1. Woodlot Extension Program
“ A joint venture between government,
conservation groups and forest industry”
Toso Bozic
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

2. Forest as integral part of BHI

3. Forest characteristics in BHI
Over 80 % is aspen/balsam poplar dominated with hazelnut in understory
Very few areas with pine/white spruce
Most of the forest in old mature over 70 years of age – high fire risk potential
Last large forest fire was in 1930
Private forest in better shape then in parks
There is approximately in average between tonnes of wood per acre

6. Fire- Insurance/Liability
Define the issues that became apparent through the assessment. For example wildland urban interface is a big issue according to our look at ortho imagery.
The decedent poplar presents unique fire hazards as there is a heavyfuel loading on the ground, standing dead or standing decaying trees.
Fire behavior will likely be of high intensity than anticipated –should consider the fuel type to be closer to the behaviour of an M1 fuel type (boreal Mixedwood – leafless – 25% conifer/75% hardwood
Be cautious of the tendency to consider this as a D1 (leafless aspen) as this will severely under estimate the fire behaviour potential. As well, when the fuels are cured particularly in the spring, spread potential can be similar to standing grass.

7. Incentives
PFRA Shelterbelt program is eager to provide large amount of trees for project
Hire professional tree planter for tree planting
Woodlot Extension Program (WEP) can provide management plans for landowners
Tax reduction for forest management plans
EGS various incentives from DUC, ACA, etc etc
Expertise of various organizations to BHI people
Education – eg. Fire Smart, develop community forest

8. Riparian Area
By using trees from PFRA or other tree nursery to re-established the critical riparian area
By providing some of the incentives landowners might be more willing to work on riparian area management
Introduce BMP to landowners

9. Reforestation
Obtain funding from eg. Heartland consortium or other funding agency to hire profession tree planters for private land
Use native tree species
Re-introduce pine and white spruce in the area
Natural regeneration/suckering of aspen is very common – no cost
Priority can be given to the most sensitive/important area –eg riparian area

11. Questions ?? Thank you !!