Managing Your Woodland A Non-forester’s Guide To Small-scale Forestry in British Columbia March 2002 Supporting Management of Forest Resources on Private Land in BC National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data Main entry under title: Managing you woodland : a non-forester’s guide to small- scale forestry in British Columbia. – 2002 ed. “Updated and revised by ECON Consulting.”– Acknowledgements. Co-published by Small Woodlands Program of BC and Canadian Forest Service. Previously published by Forestry Canada, 1992. Includes bibliographical references: p. ISBN 0-7726-4776-3 1. Woodlots – British Columbia – Management. 2. Forests and forestry – British Columbia. 3. Forest management – British Columbia. 4. Agroforestry – British Columbia. I. British Columbia. Ministry of Forests. II. ECON Consulting. III. Small Woodlands Program of BC. IV. Canadian Forest Service. SD146.B7M38 2002 634.9'9'09711 C2002-960100-2 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2002 Province of British Columbia, 2002 Co-published by Small Woodlands Program of BC and the Canadian Forest Service Acknowledgements The Managing Your Woodland was revised by the Small Woodlands Program of BC, an initiative of Forest Renewal BC. The program is designed to encourage owners of private forest lands in BC to manage their properties in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. The first version of this guide was written by Reid, Collins and Associates Limited under the Canada-BC Forest Resource Development Agreement (FRDA) in 1988. It was reprinted in 1992 under FRDA II. The guide was then updated and revised in 2002 by ECON consulting under the Small Woodlands Program of BC. Funding for final editing and production of the 2002 edition, and creation of the web version was provided by Canadian Forest Service. This work was carried out on behalf of the Small Woodlands Program of BC by TM Communications Inc. For additional copies of this guide, or more information about the Small Woodlands Program of BC, visit the program web site: SMALL WOODLANDS PROGRAM OF BC Email: [email protected], (www.swp.bc.ca) Pacific Forestry Centre 506 West Burnside Road Victoria, BC V8Z 1M5 Phone: (250) 363-0600 Fax: (250) 363-0775 Web: http://www.pfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca Web: http://www.swp.bc.ca Acknowledgements iii Disclaimer Mention in this document of specific commercial products or services does not constitute endorsement of such by the Canadian Forest Service or the Government of Canada. Medical Warning This work contains some information on the uses of plants as foods and medicines. Some plant foods can be toxic if the wrong plant part (such as fruit, leaves, stems, or roots) is harvested, or if it is not properly prepared, or if too much is eaten. Some toxic plants look similar to edible plants, and such mistakes can cause serious illness and even death. Never eat a plant if you are not certain of its identity. Learn the appro- priate harvesting and preparation methods, and start with a small amount when trying a new plant food. Descriptions of culinary or medical uses of plants are presented here for informational purposes only. Some medicinal plants can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medications. Medicinal use of herbs should be carried out only under the care of a well informed, qualified physician. Every medicine is a poison if used inappropriately or in the wrong dose. Please note that some herbs mentioned in this book may be poisonous, and others may cause toxic reactions in susceptible individuals. Although most, if not all, culinary herbs are pharmacologically active, for many herbs limited health information is available, and safe levels of consumption are poorly understood. This document contains information on edible mushrooms. Some species of mushrooms are very toxic, and ingestion of small amounts can cause serious illness or death. Mushroom identification skills require experience based on proper instruction and good field guides. Do not eat any mushroom unless you are an expert or are absolutely sure which species you have. This document contains information about pesticides. Pesticides must be handled and applied properly according to directions and regulations. Pesticides must be approved by both federal and provincial authorities. Always read the label. The publishers assume no liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of any of the information provided in this document. iv Managing Your Woodland Table of Contents INTRODUCTION MANAGEMENT PLANNING # Introduction 1 # Woodland Management Planning 55 What Is This Guide For? Why Is A Management Plan Important? How Do l Use This Guide? What Is Planning? Why Small-scale Forestry What Does a Forest Management Plan Who Owns The Forests? Look Like? Who Plans And Manages Our Forests? How Do I Develop A Forest Management Forests And Our Future Plan? Recommended References Sample Forest Management Plan Recommended References # Forestry Basics 7 Introduction STAND MANAGEMENT Where Trees Grow How Trees Grow # Silvicultural Systems 71 Family Trees (identification) Silvicultural Systems Forests As Collections of Stands Even-aged Systems How Forests Develop Uneven-aged Systems How Forests Are Classified Systems with Reserves How Forests Are Managed Recommended References Managing For Non-Timber Resources # Commercial Thinning 87 Safety In The Woodland Recommended References Introduction Why Thin? FOREST INVENTORY When to Thin How to Thin # Basic Surveying Skills 29 Thinning Equipment Measuring Direction Recommended References Measuring Distance Recommended References MULTI USE # Inventory of Woodlands 35 # Agroforestry Overview 95 Why Do I Need an Inventory? What is Agroforestry? What Is a Forest Inventory? How Agroforestry Systems Work Where to Start? What are Shade Systems? What Kind of Information Do I Need? What are Sun Systems? How Do I Plan My Inventory? What are Silvopasture Systems? Measuring Inventory Plots What is Integrated Riparian Compiling Your Timber Inventory Management? Calculating Your Harvest Level What are Timberbelts? Recommended References Defining an Agroforest Benefits of Agroforestry Recommended References Table of Contents v FOREST ACCESS REFORESTATION # Woodland Roads 105 # Reforestation Basics 185 What Are My Access Needs? Introduction How Do I Plan A Road Network? Site Assessment and Species Selection Road Construction - How Much Can I Do? Natural Regeneration Equipment Preparing the Seedbed Construction Steps Artificial Regeneration How Do I Care For My Roads? Other Considerations What Are The Environmental Recommended References Considerations? Sample Road Construction Contract STAND TENDING Recommended References # Stand Tending Basics 201 HARVESTING Why Cultivate Your Forest? What Is Stand Tending? # Harvesting the Trees 123 Brush Control Harvesting Is More Than Cutting Trees Spacing and Thinning Treatments When Do I Harvest? Stand Management to Maintain How Much Do I Cut? Biodiversity Harvesting Steps and Methods Fertilizing Small-scale Equipment Pruning Environmental Considerations Recommended References: Scaling Requirements What Is a Timber Mark? FOREST PROTECTION Working with a Logging Contractor # Forest Protection Basics 225 Sample Harvesting Contract Recommended References Introduction Forest Fire Insects and Disease MARKETING Forest Insect Pests # Forest Product Overview 149 Forest Tree Diseases From Woodland to the Marketplace How Do I Protect My Woodland? How to Identify Timber Products What Else Can Damage My Forests? Special Products From Your Woodland Recommended References Recommended References BUSINESS PLANNING # Non-timber Forest Products 165 What are NTFPs? # Business Basics 249 The Business Potential of NTFPs What Kind of Business Is This? Some Edible Herbs and Wild Vegetables What Business Structure Do I Need? Wild Mushrooms What Else Do I Need to Organize to Set Wild Berries and Fruits Up a Business? Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Plants Do I Need A Business Plan? Floral Greenery What Is A Business Plan? Landscape Products Recommended References Recommended References # Introduction to Certification 177 What is Forest Certification? Forest Certification Programs Recommended References vi Managing Your Woodland # Introduction to Taxation 255 INFORMATION RESOURCES Tax Planning # Glossary 273 Property Taxes # Contact Addresses 287 Resource Taxes Sales Taxes Ministry of Forests Contact Addresses Income Taxes Woodlot Association Contact Addresses Estate and Succession Tax Planning Federation of BC Woodlot Associations Recommended References Contact Addresses Education Institutions FOREST LEGISLATION Other Ministries # Forest Legislation 263 # Conversion Factors 305 What Legislation Applies to My Land? Federal Legislation Provincial Legislation Local Legislation Recommended References Table of Contents vii Managing Your Woodland ! Introduction Introduction In this chapter… Who and What Is This Guide For? ............... 2 How Do l Use This Guide? ...................... 2 Why Small-scale Forestry? .................... 3 Who Owns The Forests? ...................... 4 Who Plans And Manages Our Forests? ............ 5 Forests And Our Future ........................ 5 Recommended References ...................... 6 .......................................................... Introduction 1 Who and What Is This Guide For? This guide has been written for non-foresters. Its intent is to make the practice of forestry understandable, awarding, profitable and fun. This is a guide for the management of small woodlands in British Columbia