fgya 2011 05 rpt progressachievementsfgyafirstdecadeapr200 mar2010

The First Decade April 2000 – March 2010

Progress and Achievements

Foothills Growth and Yield Association

Early attempts to establish an Alberta lodgepole pine cooperative in the 1990s showed some promise but little progress until 1999, when the Foothills Research Institute (then Foothills Model Forest) approached Dr. Dick Dempster to spearhead an initiative to revive this partnership and put it on a firmer path to success.

With seed funding from the Institute to support initial planning, nine pine-based Forest Management Agreement holders agreed to embark on this new enterprise under the name of the Foothills Growth and Yield Association. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (in 1999, Department of Environment) also recognized the importance of the initiative and appointed the Executive Director of the Forest Management Branch (formerly Forest Management Division) to represent the Department on the Association’s steering committee.

This document reports on highlights of the Association’s progress and achievements over the first 10 years, and outlines some of our anticipated future directions.

Published by:Foothills Growth and Yield AssociationBox 6330, Hinton, Alberta, T7V 1X6www.foothillsresearchinstitute.caMarch 31, 2011

For additional copies or further information, please contact Foothills Research Institute 780-865-8330

Message from the Chair 2

Introduction:BruceMayer,ADMAlbertaSustainableResourceDevelopment 3

Executive Summary and Highlights 4

Shared Directions 7

Projects and Field Trials 9Project1.AssociationManagement 9Project2.RegeneratedLodgepolePineTrial 9Project3.ComparisonofPre-andPost-HarvestStandDevelopment 10Project4.HistoricResearchTrials 10Project5.RegionalYieldEstimators 11Project6.EnhancedManagementofLodgepolePine 12Project7.RegenerationManagementinaMountainPineBeetleEnvironment 12

Learnings in the First 10 Years 141.PredictionofRegenerationPerformance 142.ClimateImpacts 153.PlantingandNaturalRegeneration–IngressandMortality 164.Tending,ThinningandFertilization 185.MountainPineBeetle 19

Applications for Improved Forest Management 201.Post-HarvestRegenerationModel 202.ManagementofBeetle-attackedStands 20

Monitoring and Feedback–aFrameworkforContinualImprovement 22

Future Directions 231.ContinuedResearch 232.OperationalApplication 25

Financial Report for the Period April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2010 26

The Partnership 28

The Staff 28

ConTEnTS

Reviewingthissummaryreportofthefirsttenyears’accomplishmentsoftheFoothillsGrowthandYieldAssociationremindsmethattimepassesbothslowlyandquickly.InmanyrespectsitseemslikeonlyyesterdayweweremeetingtodiscusstheideaofcreatingapartnershipfocusedonlearninghowlodgepolepinestandsdevelopupanddowntheEasternSlopes.Conversely,lookingattheresultsremindsmethatourcollaborationtodatespansjustovertenpercentoftheeconomiclifecycleofthestandsmanagedbyourmembership.

Fromtheoutset,themembersoftheFGYAremindedeachotheroftheimportanceof“keep-ingitsimple”andstayingfocusedonafewvitalquestions,answerstowhichwouldassistfor-estrypractitionerswiththetoughdecisionstheyface.Iamproudthatwemaintainedthatfocusandasaresultareabletodelivermeaningfulresults.

Mostsignificanttomeiswhatwehavelearnedaboutpredictingregeneratedstanddevelop-ment,includingthemajorrolethatingressandotherfactorsplay.Theearlyunderstandingwearegainingoftheroleofclimatechange,notonlydirectlyonthegrowthofmanagedstands,butalsoonthepathogensthatareaffectingtheirdevelopment,willbeinvaluableasweadaptourmanagementpracticestoachangingenvironment.

IamconvincedthatthemodelsthattheAssociationhasdevelopedforpredictingthedy-namicsofbothplantedandnaturallyregeneratedlodgepolepineinyoungmanagedstands,andthedecisionsupporttoolforstandmanagementaftermountainpinebeetleinfestation,willpaylargedividendstoforestmanagersoverthenextdecade.

Intheupcomingyears theAssociationwillcontinuetodevelopmoredataandimprovedknowledgecriticaltothemanagementoflodgepolepineinAlberta.Asthisreportsays,“Thesedataandknowledgewillbeusedtoenhanceandexpandthepreliminaryregenerationmodel,replacingcurrentinterimprojectionswithrobustandreliableempiricaldata.”Iagreewiththisassessment,butwouldliketochallengebothmembersandnon-membersoftheFGYAtostartusingnowtheinformationandknowledgegainedtoimprovewhatwearedoingontheground.Thisincludesimprovingsilvicultureprescriptionsforharvestedlodgepolepinestands,andforstandskilledbymountainpinebeetle.Weneedtogobeyondansweringhowclimatechangewillaffectlodgepolepinestandandpathogendynamics,andaskourselveshowweshouldbeadapt-ingourreforestationmethodsinlightofthesechanges.

Ifeelweshouldallbeproudoftheterrificworkthathasbeencompleted.Ourchallengeistofindwaysoftakingthisnew-foundknowledgeandusingitinourdaytodaypractices.

GregBrantonAlbertaNewsprint

Greg Branton alberta newsprint

Lodgepole Pine

MESSAgE FRoM THE CHAIR

F o oT H I L L S g RoW T H A n D Y I E L D A S S o C I AT I o n - P Ro g R E S S A n D AC H I E V E M E n T S - T H E F I R S T D E C A D E A P R I L 2 0 0 0 - M A RC H 2 0 1 0

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WhentheFoothillsGrowthandYieldAssociation(FGYA)wasformedonApril1,2000,fewcouldhaveforeseentheassociation’seffectivenessoverthenexttenyears.Theoriginalobjectiveofthecompaniesthatjoinedwastoparticipateinacooperativeprogramforforecastingandvalidatingmanagedstandgrowthandyield,particularlyoflodgepolepine.SustainableResourceDevelopment (SRD) joined as a non-voting member to promote the scientific developmentandvalidationofyieldforecasts.TheAssociationhasmadegreatstridestowardrealizingthesegoals,whichhasassistedSRDpriorities.Thelong-termgrowthstudyofplantedlodgepolepineisstartingtoyieldveryinterestingresults,includinganindicationthatclimatechangeishavingasignificanteffectonseedlingsurvivalandgrowth.

TheFGYAhaspreparedseveralveryinformativefactsheetsonanumberoftopicsrelatedtolodgepolepinemanagement.Thesesummarynoteshaveprovidedveryusefulreferencesinauser-friendlyandconvenientformattoforestersandnon-forestersinterestedinlearningmoreaboutthespecies.

Foresters inwesternCanadaknowthedamagemountainpinebeetle(MPB)cancausetopineforests.In2007,theFGYAorganizedatourofBritishColumbiaareashard-hitbythisforestpest,sothatindustryrepresentativesandgovernmentstaffcouldsee,first-hand,thesignificantdamagethebeetlecancause.TourparticipantswereabletospeakwithanumberofforestryrepresentativeswhoareonthefrontlinesofthebeetlebattleinBC.ThattriphelpedSRDfor-mulateitspolicyandactionplanforcombatingMPB.FGYAissponsoringathree-yearprojectwiththeForestResourceImprovementAssociationofAlbertatostudytheimplicationsofpost-MPBattackonpinestands,andpotentialmanagementinterventionsandsilviculturalstrategies.ResultswillhelpSRDandtheforestindustrymitigatethemiddle-andlong-termimpactsontimbersupplyandforestcover.

LocatingtheAssociationattheFoothillsModelForest(nowtheFoothillsResearchInstitute)hasalsoproventobeagoodchoice.Thatagencyhasprovidedexcellentsupportatlowcostovertheyears.

I congratulate the Foothills Growth and Yield Association, and particularly the variouschairmenovertheyears,ondevelopingaveryusefulandeffectiveorganizationthathasfosteredcooperation and collaboration between forest management agreement holders and SRD.Weplantocontinueourcloseworkingrelationshipwiththemembersoftheassociation,andlookforwardtomanymoreyearsofsuccessfulparticipationinthefuture.

bruce mayer, assistant deputy minister, forestry division alberta sustainable resource development

InTRoDuCTIon


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Bruce Mayer

Thisreportsummarizesthefirst10yearsofworkbyFoothillsGrowthandYieldAssociation(FGYA).

TheAssociation’smandateistoexpandunderstandingoflodgepolepine’sgrowthpatternsinnaturalandregeneratedstands,andtodeveloptoolsbywhichthisknowledgecanbeappliedinforestmanagement.OurworkissupportedbyresearchplotslocatedacrossvirtuallythefullrangeoflodgepolepineinAlberta.

Somehighlightsoftheknowledgegainedduringthisperiod:• Regeneratedstandperformanceismorepredictablethanoriginallythought,whenappropri-

atemeasurementmethodsandstandardsareused.• Ingress of natural regeneration often continues

beyond the establishment survey stage, and onmanysitesplantingisunnecessaryorevencoun-terproductiveforachievementofyieldtargets.

• Preliminary work shows mean annual tempera-tureroseinthestudyareaby0.80Cinthepast25years. If this climate trend continues, averagemortalityratescoulddoublewithin10to20years.Theimpactofclimatechange,andrelatedpatho-genproblemslikemountainpinebeetle,onlong-term timber supplies is yet unknown, but is al-readyconfoundingassumptionsbasedonhistori-calgrowthandyield.

• Tending and spacing can be beneficial on somesites but on other sites they appear to increaseaccessbydamageagentsandlimitthenumberofpotentialcroptrees.

• Fertilization and thinning may increase produc-tivity,butmayalsoincreasesusceptibilitytopathogensandextremeclimateevents(whichmaybeincreasingwithclimatechange)

• Similarresultsfromtwostudies,onemeasuredoveraspanof50years,confirmhighersiteindicesinmanagedstandscomparedtofireoriginstands,particularlyonmediumandpoorsites.

Using this research, the Association has developed preliminary regenerated lodgepole pinemodelsforbothplantedandnaturallyregeneratedlodgepolepine,andapreliminarydecisionsupporttoolformountainpinebeetlepost-infestationstandmanagement.

Inthenextfiveyears,trialmeasurementandanalysiswillcontinuetoyielddataandknowl-edgecriticaltothemanagementoflodgepolepineinAlberta.Notably,the408plotsinProject2willhavebeenmeasuredeveryyearfromestablishmenttoperformancesurveyage,andwillbeused to enhance and expand the preliminary regeneration model, replacing current interimprojectionswithrobustandreliableempiricaldata.

Enoughworkhasbeendoneinthefirst10yearstolaythefoundationforoperationaltrialstestingtheapplicationofFGYAresearchandplanningtools,andtheAssociationlooksforwardtothesetrialsproceedingunderthestewardshipofitsmembershipandothersinthenextfewyears.

Members of the Association share the common objective of productive and healthy regeneration following harvest of fire-origin lodgepole pine photo: brian carnell, fri


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ExECuTIVE SuMMARY AnD HIgHLIgHTS

F O O T H I L L S G R OW T H A N D Y I E L D A S S O C I AT I O N - P R O G R E S S A N D AC H I E V E M E N T S - T H E F I R S T D E C A D E A P R I L 2 0 0 0 - M A R C H 2 0 1 0

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Then and now: Sundance Forest Products RLP trial plot in 2002; Forest Planner Pat Golec at the same research installation in 2009


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GordonBaskerville,formerDeanofForestryattheUniversityofNew

Brunswicksaiditbest–andfrequently:“Whatgetsmeasured,getsmanaged.”Theforestmanagementplannerwhosetsouttodetermineappropriateandsustainableharvestlevelsacrosstimeisbesetbyuncertaintywithoutthescientificfoundationwithwhichtoassessormeasuretheproductivecapacityoflodgepolepineecosystems,andtheratesatwhichbothfireoriginandregeneratedstandsestablishandgrowacrossarangeofconditionsandmanagementregimes.ThisisthechallengethatbroughttogetherandsustainsthepartnershipoftheFoothillsGrowthandYieldAssociation.

SHARED DIRECTIonS


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ForestcompaniesjoinedtheFoothillsGrowthandYieldAssociationtocooperateinaprogramofforecastingandvalidatingmanagedstandgrowthandyield,particularlyoflodgepolepine.TheAlbertagovernmentdesiredtopromotethescientificdevelopmentandvalidationofyieldforecastsusedbytenureholdersinthedevelopmentofforestmanagementplans.FoothillsRe-searchInstitutelookedtopromotecooperationandsharedresponsibilityintheimprovementofsustainableforestmanagementpractices.

TheinterestsofallthesepartnerswerebroughttogetherintheMissionoftheFGYA,whichistocontinuallyimprovetheassessmentoflodgepolepinegrowthandyieldinmanagedstandsby:• Forecastingandmonitoringresponsestosilviculturaltreatments;• Facilitatingthescientificdevelopmentandvalidationofyieldforecasts

usedinmanagingtenures;• Promotingknowledge,sharedresponsibilityandcost-effectivecoopera-

tion.

The primary focus to date has been on forecasting the development ofpost-harvestmanagedstands.Thisisparticularlyimportantbecauseoftheurgent need for the development and refinement of regeneration stand-ardslinkedtogrowthandyield.FGYAmembersalsorecognizethatexperi-mentationandassessmentoffire-originstandscontinuetoberelevantandnecessary(a)foryieldforecastingandsoundsilviculturaldecision-makinginpost-harveststands,and(b)theabilitytopredictresponsestopotentialinterventionssuchasthinningandfertilization.

Giventhis, theAssociationestablishedresearchanddevelopmentpri-oritiesasfollows:1. Responses toplanting,vegetationmanagementanddensity regulation

treatmentsinpost-harvestregeneratedstands.(seeProject2)2. Mortality,foresthealthandriskmanagementinpost-harvestregeneratedstands,including

the effectsof climate change.This includes the impactofmountainpinebeetleon foresthealthandpost-beetleregenerationandstandmanagementstrategies.(seeProjects2,5,7)

3. Investigationsofspacing,tending,nutritionandthinninginpost-harvestregeneratedstandsincludingtheapplicationofresultsfromdensityandnutritionmanagementtrialsinfire-ori-ginstands.(SeeProjects4,6)

4. Impactsofdensitymanagementonwoodqualityovertime,throughworkundertakenbytheCanadianWoodFibreCentrewiththeFGYAassistinginfieldmeasurements.


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Figure 1.

FGYA Experimentaland Monitoring Sitesin Alberta, 2010

Mountain Pine Beetle Monitoring Site

Pine Aspen Study

Nutrition Trial

Regeneration Trial

CFS Historic Trial

Towns

Forest Management Area

Highways

Lakes

National Parks

ThemandateoftheFGYAisbeingmetbyworkonsevenprojectsthroughoutnineforestman-agementareas(Figure1)coveringmostoftheFoothillsregion.

project 1 Development and Management of the Association

TheAssociationworkstomeetthesharedresearchneedsofourmemberscooperativelyandcost-effectively.Primaryactivitiesunderthisheadingareprogramplanningandmanagement,fieldcoordination,technicalmeetings,fieldtours,dataanalysisanddisseminationofinforma-tion.

project 2 Regenerated Lodgepole Pine Trial (2000-ongoing)

ThistrialwasthefirstmajoreffortoftheAssociation,andcontinuesasitsflagshipproject.MostoftheearliersilviculturalresearchonlodgepolepineinAlbertafocusedonfire-originstands.Thisleftamajorgapinourknowledgeofthegrowthandyieldofregenerationfollowinghar-vest.Effectsofsitequality,standconditionsandreforestationtreatmentsontheestablishmentandperformanceofbothnaturalregenerationandplantedstockarecomplex,anddifficultorimpossibletoassesswithoutcontrolledexperimentation.

TenyearsagotheFGYAinstalled408fieldplotsacrosstheforestedlandscapeofAlbertatoannuallymeasure,monitorandforecastthedevelopmentoflodgepolepineregeneratedafterharvesting,underdifferentmanagementregimes.(Figure2)FGYAmembercompaniesinstalledtheplotsandtreatedthem,andcontinuetomeasurethemeverysecondyearwithqualitychecksin the intervening years. Results are being used to project crop performance againstAlbertaregeneration standards, and to link establishment and performance targets based on thesestandardstoeachotherandtolonger-termyieldtargets.

Figure 2. RLP trial – design and measurement photo: westsky resources


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PRojECTS AnD FIELD TRIALS

102 clusters installed across 5 site types at 6 planting densities, with replication

Lodgepole Pine Regeneration Trial:

Design of a Plot Cluster

0.1 hameasurement plot

0.25 hatreatmentplot

Treatments:W = weed T = thin

W

WTT

50 stands sampled, each with 3 plot pairs, across 5 site types

Plot pair

project 3 Comparison of Pre- and Post-Harvest Stand Development (2002-ongoing)

The purpose of this project is to gain and share knowledge of how stands regenerated afterharvestingdifferfromnaturalstands.Aninitialstudywasconductedtocompareproductivityinmaturefire-originstandswithproductivityinstandsregeneratedfollowingharvest.(Figure3)Comparisonsinvolvedcontemporaneoussamplingofpaired-plotsinadjacentregeneratedand parent stands in combination with analysis of time-series data from permanent sampleplotsmeasuredbeforeandafterharvesting.

Becauseoflimitationsinherentinthepaired–plotdesignandtheprojectionsmadeusingthesedata,resultsfromtheinitialstudyweresubsequentlycomparedandvalidatedwithdatafromlong-termspacingtrials.

In2006theFGYA, incooperationwiththeFoothillsModelForestandtheAlbertaForestGeneticResourcesCouncil,hostedaconferenceonpost-harveststanddevelopment.Informa-tionintegratinggrowthandyield,genetics,silvicultureandforesthealthwassharedby25inter-nationalspeakersand150delegates.

project 4

Historic Research Trials (2002-ongoing)

Thanks to the foresightof earlier researchersweare able to unlockawealth of informationabouttheresponseoflodgepolepinetosilviculturaltreatmentsfrommorethan20historicfieldtrials.Since2002theFGYAhasmaintainedandre-measuredthesetrialsonafive-yearscheduleunderanagreementwiththeCanadianForestServiceandtheAlbertagovernment.SeeTable1.Theresultsarebeingused toassessdensitymanagementstrategies, reliabilityofgrowthandyieldmodels,andeffectsofsilvicultural treatmentsonwoodquality.All the trialshavebeenfullydocumented,andinterpretivesignagehasbeenplacedatthemostvaluableandaccessiblelocations.

TheAssociationcooperateswiththeCanadianWoodFibreCentreoftheCanadianForestService,andwithAlbertaSustainableResourceDevelopment,toprovideforestmanagerswiththecontinuedbenefitofhistoricfieldtrials,someestablishedmorethan50yearsago.Ongoingactivities involve maintenance and protection of the field installations, periodic re-measure-ment,analysisandinterpretivesignage.

Afieldtourin1999thatvisitedtheplotslistedinTable1wasinstrumentalinbuildingthepartnershipthatsoonafterwardbecametheFoothillsGrowthandYieldAssociation.Thesehis-torictrialsgobackasfarasthe1930s;indeedGermanprisonersofwarwereputtoworkdoingsomeofthethinningsattheCanadianForestService’sKananaskisResearchStationin1941.

Figure 3. Current and projected growth of young harvest-origin stands were compared, close to stand boundaries such as shown in the photograph, with histori-cal growth rates of their fire-origin predecessors.


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Comparison of Pre- and Post-harvest Productivity:

Paired-plot Design

Cut boundaryStand area of uniform

ecosite

Harvested andregenerated

portion

Uncut portion of stand

The 1999 Field Tour visited the “Muttart Forest” (Nojack). The tour was instrumental in creation of the FGYA. Conditions during the tour went from a freak snowfall in central Alberta to seasonal fall conditions at Kananaskis.

project 5 Regional Yield Estimators (2002-ongoing)

The Association cooperated with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, which wishedtolinkgrowthandyieldmodelstotheAlbertaVegetationInventory,enablingtheDepartmentto report credibly on both the current state of provincial timber resources and their rate ofgrowth.

Historic Research Trials Year Established Historic Research Trials Year Established

Pre-commercial thinning, Mackay 1954 Juvenile spacing of 25-year-old lodgepole pine, Teepee Pole Creek 1967

Spacing trials – 7 year old fire origin stand, Gregg River 1963/64 Strip thinning of lodgepole pine, Teepee Pole Creek 1966

Spacing trials – 28 year old fire origin stand, Gregg River 1984 Heavy thinning of 77-year-old stand, Kananaskis 1941

Thinning and fertilization of 40-year-old stand, McCardell Creek 1984/85 Various thinnings based on European practices, Kananaskis 1938/39

Mechanical thinning treatments, Swan Lake 1977 Commercial thinning in an 88-year-old stand, Kananaskis 1950

Ricinus thinning 1975 Commercial thinning in an 85-year-old stand, Strachan 1952

Fertilizing after thinning 70-year-old lodgepole pine, Clearwater 1968 Fertilization and thinning of 26-year-old lodgepole pine, Edson (Takyi Trial, SRD) 1980

Table 1 Historic Research Trials Included in FGYA/SRD/CWFC Project


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project 6 Enhanced Management of Lodgepole Pine (2004-ongoing)

In2004 theAssociation, ina cooperative researchagreementwith theUniversityofAlberta,beganaprojecttoaddressgapsintheknowledgerequiredtoenhancelodgepolepinegrowthand yield through nutrition and density management in both fire-origin and post-harveststands.Itincludestwosub-projects(a)pinenutritionanddensitymanagementinyoungandmid-rotationstands(seeFigure4),and(b)pine-aspendensitymanagementfollowingharvestandreforestation.

The pine-aspen study is complete. Data were analyzed to explore the competitive effectsofaspen,spruceandpineonpinegrowth.

Datafromthepinenutritionanddensitystudyhavebeenanalyzedtoassesstheeffectsofthinningandfertilizationonsnowdamage,theeffectoffertilizationondiametergrowthandrootcarbohydrateconcentrations,andfoliarnutrientuptakeinfertilizedpost-harveststands.Wearecurrentlyconsolidatingresultsandconductingsomeadditionalchecksandanalysesbe-forefinalizingplansforfurthermeasurements6to9yearsaftertreatment,tofullyassessstandgrowthresponse.

Figure 4. Nutrition and Density Management trial – plot design and fertilization treatment

Pine-aspen Density Management Study

project 7 Regeneration Management in an Mountain Pine Beetle

Environment (2008-ongoing)

HighlevelsofinfestationandmortalityinthelodgepolepineforestsofAlbertaareexpected,yettheknowledgewithwhichtoaddresspost-infestationtreatmentisrudimentary.Theobjec-tiveofthisprojectistoprovidetoolsforassessingtreatmentoptions(e.g.salvage,partial-cut-ting, site preparation, re-planting, fertilization, density management) and their growth andyield implications, for pure and mixed-species lodgepole pine stands attacked by mountainpinebeetle.

WorkingwiththeMountainPineBeetleEcologyProgramoftheFoothillsResearchInstitute,aswellasourindustryandgovernmentpartners,wehaveestablishedanetworkof240perma-nentsampleplotstomonitorimpactsofbeetleattackonstanddevelopment.Plotsalreadyin-stalledbytheAlbertagovernmentandforestindustry,someover50yearsago,havebeenusedfor thispurpose, thusprovidingessentialhistoricaldata forbenchmarkingpre-attackcondi-tions,aswellasthebasisforpost-attackmonitoring.

Opposite page: Beetle-killed lodgepole pine near Grande Prairie, 2009. PHoTo: ALBERTA SuSTAInABLE RESouRCE DEVELoPMEnT


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Nutrition and Density Management:Design of an Experimental Site

Inner assessment plots(14.14 x 14.14m)

F0

(control)

Fertilization sub-plots (each 35 x 35m)

15 sites located in fire-origin stands plus 15 in stands of harvest origin ( illustrated layout applies to harvest-origin stands)

Thinned whole plot

(35 x 105m)

Non-thinned whole plot

(35 x 105m)

F0

(control)F1

F1 F2

F2


1 3


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Overthe10yearscoveredbythisreport,andparticularlyoverthelastfiveyearsasresultshavebecomeavailablefromtrialre-measurements,wehavelearnedmuchabouttheestablishmentandgrowthofmanagedlodgepolepine.Someofthemoreimportantfindings,andtheirpossi-bleimplicationsformanagement,areoutlinedbelow.

1. Prediction of Regeneration Performance

Thenewtrials,backedupbyearlierandsupportingstudies,havegreatlyimprovedourabilitytouseearlysurveysandotheravailablestandinformationtoquantitativelyprojectregenerationperformanceinrelationtositequalityandsilviculturaltreatments.Regenerationperformanceoflodgepolepineismorepredictableandlesschaoticthanweoriginallyexpected,providingthatthefollowingrequirementsandconditionsaremet:

• Theeffectsof sitequality, standdensityandvegetationmanagementaredistinguished(thiswasachievedbycontrolledexperimentation);

• Standdynamicsofregenerationdifferfromthoseonwhichmostconven-tional growth and yield models are based, therefore different input dataandmodellingapproachesmustbeusedat leastuntilcrownclosureoc-curs;

• Plantedstockandnaturalregenerationfollowdifferentdevelopmenttra-jectoriesandmustbedifferentiatedwherebotharepresent;

• Theeffectsofmortalityofplantedstockandingressofnaturalregenera-tionareseparated(failuretodosoresultsinincorrectestimationofcropageandprojectionsofstanddensity);

• Thetimingofestablishmentsurveysareadjustedwherenecessarytoreflectsignificantlevelsoflateingress;

• Statisticaldistributionsoftreesizeanddensityaretakenintoaccount(thishasbeenaccom-plishedbymodellingwiththeRegeneratedLodgepolePineTrialdata);

• Basicstandhistoryinformationisprovidedandsupplementedwithasimplebutappropri-ateecologicalclassification.

Re-measuring an RLP trial plot in a 10-year old stand

Young lodgepole pine backdropped by the Rockies – Highway 40 North

LEARnIngS In THE FIRST 10 YEARS

Figure 5. Mortality trends with Mean Annual Temperature: Two Data Sets, Similar Findings – A Forest Management Dilemma


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2. Climate Impacts

Climatechangeisfurthercomplicatingtheforecastingofgrowthandyield,andthisproblemisnotconfinedtouncertaintyintroducedbythemountainpinebeetleepidemic.

AnalysesoftheRegeneratedLodgepolePinetrialandotherdataindicatedthat,asinotherpartsofnorth-westNorthAmerica,thedynamicsofforestgrowthand“background”mortalityarechanging.Meanannualtemperaturesinthestudyareahaveincreased0.8°Coverthelast25years.Thistrend,inconjunctionwithareductioninprecipitation,hasledtohigherdroughtindices, and appears to be increasing the susceptibility of young lodgepole pine to not onlydirectclimateinjury,butalsotomortalityfromrootdisease,rootcollarweevilsandotherpatho-gens.

Trendsobservedacrossawiderangeofelevation,latitudeandothersiteconditionsshowedmortalityofimmaturelodgepolepinetodifferbetweensites(seeFigure5)butonaveragetodoublewithevery0.3°Ctemperatureincrease.Onthebasisofthisandexpectedcontinuedtem-peratureincreases,averagemortalityratescoulddoublewithin10to20yearscomparedtocur-rentlevels.Theseresultsarerecentandrequirefurtherstudy,butareconsistentwithobserva-tionselsewhereandhavepotentiallyseriousoperationalimplicationsforplanting,pestmanage-ment,tending,speciesselectionanddeploymentofseedandgeneticallyimprovedstock.

Figure5showstheanalysis(2010)oftwodatasetscollected20yearsapart,showingremark-ablyconsistentresults.Annualmortalityratesofyounglodgepolepineshowastrongexponen-tialrelationshipwithmeanannualtemperatureofthesite.Mortality(notethelogarithmicscaleontheverticalaxis)doublesforevery0.3°Cincreaseintemperature(shownonthehorizontalaxis).Thisgeneraltrendheldtruefordatafromtwostudiesconductedatdifferentlocationsoverdifferenttimeperiods:oneinplantedlodgepolepinebetween2001and2006(RLPtrial–redsymbols),andanotherinnaturallyregeneratingstandsbetween1981and1990(Ivesstudy–bluesymbols).Ifthetrendisalsofoundtoholdtruefortemperaturesforecasttoincreaseovertimebecauseofclimatechange,averagemortalityratesoflodgepolepineintheAlbertaFoot-hillscoulddoublewithin10to20yearsrelativetocurrentlevels.Deviationsfromthegeneraltrendappeartoresultfromsiteortreatmentfactors.Forexample,the5outlyingsamplescircledatthetopleftofthescatterplotsarelocatedonpoorlydrainedacidicuplandsiteswheresur-vivalofplantedstockmightactuallybenefitfromwarmertemperatures.

Mortality Trends with Mean Annual Temperature - Ives (1993) and FGYA (2010)

Mean annual temperature (°C)

0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.7 3 3.3

8

4

2

1

0.5

0.25

0.125

0.0625

0.03125

0.015625

Aver

age

annu

al m

orta

lity

(%)

Ives

RLP

Trend

1Crossley,D.I.1976.Theingressof

regenerationfollowingharvestand

scarificationoflodgepolepinestands.

Forestry ChronicleFebruary1976.

Ives,W.G.B.andC.L.Rentz.1993.

Factorsaffectingthesurvivalofim-

maturelodgepolepineinthefoothills

ofwest-centralAlberta.Forestry

Canada Information Report

NOR-X-330.

Johnstone,W.D.1976.Ingressof

lodgepolepineandwhitespruce

regenerationfollowingloggingand

scarificationinwest-centralAlberta.

Canadian Forest Service Information

Report NOR-X-170.

Ingress of natural regeneration in harvested stands like this may continue for over 12 years. – photo: brian carnell, fri

Regenerated stand suffering from root disease, root collar weevils and rusts. These pathogens appear to be increasing, possibly as a result of climate change.


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3. Planting and natural Regeneration – Ingress and Mortality

Thefinalstockinglevelofaregeneratedforeststanddependsonthenetoutcomeoftwocom-petinginfluences:ingressandmortality.

A - IngressResearchbytheFGYA(Figure6)hasbeenconsistentwiththefindingsofearlierstudies1whichwere,inlightofcurrentresearch,remarkablyprescient.

Natural regeneration establishment is influenced by site factors (including climate) andtreatments(suchasmechanicalsitepreparation).Evenwithearlyandoptimumtreatmenttofavourgermination,ingressoccursoveraprotractedperiodoftime.Indeed,substantialamountsof ingressoccuronsomesite typesafterconventionalregenerationsurveysarerequired, theresultsofwhichmustbeusedtojudgeestablishmentsuccess.Thishasperhapscontributedinthepasttoareluctancetorelyonnaturalregenerationformeetingreforestationtargets.

Thecontributionofplantedstocktofinalyieldsatrotation,however,islikelytobelower

1 2 3 4 5

Ecological Site Class

Mor

talit

y %

3.50

3.00

2.50

2.00

1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00

Mean Annual Mortality of Planted Stock Density of Natural Regeneration

16000

14000

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0

Tree

s pe

r Ha

1 2 3 4 5

Ecological Site Class

Figure 6. Natural regeneration ingress trends for lodgepole pine – Two Studies, Similar Findings

Figure 7. Mortality of plant-ed stock and average density of natural regeneration in the Regenerated Lodgepole Pine Trial 7-8 years after planting


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Pine Ingress Following Harvest and Reforestation - Crossley (1976) and FGYA (2010)

Years since harvest

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

30000

25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0

Tree

s pe

r Ha

RLP Site Class 1

RLP Site Class 2

RLP Site Class 3

RLP Site Class 4

RLP Site Class 5

Crossley - immediatescarification

Crossley - delayedscarification

thanpreviouslyexpectedonsomesitesbecauseofhighandincreasinglevelsofmortalityintheplantedtrees,accompaniedandoffsetbyhighratesofingressofnaturalregeneration.

Figure6showstheresultsoftwostudiesseparatedbyover30years.Inthemid1960s,ChiefForesterDesCrossleyofNorthwesternPulp&Power(nowHintonWoodProducts)wascon-cernedovertherequiredstockinglevelsatsurveyageintheregenerationstandardsofthetime.Heinstalledaseriesoftrackingplotsacrosshisforestmanagementareaonwhichhecountedregenerationstockinglevelsannuallyformanyyears,showingthatingresscontinuedwellbe-yondthecut-offdateforstockingatthetime.TheFGYA’sRegeneratedLodgepolePineTrialtrendshavenotyetbeenmeasuredoranalyzedbeyondeightyearsofstandage,butbasedonresultstodateandCrossley’searlierpublishedstudy,itseemslikelythatingresswillcontinuebeyondeightyears.

B - MortalityMortalityinyoungplantedlodgepolepine,asobservedintheRegeneratedLodgepolePineTrial,isaconcerngivenitspersistenceandlikelihoodtoincreasewithclimatechange.IvesandRentz’earlierstudyalsoreportedpersistentmortalityinnaturalregeneration.However,onmanysitesingressofnaturalregenerationismorethansufficienttooffsethighmortality(seeFigure7).Plantingonsuchsitesmaynotonlybeanunnecessaryexpense,butcouldbeexacerbatingcli-maticandpathogenthreatstoforesthealth.Onsiteswherenaturalingressissometimesinsuf-ficient,suchasrichandmoistsitesintheLowerFoothills,plantingpinecanbeparticularlyrisky,andfurtherinvestigationisrequiredtoidentifyalternativestrategiesformaximizingproductiv-ityandminimizinghealthrisks.

Rich Medium Poor

Soil Nutrient Regime

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ght (

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22.020.018.016.014.012.010.0

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Average Actual Top Height at 50 Years Total Age– Gregg Spacing Trial

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Aerial view of Gregg spacing trial, low productivity site.

Figure 8. Stand productivity trends shown by two studies (see text for explanation)

4. Tending, Thinning and Fertilization

Tendingandspacingcanbebeneficialonsomesitesbyincreasingvigour,reducingcompetitivestress,andremovingdead,dyingandsusceptibletrees.Butonothersitestheycanbedetrimen-talbyincreasingaccessbydamageagentsandlimitingthenumberofpotentialcroptrees.Sim-ilarly,fertilizationandthinninghavethepotentialtoincreaseproductivity,buttheycanincreasesusceptibilitytopathogensand(asdemonstratedbythenutritionanddensityfieldtrial)ex-tremeclimateevents,incidenceofwhichmaybeincreasingwithclimatechange.

In the first 10 years of stand growth, brushing of competing vegetation significantly in-creases thediameterandbasalareagrowthofyoung lodgepolepine,but in theRegeneratedLodgepolePineTrial ithasnotyetdemonstratedamajoreffectonheightgrowth, ingressofnaturalvegetation,ormortality.Inolderstandsmeasuredduringthepine-aspenstudy,theef-fectofcompetitiononheightgrowthwasstillobservedtobequitelimited,thoughsignificantonsomesites.

Whilecontrolofaspenwhenitexceedsthresholdbasalareasof5-9m2perhamaybebenefi-cialtolodgepolepinegrowthandtoconiferyield,theauthorofthepine-aspenstudyreportconcludedthatretentionofacomponentofaspenisdesirableformaintenanceofbiodiversity

andsiteproductivity.Retainingmoderatetohighdensitiesofaspenmayreducethegrowthoflodgepolepine,butsomelevelofretentioncouldprovideprotectionagainstriskofstandlosstomountainpinebeetleandotherdam-ageagents.

TheProject3“pairedplot”studyindicat-edthatregenerationpracticesfollowinghar-vestingwhichmoderatedensitieswhilemain-tainingorimprovingsiteoccupancyarelikelyto increase productivity relative to that ofuntreatedfire-originstands.Thisconclusionis supportedbymore recent analysesof theGregg spacing trial (Project 4). Results ofthetwostudiesarecomparedinFigure8.Thepaired-plotstudypredictedsimilarsiteindi-ces for fire-origin and managed stands ongoodsites,andsignificantlyincreasedsitein-

dicesonpoorersites.IntheGreggtrial,topheightdevelopmentto50yearstotalagehasbeenlittleinfluencedbyspacingongoodsites,butsignificantlyincreasedonpoorersites.Thebestopportunitiesforspacingorpre-commercialthinningoflodgepolepineappeartobeonpoorersites.Onrichsitesthinningmaybeineffectiveorcounterproductive,particularlyinviewofin-creasedrisksofmortalityrelatedtoclimateandpathogendamage.


1 8

Fire-origin

Postharvest

Control

Spaced


1 9

FGYA tour group with British Columbia Ministry of Forests Hosts and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development guests - Prince George Region May 2007

5. Mountain Pine Beetle

DuringthelastfiveyearstheAlbertagovernmentandindustrymembersoftheFGYAhavein-creasinglystressedtheneedtounderstandtheimpactofmountainpinebeetleattackonhabitat,regenerationandtimbersupply.

ItwillbeseveralyearsbeforewehavesufficientdatafromourPermanentSamplePlotsmon-itoringprogram,andotherstudiesinitiatedbyourpartners,tocomprehensivelyforecastpost-attack stand development. Our first steps in meeting the need were to find out what otherjurisdictions,alreadyconfrontedwithsuchepidemics,havealreadylearned.TheFGYAorgan-izedatourofmountainpinebeetle-affectedareasinthePrinceGeorgeForestDistrictofBritishColumbiain2007,andheldamountainpinebeetle-silvicultureworkshopin2009withguestspeakersfromB.C.andNewBrunswick.Lessonslearned,andincorporatedintoreportsoftheseeventsandoursubsequentanalyses,included:• Developmentofeffectivesilvicultural strategies formitigating timbersupply impactswill

require knowledge of how much secondary structure exists (trees, saplings and seedlingslikelytosurviveattackinpine-leadingstands),andhowthisstructurewillperforminthefuture;

• Salvagewillnotalwaysbefeasibleordesirable,andcontrolburningwhileseedfromdeadtimberremainsviablewillprobablybenecessaryinunsalvageablestandsthatlackappropri-atesecondarystructure;

• Knowledgeofthepotentialofattackedstandstonaturallyregeneratewithoutsalvageandconventionalsitepreparationiscrucialbutscarce;

• “Shelf life”ofkilled timbervaries fromfive-20yearsanddependsonsite,utilizationandmarketfactors,someofwhichcanbepredicted.

Over the lastfiveyearswehave focusedontwomainareas forapplyingknowledge toman-agementdecision-making:post-harvest reforestationandmanagementof standsattackedbymountainpinebeetle.

1. Post-Harvest Regeneration Model

Whatwehavelearnedoverthelastdecadehasprovidedabasisfor:• ForecastingearlydevelopmentoflodgepolepinestandsagainstAlbertaregenerationstand-

ards(RSA);• Linkagebetweeninitialstandconditionsandachievementofyieldtargetsatrotation;• IdentifyingwhatsilviculturaltreatmentsarerequiredtomeetRSAandyieldtargets;• Predictionoftreemortalityandriskofregenerationfailurefromclimatevariables,thereby

notonlyimprovingshort-termpredictionofcropperformance,butalsoprovidingabasisforassessingimpactsoffutureclimatechange.

Thesehavebeenconsolidatedintoaneasy-to-useregenerationmodel.SeeFigure9(facing

page).ThemodelprovidessilviculturistswithforecastsofattributesrecognizedinRSAsurveysandstandards,andforestplannerswithpredictionsthatcanbeusedasinputstomodels(thatwearecurrentlyvalidatingagainsthistorictrialdata)forecastinggrowthandyieldatlaterstagesofstanddevelopment.Forthefirsttimesuchattributescanbeforecastfromearlystandcondi-tionsmeasuredinstockingorestablishmentsurveys.

Usersofthemodelspecifyanecologicalsiteclass,vegetationmanagementtreatmentandotherbasicstandhistoryinformation.Theymayinputtheirownsurveyinformationifavail-able,orrelyondefaultvaluesbasedontreatmentandsite.Themodelpredictsheightanddi-ametergrowth,ingress,mortality,density,stocking,andbasalareatoRSAperformancesurveyage(12–14years).

2. Management of Beetle-Attacked Stands

InAlbertawehavemuch to learnover thenext fewyearsabouthowstandswill respond tomountainpinebeetleattack.Butinthemeantimeimportantdecisionshavetobemadeaboutwhere,whenandhowtotreatattackedstandsinordertominimisethelossoftimber,habitatandothervaluesfromtheforest.Wehaveassembledthebestcurrentlyavailableinformationonpre-attackconditions,“shelf-life”ofkilledtrees,growthresponseoftheresidualstand,andregenerationdynamicstosupportsuchdecisions.SeeFigure10(facingpage).

Theresultingdecision-supporttoolhelpsmanagersassesstheimpactsofdifferentlevelsofmountainpinebeetleinfestation,andvarioussilviculturalinterventions,onpost-attackstanddevelopment.Usersdefinesimulationscenariosbyspecifyingagrowthmodel,ecologicalsiteclass,standstructure,speciescomposition,standage,mountainpinebeetleseverity,andsilvi-cultureintervention.In2011,theDSTisbeingrevisedtoincorporateadditionalstandtypesnotaddressedinthecurrentversion.Foreachdefinedscenario,thedecisionsupporttoolsearch-esandreportsfromadatabasecontainingthebestavailablestandgrowthprojections.Forestgrowth projections are made using both GYPSY and MGM, the two models currently avail-ableforAlberta’sforeststandtypes.Simulationresultsincludetabularandgraphicalreportsofstandardmensurationalstandgrowthattributes,andpost-beetlewoodqualitymetrics,for100yearsand10yearspost-attack,respectively.


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APPLICATIonS FoR IMPRoVED FoREST MAnAgEMEnT


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2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2090 2100 2110 2120

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Figure 10. Example of wood quality forecasts by the MPB Decision Support Tool

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Numberofplantedpinetreesperha>=130cmNumberofpineingresstreesperha>=130cmTotalnumberofpinetreesperha>=130cm

Figure 9. Examples of reforestation performance forecasts by the Lodgepole Pine Regeneration Model

Sustainable forest management is dependent on monitoring of actual forest growth relative to that which has been predicted, and periodically adjusting forest management plans accord-ingly. The FgYA is supporting the application of this principle in Alberta by several on-going monitoring commitments:• The Regenerated Lodgepole Pine Trial is being used to monitor growth of harvest-origin

lodgepole pine relative to regeneration standards and the predictions of growth and yield models;

• The historic research trials and the FgYA’s nutrition trial are being used to monitor re-sponses of managed stands to more intensive management practices, and also to validate growth and yield models;

• Permanent sample plots belonging to FgYA members are being used to monitor how stands respond to mountain pine beetle attack.


2 2

MonIToRIng AnD FEEDBACkA Framework for Continual Improvement

Jack Wright, a pioneer in the application of growth and yield to forest management planning, assesses a young pine stand (1981).

Dave Presslee (1950-2000), an avid supporter of forest research, in a 35 year old regenerated pine stand, 1998.

ThenextfiveyearswillseenotonlycontinuedcooperativeresearchbytheAssociation,butalsooperationalapplicationoftheknowledgegainedbyitsmembersoverthelastdecade.

1. Continued Research

A - Development and management of the association

AstheFGYAlooksforwardtothenextfiveyears,thesharedresearchprogramwillcontinuetobe focused on meeting the information needs of the membership, co-operatively and cost-effectively.Toensurethatthisneedismet,theAssociationwillexpanditsextensionandcom-munication activities, placing an increasing emphasis on developing and providing decisionsupportinformationandtoolsforthemanagementofriskandchangeinlodgepolepine.Thiseffortwillbemosteffectiveifmembersandotherusersoftheinformationandtoolsareencour-agedtoprovidereviewandfeedbackontheutilityandvalueofourproducts.

B - Regenerated Lodgepole Pine Trial

TheAssociationwillcontinuemonitoringthegrowthoflodgepolepineregeneratedafterhar-vesting,undervariousmanagementregimes.Duringthenextfiveyears,thismonitoringpro-gramwillfollowtheyoungpinethroughtocompletionoftheregenerationphaseofstandde-velopment,thefirstsuchtrialtodosoinAlberta.Theresultswillbeusedtoenhanceandexpandthepreliminaryregenerationmodel,replacingcurrentinterimprojectionstoperformancesur-veyagewithirrefutableempiricaldata.Thiswillprovideastrongandvaluablebasisforsettingandforecastingperformanceagainstregenerationtargets,calibratingreforestationstandards,andselectingappropriatetreatmentsandstrategiesfortheirsuccessfulachievement.

Thetrialwasdesignedforcontinuedmonitoringofstanddevelopmentduringthegrowthphasefollowingregeneration.Inordertoallowfortrackingandevaluationofgrowthunderawiderangeofsiteandstockingconditions,theAssociationthroughitsmembercompanyco-operatorswill conduct scheduled thinning treatmentsofdesignatedplots.The thinningwillcompletethefullsetofcontrolledtreatmentsincludedintheoriginalexperimentaldesign.

Stronglinkagesalreadyidentifiedbetweensite,climaticfactorsandthehealthandmortalityof lodgepolepinewillbefurtherexaminedoverthenextfiveyears,withthedevelopmentofimprovedandmap-basedtoolstopredictmortalityandhealthrisks.ThesewillbeofhighvaluetosilviculturistsandplannersdevelopingstrategiesandstandardsforreforestationunderAlber-ta’schangingenvironmentalconditions.SeeFigure11.

C - Comparison of pre- and post-harvest stand development

Observationsandresultsfromthelast10years,someofwhichwerebasedoncomparisonsbe-tweensimilar-agefire-originandpost-harveststands,willbevalidatedbyongoingmonitoringofthegrowthofregeneratedandmanagedstands.Ofparticularinterestarethetrendstowardshigherproductivityobservedinmanagedstands,apparentlyresultingfromcontrolofdensityandstocking.


2 3

FuTuRE DIRECTIonS

Mortality Risk in Lodgepole Pine Regeneration

2011 to 2020


2 4

Figure 11. Changing risks of regeneration mortality in the forest management areas of FGYA members. Mapping where risks of adverse climate effects are increasing will assist managers to develop and apply adaptive silvicultural strategies.

Mortality Risk in Lodgepole Pine Regeneration

1961 to 1990

Risk

Low

Moderate

High

MapsproducedbytheFoothillsResearchInstitutefortheFoothillsGrowthandYieldAssociation.February2011

D - Historic research trials

TheAssociationwillcontinuetomaintainandmonitorsuchlong-termsilviculturetrialsaswillbevaluable inmeetingits informationandvalidationneeds.For instance, theGreggspacingtrialsareprovinginvaluableforexplainingandvalidatingthetrendsobservedincomparisonsofpre-andpost-harveststanddevelopmentmentionedabove,andfortestingavailablegrowthandyieldmodels,mostofwhichhavereliedprimarilyfire-originstanddatafortheirdevelop-ment.

WewillassisttheCanadianWoodFibreCounciloftheCanadianForestServiceinassessingtheeffectsofmanagementpracticesonwoodquality.

E - Yield estimation

TheAssociationanditspartnerswillrenewactivityunderthisprojecttovalidategrowthandyieldmodelsforuseintheFoothillsregion,andlookatappropriateenhancementstoimprovetheirvalue.Itproposestoalsoimproveandextendthelinkagebetweenregenerationforecastingtoolsandconventionalgrowthandyieldmodelspredictingrotation-ageyields.

F - Enhanced management of lodgepole pine

TheAssociationwillcompletetheanalysesandreportsofinitialtrialresultscommencedwithUniversitypartners.Subjecttofurtherreviewoftheseresultsbymembers,itwillalsore-meas-urethethinningandfertilizationfieldtrialandobtainafullerassessmentofyieldresponsestotreatmentsconductedin2005-2006.

G - Regeneration management in a mountain pine beetle environment

TheAssociationwillcontinuetomonitormountainpinebeetleimpactsonitsnetworkof240permanentsampleplots,andexaminetheresearchfindingsofotherprojectsunderwayintheMountainPineBeetleEcologyProgramoftheInstitute.Throughthisworkandcollaboration,wewillseektoprovideimprovedtoolsforassessingtreatmentoptionsforstandsattackedbymountainpinebeetle.Further,wewillencourageandassistthetestingandmonitoringoftreat-ments topromote regeneration innon-salvageable standsattackedbymountainpinebeetle.Ongoingevaluationofpost-MPBattackregenerationwillimproveforecastsasmoredatabe-comeavailable.Further, improvedwoodqualityparameter forecastswillbedevelopedwhenresearchbeginstoyielddatainthenextone-tothreeyears.

2. operational Application

ThecommitmentofFGYAmemberstolong-termprojectsoverthelastdecadeisnowbearingfruit.Althoughasingledecaderepresentsonlyafractionoftherotationrequiredtogrowlodge-pole pine inAlberta, the work done by theAssociation since its inception 10 years ago hasyieldedresultsandknowledgethatarereadyforoperationaltestingandapplication.Thenextfiveyearswillseetheacquiredknowledge“hittingtheground”asmemberstest,applyandulti-matelyincorporateitintotheirownoperations.

In2011atleastonemembercompanywillcommenceapilotoperationaltestingprogramofmodifications to silviculturalpractice,basedon theAssociation’s regenerationresearch.Thiswillhopefullyprovideamodelforotherstofollow.

Changestosilviculturalpracticeunderconsiderationincludeincreasedrelianceonnaturalregenerationandreductionofpathogenthreats,supportedwherenecessarybymodificationstositepreparation,siteandstandsurveyprocedures,speciesselection,tendingprescriptionsanddeploymentofseedandplantedstock.Weexpectthatallmemberswillutilize,dependingontheirneeds,theregenerationand/ormountainpinebeetledecisionsupporttoolsasthesebe-comefullydevelopedandtestedoverthenextfiveyears.


2 5


2 6

2MembercompaniesestablishedandmeasuredRLPplotsattheirowncost.Totalsshownarebasedonaverageestimatedcostsbyfiveyearperiod.

FgYA FInAnCIAL REPoRTfortheperiodApril1,2000toMarch31,2010

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 10 Year totals

OpeningBalance 90,000 74,999 93,408 96,508 120,071 118,170 116,108 156,392 114,449 88,001 90,000

IndustryFeesDirect 0 20,000 46,593 30,000 30,000 30,000 22,000 15,000 30,000 37,000 260,593

SRDContribution 0 0 10,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10,000

FRIAAFunding 50,000 70,000 105,000 148,407 94,500 115,500 176,000 120,000 97,500 90,000 1,066,907

In-KindPlotMeasuresEstablishment 0 440,5002 220,450 100,600 174,200 143,400 253,800 143,400 253,800 143,400 1,873,550

Total Income 140,000 605,499 475,451 375,515 418,771 407,070 567,908 434,792 495,749 358,401 3,301,050

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 10 Year totals

OfficeandComputer 0 581 694 2,415 935 3,290 4,223 2,275 1,468 1,666 17,549

Other–Capital 7,191 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7,191

MeetingsandTours 3,177 4,676 22 1,240 461 2,539 1,165 4,396 0 1,353 19,029

Rentals,FieldSupplies 3,635 50 0 578 0 488 0 0 0 0 4,751

TravelandTraining 998 6,762 9,693 9,465 4,265 8,048 908 1,257 0 1,312 42,708

WagesandBenefits 0 0 0 0 0 29,738 0 0 0 0 29,738

PlotCosts(members) 0 440,500 220,450 100,600 174,200 143,400 253,800 143,400 253,800 143,400 1,873,550

ConsultingFees 50,000 59,522 148,083 142,161 120,739 103,459 111,421 169,014 143,480 180,242 1,228,121

FundTransfersEFMProject 0 0 0 0 0 0 40,000 0 9,000 550 49,550

RecoveredExpenses 0 0 0 -1,014 0 0 0 0 0 0 -1,014

Total Expense 65,001 512,091 378,943 255,445 300,600 290,962 411,517 320,343 407,748 328,523 3,271,172

Year End Balance 74,999 93,408 96,508 120,071 118,170 116,108 156,392 114,449 88,001 29,878 29,878


2 7

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 10 Year totals

OpeningBalance 90,000 74,999 93,408 96,508 120,071 118,170 116,108 156,392 114,449 88,001 90,000

IndustryFeesDirect 0 20,000 46,593 30,000 30,000 30,000 22,000 15,000 30,000 37,000 260,593

SRDContribution 0 0 10,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10,000

FRIAAFunding 50,000 70,000 105,000 148,407 94,500 115,500 176,000 120,000 97,500 90,000 1,066,907

In-KindPlotMeasuresEstablishment 0 440,5002 220,450 100,600 174,200 143,400 253,800 143,400 253,800 143,400 1,873,550

Total Income 140,000 605,499 475,451 375,515 418,771 407,070 567,908 434,792 495,749 358,401 3,301,050

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 10 Year totals

OfficeandComputer 0 581 694 2,415 935 3,290 4,223 2,275 1,468 1,666 17,549

Other–Capital 7,191 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7,191

MeetingsandTours 3,177 4,676 22 1,240 461 2,539 1,165 4,396 0 1,353 19,029

Rentals,FieldSupplies 3,635 50 0 578 0 488 0 0 0 0 4,751

TravelandTraining 998 6,762 9,693 9,465 4,265 8,048 908 1,257 0 1,312 42,708

WagesandBenefits 0 0 0 0 0 29,738 0 0 0 0 29,738

PlotCosts(members) 0 440,500 220,450 100,600 174,200 143,400 253,800 143,400 253,800 143,400 1,873,550

ConsultingFees 50,000 59,522 148,083 142,161 120,739 103,459 111,421 169,014 143,480 180,242 1,228,121

FundTransfersEFMProject 0 0 0 0 0 0 40,000 0 9,000 550 49,550

RecoveredExpenses 0 0 0 -1,014 0 0 0 0 0 0 -1,014

Total Expense 65,001 512,091 378,943 255,445 300,600 290,962 411,517 320,343 407,748 328,523 3,271,172

Year End Balance 74,999 93,408 96,508 120,071 118,170 116,108 156,392 114,449 88,001 29,878 29,878

FGYA IncomeApril 1, 2000 to March 31, 2010

l – Opening Balance $90,000

l – Industry Fees (direct) $260,593

l – SRD Contribution $10,000

l – FRIAA Funding $1,066,907

l – In-Kind (plot measurements) $1,873,550

FGYA CostsApril 1, 2000 to March 31, 2010

l – Office, Other, $28,477

l – Meetings, Tours, Training $61,737

l – Field Operations, Research $1,257,859

l – EMLP (Project 6) Transfer $49,550

l – Plot Measurements (members) $1,873,550

Bob Udell and Dick Dempster, 2009.

Far right: Rand McPherson Gregg Thinning Trials 2002

our PartnershipTheforestmanagementagreementareasoftheninemembercompaniesoftheFoothillsGrowthandYieldAssociationrepresentovertwomillionhectaresofpine-dominantforestlandscapesinAlberta.AlbertaSustainableResourceDevelopmentparticipates inthetechnicalandsteeringcommitteesoftheAssociationtoprovideapolicyandtechnicalperspective,ensuringtheworkoftheAssociationisalignedwithandcontributingtodepartmentalpriorities.

our Staff Dr.DickDempsterhasbeenthescientificauthorityforthisprogramsinceitsinceptionin2000andcontinuesasResearchandDevelopmentAssociate.

In2007/08theresponsibilitiesforprogramdirectionandscientificmanagementwereparti-tionedintotwopositions–theOperationsDirectorandResearchandDevelopmentAssociate.BobUdellhasbeenOperationsDirectorsincethen,withearlybackupbyHughLougheedofTimberline(nowTECONaturalResourceGroup)andwithcontinuingsupportfromSharonMeredithofAlbertaSustainableResourceDevelopment.

HarryUllrichofTimberline(nowTECONaturalResourceGroup)servedasFieldCoordi-natorin2007andSharonMeredithassumedthisrolein2008,withRandMcPherson(theAsso-ciation’soriginalFieldCoordinator)replacingherin2009.

AcknowledgementsImagesusedinthisreportcamefromvarioussources,includingAlbertaSustainableResourceDevelopment, Westsky Resource Consultants Ltd., the Foothills Research Institute, membercompaniesof theFoothillsGrowthandYieldAssociation(inparticularHintonWoodProd-ucts),staffmembersoftheAssociation,andprofessionalphotographerBrianCarnell.Allcon-tributionsaregratefullyacknowledged.

MapsusedinthereportwereproducedbytheFoothillsResearchInstituteandweparticu-larlyrecognizethecontributionofDebbieMuchaandDarrenWiensoftheGISProgramfortheirenthusiasticandtimelysupport.

David Holehouse of MediaMatch Communications was the editor of the report, one ofhislastforestryassignmentsbeforeclosingdownhisbusinesstomovetogovernmentservice.We will miss his involvement as a long time friend, advocate and skilled communicator fortheforestrycommunity.WealsoappreciatethefineworkofJohnLuckhurstinthedesignofthisreport.


2 8

Our Partnership:FGYA Sponsoring members and areas of Lodgepole Pine on their tenures

Member Netpine-leadingarea(ha) %oftotal

l – Alberta Newsprint Company 106,870 5.2

l – Blue Ridge Lumber Inc. 180,323 8.8

l – Canfor 106,271 5.2

l – Millar Western 112,406 5.5

l – Spray Lake Sawmills 114,988 5.6

l – Sundance Forest Products 121,848 6.0

l – Sundre Forest Products 293,655 14.4

l – Hinton Wood Products 451,713 22.1

l – Weyerhaeuser 557,433 27.2

Total 2,045,507 100.00

Questions or comments on this 10 Year Report?

Please contact us at:

P.O. Box 6330 Hinton, Alberta, Canada T7V 1X6 Phone: 780-865-8330 Fax: 780-865-8331

foothillsresearchinstitute.ca

fgya 2011 05 rpt progressachievementsfgyafirstdecadeapr200 mar2010

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