Document Details
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Title |
SIBEC Site Index Estimates | ||||||
Author |
BC Ministry of Forests and Range - Forest Science Program | ||||||
Date |
2007 | ||||||
Abstract |
Program - Timber Growth and Value Program Theme - Growth and yield modeling/predictions Topic - Complex stands (in the continued development of the SIBEC model) The term SIBEC refers to the project (EP1215) initiated in 1994 to examine the relationship between forest growth and site units in the Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) system. Research studies have reported strong relationships between site index and environmental factors such as soil moisture and nutrient regimes. Using these relationships, one can assign a site index that reflects the potential productivity of a given species to a site that has been classified to BEC site series. The SIBEC estimates of site index are used to support forest management in areas such as Timber Supply Review and strategic silviculture strategies. This multi-year project will address the FIA Forest Science Program strategic goal of improving knowledge-based science in support of improving timber growth and value. SIBEC estimates are being increasingly used in forest management units in British Columbia, such as Innovative Forest Practices Agreements (IFPA) and Defined Forest Area Management (DFAM) undertaking ecologically based timber supply analyses. However, a large proportion of the SIBEC model is still based on first approximation estimates reported in site index classes (B.C. Ministry of Forests 1997). Additional data is required for priority BEC site series to achieve a second generation estimate that reports mean site index and standard error (Mah and Nigh 2003; B.C. Ministry of Forests 2003). The purpose of the project is to sample in priority BEC site series in the Northern Interior Forest Region to support continued development of the SIBEC model. In 2005, priority sampling will include complex stands in the ICH subzone/variants in the western portion of the region. Data collected in 2005, as with data from 2004 will be incorporated into the SIBEC data warehouse, followed by analysis. The new provincial site index estimates will be released as a report, 'Site index estimates by site series: report by Biogeoclimatic unit (2006 approximation) and made available on the SIBEC website: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/sibec in PDF and EXCEL formats. | ||||||
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