Managing wood production in temperate forests: experiences and success factors Seminario “Manejo Forestal Sustentable: Experiencias Internacionales y Perspectivas para México” Mexico, Sept 22, 2014 Jean-Martin Lussier
90% Public 6% Private 2% Federal 2% Aboriginal 90% Public 6% Private 2% Federal 2% Aboriginal
68% conifer 16% mixedwood 11% broadleaf 68% conifer 16% mixedwood 11% broadleaf
Hardwood & mixedwood stands in Eastern Canada Mixture of 5-10 species/stand Natural regeneration Uneven-aged History of partial harvests
Acer saccharum Érable à sucre Sugar Maple
Betula alleghaniensis Bouleau jaune Yellow birch
Quercus rubra Chêne rouge Red Oak
Multifunctional Forest
Selectively harvested since the XIX th Century Warbirdnews.com
© Ralph Nyland The effects of selective cuttings (Aka. Diameter-limit cuts) « Cut the best, leave the rest » No consideration of tree promotion rate No management of stand regeneration Depletion of quality trees Low canopy cover Patchy/unsufficient regeneration of desired species
Management of Hardwoods in Quebec Source: Bedard & Meunier 2006 IUFRO Conference Rouyn-Noranda.
Mousseau Forest, 15 years after the first selection cut THE SELECTION SYSTEM Management of cutting cycle and residual stocking Continuous stand improvement “Cut the worse, leave the best” Size-structure management Tighter control through tree marking Growth monitoring
Tree marking: a key process of Quebec’s selection system
Selection system: Cutting Guides Stems /ha DBH (cm) Target residual density Initial density Source: Majcen et al. 1990
UNSUFFICIENT BASAL AREA GROWTH Low Grade Stands Unadequate marking rules for stand improvement 2002 Change in management policy New grading system of tree vigour (MSCR System) NEW TREE MARKING PRIORITIES FORCING STAND SANITATION DIFFERENT BASKET OF PRODUCTS => More Pulpwood => Less Sawlogs DIFFERENT BASKET OF PRODUCTS => More Pulpwood => Less Sawlogs
Hardwoods: a value chain founded on appearance wood 17 ≠
5 Hardwood Pulp and Paper Mills
Typical Hardwood Value Chain FOREST MARKETS Lumber Mill Cabinet Makers Pulp Mill Furniture Makers
20 Max 90eCentile 50eCentile 10eCentile MIN Source: Supply Cost
The negative impact of stand improvement strategy on the current value chain Because of the structure of the value chain, Lumber mills are absorbing the cost More pulpwood means more costs
Trying to solve the problem NEEDS Cost reduction Improvement of the basket of products SOLUTION 1.Revise the production objectives 2.Reduce dispersion costs 3.Diversify the silviculture systems 4.Reduce planning errors and control costs
Average evolution of the value of lumber-quality maple and birch trees
Shift in silviculture approach… BEFORE All defect trees should be removed first to improve stand quality NOW Regardless to their quality, Trees over 40cm should be considered mature and ready to harvest, unless… some canopy retention is needed to favour regeneration AND/OR The income needs to be smoothed out over multiple cutting cycles.
DISPERSION COST OF FOREST OPERATIONS ( Favreau 2004) Dispersion cost ($/m 3 ) Harvested volume by kilometer of forest road (m 3 /km) Partial cuts in hardwoods Total cuts in softwoods
Analysis of 2 deployment alternatives Sector Mitchinamecus, Québec 28 Source: Adamczewski et Fortin ) Current Scenario Alternative Scenario 57,81 $/m 3 47,60 $/m 3
Diversify the Silviculture Systems Uniform Sheterwood Irregular Shelterwood Selection Expanding gaps Extended Continuous Cover
The method for silviculture systems involving partial cutting 1.Rational trail network 2.Tree selection guidelines 3.Control method 30
STEP 1: Set a rational trail system
STEP 2: Set the guidelines for tree selection SIMPLE CASE STRUCTURE: Closed canopy of mature trees & lack of regeneration SYSTEM: Extended Irregular Shelterwood ACTIONS Yr 0: Harvest 50% of the trees in all classes to favour regeneration Yr 20: Overstory removal (Uniform Shelterwood)
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A Multitreatment approach : Changing the guidelines as the structure changes The operator observes the analysis zones (150 m²) He counts the number of large trees (dbh>40 cm) 0 large tree Mainly second cohort Cut 1 tree Out of 4 mid-size 0 large mid-sized Regen only Pass by Trail only Only 1 large tree All tree size-classes Cut 1 large tree 2 large trees Mainly first cohorts Cut 1 tree out of 2 larges
STEP 3- Control process Usually done with operational sampling plot networks Research on the application of Lidar technology Points cloud XYZ LiDAR
Pass by Trail only Cut 1 large tree or Cut 1/4 mid-size Cut 1 tree out of 2 larges Multitreatment Mapping with Lidar
¡Gracias! Jean-Martin Lussier, ing.f., Ph.D. Chercheur en sylviculture Contact Centre canadien sur la fibre de bois 1055 rue du PEPS, Québec. Que G1V 4C7 Tél: