Forestry education - introduction

This is the publisher’s version of a work that published in The Forestry Chronicle 78:2 (2002) The work is available on the publisher's website at http://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/pdf/10.5558/tfc78224-2Introduction to a theme issue of The Forestry Chronicle concerning forestry education and programs

Differences in extrinsic tree quality and value of fibre production following alternative vegetation management treatments in Northwestern Ontario

This is the publisher’s version of a work published in The Forestry Chronicle 90:1 (2014) The version on the publisher's website can be viewed at http://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/abs/10.5558/tfc2011-012We examined differences in stem quality, and volume and value of fibre produced by planted white spruce 16 years after vegetation management treatments in northwestern Ontario. Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVSOntario) was used to project the total and merchantable volume to age 70 and BUCK-2 was used to optimize the resulting product mix. Projected value was based on 2009 prices for hog fuel, pulpwood and SPF (spruce–pine–fir) eastern green lumber prices. At 16 years posttreatment, gross total volumes in herbicide-treated and mechanically cut plots were significantly higher (120%–165% and 94%–98%, respectively) than that in control plots (14.73 m3 ha-1). Based on height, diameter, and taper criteria, observed tree quality did not differ among treatments. The projected value of the fibre produced was 36% to 53% higher in herbicide- treated plots and 24% to 37% higher in mechanically cut plots than in control plots ($18 486.76 per ha)

The influence of competition and species mixture on plantation-grown white spruce: Growth and foliar nutrient response after 20 years

This is the publisher’s version of a work published in The Forestry Chronicle 90:1 (2014) The version on the publisher's website can be viewed at http://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/abs/10.5558/tfc2014-012A 20-year-old experimental white spruce plantation was used to identify key stand (neighbourhood competition) and soil (physical and chemical properties) factors influencing spruce growth (Periodic Basal Area Increment) and foliar nutrients. Total and species-specific competition was estimated using Hegyi’s distance-dependent index for 39 individual spruce trees. Twelve trees, covering the range of total HCI (2 to 8) and aspen competition (0% to >75%), were selected for repeated (May through October) foliar sampling. Spruce PBAI declined approximately 10% for each additional unit of total HCI; species did not significantly affect this decline. Increasing aspen presence significantly influenced spruce foliar N (1.17% to 1.31%), P (0.15% to 0.23%), and K (0.68% to 0.88%), but led to declines in Ca (0.81% to 0.48%). Multiple linear regression indicated that soil carbon (partial r2 = 0.386) and available soil moisture (partial r2 = 0.131) together explained more of the variation in spruce growth than did competition factors alone (partial r2 = 0.251). The results suggest that, at this stage of stand development, precommercial thinning operations should focus on density control and inter-tree spacing, while retaining an aspen component resulting in well-spaced, free-growing mixed stands of white spruce and aspen

Benefit–cost analysis of vegetation management alternatives: an Ontario case study

This is the publisher’s version of a work published in The Forestry Chronicle 87:2 (2011) The version on the publisher's website can be viewed at http://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/abs/10.5558/tfc2011-013Vegetation management practices are an integral component of forest management. In this paper, we report results of stand-level benefit–cost analyses of 12 vegetation management treatments applied at six study sites in northern Ontario. Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVSOntario) was used to project gross total and merchantable volumes to 70 years of age, and BUCK-2 was used to optimize potential products. Net present value (NPV), benefit–cost ratio (BCR), and internal rate of return (IRR) were calculated using 2009 constant dollars and variable real discount rates. Aerial herbicide treatments produced the highest NPV, BCR, and IRR. Internal rates of return of 4.32%, 2.90%, 2.82% and 2.50% for aerial herbicide, manual brush cutting, ground-applied herbicide, and brush cutting plus herbicide treatments, respectively, indicated that all of the vegetation management alternatives evaluated are economically viable

Effect of competition on individual white spruce production in young boreal mixedwood forests

Increasing the production of wood fibre from conifer species such as white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) is one of many challenges in the management of boreal mixedwood forests. The effects of various competition measures on relative growth and relative growth rate variables were calculated for individual white spruce subject trees. Correlation analysis was used to explore relationships with competitor structural features, including the ratio of competitor basal area to subject tree basal area (CBAS), the ratio of competitor height to subject tree height (AHCS), and the proportion of softwood (FSW). Regression analysis was used to explore relationships with three distance-dependent competition indices. The ratio of subject tree height to diameter at breast height (DBH) (HDR), crown ratio (CR), and crown relative increment rate (CRIR) were significantly correlated with CBAS and AHCS. HDR, CR, CRIR, and DBH relative growth rate were all statistically significantly related to the competition indices. Results indicated that (i) relative growth and relative growth rate measures successfully captured a range of competition, (ii) crowns of trees with larger diameters used their horizontal growing space more efficiently to produce stemwood, and (iii) the proportion of softwood contributing to competition did not appear to influence subject tree production efficiency. Growth efficiency variables have the potential to improve our understanding of boreal mixedwood dynamics.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Using the Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector (CBM-CFS3) to examine the impact of harvest and fire on carbon dynamics in selected forest types of the Canadian Boreal shield

This is the publisher’s version of a work published in The Forestry Chronicle 88:4 (2012) This paper is available on the publisher's website at http://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/abs/10.5558/tfc2012-079The objective of the study was to assess the responsiveness of the Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector (CBM-CFS3) to management scenarios that included three rotation lengths (50, 100 and 250 years) under harvest and fire disturbances in six forest types (poplar deep soil, black spruce deep soil, jack pine deep and shallow soils, hardwood mixedwood and other conifer lowland). Outputs from five carbon (C) pools were considered: merchantable stemwood (stump height of 30 cm, minimum DBH of 9 cm and a minimum top diameter of 7 cm), deadwood, soil C, total ecosystem C and cumulative total ecosystem C emissions. Yield curves strongly affected the predicted size of all five pools. Longer rotation lengths led to larger pools with the relative differences between rotation lengths varying with stand types. Pools associated with poplar were usually the largest while those of jack pine on shallow sites were generally the smallest. When compared to the starting point of the simulations, cumulative total ecosystem C and C emissions increased with the 100- and 250-year harvest rotations (HARV100 and HARV250, respectively) and declined with the 50-year harvest rotation (HARV50). Fire disturbances resulted in stable pools of cumulative ecosystem C and declines in C emissions. CBM-CFS3 provided realistic pool values but the authors suggest further development of the model depiction of ecosystem processes, especially with respect to the treatment of respiration. In general, the authors recommend that forest management planners consider using an integrated approach that links multiple proven and accepted models under appropriate model linking software

Cutting versus herbicides: Tenth-year volume and release cost-effectiveness of sub-boreal conifer plantations

This is the publisher’s version of a work published in The Forestry Chronicle 82:4 (2006) The version on the publisher's website can be viewed at http://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/abs/10.5558/tfc82521-4Few cost-effectiveness studies of vegetation management in conifer plantations are reported in the literature. This study provides follow-up cost-effectiveness analysis from research conducted at the Fallingsnow Ecosystem Project in northwestern Ontario, Canada with the objective of determining the relationship between release treatment costs and planted white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) stem volume ($m-3) ten years after alternative release treatments. Treatment cost estimates for 2003 were calculated by applying 1993 time-study data to estimated 2003 market costs for each treatment component. Untreated control plots had no treatment costs and were not included in the analysis. Including them will always suggest that doing nothing will be the most cost-effective, regardless how limited spruce volume is. The most cost-effective treatment was the aerial application of herbicide Vision ($12.16 m-3), followed by the aerial application of herbicide Release ($12.18 m-3), cutting with brushsaw ($38.38 m-3) and mechanical tending by Silvana Selective ($42.65 m-3). No cost differences were found between the herbicide treatments (p = 0.998) or between the cutting treatments (p = 0.559). The herbicide treatments were three-fold more cost-effective than the cutting treatments (p = 0.001). This analysis only considered the planted conifer component of these young stands. Key words: clearing saws, competition, forest vegetation management, glyphosate, Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Forest, herbicide alternatives, mixedwood, pesticide, release treatment, triclopyr, wee