Hardwood siviculture in Québec: experiences gained and perspectives at MNRF-DRF

Transcription

1 Hardwood siviculture in Québec: experiences gained and perspectives at MNRF-DRF Ontario Hardwood Management Tour Evening session Hunstville,, Ontario, October 20, 2010 Steve Bédard, M. Sc., ing.f. François Guillemette, M. Sc., ing. f. f. Mathieu Fortin, Ph. D., ing. f. f. Josianne DeBlois, M. Sc., stat Marilou Beaudet, Ph. D. biol.

2 Presentation Outline Introduction Long-term selection cutting studies Description of studies Results overview SaMARE growth and yield model Log grade sub model Most recent projects Group/patch studies Irregular shelterwood study Thinning studies Future directions

3 Introduction Public lands available for hardwood forest management cover almost km 2 Annual allowable cut of hardwoods 6,5 millions m 3 (BFEC 2010) Important economic impact in many communities (52 mills, 35 mills > m 3 /yr (MRNF 2008)) Volume attributed 3 millions m 3 (MRNF 2007) Volume processed by mills 6,9 millions m 3 (MRNF 2008)

4 Bioclimatic regions and public forest

5 Introduction Previous to the 1980s, diameter limit (mostly selective cutting) was the most practiced type of cutting In the early 1980s, experimentation of selection cutting began In the 1990s, selection cutting gradually replaced diameter limit cutting in order to improve stand quality At the end of the 1990s, group selection and patch cuttings were introduced In the last five years a decrease in the demand for hardwoods resulted in a large reduction of area harvested Recently other silvicultural sytems to restore impoverished or highgraded stands are in development

6 Partially-cut areas of public forest over the past 20 years in Québec Year Selection Diameter limit 000 ha

7 Long-term selection cutting studies Main objective(s) Assess the long-term effects of partial cutting on: forest growth and yield stand structure and composition stem quality (tree grade) and vigor developement quality of volume havested (grade and products)

8 Long-term selection cutting studies Sources of data: Experimental plots network Established between 1983 and 1999 mostly in sugar maple dominated stands (SM, YB, AB) 36 (0,5 ha) paired plots (control and selection cut) Second entry began in 1999 (n=10 stands) Monitoring plots network Established between 1995 and (1/25 ha) plots in 156 stands (control and selection cut) 444 plots in SM stands (212 control and 232 selection cut)

9 Long-term selection cutting studies Experimental plots network Monitoring plots network

10 Long-term selection cutting studies Data collected (pre-cut,post-cut and every five years post-cut) Species, Dbh (mm), Major defects, Vigour class (1991) and Quality class (2004) Harvested trees were bucked, and logs were graded at the second entry (2005) Tree marking Experimental plots Carried out by the forest research team using a bdq method (Majcen et al marking guide) Monitoring program plots Carried out by the staff of the forest industry or their contractors using MRNF standards

11 Main results Pre-cut and post cut basal area 100% 90% 80% 25,5 m 2 /ha 18,5 m 2 /ha 28,4 m 2 /ha 18,6 m 2 /ha Basa area (m 2 /ha) 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% Cull UGS AGS 10% 0% Pre-cut Post-cut Pre-cut Post-cut Experimental plots Monitoring plots

12 Main results Basal area growth Growth components Basal area (m 2 /ha/an) Gross growth Mortality Net growth 0.17 Experimental plots 5 yr Experimental plots 15 yr Monitoring plots 5 yr

13 Main results Mortality Monitoring plots mortality Basal area (m 2 /ha/an) AGS (V1) UGS (V2-V3) Cull (V4) Post-cut class

14 Discussion Experimental plots results indicates that an average 20 yrs cutting cycle could be achieved (0,31m 2 /ha/yr after 15 yrs) A longer cutting cycle or an important reduction of volume to be harvested at the next entry could be expected in current forestry operations (0,17 m 2 /ha/yr after 5 yrs) paticularily in the western part of Québec Outaouais (0,07 m 2 /ha/yr) Temiscamingue (0,09 m 2 /ha/yr) The next intervention in some stands will probably be a regeneration cut because of the low proportion of AGS left standing

15 SaMARE growth and yield model Main objectives Develop models to assess the impact of partial harvesting on: Stand dynamics (growth components, structure, composition) Tree quality (grade) and vigour Assess the accuracy of prediction

16 SaMARE growth and yield model Model parameterization using data from the experimental plots network presented earlier paired plots (control and selection cutting) Plot area of 0,5 ha (100 m x 50 m) Measurement period : 5 to 20 years Over individual stems 5 individual species (SM, YB, AB, RM, BF) 3 species groups (Other tol. hdw, intol. hdw other softw)

17 SaMARE growth and yield model Single tree-based distance independent model for hardwood stands 8 sub models 5-year steps parameterized using a mixed model approach used Monte Carlo approach to assess the accuracy of prediction

18 SaMARE model - Flowchart of a 5-yr step Input tree list - species - dbh - vigour - product Mortality sub model dbh increment sub model Vigour change sub model Product change sub model Recruitment sub model Recruit vigour sub model Recruit dbh sub model Recruit product sub model * Under development Output Net volume : F1, F2, F3, Bolt (F4), and pulp Log grade sub model* Output tree list - species - dbh - vigour - product

19 Example of SaMARE output Total basal area projection (four treatments) Basal area (m 2 /ha) Pe-cut Period Control R BA 21 m2/ha R BA 18 m2/ha R BA 15 m2/ha

20 Example of SaMARE output Basal area projection (%) by vigour class (30 yrs) Control R BA 20 m2/ha % of basal area (m2/ha) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Pre-cut Period V4 V3 V2 V1 % of basal area (m2/ha) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Pre-cut Period V4 V3 V2 V1 R BA 18 m2/ha R BA 15 m2/ha % of basal area (m2/ha) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Pre-cut Périod V4 V3 V2 V1 % of basal area (m2/ha) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Pre-cut Period V4 V3 V2 V1

21 Example of SaMARE output Net volume by log grade projection (SM and YB only- 30 yr) Control R BA 21 m2/ha Net volume m 3 /ha F1 F2 F3 F4 F1+F2+F3 Pulp Total N et vo lu m e m 3 /h a F1 F2 F3 F4 F1+F2+ Pulp Total 0 Pre-cut Pre-cut Period Period R BA 18 m2/ha R BA 15 m2/ha Net volume m 3 /ha F1 F2 F3 F4 F1+F2+F3 Pulp Total Net volume net m 3 \h a F1 F2 F3 F4 F1+F2+F3 Pulp Total 0 Pre-cut Period 0 Pre-cut Period

22 Main objective Log grade sub model To model volume by log grades (F1, F2, F3, Bolt, Pulp) from standing tree classification (ABCD, Vigour, MSCR) Database (mainly from MRNF-Forest management branch) 782 YB stems, 815 SM stems 8 operational cut blocks SM and YB dominated stands Outaouais and Mauricie regions Standing trees were classified (ABCD, MSCR, Vigour class) Harvested trees were bucked and log were graded (Petro, MRNF, bolt, pulp) Two parts conditional model Part one: predict log grade occurence Part two: predict volume by log grade

23 Log grade sub model Study sites location

24 Example of grade sub model (ex. : sugar maple Log grade F2) Sugar maple Log grade F2 Probability DBH (cm) V1 (AGS) V3 (UGS) V4 (Cull) Sugar maple Log grade F2 Net volume (m3) DBH (cm) Vig 1 (AGS) V3 (UGS) V4 (Cull)

25 Main objective Group\patch studies Assess the effectivenness of group/patch and site preparation to regenerate mid-tolerant species in SM- YB and YB-BF dominated stands Establishment period Silvicultural gaps experimental studies (3 sites) Gap area (100 m 2 to m 2 ) Exclosure (exclude deer) Group/patch monitoring network Group: 39 sites (gap diameters 500 m 2 to 1000 m 2 ) Patch: 32 sites (patch area 1 ha to 2 ha)

26 Group/patch studies Data collected in experimental sites gap/patch area Seedbed coverage (after ground scarification), Seedtreelocation Stem density after 2 yrs-5yrs and 10 yrs Data collected in monitoring sites gap/patch area Seedbed coverage (after scarification), Stocking and height of target species and competitors (year 2) Density and height of target species and competitors (year 5 and year 10)

27 Group/patch studies Sites location

28 Main objectives Irregular shelterwood study Improve quality of high graded stand with low proportion of AGS (ex.: 5 to 8 m 2 /ha) Regenerate desired species Fill the gap between the selection system and the regular shelterwood system (alternative to the regular shelterwood system without final removal for at least yrs) Maintain irregular structure or transform structure (irregular to balanced uneven-aged) in the new context of ecosystem management One experimental site in hardwoods 5 treatments X 4 replicates: Control, Single tree and group (hybrid) Contnuous cover IS (2 var.), Extended IS

29 Main objectives: Thinning studies Assess growth response and quality of thinned and unthinned crop trees Determine the relevance of thinning for stands of different ages Use thinning to convert form even aged to uneven aged structure Commercial thinning 2 sites 80 yrs old even aged YB-SM stands (2006) 35 yrs old even aged SM-YB stands (2009) Precommercial thinning 4 sites yrs old stands (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009)

30 Future directions Continue to follow experimental and monitoring networks to: Assess the long-term impact on stand structure, growth and yield, tree grade and eco. attributes (experimental sites yr, monitoring plots yr). Assess the effects of Group/patch on regeneration (10 yr) Assess the impact Irregular shelterwood on stand structure growth and yield, tree grade, regeneration and eco. attributes(0-5yr) Assess the effectivness of thinning on crop trees quality (0-5yr) Establish new experimental sites (Irr. Shelterwood, group selection and thinning) Add replicates in other conditions (diff. eco regions, sites) Improve sample distribution (ex. stands of diff. ages-thinning studies)

31 Modeling Future directions Improve long-term forecast and quality changes after selection cutting with new remeasurements (20-25 yr postcut and 5-10 yr after 2nd entry) Improve grade model (sample other species, other regions, improve sample diameter distribution, use our network) Predict product with log grade (actual collaboration with U. Laval and FPInnovations) Develop a distant dependent model to assess the impact of partial harvesting on stand dynamics (growth and yield, stand quality, tree grade) with an emphasis on regeneration (Group/patch cuttings, irregular shelterwood)

32 Acknowledgments Dr. Zoran Majcen (retired) who established the selection-cutting studies Jocelyn Hamel, Pierrot Boulay, Étienne Boulay, Jean François Leblond, Pierre Laurent, Éric Labrecque for field measurements Michel Letarte for the log grade database Michel Huot for the english revision and comments Denis Hotte,Jean Noël and Étienne Boulay for the maps production

33 Selection cutting studies Recent published papers Bédard S. and Z. Majcen Ten-year response of sugar maple-yellow birch-beech stands to selection cutting in Québec. NJAF 18 (4) Bédard, S. et Z. Majcen, Growth Following Single-tree Selection Cutting in Quebec Northern Hardwoods. For. Chron. 79 : Majcen, Z., S. Bédard et S. Meunier, Accroissement et mortalité quinze ans après la coupe de jardinage dans quatorze érablières du Québec méridional. Gouv. du Québec, min. des Ress. nat. Dir. rech. for. Mémoire de recherche forestière n p. Guillemette, F. S. Bédard et M. Fortin Evaluation of a tree classification system in relation to mortality risk in Québec northern hardwoods. For. Chron. 79 : Guillemette, F., S. Meunier, M.-C. Lambert and S. Bédard. Effets réels des coupes partielles pratiquées de 1995 à 1999 dans des érablières. Gouv. du Québec, min. des Ress. nat. Dir. rech. for. Rapport hors série. 55 p. Growth and yield modeling Fortin, M., S. Bédard, J. DeBlois and S. Meunier Accounting for error correlations in diameter increment modelling : a case study applied to northern hardwood stands in Quebec, Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 38: Fortin, M., S. Bédard, J. DeBlois and S. Meunier Predicting individual tree mortality in northern hardwood stands under uneven-aged management in southern Québec, Canada. Annals of Forest Science 65 : 205.

34 Recent published papers Fortin, M., and J. DeBlois Modeling tree recruitment with zero-inflated models: The example of hardwood stands in southern Québec, Canada. Forest Science 53(4) : Fortin, M., S. Bédard, J. DeBlois and S. Meunier. Assessing and testing prediction uncertainty for single tree-based models: A case study applied to northern hardwood stands in southern Québec, Canada. Ecological Modelling 220: Fortin, M., S. Bédard et J. DeBlois SaMARE : un modèle par tiges individuelles destiné à la prévision de la croissance des érablières de structure inéquienne du Québec méridional. Gouv. du Québec, min. des Ress. nat. Dir. rech. for. Mémoire de recherche forestière n p. Fortin, M. F. Guillemette and S. Bédard Predicting volumes by log grades in standing sugar maple and yellow birch trees in southern Quebec, Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 39: Group selection cutting Bédard, S. and J. DeBlois Effets de trouées sylvicoles sur l établissement de la régénération d une érablière à bouleau jaune après cinq ans. Gouv. du Québec, min. des Ress. nat. Dir. rech. for. Mémoire de recherche forestière n p. Irregular shelterwood Raymond, P. S. Bédard, V. Roy, C. Larouche and S. Tremblay The Irregular Shelterwood System: Review, Classification, and Potential Application to Forests Affected by Partial Distrubances. Journal of Forestry. Dec