Petawawa Research Forest Using 100 Years of Research to Combat Climate Change!

Transcription

1 Petawawa Research Forest Using 100 Years of Research to Combat Climate Change! Guy Smith TDT Manager - CWFC Canadian Wood Fibre Centre 1

2 Talk-show Participants Guy Smith TDT Manager - CWFC Steve D Eon KE Specialist - CWFC Derek Sidders Program Manager, Technology Development CWFC Mike Hoepting Forester CFS Murray Woods TDT EFI Specialist CFS Katalijn MacAfee CFS Melissa Vekeman CWFC 2

3 The Petawawa Forest Experiment Station (PFES) Carl Heimburger Kris Morgenstern Kit Yeatman Mark Holst Ben Wang Wright and Beall Charlie Van Wagner Ian Methven Will Stiell Adam Berry 3

4 The Petawawa National Forestry Institute (PNFI) Fire behaviour and ecological effects, (the Mike s) Fire management systems (the Bernies) Forest Genetics and biotechnology program: tissue culture, molecular genetics, genetic engineering, physiological genetics. Optimum forest productivity, remote sensing, forest inventory & analysis, modelling, DSS, GIS.. 10,000 ha research forest with thousands of plots.

5 The Petawawa Research Forest (PRF) 1996 In 1996 a small staff of four inherited the legacy of research with instructions to partner, promote, and advance the research. They also managed and protected the 10,000 ha forest. All with a total budget of $50k/year. 5

6 PRF Overview Ontario Great Lakes St. Lawrence Forest Region Boreal transition zone 10,000ha 6

7 PRF Overview: Strategic Management Plan Blending research and silviculture/harvesting Use leading-edge technologies and approaches Demonstrate Forestry BMP s in GLSL Innovative strategic plan 7

8 PRF Overview : Partners 8

9 PRF Research Highlights 9

10 PRF Research Highlights Years, decades or a century of research in: FWI Rn Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug 30 10

11 1931: Seasonal recording began 1953: Yearround recording began 1992: Digital data collection PRF Weather Database 11

12 PRF Weather Database Measured parameters include: Temperature and RH Wind speed and direction Rainfall 24-hour minimum and maximum values 12

13 PRF Silviculture Research PRF has rich history of silviculture research approx. 40 studies Main focus has been production oriented 1. rapid establishment and early growth; 2. stand management to maximize wood production Can we use existing studies for climate change research? M. Hoepting I. Duchesne 13

14 PRF Silviculture Research Long-term studies link growth and climate data to predict growth under a changing climate Cartier Lk Pw Stand Improvement Study 45 yr Growth data; fully replicated I. Duchesne M. Hoepting Environment Canada. I. Duchesne D. Pitt 14

15 PRF Silviculture Research Long-term studies are critical infrastructure Main benefit to using these studies/data they exist! New data takes lots of time and money. M. Hoepting I. Duchesne M. Hoepting 15

16 Studies for the purpose of: Tree breeding success Increased performance and adaptation Pest and drought resistance Carbon sequestration Climate change PRF Genetics Trials 16

17 Over 10 species in over 300 experiments Legacy of genetics sources Dependent on experiment type Data available for some genetics studies 2017 Assessments Overall health Future opportunities PRF Genetics Trials 17

18 PRF Inventory Information Traditional Forest Inventories Multiple assessments Aerial Photographs Forest Resource Inventories Ecosite Classification Remote Sensing Datasets Circa Stereo Photography 2009 Multiband Digital Imagery 18

19 PRF Inventory Trials PSPs Actively remeasuring ~140 PSPs Total historic PSP network ~262 Additional Project TSPs Operational Cruising Plot database Spatial plot coordinates 1918 measurement 2008 measurement 19 Stem Map of PSP

20 PRF Inventory Information Soil and Wet Areas Mapping Historic map products Compendium summary/photo and profile descriptions from the 1950 s Surface material circa 1966 Surficial Geology

21 PRF Inventory Information Soil and Wet Areas Mapping Historic map products Compendium summary/photo and profile descriptions from the 1950 s Ongoing substrate predictive modeling projects LiDAR derived DTM base for Depth to Water table mapping 21 LiDAR DTM

22 Enhanced Forest Inventories LiDAR - Airborne/Terrestrial Multiple scales - area based + individual trees Individual Tree Crown - A-LidAR Terrestrial LiDAR (geoslam 22 25m x 25m Pixel Based Inventory

23 PRF Inventory Information efis- Supporting Climate PRF Biomass Carbon CO 2 Equivalency 23

24 PRF Overview: Current Studies 24

25 Innovative Forest Practices to Adapt to a Changing Climate Canadian Wood Fibre Centre is actively involved in the development of innovative practices to manage forested stands impacted or susceptible to the hazards of a changing climate. The objectives of the innovative forest management systems are to transform the stands into fully stocked productive forests and healthy ecosystems capable of withstanding future threats while recovering multiple commercial values Harvesting Strategy Innovative harvest operations designed to: selectively remove affected targeted trees reduce risk of future mortality protecting residual healthy, vigorous stems Recover value from all products, including woody biomass. use a designated skidtrail design to provide access for future treatments Site Preparation Strategy Innovative site preparation treatments are designed to: create enhanced natural regeneration seedbeds enhance root and early seedling growth response minimize native competing vegetation protect established advanced regeneration enhanced survival and establishment consistency Reduce vegetation management costs. Regeneration Strategy Innovative plantation establishment systems of softwoods and mixedwoods are designed to: diversify values and minimize risk to a changing climate utilize partially harvested overstories or fast growing pioneer species to: enhance site fertility to provide shelter for new seedlings to buffer climate variables impacting the establishing conifer seedlings 25

26 Innovative Plantation Establishment Applications to Diversify Values and Minimize Risk to a Changing Climate Overview To establish various plantation regimes on a 3 year-old cutover to assess the impact of a changing climate on growth response, stand health and value of pure softwood and mixedwood stands. 26

27 PRF Forest Capital of Canada Originally through Canadian Forestry Association, now CIF-IFC - Celebrates a community or region for its connectivity to the forest - Focuses on socio-economic and environmental health of our communities - Past - Present - Future 27

28 PRF Forest Capital of Canada Why PRF? Dating back to 1918, the long-term studies undertaken at the PRF by the Canadian Forest Service (CFS), in collaboration with various partners, are unrivalled with regards to impactful and innovative contributions to sustainable forest management in Canada. With various ongoing studies and research installations in this living laboratory, the PRF remains at the forefront of Canadian and global forest research, pioneering systematic studies in silviculture, forest ecology, forest inventory, fire research, and tree breeding and genomics to name a few. 28

29 PRF Forest Capital of Canada Strong forest history and scientific legacy, as well as dedication to long-term studies Award recognizes the PRF community, including: - Researchers and Scientists - Government employees from across Canada - Collaborators, Staff and Supporters (Friends of the PRF) 29

30 PRF 100 Years 2018 Bringing PRF to life in th Anniversary The Centennial will launch new efforts to strengthen PRF as a national centre of excellence in sustainable forest management and a living laboratory for the training of the next generation of foresters, land managers, and researchers. 30

31 PRF 100 Years 2018 The CWFC is planning popular and technical publications, tours and visits, enhancements to the physical site and the Internet site, video, virtual tours, social media marketing, and special events. Stay tuned for news and information! 31

32 Petawawa Research Forest Using 100 Years of Research to Combat Climate Change! Questions? 32