Applying research for enhanced productivity on the Canadian Ecology Centre – Forestry Research Partnership forests

Abstract

The application of enhanced forest productivity (EFP) through intensive silviculture on designated forest areas is arguably one means to maintain or increase fibre supply and global market competitiveness. The Canadian Ecology CentreForestry Research Partnership's (CEC-FRP) 10/10 objective (to increase sustainable fibre production by 10% in 10 years) has focused many years of forest research largely on the practical application of EFP. Large-scale implementation of this research, through a process of adaptive management, is incumbent on first identifying forests that are available and potentially suitable to implement EFP with more intensive silviculture on portions of the landbase. This paper describes forests in northeastern Ontario that were evaluated for EFP potential, and provides some of the rationale for their selection or rejection for this purpose. To date, the Gordon Cosens, Romeo Malette, Martel, and Nipissing forests are identified as potential CEC-FRP core forests in which research can be directed towards sustainable increases in forest production. These 4 forests are located in Ontario's boreal and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence regions and have the necessary tenure, potential productivity, protection from fire, insect and disease, and are managed under a suitably enabling planning and legislative environment. In addition, forest management planning teams for these forests are closely integrated with the CEC-FRP through core teams that are critical to identifying science priorities based on local operational issues, and moving subsequent research into practice. As such, it seems timely to move forward with EFP implementation through a process of adaptive management on these forests.Key words: enhanced forest productivity (EFP), intensive forest management (IFM), intensive silviculture, forest management planning (FMP), adaptive management RÉSUMÉ L' obtention d'une productivité forestière accrue (PFA) au moyen de la sylviculture intensive sur des territoires forestiers désignés constitue sans doute l'un des moyens permettant de maintenir ou d'accroître l'approvisionnement en fibre et la compétitivité sur les marchés mondiaux. L' objectif 10/10 (accroître la production durable de fibre de 10 % en 10 ans) du Centre écologique du Canada -Partenariat pour la recherche forestière (CEC-PRF) a consacré plusieurs années de recherche forestière principalement sur l'application pratique de la PFA. L'implantation à grande échelle de ces recherches, par l' entremise d'un processus d'adaptation de l'aménagement, dépend en premier lieu de l'identification des forêts qui sont disponibles et potentiellement en mesure de suivre une PFA générée par une sylviculture intensive sur des portions du territoire. Cet article décrit les forêts du nord-est de l'Ontario qui ont été évaluées pour leur potentiel de PFA et présente quelques-uns des éléments rationnels de leur sélection ou de leur rejet en fonction de cet objectif. À ce jour, les forêts Gordon Cosens, Romeo Malette, Martel et Nipissing ont été retenues en tant q...

Longer-Term Volume Trade-offs in Spruce and Jack Pine Plantations Following Various Conifer Release Treatments

“…Silvicultural intensities have been described as extensive, basic, intensive, or elite . In northern Ontario, most plantations, including those described in this study, are managed using basic silviculture , McPherson et al 2008. Basic silvicultural treatments include clearcutting, preparing the site for planting using mechanical or herbicide treatments, planting a single conifer species at a density of 1800 to 2500 stems per ha, and treating once (typically with herbicides in the second year after planting) to control competition.…”

Effects of post-harvest silviculture on use of boreal forest stands by amphibians and marten in Ontario

“…In contrast to toads and marten, there was an apparent negative effect of post-harvest silviculture on wood frogs that lasted about 30 years, but which was absent in the older managed stands suggesting that convergence was occurring for wood frogs as the stands aged. We conclude that intensive silviculture, when viewed within a landscape mosaic of unmanaged, extensive, and intensively managed stands (see McPherson et al 2008) can contribute to maintaining forest composition and future wood supply, while supplying habitat attributes for certain wildlife species, and that these effects can change with age of the stands.…”

“…Our study area was located south of Kapuskasing, Ontario (49° 25′ N, 82° 28′ W), in Rowe's (1972) boreal northern clay forest (Region B.4), in the Gordon Cosens Forest (McPherson et al 2008). The area is characterized by minimal topography and extensive lowland flats underlain by clay soils from postglacial Lake Barlow-Ojibway.…”

Knowledge transfer and extension in the Canadian Ecology Centre – Forestry Research Partnership: From awareness to uptake

“…The operational application of science has become reality on 3 enhanced productivity demonstration areas, one on each of the CEC-FRP flagship forest management units: Gordon Cosens (Block 44), Romeo Malette (Block 18) and Nipissing (Block 108) (see McPherson et al 2008, this issue for more information). With active involvement by core teams from the beginning, these areas have become focal points for putting the latest knowledge, technology, and tools to use.…”