No abstract

Partial cutting, including shelterwood systems, is gaining profile after a long silvicultural history of clearcutting with artificial regeneration in British Columbia. The use of silvicultural systems that employ partial cutting requires good knowledge of the principles of silviculture. In particular, fundamentals about stand dynamics (changes in stand structure over time, including the effects of disturbance) and regeneration ecology are essential knowledge when managing stands for specific objectives, for they give us the ability to manipulate stands in predictable ways. This, the second in a series of three extension notes about the shelterwood silvicultural system, reviews the fundamentals necessary for the application of silvicultural systems involving partial cutting.

The shelterwood silvicultural system is not yet widely applied in British Columbia. However, it can be used to achieve particular forest land-use objectives, grow higher-value products, and incur lower silviculture costs when natural regeneration is secured. The first in a series of three extension notes guiding practitioners in the use of this system, Part 1 presents advantages and risks of the system. As well, it examines considerations related to forest health, natural disturbance, and administration that must be addressed before implementation of the system. Research results and practitioners’ experiences suggest that although there are risks and administrative hurdles associated with partial cutting (including shelterwoods), the risks are manageable and the use of partial cutting results in significant benefits, especially on area-based tenures and private land.

The shelterwood silvicultural system can be used to achieve diverse management objectives. Harvest entries made during shelterwood system implementation require careful attention. Each entry can be considered a silvicultural treatment designed to modify the forest environment to accomplish specific regeneration and stand-tending objectives. Protecting the soil, the overstorey, and the regeneration become principal considerations when harvesting. At the same time, harvesting must promote an environment that will favour germination and growth of a new stand according to forest management objectives. This is the last in a three-part series of extension notes addressing the shelterwood silvicultural system in British Columbia.