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
1
Context
2

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
Presentation Objectives

Clarify

3
How MPB affects timber supply
Presentation Objectives

Clarify


Identify

4
How MPB affects timber supply
How fertilization can mitigate short and mid-term timber
supply shortfalls

Anticipated fertilization response in Interior stands

Potential areas for fertilization

Proposed fertilization program
Presentation Objectives

Clarify


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

5
How MPB affects timber supply
MOF Executive direction regarding program components
and budget
Context
Mountain pine beetle

6
MPB mortality and salvage is disrupting forest age class
distributions, creating a timber supply problem
Context
Mountain pine beetle
7

MPB mortality and salvage is disrupting forest age class
distributions, creating a timber supply problem

Every tree to be harvested in the next 40–60 years is in the
ground now
Context
Mountain pine beetle
8

MPB mortality and salvage is disrupting forest age class
distributions, creating a timber supply problem

Every tree to be harvested in the next 40–60 years is in the
ground now

Fertilization is a proven method for increasing harvest volume
and accelerating the operability of established stands
Context
Mountain pine beetle
9

MPB mortality and salvage is disrupting forest age class
distributions, creating a timber supply problem

Every tree to be harvested in the next 40–60 years is in the
ground now

Fertilization is a proven method for increasing harvest volume
and accelerating the operability of established stands

Fertilization can be used strategically to mitigate “pinch
points” in the timber supply
Context
Mountain pine beetle
10

MPB mortality and salvage is disrupting forest age class
distributions, creating a timber supply problem

Every tree to be harvested in the next 40–60 years is in the
ground now

Fertilization is a proven method for increasing harvest volume
and accelerating the operability of established stands

Fertilization can be used strategically to mitigate “pinch
points” in the timber supply

Many jurisdictions in similar latitudes (e.g., Sweden, Finland)
have used fertilization effectively to improve timber supply
Context
Mountain pine beetle
11

MPB mortality and salvage is disrupting forest age class
distributions, creating a timber supply problem

Every tree to be harvested in the next 40–60 years is in the
ground now

Fertilization is a proven method for increasing harvest volume
and accelerating the operability of established stands

Fertilization can be used strategically to mitigate “pinch
points” in the timber supply

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
Forest Dynamics (conceptual)
How fertilization mitigates MPB effects
harvest volume

0
area
years from now
MPB mortality area
age class distribution
12
250
Fertilizing 30- to
70-year-old stands
(blue) can
increase harvest
volumes 20–40
years from now
Forest Dynamics (conceptual)
How fertilization mitigates MPB effects
harvest volume
0
area
years from now
MPB mortality area
age class distribution
13
250

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
Fertilization Response
14

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
Fertilization Response
15

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

Fertilizer response potential of interior lodgepole pine
is well documented and local fertilizer response
information for other species (Fdi, Sx) is available
Fertilization Response
16

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

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
Fertilization Response
Six-year volume increment (m3/ha)
range of response (m3/ha)
28
24
20
range
16
mean
12
8
4
0
Interior spruce
17
Douglas-fir
BC Interior
Fertilization Response
Norway spruce
Stand Age (years)
40
60
80
100
Site Class
Yield (m3/ha)
Poor
--
12
13
13
Medium
15
16
16
15
Good
14
15
14
13
Northern Sweden
(Pettersson 2001)
18
Fertilization Response
Douglas-fir 6-year mean volume increment (m3/ha)
volume increment (m3/ha)
120
100
16%
13%
80
25%
fertilization
response
unfertilized
40
20
Inland Northwest
(Moore et al, 1991)
0
N. Idaho
19
Central Wash.
NE. Wash.
Fertilization Response
Multiple treatments, 10-yr old interior spruce
80
standing volume (m3/yr)
70
256%
ON2
181%
ON1
94%
NSB
60
50
40
30
20
Control
10
0
20
Brockley and Simpson
(2004)
0
3
6
years following establishment
9
Fertilization
Key concepts

21
Fertilization is a proven method for increasing harvest
volume and accelerating the operability of established
stands
Fertilization
Key concepts
22

Fertilization is a proven method for increasing harvest
volume and accelerating the operability of established
stands

Interior forests are nutrient deficient; Douglas-fir and
spruce stands respond positively to fertilization
Fertilization
Key concepts
23

Fertilization is a proven method for increasing harvest
volume and accelerating the operability of established
stands

Interior forests are nutrient deficient; Douglas-fir and
spruce stands respond positively to fertilization

Young and early-mature stands respond favourably to
nutrient additions
Fertilization
Key concepts
24

Fertilization is a proven method for increasing harvest
volume and accelerating the operability of established
stands

Interior forests are nutrient deficient; Douglas-fir and
spruce stands respond positively to fertilization

Young and early-mature stands respond favourably to
nutrient additions

Growth gains from repeated fertilization are
potentially very large
Regional Opportunities for Fertilization
Fd- and S-leading stands ages 0–60 years
300
000s ha
0–20 years
20–40 years
250
40–60 years
200
150
100
50
0
25
TFL 52
100 Mile
TSA
Williams
Lake TSA
Quesnel
TSA
Prince
George TSA
Fertilization Program
Goals, objectives
1. Mitigate timber supply shortfalls that will occur in 20
to 70 years


26
add merchantable volume to 15- to 70-year old stands
(make operable sooner, redistribute timber availability)
reduce depth and duration of timber supply shortfall
Fertilization Program
Goals, 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
2. Help reduce community/regional economic impacts
from MPB
27

provide short- and mid-term employment

invest in timber assets on public forest land
Fertilization Program
Goals, 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
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
28
Fertilization Program
Strategic approach

BC Interior


Areas facing major timber
supply impacts from MPB,
wildfire
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

29
Within key units, initially
focus on spruce, Douglasfir stands
Fertilization Program
Initial program focus and implications
30
Focus
Implications
Key areas of MPB and
fire losses
No funding to Coast or to management
units unaffected by catastrophic events
Fertilization Program
Initial program focus and implications
31
Focus
Implications
Key areas of MPB and
fire losses
No funding to Coast or to management
units unaffected by catastrophic events
Strategic allocation
of resources
Funding to specific forest districts,
management units, and stands
Fertilization Program
Initial program focus and implications
32
Focus
Implications
Key areas of MPB and
fire losses
No funding to Coast or to management
units unaffected by catastrophic events
Strategic allocation
of resources
Funding to specific forest districts,
management units, and stands
Fertilization goals
Multi-year funding commitment
Fertilization Program
Initial program focus and implications
33
Focus
Implications
Key areas of MPB and
fire losses
No funding to Coast or to management
units unaffected by catastrophic events
Strategic allocation
of resources
Funding to specific forest districts,
management units, and stands
Fertilization goals
Multi-year funding commitment
Mid-term
timber supply
Complements FFT activities to address
long-term timber supply
Fertilization Program
Proposed budget
Program $
12M
10M
Implementation
Planning (assess / select sites, review with districts)
Administration, auditing (PwC portion)
Overhead (auditing, reporting)
8M
6M
4M
2M
0M
2005/06
34
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
Fertilization Program
Proposed area to be treated
40
000s ha
35
35,000
30
29,000
25
23,000
20
15
23,000
18,000
10
5
0
2005/06
35
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
Economics

36
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
Risks

Water


Watershed impacts


37
protect through fertilizer free zones
limit applications in sensitive watersheds
Insects

limit fertilization of pine till epidemic runs it course

avoid areas with defoliating insects
Timber Volume Response
Proposed five-year fertilization program

38
Area fertilized: 128,000 hectares
Timber Volume Response
Proposed five-year fertilization program
39

Area fertilized: 128,000 hectares

Expected volume gain: ~ 2.0 million m3
Timber Volume Response
Proposed five-year fertilization program
40

Area fertilized: 128,000 hectares

Expected volume gain: ~ 2.0 million m3

Availability: 2020 (or as needed)
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
41