SUMMER 2004

P re v e n ti n g & m a n ag i n g F orest F ires H ISTORY o f C a n a d i a n T ree p l a n ti n g T oo l s E cosystem A p p roach to CLIMATE CHANGE PM40026059 

c o n t e n t s

C O V E R S T O R Y

PREVENTING & MANAGING 6 FOREST FIRES IN THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE Changes in forest structure and climate have increased wildfire risk around communities. The choices before us are to take preventative action at the community and forest management level, or to continue to invest the majority of our dollars in the reactive COLUMNS processes of fire fighting.

4 Editorial FEATURES 11 Focus on Safety 14 AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH 12 Forest Health TO MANAGE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 16 Western Report by John Betts Decisions about managing for climate 17 Ontario Report by William Murphy change and forested ecosystems in the long-term should be based on a 18 Quebec Report by Fabien Simard framework of questions.

20 New Brunswick Report by Gaston Damecour

21 PEI Report by Wanson Hemphill A HISTORY OF CANADIAN 23 TREE PLANTING TOOLS 22 Nova Scotia Report by Alan O’Brien Over the past 100 years, planting tools have ranged from mattocks or hoedads to speed spades. This historical review details many of the improvements that Publisher Joyce Hayne Sales Manager Marie Richards have been made to planting tools over Editor Dirk Brinkman many decades. Contributing Writers John Betts / Bruce Blackwell Dirk Brinkman / Gaston Damecour / Joachim Graber Paul Gray / Wanson Hemphill / Janice Hodge William Murphy / Chris Norman / Alan O’Brien Pierre Roy / Fabien Simard INTENSIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT DECISION- 28 MAKING IN ECOSYSTEM BASED Canadian Silviculture is published four times a year by EMC Executive Marketing Consultants Inc., 6058 187A Street, Surrey, BC V3S 7R6. MANAGEMENT Phone 604-574-4577 Fax 604-574-2196 Email [email protected] Combining integrated landscape Copyright Canadian Silviculture Association management planning and analytic Subscription rates: 4 issues per year - $30.00 & GST PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40026059 systems will build on the skills, RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO experience and common sense of those CIRCULATION DEPT EMC PUBLICATIONS 6058 187A ST who are familiar with historic planning SURREY BC V3S 7R6 and implementation. email: [email protected] e d i t o r i a l

by Dirk Brinkman

Reforest what you reap

The BC Ministry of Forests (BCMOF) adding to its Not Sufficiently Restocked Clearly the biggest challenge is going to recently adopted a new performance area (NSR). This simple indicator tells be for the BCMOF to develop a strategy reporting measure in their Service Plan the public whether or not the growing to address reforestation on areas lost as a part of ensuring that the use of the capital in the working forest ecosystem to fire and pests. To keep pace with forests to generate economic benefits is being replaced wherever it has been the rolling average of the area lost to is balanced with the long-term health of removed. If BC is not replacing its capital fire would have taken reforesting an the forest and range resources. depletions, the sustainable harvest will additional 20,471 hectares, using the This is called an indicator of Sustainable decline. 2003/04 average. The exceptionally Timber Productivity which is measured How does this formula drive action? severe 2003 fire season, which burned by the Ratio of area reforested to area The area reforested includes planting 255,000 hectares, might double that harvested, or areas of unsalvageable and natural regeneration and is net average. There is no number yet for fire and pest losses, calculated on of reforestation failures. Harvesting is the rolling average for areas that are a 5-year rolling average. A what? A by any method and includes for any not being salvaged lost to pests and ratio of reforestation to deforestation purpose. Losses to fire and pest are only disease. calculated based on the past five years. the unsalvageable as the salvageable The magnitude of these two combined Averaging over five years gets rid of will be reforested under law. obligations will require the government peaks and spreads response programs The ratio of area harvested to area to establish a special account, much reasonably. reforested by the timber industry, as larger than the whelp of FRBC or FIA. It is one of the indicators that the province reported by the Forest Practices Board The WSCA has proposed BC develop is keeping up with its commitment to province wide audit in 2002, is a great a catastrophic carbon account with the National Forest Strategy 2003- success being in balance or a perfect the federal government, and use 2008, also signed this year. Under the 1. The BCMOF did not report on the the measurable mitigation of carbon commitment to theme one - Ecosystem harvest by oil and gas industry for the emissions through reforestation, Based Management - the NFS includes temporary use of seismic lines and salvage and conversion to fund a the following action item: well sites. This industrial use without special program for both extreme fire 1.5 Reforest areas that are cut for reforestation needs to be redressed and pest events. Work on that front is temporary uses and use afforestation, to restore sustainability in the harvest/ now urgent. where feasible, to mitigate the reforestation balance. When governments introduce self- permanent loss of forest. The ratio being greater than 1, from monitoring accountability measures, The BCMOF reports that in 2000 the 1993 to 1999, reflected a focus on we should applaud. BC’s commitment ratio was 1.2. In other words, over the backlog reforestation in the NSR. The is implicit in proposing a simple past five years, on average, 20% more cost-sharing programs with the Federal indicator. The ratio of area reforested area was being reforested than was Government under Forest Resource to area deforested is simple. Simple being deforested. However, in 2001, it Development Agreements and with criteria have the potential to provide dropped by 27% to 0.93 by losing a peak (a reluctant) industry through Forest clear direction which the public can get year like 1996, and adding a problem Renewal BC has been replaced by a behind. Public support will be needed year like 2001. In 2002, it fell further to Forest Investment Account (FIA). to enable all stakeholders to overcome 0.82. Despite the reporting deadlines, However, insufficient or uncertain the obstacles to sustaining the forest data is not in for 2003. With 255,000 year-to-year funding has resulted in ecosystem capital. hectares burned and many more lost to industry focusing on other priorities. To engage the public requires the pine bark beetles, in 2003, this indicator Reforestation and tending of backlog silviculture industry to understand and is going to be difficult to report without a and current fire and pest areas are at engage with this ratio and communicate clearly committed plan. their lowest levels in 20 years. These the challenges of reversing BC’s slide But that is what is good about an statistics do not include areas denuded into eroding its working forest capital. indicator. Every year BC is below 1, it is by the summer of 2003 fires. The forest is counting on you.

 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004  Preventing & Managing Wildfires in the Wildland Urban Interface by Chris Norman

 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 In 2003, BC suffered the worst fire tools such as the FireSmart program by John Gledhill of the Tasmania Fire season on record for decades with developed by Partners in Protection, Service. Citing the fact that most deaths over 30,000 evacuated and the loss of an Alberta based coalition of agencies. and injuries related to wildfire are businesses, hundreds of homes, and Rick Arthur, President of Partners in caused during the evacuation process firefighters’ lives. As a result, the province Protection, reports that the program has rather than from the fire, Tasmania and mandated the Honourable Gary Filmon, now been adopted by many communities some other provinces in Australia have former premier of Manitoba, to review across Canada providing clear guidelines adopted a program called “Prepare, BC’s 2003 experience. His ‘Firestorm and practical tools to create wildfire safe Stay and Survive” where homeowners 2003’ report emphasized that efforts be communities. are encouraged to create a defensible directed to improved preparedness, fuel A controversial concept is being promoted space around their residences to reduce management, emergency management, training and education. The report sites several factors that have lead to increased risk and severity of fire: changes in the forest structure and density due to decades of fire suppression, more homes in forest areas, and a trend towards warmer and dryer summers due to climate change. Provincial firefighters, municipalities and homeowners now need to account for these heightened wildfire risks in their preparations. Municipalities must ensure that their structural firefighters are trained and equipped appropriately to deal with fires in the wildland urban interface (WUI) as well as the traditional structural fires. It is also important that firefighters are equipped with appropriate trucks to venture onto the wildland. 4x4 trucks with a high clearance or skidders with a tank would be good vehicles to tackle wildfires. Clothing must also be geared towards protecting people from the intensity of wildfire while keeping them comfortable as they spend long days battling fires. Communities and homeowners should make use of WUI planning and education Spot ignition

 has reduced fatalities and home losses in Australia. Prescribed fire, once a regular occurrence in BC, and an economical treatment for fuels reduction, lost favour in the 90’s due to the negative social impacts of the smoke. The FireStorm 2003 report recommends a return to the increased use of prescribed burns and this has been echoed by the BC Minister of Forests. Mark Finney, with the USDA Forest Service, describes that prescribed burns in the US act as a fire break causing a crown fire to return to the ground, where it is less intense and firefighters have a chance to suppress the fire. In overly dense forests, prescribed burns often require commercial thinning and removal of most of the thinned wood prior to burning, unless a complete burn of the forest is desired. Otherwise there is a significant risk the burn will be too hot and will damage the remaining trees. The thinning generates merchantable timber, and often a lot of non-merchantable ground fuels, to stay at home during a wildfire incident, and to timber. It is questionable whether large scale prescribed be active in protecting their properties. Airborne embers are burning will ever be acceptable or possible and transporting a big source of ignition, and by staying home, homeowners large volumes of non-merchantable timber off-site is the are able to extinguish embers and small hot spots and go into only opportunity for fuels reduction. Therefore, re-thinking is their homes to protect themselves from the radiant heat as the required to determine what to do with the non-merchantable fire gets closer. Gledhill suggests that most homes don’t ignite material, whether it means creating innovative uses such as during the “burn-over”, but often burn due to eventual ember new round-wood building systems, on-site chipping for pulp, or build-up, and the home is a safe location during the intense part generating energy; all of which require significant infrastructure of the fire, if the appropriate prevention measures have been development, involve economic challenges, and will take time taken. The key here is preparation, both for the land around to implement on a significant scale. the building and the building material itself. As an example, it is Greg Anderson with the BC Ministry of Forests in Cranbrook illegal to have easily ignitable roofing materials. Also, given the has conducted cost comparisons of various fuel management importance of information, Australia utilizes a web site for both strategies in the Rocky Mountain Trench. Costs ranged from the public and the media for up-to-date details on the size and large scale prescribed burning at $29/ha up to $500/ha for direction of the fire. The “Prepare, Stay and Survive” strategy spacing and loading into sloops, which leaves no residual.

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 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 Recently thinned and burned stand

Anderson suggests reducing density to less than 75 stems/ha in the open range and to approximately 150 stems/ha in the open forest. Experiences in Alberta’s pilot program generated far higher costs, from $800 per hectare to over $3000 per hectare.

Fuel reduction treatments

Select harvesting and prescribed burning have even received the endorsement of various environmental groups, including being used in parks. Jasper National Park has been undergoing fuel management for 10 years, balancing the needs for ecosystems, habitat and wildlife. Al Westhaver at Parks Canada explained that they engage a combination of contractors, First Nations, and community volunteers to do the work, thereby gaining public acceptance for the treatment. Although we can try to prevent fires, they will still occur and

 timely information helps firefighters decide on resource allocation, deployment and release

need to be supressed. Tools for fire where there isn’t a large water supply. they will continue to threaten forests suppression range from dozers on The tank system is designed for use and neighbouring communities. Given the ground to flying tankers in the air. with water, class “A” foams or long- our intervention in the structure of the Dozers equipped with waters tanks, term retardant. forest, and changes in climate, we now foam injectors and pumps can construct Fire mapping systems give firefighters have the responsibility of managing the firelines, hold those completed lines and critical information to predict fire fires that will result. The choices before mop up. patterns. Radiometric mapping us are to take preventative action at Waterbombers can scoop up water from plots heat intensities as well as fire the community and forest management oceans or lakes in 25 seconds, at a rate perimeters. Thermal imaging can detect level, or to continue to invest the in excess of a ton per second. Foam and classify hotspots by location, size majority of our dollars in the reactive concentrate is injected into the water and shape. Spacial analysis can show processes of fire fighting infrastructure load and it remains inert until the load the leading edge of a fire and determine and personnel. is dropped. The action of dropping the the direction of spread. This timely water converts the water into foam. information helps firefighters decide on Information in this article was collected at the 2004 Helicopters provide an alternative to resource allocation, deployment and Wildfire conference hosted by the Western Silvicultural flying tankers. Tanks can be filled in release. Contractors Association. Thanks to Bruce Blackwell 40 seconds using a snorkel suspended Wildfires play a necessary role in at B.A. Blackwell & Associates for contributing to this below the helicopter. Water sources the forests. Although we can try to article. Photos in this article supplied by Bob Gray of can be as shallow as 45 cm. so they prevent the severity of fires, they are RW Gray Consulting Ltd. present a good option to use in areas inevitable, and with hot, dry summers

10 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 f o c u s o n s a f e t y

by Joachim Graber “Tree planters are not property,” says federal penitentiary. But Trevor was only June 21, 2002, but was not actually Colin James, “and companies have an one of the ducks in a line that day.” reported missing until July 2, after failing obligation to make sure their workers are It’s a given that good leadership is to show up for work six days earlier. returned safely to their families when the crucial to an effective workplace. That’s It’s not all bad news for safety in the season ends.” magnified in a camp environment; silviculture sector. The Forest Industry In an impassioned speech to the workers are together 24 hours a day Safety Association (FISA), which has a Western Silviculture Contractors’ and the lines between the workplace working agreement with the WSCA, is Association (WSCA) in February, and the home are blurred. The camps delivering courses specifically targeted the self-described family man said are effectively small, mobile villages to silviculture workers and supervisors. contractors need to change the culture with many of the leadership needs of Betts says, “Overall the industry is in the sector, especially as it relates to a village. doing a pretty good job on the safety the safety of its young employees. His The makeup of that ‘village’ adds another front, and it’s only a few contractors daughter, 20-year-old Julia James, died dimension to the need for leadership. having problems.” The major injuries in May 2003 in an automobile accident Although some camps, with a longer and deaths are happening away from near their planting camp. A first-year planting season, have veteran planters the actual tree planting work. The latest tree planter, Julia was in the back of a who return year after year, the majority of incident saw seven tree planters near Ford Excursion that plunged into a lake tree planters tend to be young, relatively Jasper, Alberta, hospitalized after the near Quesnel. Although the driver and inexperienced, and have not lived on bus they were riding in went into the another passenger escaped the truck, their own for many years. ditch and rolled. The 20-year-old driver is Julia was trapped in the truck and Of the approximately 6,000 tree planters also being charged. Due to the number drowned. A fellow tree planter, 21-year- working in BC’s bush this year, roughly of transportation and vehicle related old Trevor Wishart of Oliver, eventually 1,200 to 1,500 are veterans in the 30 accidents, FISA is developing an ATV pleaded guilty to impaired driving to 45 age range, estimates WSCA operating course and an off-highway causing death and was sentenced to Executive Director John Betts. Betts driving course. four years in prison. agrees that leadership is a key issue Betts echoes Colin James’ sentiments But Colin James argues that it’s overly to ensuring safety of workers, “These about the treatment of young workers simplistic to think that it was only the kids need a little bit of mentorship and and sending them home safe to their action of one man that caused the death support because they are often uncertain families, “We don’t own or rent our of his daughter. “There are those that of themselves.” employees, we borrow them from their might think that Julia died because one Betts explains that support may simply families.” person made a huge mistake, made a mean encouraging planters to keep in terrible and impaired choice,” Colin told regular contact with their families. In Joachim Graber is Manager of Training & Development the WSCA convention. “Trevor Wishart 2002, Alberta native Nicole Hoar went at FISA - Forest Industry Safety Association in Prince did all of that and now he languishes, missing after leaving a planters’ camp George, BC. He can be contacted at 250-562-3215 or potentially for the next four years, in a near Prince George. She was last seen [email protected] or visit www.forestsafe.ca

11 f o r e s t h e a lt h

DISTURBANCES CONTRIBUTING TO WILDFIRE by Janice Hodge Interior forested ecosystems of British stand replacement fires, with ample fuel level diversity and were more frequent Columbia support a number of forest likely provided by an IBM outbreak; often and intense in island remnants following health factors (FHF), both biotic and referred to as the fire-beetle-fire-beetle fires. abiotic. These disturbance factors cycle. A number of other FHF, including stem and are integral components of forested Lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe, larch needle diseases, stem decay, and abiotic ecosystems that contribute to both stand dwarf mistletoe, and Douglas-fir dwarf factors such as drought or windthrow and landscape level diversity. From a mistletoe provide structural diversity and contribute to ecosystem diversity. timber resource viewpoint, however, habitat for a variety of fauna. As a result Atypical events such as defoliation of they also have the ability to significantly of fire exclusion, dwarf mistletoes have Douglas fir by western hemlock looper impact social and economic expectations. responded by increasing in both intensity has occurred in dry IDF (near Kamloops Although their fundamental roles remain (on individual trees) and incidence across and Vernon) in the last several years. unaltered since historic times, the the landscape. Brooms can either act This defoliator is generally found in wetter frequency, extent, or synchronicity as ladder fuels or ground fuels (if broken cedar/hemlock stands. This phenomenon of outbreaks may have changed. As from stem) and increase fire-crowning has not been previously observed in disturbance agents, they promote potential. these ecosystems, and may be due in changes in species composition and structure, patch size distribution, snags, coarse woody debris, shrubs and forage. Their spatial and temporal scales, and the severity of the disturbances, influences succession as well as potential fire behaviour. A combination of fire exclusion policies and selective harvesting practices have modified stand and landscape level susceptibility to a variety of FHF and thereby altered ecosystem resiliency. Bark beetles include mountain pine beetle (IBM), Douglas-fir beetle, spruce beetle and western balsam bark beetle. Incipient stages of IBM create gaps as Western spruce budworm and Douglas fir part to climate change. a result of the mortality of scattered tussock moth are the primary defoliators The extent to which climate change patches of one to three attacked trees, of dry Interior Douglas fir (IDF) forests. will modify landscape level processes, whereas the outbreak stage is visible at Uneven aged, multi-layered stands of including the incidence, frequency and a landscape level. Douglas-fir beetle Douglas fir are highly susceptible and will impact of FHF will undoubtedly present is more discrete than IBM and is often incur the greatest impacts. Fire exclusion challenges to forest managers. In the found in association with windthrow, root has promoted shade tolerant species future, management strategies should diseases, defoliation and/or drought. and likely reduced the distribution and focus on increasing resiliency of forested Spruce beetle tends to be localized i.e. incidence of fire-adapted seral species ecosystems while recognizing the role of drainage, due to the distribution of the in these previously fire-maintained FHF in ecosystem diversity. Furthermore, susceptible host and topography, and ecosystems. However, defoliator with heightened fuel awareness, is also often found in association with outbreaks may benefit some stands managers will need to incorporate the windthrow. Western balsam bark beetle through a nutrient influx and reduction susceptibility and impacts of FHF into is ubiquitous throughout the range of in stem density. Root diseases such landscape level fuel management and/ sub-alpine fir, and therefore functions at as armillaria and laminated root disease or fuel models. both a patch and landscape level. Dead, have flourished in these replacement standing, attacked trees or downed trees forests, particularly those that have Janice Hodge is with JCH Forest Pest Management and provide fuel for fires. Lodgepole pine been selectively harvested. Historically can be reached at 250-547-6452. dominated ecosystems are a result of root diseases likely contributed to patch 12 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 13 Using an Ecosystem Approach to Manage for Climate Change by Paul Gray

plan for action. During the last 20 years, the popular and scientific literature has exploded with ideas, guidelines, and recommendations and an ‘ecosystem approach to management’ is often cited forest. It is possible that a as a delivery technique for sustainable significant part of the boreal management. forest will be displaced by An ‘ecosystem approach to management’ tree species from the south is based on the idea that appropriate or will be converted to values, combined with the required grassland. knowledge and tools, can protect and 3) Animal species maintain ecosystems, and provide a d i s t r i b u t i o n s range of benefits to society now and in w i l l c h a n g e . the future. Asking the right questions F o r e x a m p l e , helps organizations design the most the White-tailed suitable approach - questions about the Deer, Virginia spatial and temporal context in which Opossum and to make decisions and questions that Southern Flying enable organizations to apply a suite S q u i r r e l n o w of tools and techniques to keep the survive hundreds landscapes, the waterscapes, and the Agriculture, urbanization, industrialization, of kilometres north of their once traditional airscapes working. While organizations and roads contribute to the destruction, range. and the ecosystems for which they are degradation (e.g., fragmentation), and • Some forested ecosystems will responsible are different, questions modification of forested ecosystems experience enhanced growth and can be organized according to these around the world. For example, productivity while others will decline. interrelated themes: global warming is increasing at an • Heavy rainfall in some areas may unprecedented rate. In Canada, mean increase the risk of soil erosion in Context: annual temperatures have increased by managed forests. Space - Have we mapped and described 0.5°C in the last hundred years and could • Regenerating forests may suffer from the large, medium, and small ecosystems, increase another 2-5°C in the next 50-75 the increase in drought conditions in and do we use this ecosystem framework years. Some implications of an altered some ecosystems. to plan and manage human activities? climate to Canada’s forested ecosystems • Grasses and other competing species Time - Have we made the long- include: will benefit from elevated concentrations term commitment needed to care for • Fire and drought may become more of carbon dioxide, making it harder to ecosystems in the context of climate frequent and severe in some types of establish new forests. change and other impacts? forest. How can Canadians respond, particularly • Biodiversity will change: in view of the fact that change is inevitable? Enablers: 1) Insect and/or disease outbreak First, a commitment to care for Earth’s Philosophy and Values - Does our patterns will often be more severe. natural assets is a critical element of any organizational philosophy allow us to 2) Plant species will autonomously change successful initiative. But implementation care for all key forest ecosystem values, their distribution resulting in new types of needs an integrated, unified, and practical including maintenance and enhancement

14 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 of biodiversity, air quality, water quantity and quality, soil quality, recreation, timber, and carbon? Corporate Structure and Function- Does our corporate structure and its functions provide a progressive and positive culture to implement an ecosystem approach? Does it eliminate the sector-oriented silo approach that impedes integrated management? Does it promote an adaptive approach to management? Partnership - Are we involved with all the necessary partners, and do we have the tools to keep partnerships We offer a custom tailored engaged and progressive? and highly competitive Tools and Techniques: insurance package Science (Data and Information Management) - Do we support and/or have access to scientifically sound data and underwritten by information to allow proactive decision-making? Education - Are we disseminating essential knowledge among our staff, partners, clients, and the public in support of decision-making and life-long learning opportunities? Strategic Approach (Plan) - Do we have a vision and/or mission statement that describes the condition or state (of the ecosystem) to which we aspire? In other words, have we described the path we want to take? Policy - Do we make a commitment to caring for forests with legislation, policies, regulations, and plans that address Comprehensive Mobile Machinery climate change in the context of an ecosystem approach to General Liability & Tools management? On-site Actions - Are we protecting, restoring, and/or using Forest Fire Property forests in ways that keep the landscapes, waterscapes, and Fighting Expenses (building, airscapes working? contents, etc.) While change in forested ecosystems is inevitable, the extent Employee Benefits and significance of this change during the next few centuries Including Dental can be positively influenced by people. For example, if countries participate in a sustained effort to reduce the use of fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions will decline. Instead, if countries opt for economies based on increasing fossil fuel consumption, the additional greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will trap more heat energy causing increased variability in temperature, precipitation (rain, snow, and ice), Insurance and wind patterns. The frequency and size of extreme events Brokers for such as heavy rains, ice storms, tornadoes, and wildfire will the Western also increase, and result in significant ecological, economic, Silvicultural social, and cultural impacts in forested ecosystems. Contractors’ Canadians must prepare for and adapt to a rapidly changing ecosphere (Earth’s largest ecosystem). With about 45% Association of its land treed, Canada is responsible for the care and management of 10% of Earth’s forests and 20% of Earth’s freshwater, a significant portion of which exists in forested ecosystems. But getting the questions right in the first place is a critical milestone, if organizations and individuals hope Over 50 offices in BC to serve you to contribute to global-local decisions about managing for climate change and forested ecosystems in the long-term. And an ecosystem approach to management can be used as a framework with which to ask the questions, define the issues, and address the risks that need to be managed in Contact: a new world climate. Ken Robertson Lynn Letain Ian Robertson North Central Cariboo Fraser Valley Paul Gray is Coordinator of the Climate Change Program for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Peterborough, Ontario. The views expressed here are solely 250-564-2211 250-392-6565 604-792-4116 his own, and do not represent the policies of the Ministry of Natural Resources. 15 S ilvicultural C o n t r a c t o r s’ A ss o c i at i o n

by John Betts, Executive Director

in BC. But the principle imperative in In BC, there are similar concerns with Gledhill’s proposal is not the staying and the province’s investments in forestry defending so much as the preparing. at their lowest levels in years. Funding And in some respects, that was a central is now through the Forest Investment theme of the conference. How can we Account (FIA) an annually renewed prepare the interface and the landscape fund that replaced Forest Renewal BC. so that both human and wild habitat can Last year’s fires added considerable live with fire? The proceedings of the hectares to the burned over inventories conference will be made available later in the province, and the FIA has scant this year on the conference website at resources to allocate to this land. www.wildfireconference04.com Adding to the problem, each year Wildfire is much on the minds of forestry that reforestation doesn’t take place, and nursery contractors in BC and the sites become more expensive to Alberta, as both provinces deal with restore, thereby increasing the costs and restoring the backlog of fire damaged further reducing the province’s capacity plantations and lands. In Alberta, to remedy the problem. between 1993 and 2002, almost two Occupational health and safety in the million hectares have burned; an area BC forest sector has begun to move on three times the size of Prince Edward the recommendations of a task force More than 200 participants attended the Island. Much of this area has not been report released earlier this year. A BC BC 2004 Wildfire Conference hosted restored and the Alberta Forest Nursery Safety Council will be established, by the WSCA, in Whistler, in May. The Association (AFNA) estimates that this comprised of industry associations audience comprised of a cross-section represents a $2.5 billion loss to the from around the province including the of stakeholders, ranging from foresters province’s economy. The AFNA, along WSCA. The council’s main mandate will to fire chiefs, who listened to what with other industry groups in Alberta, be to implement the Forest Safety Task many described as one of the most is lobbying the provincial government Force’s 20 recommendations designed comprehensive sessions on wildfire to address at least 20 per cent of the to reduce fatalities and severe injuries in ever heard in the province. Some of the burned land through reforestation; an the province’s forests. Some of the key proceedings spread into the provincial effort that they estimate would involve recommendations include certification media, with Tasmanian fire chief John 350 million seedlings. Spread over a of certain forest occupations, pre- Gledhill advocating his “Prepare, Stay ten-year period, it would require $35 qualification in order to bid on forestry and Defend” program which relies on million annually in funding, some of contracts and rate incentives for threatened homeowners not evacuating, which foresters were hoping to see in companies with good safety records. but remaining and protecting their own the provincial budget announced earlier These conditions will likely affect how residences. This is a controversial this spring. But the sum never appeared silvicultural work is carried on in the suggestion given last year’s events and the lobbying continues. province.

16 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 F o r e s t R e n e wa l C o - o p e r at i v e I n c .

by William F. Murphy, RPF General Manager

tickets and 133 dinner guests. Mr. Joe guiding principles are to support and Commuzi, Minister of State for the encourage private enterprise and at Federal Government was on hand as the the same time establish a positive guest speaker. He talked about working working relationship with all levels of as partners and how partnerships can government. We want to address the benefit the forest industry as they did problems, issues and concerns that are with the Software Lumber dispute. affecting the businesses working in the Ontario is reeling from the effects of forest sector. the softwood lumber dispute, higher We are starting this out in Northwestern dollar value and wood supply and it is Ontario but it is intended to diverge into affecting all forestry businesses. There all of Ontario within the next little while. is a need for a combined voice to provide This is an opportunity for everyone the necessary formation of partnerships to get involved. We are looking for and progressive thinking to keep our memberships. The Working Forest industry vibrant. is offering a $10.00 subscription to its There is a new organization in The Ontario Forest Business newspaper with each new membership. Northwestern Ontario that is for Association has a mission to promote Our membership price for an individual the benefit of the smaller forestry the development, growth and is $20.00 + $10.00 for the working forest contractor, forestry companies, and communication among businesses subscription for a total of $30.00 for the affiliated suppliers. The name is working in partnership with government first year. “Ontario Forest Business Association” towards the viability of Ontario’s forest For more information on membership (OFBA). The newly formed group held businesses. What we are looking and the direction of the OFBA, contact its first membership dinner meeting in for is a successful and vibrant forest Brian Kurikka at Confederation College June and was supported with 250 sold business community in Ontario. Our Forestry Centre at 807-475-6643.

17 ASSOCIATION DES ENTREPRENEURS DE TRAVAUX SYLVICOLES DU QUEBEC

par Fabien Simard, ing. f. Directeur général

Les travaux de la Commission d’étude sur la gestion de la forêt publique québécoise.

et du niveau de l’intensification de cette problématique se retrouve dans l’aménagement. Prenons un exemple l’implantation d’une nouvelle technique concret. Présentement, la localisation d’éclaircie précommerciale effectuée de la limite nordique est le fruit d’une à l’aide de machineries spécialisées décision du gouvernement du Québec qui permettant la semi-mécanisation de ce se base sur une étude contestée par le type d’activité. Selon les intervenants, milieu forestier. Or, une décentralisation l’arrivée de cette nouvelle technique a des décisions permettrait aux régions l’avantage d’améliorer considérablement côtoyant la limite nordique une les conditions de travail des ouvriers relocalisation de cette limite nordique, par sylvicoles ce qui aura pour effet de rendre un appui sur des études scientifiques, en ce métier beaucoup plus attirant pour les Le gouvernement du Québec a mis sur fonction de la limite naturelle continue. travailleurs et la relève. pied en octobre 2003 la Commission Pour le moment, d’après les rencontres L’autre mémoire déposé par l’AETSQ, d’étude sur la gestion de la forêt tenues entre les représentants de la en collaboration avec Nord-Forêt cette publique québécoise. Cette commission Commission et ceux de l’industrie, il fois, s’intéresse plutôt à « l’accréditation scientifique, technique, publique semble se dégager un large consensus des compétences des entreprises et indépendante s’est vu confier le autour de l’assouplissement des sylvicoles ». L’essentiel du message mandat général de dresser l’état de la instructions relatives qui aura pour effet, livré par ce mémoire est basé sur situation en ce qui concerne la gestion à court, moyen et long terme, d’améliorer l’urgence de doter l’industrie sylvicole des forêts publiques du Québec. À et de faciliter les conditions de travail des d’un code d’accréditation permettant la fin de son mandat en décembre ouvriers sans pour autant mettre en péril aux entreprises d’évoluer à l’intérieur 2004, la Commission émettra ses le patrimoine et le rendement forestier de normes préétablies qui sont gages recommandations au gouvernement du Québec. de la qualité du travail de l’entreprise et du Québec quant à l’amélioration et à Le Conseil de l’industrie forestière du qui permettent d’éviter à des entreprises la bonification du régime forestier en Québec a proposé de mettre en place moins sérieuses de venir briser l’équilibre matière de développement durable. un chef forestier indépendant, relevant établi dans le marché. La Commission a terminé en juin sa de l’Assemblée nationale, qui serait De plus, lors des consultations nationales, tournée de consultations régionales et en charge du calcul des possibilités l’AETSQ déposera un mémoire sur une les prochains mois seront consacrés à forestières du Québec. L’idée de analyse structurelle de l’industrie sylvicole l’analyse des propositions recueillies. la création du chef forestier neutre, du Québec et proposera des solutions Des constats généraux ressortent transparent et apolitique a eu une oreille afin d’en faire une industrie structurée toutefois déjà des consultations attentive et a plu notamment à l’Ordre dans laquelle la population québécoise réalisées. Tout d’abord, il est clair et des ingénieurs forestiers. aura confiance et qui sera prête à net que l’ensemble des intervenants Pour sa part, l’AETSQ et ses membres relever les défis reliés à l’intensification et utilisateurs de la forêt québécoise ont également contribué aux travaux de l’aménagement des forêts. Enfin, souhaitent une décentralisation vers par le dépôt de trois mémoires devant l’AETSQ présentera à la Commission les régions ou une régionalisation de la Commission. Deux de ces mémoires les résultats des projets de recherche la gestion des forêts. Entre autres, ils portent sur les nouvelles technologies sur la rentabilité économique et financière veulent être plus impliqués dans tous de mécanisation dans l’éclaircie d’un traitement sylvicole ainsi qu’une les niveaux décisionnels qui concernent précommerciale. Ils ont été réalisés étude sur la rentabilité économique et directement l’industrie forestière dans conjointement par l’Association, financière d’une stratégie sylvicole. Ces leur région. Leur volonté de s’assurer que le Groupe Nokamic et E-Forêt. Ils projets vous étaient d’ailleurs décrits le développement des forêts respecte dressent le portrait du problème de dans le numéro précédent de Canadian les problématiques régionales est bien diminution importante de la main Silviculture. présente. Ainsi, ils souhaitent rapprocher d’œuvre en regard de l’augmentation Pour obtenir plus d’information sur le citoyen du processus décisionnel. Les constante du nombre de travaux à la Commission ou pour consulter les régions demandent de devenir les vrais exécuter de même que de la difficulté à mémoires déposés, consultez le site gestionnaires de leur forêt en décidant intéresser la relève à ce corps d’emploi Internet suivant : www.commission- notamment de la stratégie sylvicole difficile et exigeant. Une des solutions à foret.qc.ca. 18 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 translation

by Fabien Simard, RPF, Executive Director

Proceedings of the Commission on the Management of Public Forests in Quebec

intensity. As a concrete example, at solutions to these problems consists of the present moment determination of the implementation of a new technique the northern limit of forestry activity of pre-commercial thinning carried out results from a decision made by the with the help of specialized machinery government of Quebec that is based that partially mechanizes this type of on a study which is not accepted by activity. According to the participants, the forestry community. Decentralizing the emergence of this new technique such decisions would allow regions on has the advantage of considerably The government of Quebec established the northern limit to relocate this limit by improving the working conditions of in October 2003 a Commission to Study making use of scientific studies in terms forestry workers, which will ultimately the Management of Public Forests in of the continuity of the natural limit. make this activity more attractive to Quebec. This scientific and technical For the present, in the light of the both workers and new recruits. commission, described as public and meetings held between the Commission’s The other brief submitted by the independent, was entrusted with a representatives and those of industry, it AETSQ, in collaboration this time with general mandate to report on the seems there is substantial agreement Nord-Forêt, is concerned instead with situation affecting management of the on the desirability of easing the “accreditation of the competency of public forests of Quebec. When its term pertinent regulations, which will, in the silvicultural contractors”. The gist of the ends in December 2004, the Commission short, medium and long term, improve message delivered by this brief derives will convey its recommendations to the and facilitate working conditions in the from the urgency of giving the forestry government of Quebec with respect forest without necessarily threatening industry an accreditation code that will to the improvement and progress Quebec’s traditional forestry heritage allow companies to develop within pre- of forestry activity as it relates to and yield. established parameters that guarantee sustainable development. The Forest Industry Council of Quebec the quality of the company’s work and The Commission concluded its circuit of has suggested the appointment of that prevent frivolous enterprises from regional hearings in June and the next an independent forestry director interfering with an orderly market. few months will be devoted to analyzing responsible to the National Assembly, Furthermore, when national the proposals collected. Some general who would have responsibility for future consultations are held, the AETSQ will observations are nevertheless already forestry predictions in Quebec. The idea submit a brief proposing a structural emerging from the consultations held. of creating a neutral, transparent and analysis of the silvicultural industry in In the first place, it is clear beyond apolitical forestry director was well Quebec and will offer solutions designed dispute that the majority of stakeholders received and was particularly attractive to make it a well-ordered industry, in and users of the Quebec forest desire to the Order of Professional Foresters. which the Quebec population will have a decentralization in favour of the For its part, the AETSQ (Association confidence, and which will be prepared regions, or a regionalization of public des entrepreneurs de travaux sylvicoles to take up the challenges implied by forest management. Among other du Québec) and its members have more intensive forestry management. things, they want to be more involved made a similar contribution to the Finally, the AETSQ will present to the in all levels of decision-making where inquiry by submitting three briefs to Commission the results of its research the forest industry in their region is the Commission. Two of these deal projects on the economic and financial directly implicated. Their wish to be with new mechanical techniques for profitability of silvicultural treatment, and assured that forestry development is precommercial thinning; they were a study of the economic and financial taking regional concerns into account drawn up jointly by the Association, outcome of a silvicultural strategy. is obvious. Thus they want to bring the the Nokamic Group and E-Forêt. They These projects were described for average citizen closer to the decision- lay out the problem of a substantially our readers in the previous issue of making process. The regions are declining labour force in the face Canadian Silviculture. asking to become the real managers of constantly increasing work to To obtain more information about the of their forests, with power to decide, be done, as well as the difficulty of Commission or to consult the briefs for example, on silvicultural strategies interesting new recruits in this hard and submitted, go to the Internet site and on the level of management demanding employment. One of the www.commission-foret.qc.ca

19 A g f o r R e p o r t a g f o r r e p o r t

by Gaston Damecour

The 2004 silviculture season is underway. The 2003 season saw some catching- the Forest Utilization and Silviculture It was a very cool spring so it’s hard to up over 2002 as nurseries adjusted (Section), has seen a 32% increase in believe that summer is here. production to meet the new Crown reforestation from 2001 to 2003 and a The 2003-04 Crown Land Silviculture reforestation levels at around 23 16% decrease in PCT activity. Part is Statistics just arrived. The notables are Million seedlings. Nexfor Fraser’s driven by one of the Marketing Boards planting up 77% over 2000, and PCT Crown silviculture program for 2004 is acquiring the former DNR tree nursery (pre-commercial thinning) up 11% over proceeding according to plan. at Madran. 2000. PCT’s window of opportunity The increase in planting should normally We are expecting the Select Committee to mitigate the low point in the wood be accompanied by a decrease in PCT. of the New Brunswick Legislative supply in many parts of the province is The recent $5.5M increase in provincial Assembly on Wood Supply’s report beginning to close; this is reflected in the silviculture funding on Crown lands has shortly. It was prompted by Jaakko 2002 management plans, resulting in a resulted in the sudden 11% increase Pöyry’s New Brunswick Crown Forests: renewed emphasis on reforestation. The in PCT (because of the shortage of Assessment of Stewardship and interest in reforestation is in part driven by seedlings) as opposed to a projected Management. The Committee’s report the decades of superior seed selection, slight decrease. is expected to fuel another round of now into the second generation seed The appearance of mechanical PCT discussions following a similar series trees which offer improved yield and units allows high stems per hectare of reports from the Atlantic Provinces quality, and in part by improved species areas to be treated. The mechanical Economic Council (APEC), the Crown composition on planted sites. component clears (mows) 2m corridors, Land’s Network, the New Brunswick The increased interest in reforestation leaving 5m strips to be thinned by Department of Natural Resources staff was followed by a sudden (all of the spacing saw operators. According to and University of New Brunswick’s Thom forest management plans were updated Craig Frame, Forester with the New Erdle. for 2002) strong demand for seedlings. Brunswick’s Department of Natural This shift created a slight shortage in Resources’ (NBDNR) Forest Utilization seedling supply with production at local and Silviculture (Section), the practice Gaston Damecour is a Registered Professional nurseries maxed-out and an increase is particularly effective in the 40,000 to Forester in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. He in out-of-province sourcing. According 90,000 stems per ha range in large areas is a senior consultant and principal of AGFOR Inc., to Kevin Topolniski, Chief Forester in remote locations. The system allows a New Brunswick-based forest and management consulting firm. Damecour has been instrumental in at Nexfor Fraser, they had achieved treatment of stands that would simply bringing about significant changes in the forest sector their freehold silviculture program in be too daunting and uneconomical. The by representing both governments and industries on four years instead of five, and curtailed advent of the mechanical PCT on Crown such issues as health and safety, forestry equipment planting in the final year. Consequently lands is of interest to the private woodlot standards, industrial relations, wood allocations their tree nursery at the Second Falls sector which is experiencing regional and forest management policy. He has worked with near Edmunston had no problems to sell difficulties in sourcing PCT operators. communities, businesses and various interest groups the (surplus) seedlings to other forest Silviculture on private land, according to initiate change. interests. to Bill Hamilton, NBDNR Forester with

20 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 F o r e s t I m p r o v e m e n t A s s o c i at i o n

by Wanson Hemphill, Manager

Summer has finally arrived with cool Many forest stakeholders are concerned temperatures, firmer roads and golf about a predicted reduction in tree temptations. Prices for studwood planting due to 10% Provincial budget have increased and many contractors cuts. Tree planting of seedlings from are actively looking for stumpage to the best trees and seed orchards is harvest. Clearcutting is still the most seen as a way to rebuild the quality of used method of harvesting although PEI forests and to mitigate the impact some alternative treatments are of clearcutting and leaving the forest to available through a Provincial Forest regenerate from surrounding trees and Enhancement Program. Some forest cycle naturally from pioneer species to owners are allowing mature white longer lived forests over time. A meeting spruce to collapse rather than have with Provincial Minister MacAdam is it clearcut. Owner reasons include: scheduled on this concern. the look of clearcuts; tax and pension Sector Councils are still moving ahead implications; ecological enhancements slowly with a Provincial Sector Council and looking for other treatments that established and the hiring of a Sector leave most of the forest standing. Council Director. Sector Councils allow Forest Certification is inching closer each sector or industry to plan and with attempts by Pan-Canadian to find implement its own human resource interested owners for certification trials, needs. and a small group of owners in Kings Forest contractors are being made aware County applying for FSC certification of the “business case for safety” where using a Resource Manager. FSC prevention of injuries can be shown as certification here aims to rebuild the an excellent investment with a very high mixed Acadian forest species and return and can also increase employee quality, with different ages and heights productivity and job satisfaction. using the existing canopy as shade for Please have a safe and healthy tolerant species planting and growth summer. while promoting biodiversity.

21 s i lv i c u lt u r e c o n t r a c t o r s a s s o c i at i o n

by Alan O’Brien

As I write this, another tree planting from provincial nurseries. As a result of have remained high for this time of year. season is ending for Silviculture this shortage, planting on some private Typically, prices fall after the reopening Contractors in NS. This season was land blocks will not be completed in 2004 of provincial secondary roads in May. marked by a severe frost in parts of the and will have to be readdressed in 2005. Most Contractors put their emphasis province on June 5-6. I have witnessed This may impede industry’s compliance on Pre-Commercial thinnings from the impact on planting sites, where with silviculture legislation. the beginning of July until the snow exposed seedlings have either been Vegetative management deadlines are flies in December. To qualify for a stunted (death of this spring’s bud flush) approaching for the herbiciding season pre-commercial thinning treatment, or killed. The province also received a that runs from late August through stands must meet a minimum height stretch of extreme cold (for this part of September. Permits must be submitted requirement of 2m for softwood and the country), with temperatures falling as to the Department of the Environment, 90 6m for hardwood. In Nova Scotia, this low as -40 C over several weeks in late days prior to commencement of a spray treatment is most often carried out on January and early February. These low treatment on a site. A site inspection is softwood stands. The main benefit is temperatures occurred in conjunction then done by the Department of Natural that stand dynamics can be drastically with relatively little snow cover, and Resources to either approve or deny the changed by increasing some species may have played a role in the high treatment. As an interesting footnote, percentages while decreasing others. mortality rate of Red Spruce seedlings one substantial industry player in Nova eg. pre-treatment stem counts - bF this season. Most contractors were Scotia does not permit herbiciding in 8000 rS 2000 gB 4000 rM 2500 vs. post limited to the number of Red Spruce their silviculture program. They have treatment stem counts - bF 500 rS 1500 seedlings they were able to purchase experienced an inadequate survival rate gB 50 rM 250. of Spruce seedlings This example shows a concentration on on their planted the volume growth of Red Spruce. The sites, probably as two stands would produce the same a direct result of amount of wood fibre over x number this policy. of years. The first example would see The Hurricane Juan the majority of the wood fibre growth salvage continues on Balsam Fir, while the second would on private land. produce mainly Spruce wood fibre. T h e p r i c e s f o r You cannot increase wood volume from s o m e r o a d s i d e a stand by spacing it , however, you forest products can increase the volume of a targeted (softwood sawlogs species. When properly done, it is also $75.00 /tonne) an esthetically pleasing treatment.

Next IssueFall 2004 • Commercial Thinning Equipment Review • Boreal Conservation Initiative • FSC & Plantations • First Nations Silviculture

Book your ads by September 24th. Call 604-574-4577 or 1-800-667-0955 22 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 Fall A Short History of Canadian tree planting tools by Pierre Roy

worked well for screefing the duff layer and the curved adze ash handle helped to hold the hand in the ideal ergonomic position, 30 degrees above the horizontal. The handle was the right length for one step and a full arced swing to the eight foot spacing required to plant the standard 680 trees per acre. The flat, prairie grain elevator shaped blade helped create a brick-shaped planting Next Issue hole. Hoedads required a good striking force to penetrate the ground, and many In Canada, reforestation began in cases of tendonitis resulted though the Quebec about 100 years ago, in Ontario wooden handle muffled the vibrations. and BC 70 years ago, and in Alberta 50 BC’s main manufacturer Zaccarelli years ago. At that time, the mattocks as Brothers, a blacksmithing shop in they were officially called in the Ministry Victoria, had been making the tools for of Forests records, or hoedads as twenty years to this standard shape, and everyone in the west called them, were a sharpen able hardness (around 40 on the tools of choice. This planting tool was Hoedad/Mattock the Rockwell C scale). well adapted to planting bareroot stock, In Ontario, in the sixties, the especially on hillsides. The hoedad containerized Paperpot system was

23 introduced from Finland. Paperpot was a complete growing and handling system from nursery to filling line to planting. Paperpots held together very well and had been made easy to plant in 1948 by an aging planter who invented a tool named after him. Dibbledad

shape to fit his highballer self image. This was to protect the steel edge curled from hitting rocks, and then the sharp furls stripped the seedling roots, when being used to train the roots into the hole, (in 1974, Dirk Brinkman requested Zacarelli stop sharpening the edge and instead round the edge like a ballistic bullet nose). He learned from Zacarelli how they hard-edged the steel strip used for the leading edge of cat blades, which When container stock was introduced, did not split from rocks. By hardening (or a narrow bladed hoedad, known as a Pottiputki hard-edging) the bullet rounded edges (to dibbledad, was introduced to make a about 47-48 on the Rockwell C scale) the thinner hole. A number of other hoedad The Pottiputki was a planting tube that had heads wore gradually, without splitting or anomalies were also tried, such as tools the great advantage over other systems curling, and produced blades that could with dibbles on one side and a narrow of not requiring the planter to bend down. plant 2-300,000 trees. hoedad blade on the other. He simply pushed the duck nose into the Equally an art was the selection of a good In the 1970’s, Pelton introduced the ground, opened its jaw with a foot lever, adze handle, just the right diameter and mudpack, a seedling’s bareroots were and dropped the seedling through the grain to fit the style of the user. Good rolled into mud in a large cigarette tube. With good site preparation and handles could also last to plant hundreds roller and then dried until the ‘mudpack’ abundant mineral soil, production records of thousands of trees. Because a poor stiffened. These mudpacks were planted were broken, without breaking planters handle often broke quickly, planters were with a solid steel dibble which transmitted backs. But in the cold northern soils, the very good at fitting blades to handles every stone impact directly to the planters paper was not breaking down and roots and adjusting the blade to the angle hand bones and tendons with inevitable were not getting through the paper. that worked best for their style. A good results. By the mid-seventies, Kingsma A new generation of tree planters came handle was a keeper. Numerous visits and Van Eerden had developed the along in the seventies with the massive to the manufacturers in Ontario to select styroblock container and designed increase of the reforestation program in the best wood, form and diameter also dibbles - blunt steel pokers on long BC. In 1972, Jack Wells first requested produced runs of specialized hoedad wooden shovel handles to plant the that Zacarelli streamline his hoedad blade handles for highball crews. various sizes.

24 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 Dibble

The dibbles were startlingly easy to use compared to planting bareroot on flat ground, with back bent most of the time thereby stressing the lower back. By 1976, shovel planting was introduced in northern BC by Carl Loland of Tawa. They cut American-made drain tile spades and cat track shovels from 50cm to about 30 cm length, as the full blade would buckle to the force exerted on the handle to open a hole. Flat steel kickers were welded on these custom cut blades to save wear and tear on planters’ boots and feet. The blades required frequent sharpening as they had a soft steel edge, breakage was common and the curling lips stripped roots. Many planters would get their spades cut down in a local shop to a Treeplanter Spades shape that suited the many different stock sizes of the eighties. It was not uncommon to see a planter carrying 2, 3 or 4 spades The unique design of a flattened thick tapering blade, straight of different shapes or sizes around in a golf bag. shank and bullet-rounded edge was the birth of the Treeplanter Around 1982, Ed Walter’s Sustained Yield Enterprises and spade. This tool is unquestionably the most successful planting Brinkman’s Treeplanter’s Grubstake and Silviculture Supplies tool ever introduced, and thousands of units are still sold joined forces to form Forestworld. One of the first actions of this annually. The early runs at Spear & Jackson were specified to new enterprise was to design the ultimate treeplanting spade, so be hard-edged to 47-48 on the Rockwell C scale and lasted they ordered sample spades from all of the forging companies longer than later tools. from around the world. Pitting them against each other, by In Québec, in the 1980’s, the Ministry of Forest copied the seeing which would cut the other in a diagonal collision, they design of a Scandinavian Multipot system and ordered the narrowed their choice to two British manufacturers, Bulldog containers from local injection molding suppliers. They also and Spear & Jackson. They paid to build a new mould for ordered tools for these container seedlings (there were three their design. sizes) from Garant, a garden tool manufacturer, that modified a

25 Inspired by ancient warrior weapons, Forestworld also designed the Planting spear for planting small containers. Forged from a solid piece of steel, fitted with a T or straight handle, it was an indestructible tool that could create a planting hole in anything but solid rock. In eastern Canada, the spear was never widely used because it needed a special planting technique, and the stigma of the tool not fitting the container shape prevented its Carrot Extractor acceptance by MOF.

Planting Spear

Dibble with foot plate

Instead, cut down spades became common, and fork handle and developed a dibble with a foot plate, that also now custom-sizing the acted as a depth limiter, and screw-on heads to accommodate Treeplanter spade results the different stock sizes. in a much better tool than The weight of the tool, and soil compaction problems in heavier earlier custom American soils, called for a different tool to emerge. The ‘hole pipe’, shovels. There were so originated in Sweden, had interchangeable heads that were many planters requesting threaded on. Difficult to change and expensive, Pierre Roy of a smaller spade that NovaSylva developed and introduced a new carrot extractor, in Forestworld had the Speed Quebec, in 1986. This tool also had removable heads, hollow spade forged in England, in or solid, allowing planters to choose the proper head suited to the late 1980’s. Narrower, stock and terrain. It also had a kick bar welded a couple inches shorter, and thicker than the higher than the top of the planting head, which allowed for full treeplanter spade, it was penetration into growing soil when debris was on the ground. perfect for planting container The first ‘carrot extractors’ were made of angle iron with a vinyl seedlings of all sizes, and grip at 90 degrees to the shaft. Despite many other versions, small bareroot stock. It using a wooden Dee or straight handle, and in spite of its low- Speed Spade became extremely popular tech appearance, the low-cost and lightweight angle iron ‘carrot and it led to even shorter extractor’ made it a favourite with planters and contractors. It is ‘Plug spade’ versions. still the most popular planting tool in Québec today. Like all tools with vertical handles, planters were ramming the tool into the ground with great force in efforts to increase production, resulting in considerable shock being transmitted to In the 1990’s, the emergence of very large (300cc +) container the planter’s arm when striking rocks. The obvious but difficult seedlings created a need for new tools. Inspired by garden idea of installing a shock absorber between the head and the bulb planters, versions of a carrot extractor for these larger handle was tackled by Feric researcher Ernst Stjernberg, who containers failed to release the soil from the tool. Researcher conducted numerous tests on a variety of materials. In 1987, Michel St-Amour at Feric came up with an idea that was NovaSylva built a neoprene shock absorber into the head eventually licensed to NovaSylva. The tip of the carrot extractor attachment that decreased the amplitude of the shock wave was cut at a 25 degree angle from the ground level to allow for transmitted to the planter’s hand. These still come with every gradual soil penetration. Another important improvement was extractor. Another shock absorber developed by NovaSylva the open front design. The sidewall of the cylinder was cut open involved a wooden handle sliding in a metallic tube against a 180 degrees, leaving only a cutting edge. This allowed the plug compression spring that would attenuate impacts. of soil to be ejected (or flop out of the side) hole after hole. 26 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 Although this tool worked reasonably well customizing their personal blade and in medium to heavy soils, when stones handle, and the relatively high and were present around the perimeter of the uniform quality of the stock, price tool, it was very difficult to drive into the has become the primary criterion for ground. The speed spade ended up the choosing a tool or a supplier. Fewer preferred tool, after the inadequacy of specialized manufacturers are willing form-fitting tools finally made clear: size or able to invest time and money into does matter! new tools that will be difficult to sell, There was a lot of attention to the particularly in a no-growth market. ergonomics of planting tools in the However, improving on an industry 1980’s and 1990s, particularly in standard, reducing the number of western Canada. Straight, Dee, Tee injuries, and offering better comfort handles, wood and fiberglass shafts of without having to re-train planters, various lengths were fitted onto tools, should be an easy sell, so long as the eventually to suit planters characteristics tool is not more expensive to buy. and tastes. But student turnover meant Recent efforts at Bushpro, developing hiring thousands of new planters every a better Dee handle with help of die- Pierre Roy started his career in silviculture in 1982 year, and in many cases, the contractor hard Feric researcher Ernst Stjernberg as a treeplanter and project supervisor with Brinkman & Associates Reforestation. From 1985-1997, Pierre equipped its planters with the required and another new manufacturer, are an was President of NovaSylva, a manufacturer and tools and seedling carriers. It was example of the direction tools may be distributor of treeplanting equipment. He then was difficult to predict the choice planters going. This is considered to improve Vice-President, Sales & Marketing for Turboforest would make for tools, so the standard ergonomics and reduce injury. Test NovaSylva a manufacturer of treeplanting tools and one-meter tool length with Dee handle results from the 2004 season will be low-impact forestry equipment. Pierre took on the became the one and only choice for the reported in a later edition of Canadian position of President of NovaJack in 2001. From 2003 new planter. Straight handles, which Silviculture. to present, he has been President of Portable Winch, a used to suit about 30% of planters, have Because of the more generic nature manufacturer of gas-powered capstan winches. Pierre become an odd sight. of the tools, from which people are can be reached at 819-563-2193.

27 Intensive Silviculture Decisions...

The fifth National Forest Strategy Forest Renewal BC (FRBC) in 1998. (NFS) 2003-2008 a sustainable They applied a common investment/ forest, the Canadian commitment benefit analysis to compare survey ( http://nfsc.forest.ca/strategies/strategy5.html#i ) and historic growth data, across each is filled with clear goals and commitments treatment or activity option, on various to action arrived at through consultation site types. This economic analysis was and consensus. The National designed to facilitate the selection of the Forest Strategy’s Vision, Issues and optimum treatment/site combinations Writing Committee occasionally took within FRBC’s budgets. It became a conflicting input from stakeholders and benchmark analysis because it helped recommended the issue be studied define the limits of intensive forestry further. investment for enhancing timber value. The mandate for intensive forest It is not complicated to understand that if management in the NFS is such an trees grow slowly, they give a return too ‘action’ item: far into the future to be greater than the 1.7 Evaluate the full range of advantages interest cost on the money invested. and disadvantages of Intensive Forest Reid Carter went on to become a forest Management across Canada. industry investment analyst with the During the period of the previous NFS National Bank. He saw that product (1998-2003), intensive forestry, intensive differentiation, not the raw material silviculture, or stand enhancement source, creates market value. In his treatments, which at that time were paper, ‘Enhanced forestry can create predominantly undertaken for the jobs…Does it create value?’ written in single benefit of enhancing timber 2001, he only recommended: investment value, went into decline. Intensive forest in genetic improvement (the cost per management included activities like hectare was low); fertilization (the genetic improvement, spacing, conifer benefit was volume which appeared release, pre-commercial thinning, within a few years); brushing (important commercial thinning, fertilization, for stand establishment); and a few cleaning or brushing, pruning and select treatments only in high sites various combination treatments. These where a fast growth response had been treatments declined across Canada demonstrated. BC’s Forest Investment because costs were perceived to Fund (FIA) reduced the 2003 investment be greater than the timber benefits in intensive forestry to under $5 million, - especially when the future timber from over $100 million at FRBC’s peak benefits were discounted to net present in 1997. value - and because of new emerging Eleanor McWilliams, working as a values and understanding of forest forest economist with JS Thrower & dynamics. Associates, went on to develop the analytic decision-making tools into Analytic decision making for ‘Quantitative Silviculture’, an intensive enhancing timber value forest management expert decision- Many foresters developed a variety of making system. The web site offers analytic tools and methods to determine answers to questions like, “Will whether and how intensive forestry fertilization give a positive return on investments should be made, and investment or should I invest the money how they pay back in enhanced timber and buy wood on the open market in value. The realization that investments the future?” Similar systems, which use for timber value may not pay back, in the expert analysis to mix economic and west, reached a watershed in a definitive value choices, have been designed for benchmark analysis undertaken by Reid use in several other provinces. Carter and Eleanor McWilliam’s for Timber value is the product of a relatively

28 Canadian Silviculture Summer 2004 ...in Ecosystem Based Forest Management free market pricing system, and therefore systems with ecosystem constraints. provides a strong economic context for Intensive forest management historically intensive forest management decision- referred to concentrating activity in making. Quantitative Silviculture and other select forest stands, as opposed to expert systems are right to rely on known ‘extensive forest management’ - the values for guiding decisions. In doing so, least cost treatment - relying largely on they do not ignore other ecosystem natural processes in Canada’s generally values, these are reflected as constraints healthy extensive forest ecosystems to through planning in compliance with realize forest management objectives. regulations for environmental protection. Considered within EBM, intensive forest Where values can be quantified, they management in the future may refer to a provide for them. concentration of benefits on one site from Action item 1.7 Intensive Forest one adapted integrative treatment. Management falls under the first and underlying theme of the current NFS Changes in forest dynamics and emerging values In part, integrative planning arises from new market values that are becoming widely enough understood to begin trading. This is due to some major shifts in public understanding of forest dynamics. Incidents like the catastrophic infestation of mountain pine bark beetle, major fires and rainfalls have contributed to this increased awareness of the results of 2003-2008, which is Ecosystem Based climate change and fuel suppression. Management (EBM). EBM is described In June’s federal election, Prime Minister in the NFS as “An ecosystem-based Paul Martin made the Liberal commitment approach to managing our natural to fight global warming as the number resources … considers all the benefits one issue differentiating the Liberals the forest can provide, whether these from the New Conservatives. Recent are direct benefits, such as wood, water, polls indicate over 78% of Canadians carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, support taking action to prevent (further) recreation, hunting, trapping, fish habitat, climate change. Federal negotiators fishing or wildfoods, or indirect benefits, are reaching greenhouse gas emission such as the beauty of the forest landscape agreements on caps and trade with more or the satisfaction that society derives from and more Canadian industries including its forest. Management also considers the forest industry. The European Union human and natural disturbances such is entering the mandatory Emissions as fire, insects and disease when making Trading Scheme within half a year. At choices to optimize forest use over time. that point, trading in what is expected to Managing the forest to encompass this be the largest commodity traded in the wide spectrum of benefits is complex world will begin in earnest, and these because they often conflict.” prices will influence forest management An EBM approach requires a forester to decisions. blend all of these values into their forest BC’s forests were expected to be a net management stratagems. Intensive sink of 48 gigatonnes of carbon per treatment prescriptions within EBM year. Greenhouse gas emissions from are taken to a more complex level to the pine bark beetle devastation alone mimic the complexity, adaptability and may reverse that, unless BC takes major responsiveness of life. It is a paradigm actions to mitigate those emissions, like shift from historic single timber value reforesting and salvaging wood for

29 energy. Canadian wood pellets are now being shipped to the historical patterns of sector-based or single resource-based European electrical generators to replace fossil fuels. management; recognizing the value of collaboration, cooperative Restoring a healthy forest stand density and residual fuel ventures, partnerships and stewardship to name some. accumulation through a harvest for timber or pulp and using Integrated landscape management planning includes analytic the waste to make wood pellets for energy to replace fossil fuels options comparison. In combination, it leads to integrated while interpolating a carbon trade, all require the application of treatments that would, for example, salvage forest mortality, similar economic market principles to realize the highest level reduce fire risk, restore ecosystem health, improve stand value of treatment efficiency and return on investment. and reduce CO2 emissions. Combining ILM and analytic systems will build on the skills, experience and common sense of those Integrated Landscape Management who are familiar with historic planning and implementation. To assist decision-making in this new synthesis of values, there Reforestation once differed from intensive silviculture by having is another emerging tool - Integrated Landscape Management an immediate source of funding-- the value of the harvest or (ILM). ILM is an approach to planning and assessing land uses clearing (seismic, hydro etc.) and having the reforestation and human activities over whole landscapes. The approach is obligation clearly and legally linked to the area harvested or based on a system of integrated management with respect to cleared. Since costs and benefits are traded on the same land various stakeholders and interest groups that is applied over base and in present time, reforestation has been accepted as appropriate time periods and spatial scales necessary to achieve a cost of doing business. multiple management objectives. It is like applying land use Intensive forest management also has the potential to become management on an operational scale. an essential part of the cost of maintaining the forest capital, A newly formed National Integrated Landscape Management through trading management for access to the resource on the coalition identified a set of elements or shifts required for ILMs same area-based forest license, and within ecosystem-based successful implementation. These include: substantive legal and management thereby transforming it into a cost of doing policy framework; expansion of land use planning capacity with business. landscape visualization tools; linking land use planning decisions But to get there will take considerable cooperation, collective to resource rights; improving cumulative effects and full life cycle effort and marketing the incredible sustainability of harvesting impact and mitigation analysis; establishing common standards products while maintaining the integrity of Canada’s natural for operational planning, monitoring, reporting, and reclamation forest ecosystems for the benefit of future generations and the activities; overcoming the deeply entrenched silo approach and rest of the world.

Dirk Brinkman is CEO of Brinkman & Associates Reforestation, editor of Canadian Silviculture and sat on the Vision, Issues and Writing Committee of the National Forest Strategy 2003-2008. He co-chairs the ecosystem-based NFS theme team with Elizabeth May, sits on the Steering Committee of the NFS Implementation Coalition, and is a member of the National Integrated Landscape Management Coalition.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

Arbortec Industries 16 BAP 27 Barton Insurance 15 Beaver Plastics 30 Brandt Tractor BC Budget Car & Truck Sales & Leasing 27 Cansel Resources 22 Deakin Equipment 11 Dendrotik 10 Fandrich Cone Harvesters 20 Ford IBC Forest Care 21 Forest Industry Safety Association 9 Forest Renewal Co-Op 21 Forrex Forest 21 Globalstar 13 Halltech 17 Jonsered 29 JRP Consulting - Plant Wizard 25 JRP Consulting - Survey Wizard 7 Leica Geosystems IFC PRT - Pacific Regeneration Technologies 28 Range & Bearing 5 Salt Spring Planters Ltd. 8 Tree Pro 10 West Coast Helicopter 21 Workwizer 24

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