued employment, and community stability. Stakeholders analyzed several sources of information (i.e. TSR, LRMP, Draft Incremental Silviculture Strategy, Access Management Plan) and identified issues or potential concerns within the Lakes TSA.

District silviculture priorities were established primarily based on these issues. Other factors used to determine opportunities for investment included a review of the commitments and recommendations from other planning processes as well as costs, benefits, risks, timing of delivery and long term implications of treatments.

The district has completed a type I silviculture strategy for the Lakes TSA ( The top priorities from this plan are as follows:

1. Plant a mixed species in all future plantations to reduce disease (such as rust). This involves planting a higher amount of spruce than in the past. Increase planting density to mitigate losses through rust infections.
2. Survey and brush backlog satisfactorily restocked areas that are not free to grow.
3. Survey, plant and brush backlog NSR areas.
4. Survey and rehabilitate pine plantations that are NSR due to rust infection.
5. Fertilize stands previously treated that will be harvested in the next 20 years.
6. Space, fertilize and prune the best growing sites for the production of premium quality sawlogs.

The District type I strategy employed 12 participants in a development workshop. Representation from the PRFR, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP) and the two largest licensees in the Lakes TSA were present. Lakes District Silviculture and Operational staff were also present to help prepare the plan.

The strategy also includes legislated silviculture goals such as necessary treatments to bring a stand to free to grow. These include planting (natural regeneration is rare in the Lakes District), site preparation if needed, surveying and brushing if needed. Maximum density spacing also occurs if the stand exceeds 10,000 stems per hectare.

In summary, the Lakes District priorities, within FRBC’s SH Program, are as follows:

1. Forest Health Maintenance Activities.
2. Reducing and then eliminating Backlog NSR areas in the Lakes District.
3. The six priorities of the Type I silviculture strategy which include the Stand Tending, Backlog Reforestation, Site Restoration and Forest Health Enhancement FRBC Objectives.
4. Current Fire and Pest Activities.

Morice Forest District:

The Morice Forest District critical issues and related objectives were established during the Silviculture Strategy Workshop. Tactical priorities to addressed these issues were assigned through discussion and consensus amongst the participants.

The Morice District priorities are as follows:

1. Basic Silviculture--to maintain current AAC
2. Backlog NSR--to maintain current AAC
3. Habitat Supply
4. Stand Tending Activities--to maintain timber quality.

Bulkley-Cassiar Forest District:

The Bulkley Forest District and the FRBC MYA holders in the TSA reached consensus that the Bulkley Silviculture Strategy ( be used to develop this RMP.

Silviculture investment priorities are based on the Landscape Planning hierarchy followed by the Stand Planning hierarchy. The Landscape Planning hierarchy incorporates Provincial direction and strategic planning. The elements of the Landscape Planning hierarchy must be considered in the following order:

1. The Forest Practices Code of BC Act

1. The Bulkley LRMP
2. Landscape Unit Planning Objectives
3. District Manager Policy.

For example, the Bulkley LRMP provided direction, as outlined in the following table, by ranking silviculture strategies by resource management zone.

LRMP Zones / Backlog / Fall Down / Incremental
Enhanced Timber Development / Very High / High / Very High
Integrated Resource Management / High / High / High
Landscape Corridor / Medium / Low / Low
Special Management Zone 2 / Medium / Low / Low
Resource Management Zone / Medium / Low / Low
Other Zones / Low / Low / Low

Moreover, the Stand Planning hierarchy prioritizes obligations at an operational planning level. The stand planning hierarchy in the Bulkley TSA is:

1. Basic Silviculture
2. Backlog Silviculture
3. Silviculture Strategy to Reduce Fall Down
4. Incremental Silviculture
5. Silviculture Strategy for Non-Merchantable Timber Types.

A ranking key was developed by the Bulkley Forest District (Bulkley Silviculture Ranking Key 1999) to incorporate the priorities listed in the Landscape and Stand Planning hierarchies.

Kispiox Forest District:

Based primarily on the Timber Supply Review recommendations and LRMP strategies and objectives, the Kispiox Forest District staff developed silviculture priorities and met with major licensees for feedback (Kispiox & Cranberry TSAs Silviculture Strategies--Type 1). A discussion of silviculture priorities for the Kispiox Forest District follows.

Every five years, the Chief Forester of British Columbia establishes the allowable annual cut (AAC) for each timber supply area and tree farm licence. The Kispiox Timber Supply Review process was last completed on December 30, 1996, when the Chief Forester maintained the AAC at 1,092,611 cubic metres. When he released his determination, the Chief Forester also made several recommendations to the district. Most of these recommendations have been implemented through research within the forest district, but some items may still require further work due to lack of adequate information. These include:

• to investigate the integration of botanical forest products into landscape unit planning; and,
• to identify management strategies for wildlife.

During the determination process, one important factor that was presented to the Chief Forester was a description of not-satisfactorily-restocked (NSR) areas. This is land considered inadequately covered by a sufficient number of tree stems of desirable species as specified in the Ministry stocking standards. Backlog NSR refers to areas harvested prior to 1987 that are in this condition. In the 1995 timber supply review data package, approximately 5,500 hectares were calculated to affect the timber harvesting land base. However, district staff also presumed that all backlog NSR would be restocked by the year 2000. Using this assumption, the Chief Forester did not consider backlog NSR as a downward pressure on timber supply.

Since the 1996 determination, the status of backlog NSR has shifted considerably. Funding levels have plummeted, resulting in far less land being treated. Only 1,800 hectares has been successfully removed from the backlog total, rather than the full 5,500 hectares, which was the original district goal. This information will be incorporated in the next analysis package, which is currently being prepared. Aggressive treatment of backlog land continues to be a district priority, and is reflected in the silviculture portion of the RMP.

The Cranberry Timber Supply Review process was concluded on June 1, 1998, when the Chief Forester maintained the cut at 110,000 cubic metres per year. Similar to his Kispiox determination, the Chief Forester included several recommendations, two of which still require some work:

• to validate an appropriate site index adjustment for single and mixed species; and,
• to refine Operational Adjustment Factors for the Timber Supply Area.

Most of these recommendations should be considered within the FRBC inventory and research funding program, titled ‘Strengthening Sustainable Forest Management’. This program is included in the PRFR’s RMP, rather than in the district plan.

The Silviculture Strategy (Type 1) for the Kispiox TSA (1999) has identified a further 5 issues (

• Identify the portions of the land base at minimum stocking levels, and at targets to refine density values for TIPSY projections
• Identify impact of using VDYP projections rather than TIPSY on backlog stands as to more accurately model the current management – as funding declines, and as funding sources are in flux the volume of area treated declines.
• Investigate the development of economic cut-off values for backlog reforestation efforts and its subsequent impact to the TSR.
• Evaluate the risk of treating land which may be alienated at a later time, and it subsequent impact to the TSR.

The Silviculture Strategy (Type 1) for the Cranberry TSA (Draft 2001) has additionally identified the following issues (

• Assess areas disturbed by wildfire to more accurately report inventory information and identify areas which may require density management.
• Investigate the development of an interim deciduous management policy which addresses both habitat requirements and timber management goals.
• Develop product and quality objectives for the Cranberry TSA, with consideration to a reconciliation of product objectives with site capabilities and risk.

Enhanced silviculture treatments hold high to medium priority inasmuch as there are benefits to be realized in the TSR. However, it is important to not divert investment and effort from backlog initiatives to fulfill enhanced forestry strategies. Treating backlog NSR sites with uniform stocking and protecting plantation investments provides greater return on investments than incremental activities. In certain instances, however, financial analysis may reflect otherwise, and is dependent upon comparisons of specific sites.

Kalum Forest District:

This treatment priority rating guide was jointly developed by the Forest Service, West Fraser Mills Ltd., and Skeena Cellulose. The following table provides direction in determining which areas are treated irrespective of tenure. Upon completion of the Level 2 Silviculture Strategy ( this matrix will be reviewed and amended where necessary.

Priority / Activity
1 / Backlog brushing, (herbaceous brush where crop tree survival is in immediate jeopardy)
1 / Forest health treatments where a pest agent is threatening the survival or health of a stand
2 / Planting of NSR blocks
3 / Planting of NSR areas
(where the program can be spread out over several years)
3 / Surveys
3 / Spacing
4 / Conifer Release
4 / Free growing surveys
5 / Pruning

A system used to evaluate the value of juvenile spacing in the Kalum Forest District was also developed:

FACTORS / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / No Treatment
Species / Hw, Cw, Ba / Hw - Pl / Pl / Ss
Age / 14 – 15 yrs / 16 - 20 yrs / 21 - 25 yrs / 26 - 30 yrs / >30 yrs
Density (st/ha) / 4000 – 10000 / 4000 - 3000 / 3000 - 2500 / 2500 – 2000 / >2000
Site Index
@ age 50 / >30 / 30 - 25 / 25 - 20 / 20 – 15 / <15
Access / 2WD / 4WD / Boat / Helicopter
Biodiversity
Potential / HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW / NONE / NONE

Rating:Low priority= 0-14

Medium priority= 15-20

High priority= 21+

North Coast Forest District:

Priorities for the NCFD are identified in a Silviculture Strategy Type 1 Analysis completed March 2000 ( The key issues discussed in the strategy primarily focused on Forest Health and strategies to mitigate timber supply fall down. The forest health issues include porcupine damage prevention and deer browse damage prevention.

In addition to the silviculture strategy priorities, completing the outstanding backlog surveys and brushing is a priority.

The Silviculture Strategy also lists the following:

Issues by rank identified in the workshop that require investigation, North Coast TSA

1 Estimates of SI for future regenerated stands

1 Develop TSA-level product objectives

2 Improved mapping of visually sensitive areas

3 Investigate options for operability in northern portions of the TSA

4 Net-down factors for riparian zones

5 Regenerated stand species targets

5 Inventory label site index should reflect crop trees

5 Investigate achieved regenerated stand structures, and options for modeling

5 Refine definition of “countable stems”

6 Time-of-planting fertilizer trials

7 Investigate options for reducing slash piles re: porcupine den sites

8 Broadcast fertilization screening trials

2.3Lakes Forest District

2.3.1Basic Data

The Lakes Forest District is within the Lakes Timber Supply Area (TSA). Basic data for the Lakes TSA includes:

Land Area

Description / Area (ha) / Area (%)
Total Area of TSA / 1,124, 552 / 100
Total Productive Crown Forest (TSR II) / 744 896 / 66
Net Timber Harvest Land Base (THLB) (TSR II) / 589 988 / 52

Source: TS analysis report-rounded to nearest 100 ha.

With the approval in principal of the LRMP, the crown forested land base and hence the timber harvesting land base has dropped with the transfer of the Entiako, Sutherland and the Uncha Mountain/Hills Protected Areas to Provincial Park Status. The Net Timber Harvest Land Base for TSR II will drop to approximately 50% of the total TSA area from 56%.

Annual Allowable Cut (AAC)

AAC Type / (m3)
Conventional (TSR I)* / 1,500,000
Deciduous
Insect/Disease
Marginal
Total / 1,500,000
Community Forest / 23,667**
Woodlot AAC / 52,600

*Effective September 1/96
**Included in the Conventional TSR I volume but will not be included in the TSR II volume.

Twenty nine percent (29%) of available timber volume is currently allocated to the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program, 431,518 cubic metres per year (less possible 5% transfer allowance) to Babine Forest Products Company, 367,194 cubic metres per year to West Fraser Sawmills Limited, 130,604 cubic metres per year (less possible 5% transfer allowance) to Babine Timber Limited, 53,267 cubic metres per year to Canfor Limited, 23,084 cubic metres per year to L & M Lumber Limited.

The current AAC for the Lakes TSA, excluding the woodlot allocation which is not considered in the TSR analysis, is 1,500,000 cubic metres per year. The district is currently waiting for TSR II AAC determination by the chief forester. Because of extensive catastrophic beetle infestations through out the southern portion of the district, the ability to maintain the current level of 1.5 million cubic metres of AAC over the medium term is uncertain. The possibilities of salvage operations in the district currently exist and it is likely that over 3.0 million cubic metres of trees will be invested each year for the term of this plan.

Site Class Profile

The site class profile is unavailable at this time.

Age Class

Age Class / (%)
NSR / 0
0 / 1
1-20 / 9
21-40 / 1
41-140 / 52
141-250 / 36
250+ / 1
Total / 100

Source: TS analysis report.

The current age class distribution indicates that over 64% of commercial species on the harvesting land base are over 100 years of age.

Tree Species Profile

The most abundant commercial species is lodgepole pine occurring on 77% of the THLB. Spruce is the secondary species occurring on 21% of the THLB. Sub-Alpine fir is the third most abundant species, generally occurring at higher elevations on cooler moister growing sites.