Hardwood silviculture in Québec
Transcription
Hardwood silviculture in Québec
Hardwood Hardwood siviculture siviculture in in Québec: Québec: experiences experiences gained gained and and perspectives perspectives at at MNRF-DRF MNRF-DRF Ontario Hardwood Management Tour Evening session Hunstville, Ontario, October 20, 2010 Steve Steve Bédard, Bédard, M. M. Sc., Sc., ing.f. ing.f. François François Guillemette, Guillemette, M. M. Sc. Sc. ,, ing. ing. f.f. Mathieu Mathieu Fortin, Fortin, Ph. Ph. D., D., ing. ing. f.f. Josianne Josianne DeBlois, DeBlois, M. M. Sc., Sc., stat stat Marilou Marilou Beaudet, Beaudet, Ph. Ph. D. D. biol. biol. 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 Introduction • Public lands available for hardwood forest management cover almost 32 000 km2 • Annual allowable cut of hardwoods ≈ 6,5 millions m3 (BFEC 2010) • Important economic impact in many communities (52 mills, 35 mills >15 000 m3/yr (MRNF 2008)) • Volume attributed ≈ 3 millions m3 (MRNF 2007) • Volume processed by mills ≈ 6,9 millions m3 (MRNF 2008) Bioclimatic regions and public forest 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 Partially-cut areas of public forest over the past 20 years in Québec 70 60 40 30 20 10 Year Selection Diameter limit 06 -0 7 04 -0 5 02 -0 3 00 -0 1 98 -9 9 96 -9 7 94 -9 5 92 -9 3 90 -9 1 88 -8 9 0 86 -8 7 000 ha 50 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) 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 1998 – 595 (1/25 ha) plots in 156 stands (control and selection cut) – 444 plots in SM stands (212 control and 232 selection cut) Long-term selection cutting studies Experimental plots network Monitoring plots network 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. 1990 marking guide) – Monitoring program plots • Carried out by the staff of the forest industry or their contractors using MRNF standards Main results Pre-cut and post cut basal area 100% 90% 25,5 m2/ha 26.9 18,5 m2/ha 17.9 28,4 m2/ha 18,6 m2/ha 26.1 26.9 30.4 24.9 43.5 48.2 Pre-cut Post-cut Basa area (m2/ha) 80% 25.3 70% 60% 26.4 50% 40% 30% 20% 48.6 59.3 10% 0% Pre-cut Post-cut Experimental plots Monitoring plots Cull UGS AGS Main results Basal area growth Experimental plots 5 yr Mortality -0 .2 8 Gross growth -0 .1 4 0. 17 0. 31 0. 32 0. 45 0. 46 0. 45 0.60 0.50 0.40 0.30 0.20 0.10 0.00 -0.10 -0.20 -0.30 -0.40 -0 .1 3 2 Basal area (m /ha/an) Growth components Experimental plots 15 yr Net growth Monitoring plots 5 yr Main results Mortality Monitoring plots mortality 2 Basal area (m /ha/an) 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.10 0.08 0.15 0.06 0.04 0.06 0.06 AGS (V1) UGS (V2-V3) 0.02 0.00 Post-cut class Cull (V4) Discussion • Experimental plots results indicates that an average 20 yrs cutting cycle could be achieved (0,31m2/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 m2/ha/yr after 5 yrs) paticularily in the western part of Québec – Outaouais (0,07 m2/ha/yr) – Temiscamingue (0,09 m2/ha/yr) • The next intervention in some stands will probably be a regeneration cut because of the low proportion of AGS left standing 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 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 20 000 individual stems • 5 individual species (SM, YB, AB, RM, BF) • 3 species groups (Other tol. hdw, intol. hdw other softw) 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 SaMARE SaMARE model model -- Flowchart Flowchart of of aa 5-yr 5-yr step step Mortality Mortality sub sub model model Input Input tree tree list list -- species species -- dbh dbh -- vigour vigour -- product product dbh dbh increment increment sub sub model model Vigour Vigour change change sub sub model model Output Output Net Net volume volume :: F1, F1, F2, F2, F3, F3, Bolt Bolt (F4), (F4), and and pulp pulp Product Product change change sub sub model model Log Log grade grade sub sub model* model* Recruitment Recruitment sub sub model model Recruit Recruit vigour vigour sub sub model model Recruit Recruit dbh dbh sub sub model model Recruit Recruit product product sub sub model model * Under development Output Output tree tree list list -- species species -- dbh dbh -- vigour vigour -- product product Example of SaMARE output Total basal area projection (four treatments) 30 30 28 28 24 24 2 Basal area area (m (m2/ha) /ha) Basal 26 26 22 22 20 20 18 18 16 16 14 14 12 12 Pe-cut Pe-cut 00 55 10 10 15 15 20 20 25 25 Period Period Control Control R R BA BA 21 21 m2/ha m2/ha R R BA BA 18 18 m2/ha m2/ha R R BA BA 15 15 m2/ha m2/ha 30 30 Example of SaMARE output Basal area projection (%) by vigour class (30 yrs) R BA 20 m2/ha 100% 90% 80% 100% 90% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% V4 V3 V2 V1 20% 10% 0% % of basal area (m2/ha) % of basal area (m2/ha) Control 80% 70% V4 60% V3 50% V2 40% V1 30% 20% 10% Pre-cut 0 5 10 15 20 25 0% 30 Pre-cut Period 0 10 15 20 25 30 Period R BA 15 m2/ha R BA 18 m2/ha 100% 100% 90% 90% 80% 80% 70% V4 60% V3 50% V2 40% V1 30% 20% 10% % of basal area (m2/ha) % of basal area (m2/ha) 5 70% V4 60% V3 50% V2 40% V1 30% 20% 10% 0% Pre-cut 0 5 10 15 Périod 20 25 30 0% Pre-cut 0 5 10 15 Period 20 25 30 Example of SaMARE output Net volume by log grade projection (SM and YB only- 30 yr) R BA 21 m2/ha Control 140 140 Net volume m3/ha F2 100 F3 80 F4 F1+F2+F3 60 Pulp 40 Total 20 N e t v o lu m e m 3 /h a F1 120 120 F1 100 F2 F3 80 F4 60 F1+F2+ 40 Pulp 20 Total 0 0 Pre-cut 0 5 10 15 20 25 Pre-cut 30 0 5 10 20 25 30 Period Period R BA 15 m2/ha R BA 18 m2/ha 140 F1 100 F2 80 F3 F4 60 F1+F2+F3 40 Pulp Total 20 N e t v o lu m e n e t m 3 \h a 140 120 Net v olum e m3 /ha 15 120 F1 100 F2 F3 80 F4 60 F1+F2+F3 40 Pulp 20 Total 0 0 Pre-cut 0 5 10 15 Period 20 25 30 Pre-cut 0 5 10 15 Period 20 25 30 Log grade sub model • Main objective – 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 2002-2007 • 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 Log grade sub model Study sites location Example of grade sub model (ex. : sugar maple Log grade F2) Sugar maple Log grade F2 1.000 0.700 0.600 V1 (AGS) 0.500 0.400 V3 (UGS) V4 (Cull) 0.300 0.200 0.100 0.000 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 DBH (cm) Sugar maple Log grade F2 0.500 0.450 0.400 Net volume (m3) Probability 0.900 0.800 0.350 0.300 Vig 1 (AGS) V3 (UGS) 0.250 0.200 V4 (Cull) 0.150 0.100 0.050 0.000 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 DBH (cm) Group\patch studies • Main objective – Assess the effectivenness of group/patch and site preparation to regenerate mid-tolerant species in SMYB and YB-BF dominated stands • Establishment period 2000-2005 – Silvicultural gaps experimental studies (3 sites) • Gap area (100 m2 to 1 600 m2) • Exclosure (exclude deer) – Group/patch monitoring network • Group: 39 sites (gap diameters 500 m2 to 1000 m2) • Patch: 32 sites (patch area 1 ha to 2 ha) Group/patch studies • Data collected in experimental sites – – – – gap/patch area Seedbed coverage (after ground scarification), Seed tree location 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) Group/patch studies Sites location Irregular shelterwood study • Main objectives – Improve quality of high graded stand with low proportion of AGS (ex.: 5 to 8 m2/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 20-30 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 Thinning studies • Main objectives: – 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 • 10-30 yrs old stands (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009) 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 20-25 yr, monitoring plots 10-20 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) Future directions Modeling • • • • 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) 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 Recent published papers Selection cutting studies Bédard S. and Z. Majcen. 2001. Ten-year response of sugar maple-yellow birch-beech stands to selection cutting in Québec. NJAF 18 (4) 119-126 Bédard, S. et Z. Majcen, 2003. Growth Following Single-tree Selection Cutting in Quebec Northern Hardwoods. For. Chron. 79 : 898-904. Majcen, Z., S. Bédard et S. Meunier, 2005. 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° 148. 39 p. Guillemette, F. S. Bédard et M. Fortin. 2008. Evaluation of a tree classification system in relation to mortality risk in Québec northern hardwoods. For. Chron. 79 : 898-904 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. 2008. 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: 2274-2286. Fortin, M., S. Bédard, J. DeBlois and S. Meunier. 2008. Predicting individual tree mortality in northern hardwood stands under uneven-aged management in southern Québec, Canada. Annals of Forest Science 65 : 205. Recent published papers Fortin, M., and J. DeBlois. 2007. Modeling tree recruitment with zero-inflated models: The example of hardwood stands in southern Québec, Canada. Forest Science 53(4) : 529-539. 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: 2770-2781 Fortin, M., S. Bédard et J. DeBlois. 2009. 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° 155. 43 p. Fortin, M. F. Guillemette and S. Bédard. 2009. Predicting volumes by log grades in standing sugar maple and yellow birch trees in southern Quebec, Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 39: 1928–1938. Group selection cutting Bédard, S. and J. DeBlois. 2010. 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° 159. 27 p. Irregular shelterwood Raymond, P. S. Bédard, V. Roy, C. Larouche and S. Tremblay. 2009. The Irregular Shelterwood System: Review, Classification, and Potential Application to Forests Affected by Partial Distrubances. Journal of Forestry. Dec. 2009. 405-413.