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Abstract
The requirement to manage for key biodiversity attributes in dry forest ecosystems is mandated in the Forest Practices Code Act of British Columbia. These attributes include snags, large old trees, and large organic debris. In the Squamish Forest District dry forest restoration activities center on the use of thinning operations followed by prescribed fire to restore stand structure and species composition to conditions closer to the historic range of variability. Various strategies have been tested to retain or create key biodiversity attributes. These strategies include wrapping fire-scarred trees with fire shelter material, digging firebreaks around attributes, using “avoidance firing” ignition techniques, and setting prescription limits around fuel moisture content. Some strategies have proven to more successful than others. We present our findings on cost effectiveness and retention success for several attributes and treatment strategies plus a discussion of recommended policy changes to make expectations of retention more in line with operational realities.
Parent Publication
Citation
Gray, Robert W.; Blackwell, Bruce A. 2008. The maintenance of key biodiversity attributes through ecosystem restoration operations. In: Narog, Marcia G., tech. coord. 2008. Proceedings of the 2002 Fire Conference: Managing fire and fuels in the remaining wildlands and open spaces of the Southwestern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-189. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. p. 49-56
