Canadian Forest Service Publications
Seeking alternatives to clearcutting in British Columbia: the role of large-scale experiments for sustainable forestry. 2005. Vyse, A.H.; Mitchell, A.K.; de Montigny, L.M. Pages 155-163 in C.E. Peterson and D.A. Maquire, editors. Balancing ecosystem values: innovative experiments for sustainable forestry: Proceedings of a conference, August 15-20, 2004, Portland, OR. USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, Oregon, USA, General Technical Report PNW-GTR 635. 389 p.
Year: 2005
Issued by: Pacific Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 25519
Language: English
Series: USDA General Technical Report
Availability: PDF (download)
Abstract
Numerous large-scale, forest management experiments have been established in British Columbia as part of a government response to public protests over clearcutting. The experiments test the effect of opening size and concepts such as aggregated and dispersed retention, on an operational scale with experimental units usually exceeding 10 hectares. Most of the experiments are multidisciplinary in scope and, in some cases, they are interdisciplinary in practice. The short-term outputs from these experiments have been substantial. A few have led, directly or indirectly, to major shifts in operational practice. The initial surge of funding has now ended, however, despite these accomplishments. We describe several lessons learned in British Columbia that might have application in future programs with similar ambitions.