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Silviculture Systems
......Extracting and replacing a living resource
Teacher Background - Part 2
Silviculture System
a cycle of activities or treatments by which
a forest stand, or group of
trees, is harvested, regenerated and tended over time.
These activities include
- harvesting - removing the trees
- site preparation - preparing the harvested
areas for replanting or
regeneration
- reforestation - deciding on planting or regenerating naturally
- stand tending
- brushing, spacing, pruning, commercial thinning,
etc. - looking after the newly planted areas until they are "free
growing" (about 7-10 years)
These systems are chosen based on the following considerations:
-objectives set for the type of forest stand and the
surrounding landscape
-biological diversity of each area
-fish
-wildlife
-timber
-non-timber forest products - mushrooms, floral vegetation, etc.
-aesthetics - called Visual Quality Objectives
-recreation
-archaeology
-forest health - state of health in the area designated for logging
-range - farmers with range land for livestock
-water - community watersheds, fish bearing streams, etc.
| NOTE: Each system produces a
different stand structure - can be set to
meet a single or multiple objectives. |
Before any system is chosen, consideration is given to accommodate:
-Vegetation Forest Health
-Soils Terrain
-Climate Tree Species
-Economics Social issues
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Water Wildlife
The Planning Process
No harvesting can take place until a 3-5
year planning process is complete-
this takes into account all of the stakeholders:
-Ministry of Forests (and Range)
-Other Resource Ministries
-Department of Fisheries and Oceans
-Native Bands
-Interest Groups
-Other resource users
-Public
The Forest and Range Practices Act of British Columbia
-guides regulations, standards and Ministerial Policy to
deal with planning,
forest practices and protection
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5 TOC
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