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Explore trends, methods, and results of the Spokane CFI system, comparing measurements, growth rates, mortality impacts, and future projections using the Forest Vegetation Simulator.
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Use of FVSfor a Forest-wide Inventory SPOKANE INDIAN RESERVATION
What I will cover • Introduction to the Spokane CFI • Summary data: overall trends • Analysis methods • FVS method • Results of FVS projections • Comparison of methods
Spokane Reservation CFI System • Established in 1957 • Remeasured 5 times since initiated • Last remeasurement done 1998 – 1999 • Includes 994 one-fifth(1/5) acre plots • Commercial forest area of reservation is about 104,000 acres
VolumesAre Increasing Overall Stocking Changes 1985 to 1998 Basal Area / acre remained the same Cubic-foot vol / acre increased 9% Board-foot vol / acre increased 22% (based on 257-plot sort)
Growth Rates are Slowing, Mortality Increasing Board-ft Growth, Harvest, and Mortality Changes, 1985 to 1998 Growth rate has decreased 18% Harvest has increased 31% Mortality has increased 103% (based on 257-plot sort)
Stratification of the Inventory Data Data were sorted into four groups based on site quality • Dry Pine: Dry ponderosa pine climax types • Pine-fir: Ponderosa pine/snowberry & dry Douglas-fir climax types • Ninebark: Douglas-fir & grand fir /ninebark types • Wet grand fir: Grand fir/twinflower and wetter
ANNUAL ALLOWABLE CUT CALCULATIONS Austrian Formula – used in 1985 Area Volume Check Method – used in 1985 Forest Vegetation Simulator Model (FVS) – New method
Austrian Formula Method Three different alternatives were tried which varied the target future volumes
Area-Volume Control Check Method Summary of results
Questions to address through FVS • What yields are produced simulating current management practices over the next 40 to 50 years? • Does FVS forecast an increase in mortality that might significantly impact yields? • Will the current age-class distribution of the forest result in a future down-cycle in harvest yields? • Can FVS be used to identify the more vulnerable components of the forest as a means to focus harvest in the coming decade? • Does FVS indicate differing yields on a long-term basis using other alternatives to current management?
Model calibration and adjustments • Large tree diameter growth (READCORD) • Large tree height growth (FIXHTG) • Regeneration inputs • Mortality (BAMAX) • Mortality (MORTMULT) • Mortality (Western Root Disease Model)
Condition statement criteria • Stand age • Total basal area per acre • Sawtimber basal area per acre • Total number of trees per acre • Number of trees per acre of saplings and/or pole sizes • Ratio of cubic-foot mortality to cubic-foot stocking • Stand mistletoe rating • Quadratic mean diameter
Management activities invoked • Initial input of regeneration • Overstory removal • Precommercial thinning, alt. 1 & 2 • First commercial thinning, alt. 1 & 2 • Second commercial thinning • Regeneration: Low volume stocking • Regeneration: High mortality • Regeneration: High mistletoe rating • Mature stand maintenance thin
Management options considered • Regeneration unit size (uneven-aged vs. even-aged) • Regeneration type, Natural vs. Planted * • Regeneration density • Precommercial thinning
Combining the FVS projections • CFI plots were grouped by stratum but projected individually • Plot projections were combined in the FVSSTAND post-processor to produce a summary for each stratum • FVSSTAND output tables were read into spreadsheets and expanded by acreages to produce “All Strata” summaries
Projected changes in board-foot stockingWet Grand fir Stratum
Conclusions • FVS estimated a harvest level for the first 20 years that was in line with other AAC computation methods • FVS estimated a harvest level for the long term that was much higher • FVS indicated that the dynamic trends of the individual strata may neutralize one another during the transition period to a regulated forest
Conclusions • FVS projected that wetter sites are prone to increased mortality in the next two decades • FVS projected higher yields for planting pine & larch vs. natural regen on disease prone sites
I do not change the underlying processes of growth, and nature’s grip is tightened on the site where I have worked.-Andy Goldsworthy