Species Selection Reference System Research and Forest Practices Branch MOFR With Symmetree Consulting Group Ltd.

Who is involved

Who will use it? You? Who will use it and how? Foresters for choosing suitable species Those reviewing Forest Stewardship Plans Timber supply working groups Academics Tree improvement folks Forest Health personnel

What it could look like – a work in progress

As you go further you get more detail

Site Series Screen This screen has the following information. List of ecologically suitable species – each hyper linked to a compendium for that species. Additional notes by species from Ecological field guides – e.g., on moister microsites Information on forest health for this SS – anecdotal or published. Link based on GPS and elevation to SPAR seedlot information.

As you go further you get more detail Species specific Compendium Information would include ecological tolerances Ecological amplitudes Range in province Growth rate and yield expectations Links to other publications on the species Species mixes Partial cutting guidance – link to field forms

CWHvm1 /01 Ecologically Acceptable Tree Species ConifersBroadleaves Silvicultural Considerations Shade tolerance Frost toleranceSnow toleranceDrought toleranceWater table tolrce Nutritional requirements BGC unit pest concerns (by BEC subzone/variant?) Productivity Natural regen potential [go to table] OpenShade High: This section mainly for comments specific to the species (site information, species mixes) Sources: Reference Guide (2003) Field guides Ecologically acceptable tree species from the former P/S/T and broadleaf categories; include broadleaf spp with b footnote? We could have links here to: forest health tables FORREX has produced forest health SEDA (stand establishment decision aids) for the Southern Interior Forest Region (former Cariboo, Nelson and Kamloops regions); hazard rating system basic unit: BEC subzone/variants Link to most recent 2006 SIBEC – SISU tables for each BEC subzone Available Sources: PR field guide (vegetation potential classes) Competing vegetation SEDA (stand establishment decision aid) available for the former Cariboo Region (FORREX) Sources for the majority of the info by tree species for the remaining boxes: Klinka et al In Lavendar et al Regenerating BC’s forests Prince Rupert region field guide page 7-24, figure 7.2). Similar info NOT available in all regional field guide - would need to create table LINK to Partial Cutting information Timber value

SBSdk/07 Sxw – Horsetail Ecologically Acceptable Tree Species: Act At Ep Pl Sxw Shade tolerance Sxw > Pl Act At Ep Frost tolerance Pl > At Ep > Act Sxw Snow tolerance Sxw > Pl Act At Ep Drought tolerance Pl > Sxw > At Ep > Act Water table tolerance Act > Sxw > At Ep Pl Nutritional requirements Act > Sxw At Ep > Pl Site Index (1 st approx.) Pl = 21 Sxw = 21 Natural regen potential Open Shade High: Act At Ep Pl Med: Pl Sxw Wind tolerance Act > At Ep Pl > Sxw Tree Species Composition: Historic 2 nd Growth Recommended Sxw At (Act Pl) Pl (Sxw) Sxw (At Act Pl) Tree Species Notes: Pl is limited by shade intolerance and saturated soils; Sxw is limited by growing season frosts; preserve advance regeneration; Act, At, Ep – limited in productivity, reliability and/or feasibility [Source: PR (LMHB 26); and the Reference Guide for FDP Stocking Standards Footnotes]. Relative Tree Species Characteristics: Link to Reference Guide to Forest Development Plan Stocking StandardsReference Guide to Forest Development Plan Stocking Standards Additional Tree Species information: Sxw Pl Act At Ep Other Fire Tolerance Pl Sxw > At Ep > Act Site Limiting FactorsManagement ImplicationsManagement Options Cold, wet, poorly aerated fine- textured soils Root restriction, reduced productivity, windthrow, soil compaction Mounding and/or elevated microsites for seedling establishment Frost/cold airSeedling damage / mortalityMounding and/or elevated microsites for seedling establishment; partial canopy retention PorcupineReduced Pl productivityMixed species composition Pine dwarf mistletoeReduced Pl productivity Mountain Pine BeetleReduced Pl productivity; Pl mortalityMixed species composition Competing vegetationSeedling mortality and reduced growth rateEarly planting post-harvest and/or minimize mineral soil exposure Voles and HaresSeedling mortality Timber Value Tree Species Ecological Amplitude: actual soil moisture soil nutrient VD MD SD F M VM W A B C D E Act At Ep Pl Sxw Silvicultural site considerations: (link to Silvicultural BGC subzone considerations)

SBSdk – Sub-Boreal Spruce Dry Cool Biogeoclimatic Subzone Link to the Reference Guide to Forest Development Plan Stocking StandardsReference Guide to Forest Development Plan Stocking Standards Additional Tree Species Information : Sxw Pl Act At Ep Fd Sb Other species Site series Number Frost / Cold Air High Water tableMoisture DeficitNutrient DeficitRoot RestrictionSubzone Presence 01Some sites Fine-textures30% 02/03Severe Shallow soils15% (less 02) 04Commonshallow soils5% 05Common Fine-textures8% 06Fine-textures12% 07YYFine-textures5 08YYHigh water table8 09YYHigh water table5 10YYHigh water table12 Subzone Notes: Summers in the SBSdk are relatively warm and dry while the winters are typically cold and dry (snowpack < 50cm). The most common tree species include Sxw, Pl, At, Act and Ep. Climax forests are dominated by Sxw however, due to the recurrent disturbances common to this variant many forests are often dominated by Pl and At. Fd and Ep are relatively uncommon but where they do occur they are usually associated with drier sites. Sb is typically restricted to wetlands and Act is most common along rivers and streams in association with Sxw. SBSdk Site Series Characteristics: (use site series number to link to site pages) Silvicultural Subzone Considerations: Subzone ConcernsIdentified Risks / ImplicationsManagement Options 2 nd growth shift in species compositionResilience of ecosystems, forest health risksAdopt appropriate mix of species Overstocking on wet sites Understocking on Pl dry sitesLong term economics (I.e. forest health issues)Increase Pl density Climate change – inc. in growing season tempReduced Sxw productivity on drier sitesShift proportions of species mix (introduce Fd) Increase in MPB in the southern portionsPl mortality Tree Species Composition Considerations: SiteOld growth2 nd growthFuture options Dry Forest Pl (Fd Sxw)PlPl (Fd) Mesic Forest Sxw Pl (At Fd)Pl (Sxw At)Sxw (Pl At Fd) Wet Forest Act Sb (Sxw)Sb Act SxwAct Sb (Act) Notes: Future options are based on historic trends in species composition and current landscape concerns. These are intended to be used as guide and are expected to change as new forest management issues arise.

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