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Forest CoForest Co--opopGrowth & Yield Science Unit Growth & Yield Science Unit

Permanent Growth Plot ProgramPermanent Growth Plot ProgramKen LennonKen Lennon

September 23, 2009September 23, 2009

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Forest CoForest Co--opopGrowth & Yield Science UnitGrowth & Yield Science Unit

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Brief History of the Forest Co-op GYSUForest Co-op GYSU originated in 1999

Forest Co-op members created a forum for practitioners and science delivery teams with an interest in growth & yield to collaborate and collectively pool their resources to develop practical, applied ideas and solutions to their knowledge needs

Mandate to facilitate and standardize both the collection of data and the development of estimation tools that provide the means to accurately portray the G&Y of commercial forests

Promote stable growth and yield science programs, partnerships and knowledge transfer

Create a partnership to leverage funds for G&Y work

Meet twice a year (spring and fall) to discuss and evaluate on-going programs, to set priorities, and to design and participate in the development of implementation plans

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Partner OrganizationsAbitibi-Bowater Inc. Buchanan Forest Products Ltd.Confederation College of Applied Arts & TechnologyDomtar Inc.Forintek Canada Corp.Forest Research PartnershipLake Abitibi Model ForestNatural Resources Canada (CFS & CWFC)Ontario Ministry of Natural ResourcesTembec Industries Inc.University of GuelphWagner Ontario Forest Management Ltd.Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd.

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Science Delivery TeamsChris LyonsCollège BoréalForest Analysis Ltd.Forest Research PartnershipNeave Resource ManagementSpatialworksSumac Forest Information Services Ltd.Timberline Natural Resource Group Ltd.Timber Craft Consultation Inc.

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Forest Co-op PGP ProgramPermanent Growth Plot (PGP) program established as the cornerstone of the Forest Co-op GYSU

Existing provincial Permanent Sample Plot (PSP) programLarge plots, high establishment and re-measurement costsLack of stable funding resulting in delay of re-measurement

GYSU members developed a plot program that would complement the provincial PSP program

PGP concept: a plot that could be established or remeasured in one day, yet provided the information that was required to track the growth and yield of commercial stands

“Forest Co-op Field Manual for the Location & Measurement of Permanent Growth Plots” ensures a consistent standard for plot establishment and re-measurement

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Forest Co-op PGP NetworkInaugural year 1999 – 80 PGPs established

~2,700 total plots established since 1999

Broad range of forest conditions across the Boreal and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest regions

Plot establishment focuses on known gaps in plot matrix (species, age, development stage, productivity, management intensity, etc.)

Five year re-measurement cycle

~2,200 plots have been re-measured to date – first 80 plots had their third measurement in 2009

In 2009, 360 Boreal and 22 South Central plots re-measured

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Additional PGPs~ 1,100 additional plots have been established through related Forest Co-op projects, such as:

Logging Damage (145 estab, 20 rem)Prescribed Burn (240)Shallow Soils (ES11/12) (96)NEBIE (640)

~ 400 additional plots from various historical plot networks upgraded and re-measured to PGP standards

AmCan (15)Beckwith & Roebbelen (64)Kimberly-Clark Historic (108)Mando CFI (27)MNR PSP (192) – 3 PGPs per plot

~ 3,700 plots and ~6,300 measures (and growing!)

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Forest Co-op PGP Program

Since 1999, approx. $5,000,000 has been invested into the Forest Co-op PGP program

Does not include the value of in-kind contributions from the partnersSubstantial in-kind contributions from industry partners

One-third of the total $ comes from leveraging opportunities through the Forest Co-op GYSU, such as:

Living Legacy TrustForestry Futures TrustEnhanced Forest Productivity Science Program Forest Co-op 10th Anniversary Fund

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Plot ComparisonProvincial Permanent Sample Plot (PSP) – circular plot

45.14m mortality plot (0.64 ha) 3 Permanent Growth Plots (PGP) – 11.28m circular plot (0.04ha)3 Vegetation plots – 2.82m (25 m2)27 Stocking plots – 1.13m (4 m2)3 Down Woody Debris lines at 45.14m each5 days to establish plot; 3 days to re-measure plot

Forest Co-op Permanent Growth Plot (PGP)Same as PSP PGP (0.04 ha)1 Forest Ecosystem Classification (FEC) plot – 5.64m (0.01 ha)1 Regeneration plot (same as Vegetation plot)2 Down Woody Debris lines at 30.0m each1 day to establish plot; less than 1 day to re-measure plot

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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PGP Layout

Note: diagram not to scale

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Data Collection

Standardized PGP protocol and manual for plot establishment and data collection

Plot informationLocationVegetation classificationSoils information (auger)Ecosite classification Plot photographsStand history (natural disturbance, silvicultural treatments)

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Data CollectionTree information

SpeciesOriginStatusDiameter – breast heightCrown class, or decay classTree deformitiesHeights (sub-sample)Ages (sub-sample – not in plot)Stand structureRegeneration

Down woody debris

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Data ManagementAll data housed at Forest Co-op office in Thunder BayLibrary of original plot tally formsAll paper tallies scanned into electronic format (pdf files) and stored electronicallyAll data entered into series of MS Access relational databases using consistent structure and format

Data accuracy and integrity ensured by numerous logic checks and business rules incorporated in the data entry tool

Data compiler and reporting tool developed to help members extract value from the database

Calculate tree, plot and stand level statistics (i.e. species composition, Dbhq, BA, volume, tree & snag density)

OMNR provincial G&Y program supplied with updated copy of data annually

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Data UsagePGP Protocol

Forest Co-op Shallow Soils ProjectForest Co-op Shoreline Forestry ProjectForest Co-op Growth & Yield Historic Plot ProjectForest Co-op Prescribed Burn ProjectLowland Rutting Site Study (Forest Renewal Co-op)Forest Co-op NEBIE Boreal ProjectLogging Damage, Yellow Birch PCT and Commercial Thinning studies(Forest Research Partnership)Realized gain trials (Forest Genetics Ontario)Forest By-Products Research project (Nipissing University)Intensive Silviculture and Competition Theory project (Lakehead University)

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Data UsagePGP Data

Forest Co-op NW Yield Curves Project (MNR)G&Y support for Whitefeather Forest Environmental Assessment (MNR)FVSOntario – Forest Vegetation Simulator for Ontario (MNR)Development of yield curves for Forest Management Plans in NW Ontario Benchmark Yield Curves for NE Ontario (FRP)LiDAR Enhanced Inventory Project (FRP)SSDMM – Structural Stand Density Management Models and diameter distribution modeling (CWFC)IVY stand dynamics model (CWFC)Ontario forest carbon budget models (Lakehead U, OFRI)Height-diameter equations for boreal tree species in Ontario (OFRI)Multi-cohort forest management in NE Ontario (U of Toronto)Commercial thinning impacts (CNFER)

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Data Usage

PGP Products

Forest Co-op Data Entry Tool (Timberline)Forest Co-op Timber Volume Software (Spatialworks)Forest Co-op PGP Compiler and Summary Tool (Timberline)Forest Co-op Resource Plot Viewer (MNR)Forest Co-op MOSSY – Modeling Ontario’s Stand Succession and Yield (FRP/MNR)Forest Co-op Growth Intercept Model (FRP/Lakehead U)Structural Stand Density Management Model (FRP/CWFC) – in development

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997

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Data UsageData Requests

Forest Co-op GYSU members have free access to data Interest of broader research community wanting to use the value added nature of the databaseExternal use of data requires submission of a Forest Co-op “Data Sharing Application” form

Project proponent, objectives, description, design & methodology; project deliverables & timelines; use of project results Benefit of project to Forest Co-op & GYSU; knowledge transferSpecific data requirementsApplication reviewed and approved by Forest Co-op GYSU members

New partners are welcome to use our data

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Forest Co-op PGP Program FutureChallenges

Internal funding – less $ available from partnersFewer industry partners + fiscal restraintFiscal restraint by government partners

External funding – less $ available for leveragingFewer research-related funds (no LLT, FFT, EFPSP $)

Operational issues – access, skilled field technicians

OpportunitiesResearch $ available for forest biofibre, climate change, Far North, Species at Risk (i.e. caribou)GYSU 10-year review of PGP program and strategic direction planning in November

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Forest Ecosystem Science CoForest Ecosystem Science Co--operative Inc.operative Inc.

http://www.forestcohttp://www.forestco--op.ca/projects.htmop.ca/projects.htm

Dave Wood, Project CoordinatorDave Wood, Project Coordinator(807) 346(807) 346--28632863

Forest CoForest Co--op GYSU Meeting op GYSU Meeting –– September 29, 2009September 29, 2009Forest CoForest Co--op Science Day op Science Day –– September 30, 2009September 30, 2009

Sault Ste. Marie, ONSault Ste. Marie, ON

Serving the Forest Sector Since 1997