Supported by Sustainable Forest Mgmt. Network, J.D. Irving, Ltd., …€¦ · Sig. implics. for...

D. MacLean, G. Forbes, K. Frego, M. Roberts, T. Erdle (UNB); M-A. Villard & M. Béland

(U. de M.); C. Samson (Parks Can.) ; B. Wagner, J. Wilson (U. Maine); + 13 graduate students

Supported by Sustainable Forest Mgmt. Network, J.D. Irving, Ltd., Fundy Model

Forest, Alberta SRD, NSERC

CIF/SFMN National Electronic Lecture Oct. 2009 MacLean 2

“empower the forest manager” as decision maker active partnership of researchers & forest managers◦ regular 2-way communication & 2-way education

Key elements:◦ managers involved in project selection/ design/

proposal creation◦ company buy-in/ vested interest from the outset◦ monitor/evaluate research project progress (regular

graduate student updates to FRAC)◦ funding leverage – multiplies company research funds◦ requires company research involvement/ effort


(a) elucidate successional dynamics and habitat value of 3 key stand types (natural MW, PL, PCT);

(b) evaluate biodiversity indics. & habitat suitability (ground veg., bryophytes, birds, American marten, northern flying squirrel);

(c) ecologically-relevant definition of MW based on stand dynamics and habitat relationships;

(d) forest estate modeling of zoning alternatives & bioenergy production capacity, & social, economic, environmental implications


Successional dynamics of MW stands1. Luke Amos-Binks. Temporal changes in species

composition of mixedwood stands in northwest New Brunswick: 1946-2008

2. Amanda Colford-Gilks. Effects of spruce budworm outbreaks on stand dynamics of balsam fir-TH & red spruce-TH

3. Bruno Chicoine. Natural regeneration in TH & MW after partial cutting

PCT & biodiversity4. Keri LaFrance. Effects of PCT on herbaceous plants5. Amy Witkowski. Effects of PCT on forest bryophytes6. Julie Henderson. Effects of PCT on small mammals

Studies I will discuss today

13 Graduate student projects at UNB, UdeM


Key stand structures & biodiversity7. Pascale Forget. Influence of stand and landscape

structure on American marten8. Matt Smith. Effects of fragmentation on northern flying

squirrel in southern NB9. Aurore Pérot. Density as an indicator of habitat quality10. Samuel Haché. Mechanisms underlying Ovenbird

response to single-tree selection harvesting11. Jean-François Poulin. Brown Creeper response to

experimental selection harvesting

Effect of alternative zoning allocations12. Jean-François Carle. Bioenergy production from

Crown land in New Brunswick13. Chris Ward. Forest zoning scenarios on a Crown

license in New Brunswick

13 Graduate student projects at UNB, UdeM


1945 Stand Type

% Area by 2002 stand type

SWCE SW MW HWSoftwood-cedar 58 18 10 14

Softwood 23 29 18 30Mixedwood 13 13 18 56Hardwood 50 4 9 37

Etheridge et al. 2005

1945 Cruise maps vs. 2002 GIS inventory

• reduction in the area of mixedwood forest

1. Luke Amos-Binks, UNB (MacLean)


1) Determine patterns of change in species composition across a gradient of softwood/hardwood composition

2) Relate patterns of change to past disturbance and subsequent stand growth response

7



All unharvested 1946-2009 Photo interpreted each stand in 50 x 50 m grid in 4

years: 1946, 1966, 1982, 2006

5 stand development patterns identified based on1) 1946 SW content (70-80%, termed SW versus 30-60%,

termed MW), and 2) 1946-2006 change in SW content: SW-stable, SW-

declining; MW-fluctuating, MW-stable, or MW-declining)


+

+

● - -

-●

+ - -

●

●

- ● ●

• 32 stands

individual plotsSW–stable MW–fluctuating

MW–stable MW–declining SW–declining

+ increase− decrease ● no change




Stand development class

1946-1966 1966-1982 1982-2006

Cha

nge

in C

over

(%)


Reductions in softwood coverIncrease in hardwood cover

Reductions in hardwood coverIncrease in softwood cover


1946-1966 1966-1982 1982-2006

Cha

nge

in C

over

(%)


Spruce budworm• 1950’s• 1970’s/1980’s

Other Disturbances• Wind• Birch dieback

Stand response• Ecosite

12

Growth Analyses Tree Cores

• ~ 1000 cores• rS, wS, bF, yB, sM, rM

Stand origin and intervening disturbances

Growth loss and growth releases


SW–stable MW–fluctuating MW–stable

MW–declining SW–declining


Host – Non host growth relationships

SBW outbreaks

SW–stable

MW–fluctuating

MW–stable

MW–declining SW–declining


1. Species composition very changeable over 60 yrs, SW change +18% to -62%

2. 1946-66 canopy reduction -- bF mortality due to old age & SBW outbreak, plus birch dieback

3. SW-stable stands (+7%) had more rS than other classes, where SW declined by 15-47%

4. SW-declining stands on southerly aspects & higher mean elevations (423 m)

5. bF-TH MW naturally transitional due to disturbance & silvics – MW HW

6. Sig. implics. for mgmt. designed to maintain static proportions of MW and SW stands

Amos-Binks, MacLean, Wilson & Wagner 2009. Can. J. For. Res. accepted


Pre-commercial thinning study PCT vs. unthinned control sites 3 age classes: 5, 10, 20 yrs post treatment Trapped small mammals → abundance Measured ground vegetation and stand

structures


A ControlA PCT

Treatment

5 10 20

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

Num

ber o

f spe

cies

]

]

]

]

]

]

A

A

A

A

A

A

a) Species richness

5 10 20

0.55

0.60

0.65

0.70

0.75

Even

ness

]

]

]

]] ]

A

A

A

A

AA

b) Species evenness

5 10 20

1.00

1.20

1.40

Shan

non-

Wie

ner d

iver

sity

inde

x

] ]

]

] ]

]

A

A

A

A

A

A

c) Shannon-Wiener diversity index

5 10 20

0.50

0.60

0.70

Sim

pson

's in

dex

of d

iver

sity

]]

]

] ]

]

A

A

A

A

A

A

d) Simpson's index of diversity

2. Keri LaFrance, UNB (Roberts)a) Number of species b) Species evenness

ControlPCT

Age Class, yrs5 10 20

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

Mea

n co

ver C

WD

(%)

]

]

]

]

]

]

A

A

A

A

A

A

c) CWD

A ControlA PCT

Treatment

5 10 202.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

Mea

n sl

ash

cove

r (%

)

]

]

]

]

]

]

A

A A

AA

A

a) Slash cover

5 10 20

c) Slash coverd) Coarse woody debris

5 10 20

PCT


Sorensen SI=0.7447PCT: n=244

C: n=247

3. Amy Witkowski, UNB (Frego)

M.Pokorski

Leafy liverwort on CWD

sampling 1m2 quadrat

Bryophytes (non-vascular plants) % cover by species & substrate

Environmental chars., disturbance, tree species, CWD


Control stand more deciduous leaf litter lower bryo cover, confined to elevated coarse wood

PCT stand more bryo cover, but low

diversity (common perennials)

light beyond tolerance for CWD-associated spp.

A. Witkowski A. Witkowski



Control standhigher bryophyte coverovergrowing broadleaf litter

A. Witkowski

PCT stand bryophytes colonizing

coarse wood... perhaps due to reduced light

A. Witkowski



abundance of pygmy shrews higher in 5 yr abundance of deer mice lower in 5 yr abundance of red-backed voles higher in

control and 10 yrRare species: - Smoky shrew (72% of captures in control)- Maritime shrew (90% of captures in 5 yr)

4. Julie Henderson, UNB (Forbes)


1. Analyzing effects of the major silvicultural treatment in NB, which covers large proportion of natural regen

2. No major effects of PCT on ground vegetation, bryophytes, small mammals observed

3. Stand development with aging stronger effect than treatment

Studies by LaFrance & Roberts, Witkowski & Frego, Henderson & Forbes


5. Matt Smith, UNB (Forbes & Betts)

Abundance on fragmented sites & contiguous sites

High captures in both treatments…potential good news for species◦ 668 captures◦ 228 individuals 23


Translocation & homing expts.



Flying Squirrels in Fragmented & Contiguous Landscapes

Density estimated using Lincoln-Petersen and corrected for effective trapping grid size (44 ha)


Squirrels using mature forest, both fragmented & contiguous

Mean home range size larger for males in fragmented landscapes


Forest mgmt for increased bioenergy Scenarios for Crown land, 100 years Effects on socio-economic, environmental variables Quantified biomass yields by species & component ◦ branches, tops, stemwood, bark, merchantable & non-

merch. products Woodstock software used to evaluate 13 scenarios◦ varied % harvest residues (0-33-66-100) & pulpwood (0-

15-30-50) used for bioenergy + use of bioenergy willow PL Net bioenergy calculated using biomass X

efficiency ratio - fossil fuel used in production

6. Jean-François Carle, UNB (MacLean)


6. J-F. Carle, UNB (MacLean)

Harvest residues only

Time (5yr periods)

Ene

rgy

cons

umpt

ion

offs

et (%

)

Pulpwood only

Harvest residues & pulpwood

Influence of willow plantations

Status quoHarvest residues + pulpResidues, pulp, willow plantations

Time (5yr periods)

27

TRIAD Approach (Seymour and Hunter 1992) increase area in reserve

mitigate lost production with increased intensity

integrated approach on remainder

Intensive Integrated Reserve

?% ?% ?%

Effects of Forest Zoning Scenarios on Timber & Non-Timber Values 7. Chris Ward, UNB

(Beckley, Erdle, MacLean)

28

65General Forest

28Habitat + Buffer Forest

7Protected Natural Area + Inoperable

% of Landbase

Main source of timberOldest stands firstSilviculture

Maintain old conditionsMaintain water qualityViable vertebrate popln’sHarvest to maintain cond.

No intervention

Crown License 1 northern NB400,000 ha

29

Chris Ward, UNB

Analysis - Varying 3 things:

1. Area and Configuration in Reserve 5%, 13%, 22% Habitat Blocks and WWF Areas

2. Area in Plantations Increase from 12% to 17% and 23% at year 50

• 25% & 50% increases in annual planting• target rich sites

3. The harvest treatments conducted in rest of forest Status Quo ~20% non-clearcut, no retention Natural disturbance-based

• maintain structure and composition that might exist post disturbance

• ~50% mature forest non-clearcut• 10-20% permanent retention

30

Chris Ward, UNB

Current

Reserve

31

Chris Ward, UNB

Small 13 (Sm13)

Reserve

32

Chris Ward, UNB

Large 13 (Lg 13)

Reserve

33

Chris Ward, UNB

Small 22 (Sm22)

Reserve

34

Chris Ward, UNB

Large 22 (Lg 22)

Reserve

35

Chris Ward, UNB

SFjP + HW Harvest (Average 1-25 yrs)

SQ SM13 SM22 LG13 LG22 SM13n SM22n LG13n LG22n0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

M m

3 /yr

100 102 101 97 89

Greater allocation to reserve, greater short-term reduction

% of SQ:

9 scenariosStatus quo Increased PL/RES Increased PL/RES w/ ND

36Chris Ward, UNB



0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

M m

3 /yr

100 102 101 97 89

If reserve area taken from GENF, greater short-term reduction

% of SQ:

37Chris Ward, UNB


0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

M m

3 /yr

94 93 89 82100 102 101 97 89


Nat Dist harvest results in ~8% decrease in short-term harvest

% of SQ:

38Chris Ward, UNB



0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

M m

3 /yr

100 121 133 115 120 112 125 107 113

Greater investment in planting, greater long-term harvest

% of SQ:

39Chris Ward, UNB



0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

M m

3 /yr

Can increase RES and maintain average harvest level

40Chris Ward, UNB

Mature/Late Successional (yr 50)

LS

MAT

SQ SM13 SM22 LG13 LG22 SM13n SM22n LG13n LG22n0

10

20

30

40

50

60

% o

f For

est

More area in reserve, more late successional forest

41Chris Ward, UNB

Mature/Late Successional (yr 50)

LS

MAT

SQ SM13 SM22 LG13 LG22 SM13n SM22n LG13n LG22n0

10

20

30

40

50

60

% o

f For

est

Nat Dist harvest maintains mature forest; increases by ~10%

42Chris Ward, UNB

Harvest/Silviculture Cost/m3 (yrs 1-25)

Silv

Harv


39.00

40.00

41.00

42.00

43.00

44.00

45.00

$00.

00/m

3

~$1.00-$3.00/m3 increase in harvest costs with more non-clearcut harvest

43Chris Ward, UNB

Results & significance:

“what if” analyses on a 400,000 ha landbase

Simultaneous increase of reserve and plantationsallowed maintenance of average SQ harvest level

Natural disturbance-based harvest

Assumed maintenance of non-timber values Risky? Costly Need to know more

44Chris Ward, UNB


Knowledge gained from cooperative research is used to: trigger analyses to quantify baseline situation and/or prepare

forecasts of future forest conditions to compare to proposed targets

initiate review of how JDI inventories certain habitat features and stratifies the forest inventory

formulate new management strategies, objectives, targets and measures

formulate Best Management Practices for implementation in the field

come up with new research questions include an issue as a new significant environmental impact in

the JDI Environmental Management System

Gaetan Pelletier, J.D. Irving, Limited


Now in a position to evaluate changes made at landscape level for several indicators plus compare with future conditions

Elaborate on the ground BMP’s for critical habitat structures

New Inventory standards were developed to measure habitat and structure

Prepared more sophisticated objectives, targets, & measures for next forest mgmt. plan:1. Cover type distribution - Min. area key veg. communs. (HW, Ce, MW)2. Define max. area in plantations3. Patch size distribution – more sophisticated than 60ha max.4. Mixedwood objectives5. Old Forest Types - target levels for various old habitat types6. Looking at modeling tree size distributions across the landscape



Rare Plant Habitat

Pre-Screening Program


47


1. How do intensively managed stands contribute to habitat and biodiversity?

2. What role do mixedwood stands play in terms of diversity and habitat?

3. What do we know about the stand dynamics under a natural disturbance regime?

4. What is the importance of the context within which stands occur throughout the landscape?

Being addressed via a new 2009-2014 $700,000 JDI-NSERC approved research project (12 researchers & new grad students at UNB & UdeM)



1. 2-panel, 500 word posters in District offices What’s the problem, what

was done, what was found, what does is mean?

2. Science Forum for staff3. “Irving Research Notes”

newsletter in newspapers throughout NB


Effective industry/researcher partnerships◦ Industry co-funding of projects/ grad students◦ Regular communication – bi-annual meetings◦ Company commitment; 5-6 staff attend◦ Grad student pres. to FRAC, valuable feedback

Researcher collaboration with industry/gov’t to make a real-world difference

Acknowledge research partners & funders:

Supported by Sustainable Forest Mgmt. Network, J.D. Irving, Ltd., …€¦ · Sig. implics. for...

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