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
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Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9, 1996
Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9, 1996
Horsefly
- safe snags retained
- feller buncher
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o
group selectjon
- safe snags retained
- feller buncher
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group selection
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1992
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Stand age
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Study area
1992-93
Dec-Jan
winter
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Nov-Dec
winter
WELD
Nov-Dec
winter
Aug 1992
summer
treatment
season of
Year and
Cooperators';
(H. Armleder)
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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.
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