T h e Sixth N o r t h A m e r i c a n C a r i b o u W o r k s h o p , Prince George, British C o l u m b i a , Canada, 1-4 M a r c h , 1994. Using Alternative Silvicultural Systems to Integrate Mountain Caribou and Timber Management in British Columbia Harold M . Armleder & Susan K. Stevenson 1 1 2 2 C a r i b o o Forest R e g i o n , B . C . M i n i s t r y o f Forests, 640 B o r l a n d Street, W i l l i a m s Lake, B . C . V 2 G 4 T 1 , Canada. Silvifauna Research, 101 B u r d e n Street, Prince George, British C o l u m b i a V 2 M 2 G 8 , Canada. Abstract: Even-aged forest management using the clearcutting silvicultural system as it is currently applied threatens mountain caribou habitat i n British C o l u m b i a . Since neither complete preservation nor m a x i m u m development o f t i m ber resources are socially acceptable alternatives, forest managers are anxious to find integrated management options. W e describe alternative silvicultural systems currently being tested, i n c l u d i n g single-tree and group selection. A l l the treatments have the goal o f periodically extracting viable timber volumes w h i l e perpetually retaining stand characteristics necessary for caribou. T h e effects o f these logging prescriptions o n lichen biomass and g r o w t h rates are being tested. Alternative silvicultural systems may become part o f a larger strategy to maintain caribou habitat i n managed forests. Key words: Rangifer, l o g g i n g , forest m a n a g e m e n t , a r b o r e a l l i c h e n s Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9, 141-148 Introduction Why m e n t since m o r e o f the stands u s e d b y c a r i b o u at d o w e n e e d to c o n s i d e r a l t e r n a t i v e s i l v i c u l t u - ral systems t o i n t e g r a t e m o u n t a i n c a r i b o u (Rangifer tarandas caribou) a n d t i m b e r m a n a g e m e n t ? W h a t is wrong with the status quo? m o u n t a i n c a r i b o u habitat A brief review requirements of i n British that t i m e are non-merchantable. S e v e r a l types o f s i l v i c u l t u r a l systems, o r cycles o f activities b y w h i c h a stand is h a r v e s t e d , regenerated, a n d t e n d e d o v e r t i m e , are u s e d i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a . Nearly all E S S F and I C H forests are currently C o l u m b i a w i l l h e l p e x p l a i n w h y the c u r r e n t a p p l i - m a n a g e d w i t h o n l y the c l e a r c u t t i n g s i l v i c u l t u r a l sys- c a t i o n o f the c l e a r c u t t i n g s i l v i c u l t u r a l s y s t e m is t h r e - t e m . L o g g i n g w i t h that s y s t e m r e m o v e s the a t e n i n g m o u n t a i n c a r i b o u habitat, a n d w h y a l t e r n a - a r b o r e a l l i c h e n f o o d s o u r c e , w h i c h is p r o b l e m a t i c tives are necessary. because l i c h e n s are s l o w t o disperse a n d s l o w t o entire and g r o w , e v e n w h e n a suitable substrate a n d m i c r o c l i - r a n g e o v e r large areas o f east-central a n d s o u t h e a s - m a t e exist. T o attain a b i o m a s s useful t o c a r i b o u , t e r n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a . T h r o u g h o u t the w i n t e r c a r i - l i c h e n s take m u c h l o n g e r t h a n the 1 0 0 t o 1 2 0 y e a r bou stands r o t a t i o n l e n g t h n o r m a l l y u s e d w i t h the c l e a r c u t t i n g 1 9 8 5 ; S e i p , 1 9 9 2 ) . I n early w i n t e r , system. E n t i r e drainages c o u l d b e v i r t u a l l y d e v o i d M o u n t a i n c a r i b o u o c c u r at l o w densities use o l d forests ( S i m p s o n et al, and avoid immature as s n o w is a c c u m u l a t i n g t o depths o f 3 m e t r e s o r o f useful l i c h e n b e a r i n g habitat after a n u m b e r o f m o r e i n the u p p e r E n g e l m a n n s p r u c e - s u b a l p i n e f i r l o g g i n g passes a n d w i t h n o r m a l r o t a t i o n l e n g t h s . zone ( E S S F ) , c a r i b o u use the l o w e r parts o f the A l t h o u g h space is t h o u g h t t o b e the single m o s t E S S F a n d the i n t e r i o r c e d a r - h e m l o c k ( I C H ) z o n e , important w h e r e the s n o w is n o t as d e e p . M o s t stands u s e d b y ( B e r g e r u d , 1 9 8 0 ; B e r g e r u d et al, c a r i b o u i n early w i n t e r are c o m m e r c i a l l y v a l u a b l e . m u s t c o n t a i n suitable habitat p r o v i d i n g the a t t r i b u - S h r u b s s u p p l e m e n t h c h e n forage u n t i l s n o w b u r i a l tes s p e c i f i c a l l y necessary i n e a c h season. I n w i n t e r , habitat variable m a k e s t h e m u n a v a i l a b l e . A s s n o w densities increase that m e a n s h a v i n g forests to lichen levels that w i l l support caribou, the animals forage. While affecting with caribou caribou 1 9 8 4 ) , that space available will travel arboreal across m o v e up i n elevation a n d feed almost exclusively r e c e n t clearcuts, a n area d e v o i d o f a r b o r e a l l i c h e n o n a r b o r e a l l i c h e n s f o r the rest o f the w i n t e r . I n the food late w i n t e r there is less c o n f l i c t w i t h forest m a n a g e - F r a g m e n t a t i o n o f suitab' l e habitat (space) b y t i m b e r Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9, 1996 resources is not suitable winter habitat. 141 P* p-, ^ o U u S on < D tu O rî M" Pn o) U Ü « P-. Pi s. s & Io S Q ON o 3 53 -a s s s ON ON m u") m ha) Tf T3 O S) Si .s ,g C J? Ë •-a •O a, •C U ï<y T z u a u0 o >-j <u ame r ame -y s oa O •c Q Ü i) Ü Ph o u 142 OJ Pn o o P< U Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9, 1996 Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9, 1996 Horsefly - safe snags retained - feller buncher \? ON CO - .03,.13,1.0 ha openings o group selectjon - safe snags retained - feller buncher - .03,.13,1.0 ha openings group selection - safe snags retained - feller buncher CO BLK 1 ESSFwkl group selection - .03,.13,1.0 ha openings 1992 V,CM, LA.LG.R, DSS.R V.DSS LA,LG,R, < yr 180-300 Horsefly - feller buncher Horsefly removal LA.LG, 2 removal' volume Study components Actual volume Planned L> TSL A43737 ESSFwkl ESSFwkl - safe snags retained - feller buncher - .03,.13,1.0 ha openings group selection Prescription CO 180-300 yr Horsefly Forest District < pi Grain Cr. ^ Q BLK 1 LO ° TSL A43737 6 co Grain Cr. in 150-250 o TSL A43738 ESSFwkl Subzone O CO Blackbear Cr. Stand age dN O CO TSL A43738 Blackbear Cr Study area 1992-93 Dec-Jan winter 1992 Nov-Dec winter WELD Nov-Dec winter Aug 1992 summer treatment season of Year and Cooperators'; (H. Armleder) WELD HFD,SSWG, CFR, (H. Armleder) WELD HFD,SSWG, CFR, (H. Armleder) HFD.SSWG, CFR, (H. Armleder) WELD HFD.SSWG, CFR, contact persons II pi SS o CO B -Ü 3 O ^ •- 'd so A I > 'H6 S 2 3 < q o $ o ^ . i « C c3 p 5b n I y II B o a u bb v o °o II pq 3 2? o CO & I O Ö « 'G Ü Pi E pi II - Ü t* -a o U o ca O O o -3 •§ " a, Q » Ö 2 * 'S Ü Q -3-S e O P' P g. 1) CO i) B -5 il -5 re Q 7? .y 3 ON CO o so 3 O Ph il (2- ST o ^ Z Pi O O 143 h a r v e s t i n g m a y l e a d t o h i g h e r levels o f p r e d a t i o n b y T h e s e l e c t i o n systems b e i n g tested are i n t e n d e d i n t r o d u c i n g c o n d i t i o n s that f a v o u r predators a n d b y to address t h e c a r i b o u habitat c o n c e r n . F o r e x a m - c o n c e n t r a t i n g c a r i b o u i n t o s m a l l e r areas. p l e , t h e t i m b e r v o l u m e r e m o v e d is t y p i c a l l y l i g h t so T h e m o s t p r o m i s i n g stand l e v e l o p t i o n that p e r - a s i g n i f i c a n t p r o p o r t i o n o f trees r e m a i n f o r c a r i b o u mits harvesting w h i l e potentially m a i n t a i n i n g cari- a n d t o ensure b o u habitat is t h e s e l e c t i o n s i l v i c u l t u r a l s y s t e m . T h e P r e s c r i p t i o n s are d e s i g n e d o b j e c t i v e i n u s i n g that s y s t e m f o r c a r i b o u m a n a g e - trees are left i n t h e stand. m e n t is t o r e t a i n , i n p e r p e t u i t y , a m a n a g e d stand i n a c o n d i t i o n suitable f o r c o n t i n u e d c a r i b o u use. that t h e stand remains windfirm. so that l i c h e n - b e a r i n g T h e distribution o f arboreal l i c h e n biomass w i t h i n a stand is h i g h l y v a r i a b l e . F o r e x a m p l e , surveys I n this p a p e r w e r e v i e w several m a j o r research d o n e o n t h e trials i n t h e H o r s e f l y F o r e s t D i s t r i c t i n i t i a t i v e s that are e x p l o r i n g those a l t e r n a t i v e s i l v i - ( T a b l e 1) r e v e a l e d that w i t h i n species, l a r g e r trees c u l t u r a l systems a n d w e d e s c r i b e h o w t h e y m i g h t fit ( > 3 0 c m d b h = d i a m e t e r at breast h e i g h t i . e . 1.3 m ) into a management have strategy f o r c a r i b o u . A l t h o u g h significantly (OC=0.05) m o r e arboreal lichen r e s e a r c h o n a l t e r n a t i v e s i l v i c u l t u r a l systems i n c a r i - t h a n s m a l l e r trees ( 1 0 - 3 0 c m d b h ) . T h u s , h a r v e s t i n g b o u habitat is o n g o i n g i n b o t h t h e E S S F a n d I C H j u s t t h e largest trees is c l e a r l y n o t t h e best strategy z o n e s , w e restrict o u r d i s c u s s i o n t o t h e E S S F z o n e . for m a i n t a i n i n g c a r i b o u habitat, a n d o u r p r e s c r i p t i - Selection Silvicultural Systems le h a r v e s t i n g t i m b e r . ons e m p h a s i z e m a i n t a i n i n g t h e tree size p r o f i l e w h i S e l e c t i o n systems d e s i g n e d to m a i n t a i n m o u n t a i n S t a n d i n g d e a d trees are c o m m o n i n these h i g h c a r i b o u habitat are b e i n g f i e l d tested i n v a r i o u s s t u - e l e v a t i o n forests a n d o f t e n c o m p r i s e 2 0 % o r m o r e o f d y areas i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a ( T a b l e 1). B o t h t h e the single-tree a c c o u n t f o r 12 t o 3 5 % o f stand l i c h e n b i o m a s s . I n and the group selection systems are stems. O u r surveys i n d i c a t e that dead trees b e i n g tested t o e x p l o r e t h e w i d e s t range o f o p t i o n s n o r m a l l o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n s all d e a d trees m u s t b e f e l - f o r forest managers ( F i g . 1). T h e s i n g l e - t r e e s e l e c t i - l e d c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h h a r v e s t i n g to p r o t e c t w o r k e r o n s y s t e m i n v o l v e s t h e r e m o v a l o f i n d i v i d u a l trees safety. O n s o m e o f o u r trials w e o b t a i n e d a v a r i a n c e f r o m t h e stand, a n d offers t h e f r o m the W o r k e r s ' C o m p e n s a t i o n B o a r d o f British flexibility o f leaving trees w i t h h i g h l i c h e n loads. T h e g r o u p s e l e c t i o n C o l u m b i a ( W C B ) t o r e t a i n safe d e a d trees b y u s i n g s y s t e m i n v o l v e s t h e r e m o v a l o f g r o u p s o f trees, a l l o - f e l l e r b u n c h e r s a n d g r a p p l e skidders, w h i c h e n c l o s e w i n g m o r e efficient l o g g i n g a n d l e a v i n g m u c h o f a n d p r o t e c t t h e operators. the stand u n t o u c h e d u n t i l t h e n e x t c u t t i n g c y c l e . E a c h s y s t e m has its advantages ( T a b l e 2 ) . F i g . 1. A variety o f post-harvest silvicultural treatments are b e i n g tested to ensure that future trees will Examples o f silvicultural systems suited to maintaining the stand characteristics required b y caribou (Stevenson et al, 1994). Single Tree Selection Group Selection • Diameter classes • 225 75 150 225 75 Tree ages (years) 225 150 i 120 80 144 Rangifer, S p e c i a l Issue N o . 9, 1 9 9 6 r e p l a c e those r e m o v e d t h r o u g h h a r v e s t i n g a n d those costs o f l o c o m o t i o n f o r c a r i b o u t h r o u g h these h a b i - lost t o n a t u r a l m o r t a l i t y . B o t h n a t u r a l a n d a r t i f i c i a l tats. P e r h a p s r e g e n e r a t i o n u s i n g v a r i o u s p l a n t i n g stocks, tree s p e - w h e t h e r l o g g e d stands are still suitable c a r i b o u h a b i - cies, a n d site p r e p a r a t i o n o p t i o n s are b e i n g tested. tat w i l l d e v e l o p f r o m t r a i l i n g o f c a r i b o u i n m a n a g e d Methods of Testing Alternative Silvicultural Systems for Caribou b y T e r r y et al, the most p r o m i s i n g assessments a n d u n m a n a g e d stands, as i n the studies It is i m p o r t a n t extraction reported t o q u a n t i f y the o n lichen here, A r m l e d e r et al, the abundance. photo impact o f timber F o r the reference studies manual of of described (1994). Results A l t h o u g h studies o f s e l e c t i o n h a r v e s t i n g i n c a r i b o u habitat are still i n progress, s o m e useful insights h a v e (1992) is u s e d to estimate the a b u n - already b e e n g a i n e d . T h e m a j o r factors c o n t r i b u t i n g d a n c e o f a r b o r e a l l i c h e n b e f o r e a n d after l o g g i n g . t o loss o f l i c h e n s d u e to h a r v e s t i n g are the r e m o v a l G r o w t h rates o f a r b o r e a l l i c h e n s are also b e i n g m e a - o f m e r c h a n t a b l e trees, the r e m o v a l o f snags, a n d loss s u r e d , since g r o w t h c o u l d b e affected b y changes t o o f l i c h e n s f r o m r e s i d u a l trees. I n the g r o u p s e l e c t i o n the stand m i c r o c l i m a t e c a u s e d b y t i m b e r h a r v e s t i n g . b l o c k at R e s e a r c h C r e e k ( C P 1 1 3 ) , the p r o p o r t i o n T o m e a s u r e g r o w t h , l i c h e n samples are p l a c e d i n o f l i c h e n s lost o n f e l l e d trees was e q u a l t o the 3 0 % e n c l o s u r e s that a l l o w a m b i e n t levels o f t e m p e r a t u r e , o f the area that was h a r v e s t e d . A t G e o r g e C r e e k humidity, and light w h i l e preventing contamination ( C P 3 2 ) , the p r o p o r t i o n o f l i c h e n s o n f e l l e d trees of the samples by wind-borne through fragmentation. debris or A t intervals, the losses (55%) w a s r o u g h l y e q u a l t o the 5 2 % o f the t i m b e r samples v o l u m e that w a s harvested. I n b o t h o f those s t u d y are b r o u g h t i n t o a l a b o r a t o r y a n d w e i g h e d i n a areas, safe snags w e r e r e t a i n e d d u r i n g harvest. h u m i d i t y - c o n t r o l l e d e n v i r o n m e n t (Walker, 1996; L u c i l l e M o u n t a i n , 4 3 % o f the l i c h e n s o r i g i n a l l y p r e - Stevenson, 1993). At sent was o n l i v i n g trees that w e r e h a r v e s t e d , a n d a n D i r e c t use o f the p a r t i a l l y c u t stands b y c a r i b o u a d d i t i o n a l 2 7 % was o n snags that w e r e f e l l e d d u r i n g is d i f f i c u l t to q u a n t i f y , because these a n i m a l s l i v e at h a r v e s t i n g . T h a t loss o f l i c h e n s greatly e x c e e d e d the l o w densities i n r e m o t e areas. O n s o m e s t u d y areas, average o f 4 5 % o f the t i m b e r v o l u m e h a r v e s t e d i n r a d i o - c o l l a r e d c a r i b o u are available to p r o v i d e s o m e the t r e a t m e n t u n i t s s t u d i e d . habitat use data, a l t h o u g h p r o b a b l y n o t e n o u g h a l l o w q u a n t i t a t i v e assessments o f t r e a t m e n t to effects. S o m e l i c h e n s are also lost f r o m the trees that remain after selection harvesting, either from S n o w m e a s u r e m e n t s are b e i n g t a k e n o n s o m e o f the damage d u r i n g l o g g i n g or f r o m increased exposure trials to assess the h y d r o l o g i c a l i m p a c t o f the t i m b e r after l o g g i n g . T h o s e losses are greater i n s i n g l e tree h a r v e s t i n g p r e s c r i p t i o n s , a n d to g a i n insights o n the s e l e c t i o n cuts t h a n i n g r o u p s e l e c t i o n cuts, a n d are p o s s i b l e i m p a c t o f t i m b e r h a r v e s t i n g o n the greater o n energy e x p o s e d sites t h a n o n sheltered sites. Table 2. C o m p a r i s o n o f advantages o f single tree and group selection systems for mountain caribou habitat (Stevenson et al, 1994). Potential Advantages o f Single Tree Selection - Potential Advantages o f G r o u p Selection m o r e f l e x i b i l i t y i n s e l e c t i n g trees t o harvest, therefore can high lichen-bearing trees - be retained. - more less d a m a g e t o r e s i d u a l stems a n d less associat e d loss o f l i c h e n s snag r e t e n t i o n a p o s s i b i l i t y w i t h use o f f e l l e r - flexibility i n developing multi-layered stand structure o n a m i c r o level rather than p r o d u c i n g series o f e v e n - a g e d c l u m p s as w i t h group selection buncher l o g g i n g costs l o w e r t h a n s i n g l e tree s e l e c t i o n - m o r e options for post-harvesting silviculture available impact o f l o g g i n g homogeneously distributed t h r o u g h o u t the stand i n f l u e n c e o f r e s i d u a l stand o n r e g e n e r a t i o n c a n d i s p e r s e d r e g e n e r a t i o n less l i k e l y t o d e t e r c a r i - b e v a r i e d t h r o u g h o p e n i n g size s e l e c t i o n b o u use t h a n e v e n - a g e d c l u m p s o f r e g e n e r a t i - leaves m u c h o f the stand w i t h n o on since l o g g i n g o n l y occurs i n openings e n t i r e stand is s t r u c t u r a l l y suitable f o r c a r i b o u typically smaller percent use at a n y o n e t i m e trails disturbance o f cutblock i n skid risk o f w i n d t h r o w m a y b e l o w e r b e t t e r s n o w i n t e r c e p t i o n areas w i t h i n stand Rangifer, S p e c i a l Issue N o . 9, 1 9 9 6 145 after l o g g i n g a r b o r e a l l i c h e n s , use b y c a r i b o u , a n d t i m b e r values. s u p p o r t e d 2 6 % less l i c h e n t h a n b e f o r e l o g g i n g at L o n g - t e r m m o n i t o r i n g is n e e d e d to assess the effec- George tiveness o f the v a r i o u s p o s s i b l e s e l e c t i o n p r e s c r i p t i - R e s i d u a l trees assessed Creek the (CP summer 32), 8% less at M o u n t a i n , a n d a b o u t the same a m o u n t Lucille as b e f o r e l o g g i n g at R e s e a r c h C r e e k . L i c h e n a b u n d a n c e G e o r g e C r e e k has n o t b e e n reassessed s i n c e 1 9 9 0 , b u t appears t o b e m u c h l o w e r t h a n b e f o r e ons i n m a i n t a i n i n g b o t h c a r i b o u a n d t i m b e r v a l u e s . Short-term at harves- results have indicated that r e m o v a l o f t i m b e r v o l u m e , especially o n high exposed sites, c a n result i n b l o w d o w n a n d i n h e a v y losses o f l i c h e n s f r o m the r e m a i n i n g trees. F o r those reasons, ting. P r e h m i n a r y results o f g r o w t h rate studies suggest that where selection harvesting results in drier, no more than 30% removal m o r e e x p o s e d c o n d i t i o n s , the t w o p r i n c i p a l g e n e r a mended o f forage ( S t e v e n s o n et ah, 1 9 9 4 ) . lichens respond differently. Over time those differences c o u l d result i n a shift f r o m Alectoria sarmentosa t o Bryoria spp. o n s o m e sites. I n v i e w o f the o b s e r v a t i o n s o f R o m i n g e r & R o b b i n s o f timber volume ( i n c l u d i n g that r e m o v e d f r o m s k i d trails) is r e c o m in blocks managed as caribou habitat S e l e c t i o n s i l v i c u l t u r a l systems are m o r e c o s t l y t o p l a n a n d i m p l e m e n t t h a n is the c l e a r c u t t i n g s i l v i c u l - (1994) t u r a l system, e s p e c i a l l y w h i l e i n i t i a l e x p e r i e n c e is sarmento- b e i n g g a i n e d . H o w e v e r , i n c r e a s e d use o f a l t e r n a t i v e sa, s u c h a shift m i g h t b e b e n e f i c i a l . T h e i m p a c t o f s i l v i c u l t u r a l systems i n s o m e forest types is necessary selection harvesting o n t o m e e t the c h a n g i n g d e m a n d s that c a r i b o u p r e f e r Bryoria spp. t o Alectoria overall lichen abundance o v e r t i m e is n o t y e t clear. Caribou or signs o f caribou use have been o b s e r v e d i n m o s t o f the s e l e c t i o n b l o c k s s i n c e h a r vesting was o f the p u b l i c f o r i n t e g r a t e d r e s o u r c e m a n a g e m e n t , a n d is r e q u i r e d b y completed. trailing proposed Forest Practices Code for British C o l u m b i a ( B . C . M i n i s t r y o f Forests, 1 9 9 3 ) . studies, O n g o i n g r e s e a r c h o n s e l e c t i o n s i l v i c u l t u r a l sys- T e r r y & M c L e l l a n (1991) n o t e d l i m i t e d use o f the tems i n c a r i b o u habitat p r i m a r i l y addresses m a n a g e - G e o r g e C r e e k ( C P 32) b l o c k . T h e c a r i b o u a p p e a r e d m e n t at the stand l e v e l . H o w e v e r , i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r to management concentrate During the t h e i r f o r a g i n g activities a l o n g the at the landscape level must also be edges o f the b l o c k w h e r e l i c h e n was available o n c o n s i d e r e d . T h e effectiveness o f s e l e c t i o n s i l v i c u l t u - w i n d t h r o w n trees. ral systems i n m a i n t a i n i n g c a r i b o u habitat is u n c e r (George tain a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e to be u n c e r t a i n for s o m e t i m e C r e e k C P 32) h e a v y b l o w d o w n has o c c u r r e d , l e a - i n the future. F u r t h e r m o r e , the i m p a c t s o f forestry v i n g a stand that is u n a c c e p t a b l e i n t e r m s o f b o t h activities c a r i b o u habitat a n d t i m b e r m a n a g e m e n t objectives. effects o f i n c r e a s e d access o n c a r i b o u are i n c o m p l e - Very at At one single tree selection block on predator/prey relationships and the Lucille t e l y u n d e r s t o o d . W e b e l i e v e that those u n c e r t a i n t i e s M o u n t a i n o r at the g r o u p s e l e c t i o n b l o c k s i n the c a n best b e addressed t h r o u g h z o n i n g o f the l a n d s - Horsefly Forest District. B l o w d o w n at the cape. George at little blowdown has occurred C r e e k b l o c k ( C P 37) and other Pinkerton S o m e c o r e c a r i b o u ranges s h o u l d b e set aside as M o u n t a i n has n o t b e e n assessed, a l t h o u g h s o m e has n o - h a r v e s t , no-access z o n e s , t o f u n c t i o n as r e f u g i a b e e n n o t e d a l o n g l a n d i n g edges a n d roadsides. i n the e v e n t that i n t e g r a t e d m a n a g e m e n t strategies are unsuccessful i n m e e t i n g the needs o f c a r i b o u . I n Discussion We s o m e areas, that n e e d c a n b e m e t l a r g e l y i n h i g h - a n t i c i p a t e that, w i t h i n the n e x t 5 t o 10 years, e l e v a t i o n areas w h e r e low, the s h o r t - t e r m i m p a c t o f s e l e c t i o n h a r v e s t i n g o n the m o v e m e n t c o r r i d o r s w i l l also b e r e q u i r e d . W h e r e abundance genera a n d g r o w t h rates o f the t w o p r i n c i p a l o f forage lichens for mountain T h e r e w i l l also b e m o r e information on forestry-related such measures, as caribou. windfirmness, and short-term regeneration costs, success, some low-elevation ranges and c a r i b o u use l o w e l e v a t i o n s m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y , l a r g e r n o - h a r v e s t z o n e s at l o w e l e v a t i o n s w i l l b e n e e d e d . various logging although t i m b e r values are r e l a t i v e l y s i g n i f i c a n t l y m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l b e available o n O t h e r parts o f c a r i b o u r a n g e s h o u l d b e d e s i g n a t e d as s p e c i a l m a n a g e m e n t zones, i n w h i c h e x p e r i - m e n t a t i o n w i t h s e l e c t i o n s i l v i c u l t u r a l systems can o f the use o f s e l e c t i o n c o n t i n u e . I n s o m e cases, c l e a r c u t t i n g m a y b e u s e d b l o c k s b y c a r i b o u is l i k e l y . H o w e v e r , a t h o r o u g h w i t h i n the s p e c i a l m a n a g e m e n t z o n e , w h e r e s e l e c t i - and further understanding s t u d y o f use b y c a r i b o u w o u l d r e q u i r e a m u c h l a r g e r on area m a n a g e d u n d e r s e l e c t i o n systems, a n d a n i n t e n - mass is n o t great e n o u g h that p a r t i a l c u t t i n g is w a r - sive m o n i t o r i n g p r o g r a m . ranted. H o w e v e r , clearcutting must not c o m p r o m i - S o m e k e y q u e s t i o n s c a n n o t b e a n s w e r e d i n the h a r v e s t i n g is n o t feasible o r w h e r e l i c h e n b i o - se o v e r a l l l a n d s c a p e - l e v e l habitat o b j e c t i v e s i n the n e a r future. T h e l o n g - t e r m changes i n stand s t r u c - special m a n a g e m e n t t u r e that f o l l o w s e l e c t i o n h a r v e s t i n g are l i k e l y p r o t e c t c a r i b o u is i m p o r t a n t i n the s p e c i a l m a n a g e - affect 146 the abundance a n d species to composition o f zone. Access management to ment zone. Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9, 1996 M a r g i n a l c a r i b o u ranges m a y be m a n a g e d a c c o r d i n g to o r d i n a r y p o l i c i e s o f i n t e g r a t e d m a n a g e m e n t . H o w e v e r , studies b y S e i p ( 1 9 9 0 , 1992) suggest that to m i n i m i z e the r i s k o f i n c r e a s i n g p r e d a t i o n o n c a r i b o u , managers s h o u l d a v o i d e n h a n c i n g habitat for m o o s e i n areas adjacent to c a r i b o u habitat. T h e effectiveness o f alternative s i l v i c u l t u r a l sys- t e m s i n m a i n t a i n i n g c a r i b o u habitat is i n c o m p l e t e l y understood. However, those systems have the p o t e n t i a l o f b e c o m i n g part o f a n o v e r a l l strategy f o r successfully m a n a g i n g m o u n t a i n c a r i b o u i n B r i t i s h Columbia. Acknowledgements T h e studies that w e report i n v o l v e many participants. In the C a r i b o o Forest R e g i o n , M i c h a e l a J . Waterhouse and Stephen D . W a l k e r conducted m u c h o f the caribou part o f the silvicultural systems trials w h i l e W e l d w o o d o f Canada L t d . , W i l l i a m s Lake D i v i s i o n was i n v o l v e d i n the experimental timber harvesting. In the Prince George Forest R e g i o n , N o r t h w o o d P u l p and T i m b e r L t d . , Prince George W o o d Preserving L t d . (now part o f R u s t a d Bros.), R u s t a d Bros. & C o . L t d . (now o w n e d by N o r t h w o o d ) and the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program o f the B . C . M i n i s t r y o f Forests participated i n the management trials. M a j o r funding for the projects reported here has been provided by the B . C . Habitat Conservation F u n d , B . C . M i n i s t r y o f E n v i r o n m e n t , Lands and Parks, B . C . M i n i s t r y o f Forests, M i c a W i l d l i f e Compensation Program, and W i l d l i f e Habitat Canada. References A r m l e d e r , H . M . , S . K . Stevenson & S . D . Walker. 1992. Estimating the abundance of arboreal forage lichens. B . C . M i n . For., V i c t o r i a , B . C . L a n d Manage. H a n d b . Field G u i d e Insert 7. 22 p. Bergerud, A . T . 1980. A review o f the population dynamics o f caribou and w i l d reindeer i n N o r t h A m e r i c a . In: Proc. 2nd Int. Reindeer/Caribou Symp., Røros, Norway, 1979. E . Reimers, E . Gaare and S. Skenneberg (editors), Direktoratet for vilt o g ferskvannsfisk, T r o n d h e i m , pp. 556-581. Bergerud, A.T., R.D. Jakimchuk Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9, 1996 & D.R. Carruthers. 1984. T h e buffalo o f the north: caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and h u m a n development. — Arctic 37(1): 7-22. B . C . Ministry o f Forests. 1993. Proposed forest practices rules for British Columbia. V i c t o r i a , B . C . 128 p. R o m i n g e r , E . M . & C . T . R o b b i n s . 1994. Generic preference and i n - v i v o digestibility o f alectorioid arboreal lichens by w o o d l a n d caribou. (This volume). Seip, D . 1990. Ecology of woodland caribou in Wells Gray Provincial Park. B . C . M i n . E n v i r o n . , W i l d ! B u l l . N o . B-68. Seip, D . 1992. Habitat use and population status of woodland caribou in the Quesnel Highlands, British Columbia. B . C . M i n . E n v i r o n . , Lands and Parks, W i l d l . B u l l . N o . B 71. 50 p. Simpson, K . , G . P . W o o d s & K . B . Hebert. 1985. C r i t i c a l habitats o f caribou i n the mountains o f southern British C o l u m b i a . - McGill Subarctic Res. Pap. 40: 177-191. Stevenson, S . K . 1993. Alternative silvicultural systems to maintain caribou habitat: Lucille M o u n t a i n project establishment report. U n p u b l . report available from Silvifauna Research, 101 B u r d e n St., Prince George, B . C . Canada V 2 M 2 G 8 . Stevenson, S . K . , H . M . A r m l e d e r , M . J . Jull, D . G . K i n g , E . L . T e r r y , G . S . Watts, B . N . M c L e l l a n & K . N . C h i l d . 1994. Mountain Caribou in Managed Forests: preliminary recommendations for managers. B . C . M i n . Forests and B . C . M i n . E n v i r o n . , Lands & Parks. 33 p. T e r r y , E . L . & B . N . M c L e l l a n . 1991. Microhabitat characteristics o f mountain caribou winter range and selective timber harvesting i n east-central British C o l u m b i a : progress report 1990-1991. U n p u b l . report available from B . C . M i n i s t r y o f Forests, P . O . B o x 9158, R P O #3, Revelstoke, B . C . Canada V 0 E 3K0. T e r r y , E . , B . M c L e l l a n , G . Watts & J . Flaa. 1994. Early winter habitat use by mountain caribou i n the N o r t h C a r i b o o and C o l u m b i a Mountains, British C o l u m b i a . This v o l u m e . Walker, S. D . 1996. A m e t h o d for measuring g r o w t h rates o f arboreal forarge lichens. U n p u b l . report available from C a r i b o o Forest R e g i o n , 640 B o r l a n d St.,Williams Lake, B . C , Canada V 2 G 4 T 1 . 147
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