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Wildlife Tree Retention

Wildlife tree retention is vital for stand-level biodiversity and supports over 80 species that rely on wildlife trees for habitat. This legal requirement ensures the preservation of valuable trees and enhances forest stewardship. Learn about the ecological considerations, calculations, and strategies for effective wildlife tree retention.

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Wildlife Tree Retention

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  1. Wildlife Tree Retention

  2. Wildlife tree retention One of most valuable components of stand-level biodiversity Over 80 species of wildlife are critically dependent on wildlife trees WTR is an important part of forest stewardship and ecosystem integrity

  3. Wildlife tree retention Legal Definitions Wildlife tree - a tree or a group of trees that are identified in an operational plan to provide present or future wildlife habitat (OPR sec. 1) Dangerous tree - any tree that is hazardous to workers because of location lean, physical damage, overhead hazards etc. (WCBR sec 26)

  4. EcologicalGuidingPrinciples Choose wildlife trees considering: • areas with valuable wildlife tree attributes • uncommon species (with wildlife value) • leaving a range of patch sizes and individual retention • interpatch distance (500 m)

  5. Ecological Considerations • Retention is for a minimum of one rotation • Design patches to minimise windthrow • If no valuable trees then choose for long term retention • leave downed trees for CWD

  6. Salvage • THPR Sec. 28 - no salvage in WTP unless approved in SP or in writing from DM • Salvaged WTP’s should be replaced

  7. Rocks, swamps & marginal areas • Max of .25 ha of non-treed area within a patch • marginally treed areas count as a % of full stocking

  8. Seed and Shelterwood trees • Can count to retention target if left for full rotation

  9. Stubbing • Encouraged as compliment for wildlife tree retention • Not recommended as contributing towards retention target

  10. Wildlife tree retention • Forest Practices Code Timber Supply Analysis document (Feb 96) estimated that wildlife tree retention would have a • 1.8% Provincial impact on timber supply, or • 2.8% Provincial impact in the absence of LU objectives for OGMAs

  11. Wildlife tree retention • Why is WTR being addressed through landscape unit planning • LU objectives will ensure a sound legal basis for WTR management • FDP is guided by and must be consistent with the HLP objectives

  12. Wildlife tree retention What needs to be done? • Calculation of WTR • Determine total WTR % • Set THLB cap (default is 50% or 25%) • Setting WTR objectives

  13. Wildlife Tree Retention - Calculation

  14. Table A3.1

  15. WTR- Variation in THLB cap • main reason for allowing variation is to ensure subzones with little non-contributing have adequate WTR • calculated PRIOR to setting LU objectives • result is: • varies THLB cap • overall impact stays constant

  16. Wildlife tree retention - calculation • Determine the THLB WTR target • interior example - maximum 50% of total WTR target will be retained from the THLB. • Calculate the THLB WTR target hectares by multiplying the total WTR percentage by 50% and by the crown forested area. • 8% x 50% x 58,957 = 2,358 hectares

  17. WTR Spread Sheet

  18. Stand level variation • LU objective may allow variation at the stand level for biological reasons • Controlled within each FDP • Total WTR % objective and THLB cap met over the cutblocks within the FDP without exceeding the THLB cap

  19. Wildlife tree objective Retain 8% of each cutblock within the SBSdk as wildlife trees subject to the following: • All NC with suitable wildlife trees must first be used to achieve the overall cutblock target • A maximum of 4.8% of each cutblock can be retained for wildlife trees located in the THLB • It is acceptable to vary from the 8% and/or 4.8% for biological reasons, provided the average of the cutblocks within the SBSdk equal the 8% and up to 4.8% when averaged over all cutblocks in the SBSdk subzone within the FDP area.

  20. Wildlife tree strategy • Example Strategy • Every block should have some area reserved for WTR • Where practical, retain wildlife trees in both patches and individually

  21. Wildlife Tree Retention • Tracking • SP mapping to .25 ha • Forest Cover mapping 2 ha and greater • Auditing/Monitoring • to be based on aggregate of many SPs • developed over next several years

  22. Wildlife Habitat Value

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