1 MPB Mitigation Silviculture Treatments To mitigate timber supply problems in management units...

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MPB Mitigation Silviculture Treatments

To mitigate timber supply problems in management units affected by catastrophic mountain pine beetle

Presentation to MOF Executive

20-Jun-05

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Context

On Jan 17, 2005 FPB made a presentation on ”Timber restoration strategies for Interior BC"

During that presentation, the executive requested that FPB provide further information that would clarify the merits of mitigation silviculture treatments

This presentation will provide information for a decision to support fertilization as a mitigation treatment

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Presentation Objectives

Clarify How MPB affects timber supply

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Identify How fertilization can mitigate short and mid-term timber

supply shortfalls Anticipated fertilization response in Interior stands Potential areas for fertilization Proposed fertilization program

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Identify How fertilization can mitigate short and mid-term timber

supply shortfalls Anticipated fertilization response in Interior stands Potential areas for fertilization Proposed fertilization program

Confirm MOF Executive direction regarding program components

and budget

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ContextMountain pine beetle

MPB mortality and salvage is disrupting forest age class distributions, creating a timber supply problem

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Every tree to be harvested in the next 40–60 years is in the ground now

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Fertilization is a proven method for increasing harvest volume and accelerating the operability of established stands

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Fertilization can be used strategically to mitigate “pinch points” in the timber supply

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Many jurisdictions in similar latitudes (e.g., Sweden, Finland) have used fertilization effectively to improve timber supply

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Many jurisdictions in similar latitudes (e.g., Sweden, Finland) have used fertilization effectively to improve timber supply

Preliminary analysis of Williams Lake, Prince George, Quesnel, and Lakes TSAs indicates positive opportunities for fertilization to improve timber supply shortfalls

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Forest Dynamics (conceptual)How fertilization mitigates MPB effects

harvest volume

area

age class distribution

years from now 2500

MPB mortality area

Fertilizing 30- to 70-year-old stands (blue) can increase harvest volumes 20–40 years from now

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Forest Dynamics (conceptual)How fertilization mitigates MPB effects

harvest volume

area

age class distribution

years from now

Fertilizing 30- to 70-year-old stands (blue) can increase harvest volumes 20–40 years from now

Fertilizing 15- to 30-year-old stands (green) can increase harvest volumes 40–70 years from now

2500

MPB mortality area

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Fertilization Response

The ministry has done 25 years of fertilizer research in the interior and has published scientific information for several species, sites, and ages

Work has been done in close cooperation with universities, industry, and others leading to good support for operational fertilization

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Fertilizer response potential of interior lodgepole pine is well documented and local fertilizer response information for other species (Fdi, Sx) is available

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Fertilizer response potential of interior lodgepole pine is well documented and local fertilizer response information for other species (Fdi, Sx) is available

Local response data for Fdi and Sx can be supplemented with data from other jurisdictions

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Fertilization ResponseSix-year volume increment (m3/ha)

range of response (m3/ha)

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Douglas-firInterior spruce

28

24

16

12

8

4

0

range

mean

BC Interior

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Stand Age (years) 40 60 80 100

Poor -- 12 13 13

Medium 15 16 16 15

Good 14 15 14 13

Fertilization ResponseNorway spruce

Northern Sweden(Pettersson 2001)

Sit

e C

lass

Yield (m3/ha)

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Fertilization ResponseDouglas-fir 6-year mean volume increment (m3/ha)

Inland Northwest(Moore et al, 1991)

volume increment (m3/ha)

Central Wash.N. Idaho

120

100

80

40

20

0NE. Wash.

16%

13% 25%fertilizationresponse

unfertilized

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Fertilization ResponseMultiple treatments, 10-yr old interior spruce

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 3 6 9

Control

NSB

ON1

ON2256%

181%

94%

years following establishment

standing volume (m3/yr)

Brockley and Simpson(2004)

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FertilizationKey concepts


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Interior forests are nutrient deficient; Douglas-fir and spruce stands respond positively to fertilization

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Young and early-mature stands respond favourably to nutrient additions

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Young and early-mature stands respond favourably to nutrient additions

Growth gains from repeated fertilization are potentially very large

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0

50

100

150

200

250

300

TFL 52 100 MileTSA

WilliamsLake TSA

QuesnelTSA

PrinceGeorge TSA

000s ha

Regional Opportunities for FertilizationFd- and S-leading stands ages 0–60 years

0–20 years

20–40 years

40–60 years

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Fertilization ProgramGoals, objectives

1. Mitigate timber supply shortfalls that will occur in 20 to 70 years add merchantable volume to 15- to 70-year old stands

(make operable sooner, redistribute timber availability) reduce depth and duration of timber supply shortfall

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2. Help reduce community/regional economic impacts from MPB provide short- and mid-term employment invest in timber assets on public forest land

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2. Help reduce community/regional economic impacts from MPB provide short- and mid-term employment invest in timber assets on public forest land

3. Complement other strategic investments in timber supply mitigation efforts

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Fertilization ProgramStrategic approach

BC Interior

Areas facing major timber supply impacts from MPB, wildfire

Within key units, initially focus on spruce, Douglas-fir stands

Identify sites for treatment in 15- to 70-year old stands

Treat large, contiguous blocks of eligible stands

Focus on stands close to roads and rail lines

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Fertilization ProgramInitial program focus and implications

Focus Implications

Key areas of MPB and fire losses

No funding to Coast or to management units unaffected by catastrophic events

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Focus Implications



Strategic allocation of resources

Funding to specific forest districts, management units, and stands

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Focus Implications





Fertilization goals Multi-year funding commitment

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Focus Implications





Fertilization goals Multi-year funding commitment

Mid-termtimber supply

Complements FFT activities to address long-term timber supply

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Fertilization ProgramProposed budget

Program $

2005/06 2006/07 2009/102008/09

10M

8M

6M

4M

2M

0M

Implementation

Planning (assess / select sites, review with districts)

Administration, auditing (PwC portion)

Overhead (auditing, reporting)

2007/08

12M

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Fertilization ProgramProposed area to be treated

000s ha

2005/06 2006/07 2009/102008/09

25

20

15

10

5

0

30

2007/08

40

35

29,000

23,00023,000

18,000

35,000

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Economics

When done on the right sites and for the right objectives fertilization of stands can return

15 m3/ha of additional volume within 10 years shorten technical rotations by 3-4 years 3-12% mid-term timber supply impacts 2-5% internal rates of return 0.15 pdays/ha employment in fertilization 2.77 direct and indirect jobs per 1000 m3 produced

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Risks

Water protect through fertilizer free zones

Watershed impacts limit applications in sensitive watersheds

Insects limit fertilization of pine till epidemic runs it course avoid areas with defoliating insects

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Timber Volume ResponseProposed five-year fertilization program

Area fertilized: 128,000 hectares

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Expected volume gain: ~ 2.0 million m3

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Expected volume gain: ~ 2.0 million m3

Availability: 2020 (or as needed)

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Questions for Executive

1. Do you approve fertilization as a MPB mitigation silviculture treatment?Options: Yes/No

2. If yes, do you authorize investigation of possible funding sources?Options: Yes/No

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