Stand management prescriptions are operational plans required where a licensee or agency intends to carry out stand treatments such as spacing, pruning or fertilization on stands which are already "free growing" (see the discussion in Part 3.4 of this Guide under silviculture prescriptions).

Such stand treatments are not required to be done by licensees, because the obligation to manage a forest stand normally ceases after it has become free growing. Sometimes post-free growing treatments are conducted by government or licensees, particularly when funded by Forest Renewal BC or other sources. Because there is no legal obligation to do stand treatments, even where a prescription is prepared, there is no obligation to carry out the treatments proposed.

Stand management prescriptions are most commonly prepared for stands that have high timber values, and for which there is a clear intention of future harvesting. They are developed by major licensees, the Forest Service, and the holders of woodlot licences and community forest agreements. However, woodlot and community forest agreement holders are not required to prepare stand management prescriptions if their proposed treatments are carried out on private land and are not funded by the government.

A revised Stand Management Prescription Guidebook was released in March 1999. In it, a stand management prescription is defined as:

… an operational plan for describing actions to be carried out on a free growing site to:

• ensure that planned stand management maintains or enhances resource values;
• ensure resource values, including biological diversity, are identified and accommodated; and,
• set out a series of stand management activities to produce a stand capable of meeting the stated management objectives, including timber supply and timber values.

The combination of a silviculture prescription and stand management prescription provides a full rotation plan for a stand. Silviculture prescriptions establish objectives and prescribe treatments for the period from pre-harvest to free growing, while stand management prescriptions describe the silviculture treatments to be carried out from free growing until the end of the rotation when the next silviculture prescription is approved. Both silviculture prescriptions and stand management prescriptions are developed in the context of the goals and objectives set out in forest development plans. Stand management prescriptions can potentially prescribe treatments over a period of several decades, and as such they are updated and amended regularly to incorporate future site-specific assessments and adaptive management decisions.

Recent revisions to the Code allow for generic stand management prescriptions to be approved for more than one treatment unit, where the district manager is satisfied that the prescription would adequately manage and conserve forest resources in all of the areas. This was done to facilitate silviculture work funded by Forest Renewal BC and designed to employ forest workers in transition.

 

3.5.1 WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED IN STAND MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

A detailed listing of content requirements for stand management prescriptions is found in section 50 of the Operational Planning Regulation. A summary of this information is discussed below.

Objectives

Stand management prescriptions must specify objectives for each standards unit of the cutblock. A standards unit "means one or more areas of uniform treatments and treatment standards covered by the same stand management prescription." These objectives will help determine the appropriate treatment regime.

Objectives for the future desired stand structure are also part of the prescription. These objectives include a description of the species, density and age class of the target stand. The structure of the target stand is based on several factors, including ecological conditions and crop objectives (i.e. the intended use of the stand). These factors will also effect rotation length, which influences the selection and timing of treatment regimes. Computer models, which formulate growth and yield predictions for specific stand types, are often used to aid in developing target stand structures, and should be included with prescriptions to clarify the intent of some treatments and to rationalize long-term objectives.

In some situations, the silviculture treatments proposed for an area can be important for the management of non-timber values, particularly wildlife habitat. Stand management can be a valuable tool in improving stand conditions that promote habitat objectives.

Treatment Regimes

Treatment regimes specify both the intent and the timing of recommended activities. Where multiple treatment areas are covered by one stand management prescription, according to section 49(2) of the Operational Planning Regulation, the treatments must be intended to "restore, maintain or enhance" the "health, vigour or value of the stand of trees," or other forest resource values. Some potential treatments include spacing, pruning, fertilizing and commercial thinning. These are often collectively referred to as stand tending activities.

A prescription should include an approximate schedule of when treatments will be carried out as well as what type of equipment will be used. The choice of treatments will depend in part on crop objectives established earlier. For example, if a stand is being managed for pulpwood it is unlikely that pruning treatments will be prescribed, whereas both pruning and fertilizing may be recommended on stands being managed for high-grade sawlogs.

Stand management prescriptions set out the minimal standards to which treatments will be carried out, should the licensee decide to carry out those treatments. Thinning regimes, for example, must specify the species and density of trees to be retained as well as the minimal distance between trees. Regimes will change over the course of a rotation as conditions change and alternative treatments become appropriate. For example, stands for which no thinning treatments were initially prescribed may at some point require spacing to control unpredicted pest infestations, or to minimize the occurrence of unexpected diseases.

Ecological and Environmental Information

In addition to establishing objectives and prescribing treatments, a stand management prescription includes:

• an evaluation of the existing and potential forest health factors;
• measures for soil conservation, including existing hazard levels for erosion, compaction and displacement; and,
• strategies to mitigate impacts on non-timber values, including management objectives for S6 class streams.

 

Mapping Information

Stand management prescriptions must include maps showing:

• the location of treatment areas;
• riparian areas both in and adjacent to the prescription area, including streams (other than S6 streams), wetlands and lakes;
• reserve areas, such as wildlife tree patches; and,
• known features including wildlife habitat areas, water supply intakes and recreation, range or cultural heritage resources.

 

3.5.3 PUBLIC INPUT TO STAND MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

An opportunity for public review and comment on stand management prescriptions is left to the discretion of district managers, who may require that the prescription be made available by notice in writing.

For discussion on the Ministry of Forests’ policy on consultation with First Nations, please refer to Part 3.3.8 above.

 

3.5.4 APPROVAL OF STAND MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Stand management prescriptions are approved by the district manager. They must be consistent with higher level plans. In addition, they are subject to the same criteria for approval as other operational plans set out in section 41(1)(a) and (b) of the Code:

• the plan or amendment must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the Code, the regulations and the standards; and,
• the district manager (and designated environment official for joint approval areas) must be satisfied that the plan or amendment will adequately manage and conserve the forest resources of the area to which it applies.

The 1997 Code amendment requiring that the district manager must also be satisfied that the plan or amendment adequately addresses the government’s economic objectives for the area, including any economic direction for forest resources provided in a higher level plan, is not yet in force.

A district manager may grant an exemption from the requirement to have a stand management prescription if the area under consideration is less than one hectare and is not adjacent to an area which has already been exempt (section 32 of the Code). Exemptions may only be granted if the district manager is certain "that the requirement is not necessary to adequately manage and conserve … forest resources" (section 33 of the Code).

As mentioned above, the holders of woodlot licences and community forest agreements are not required to prepare stand management prescriptions if the proposed treatments are not funded by the government and take place only on private land.

 

For Further Reference

Legislation: Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act. ss.13, 24, 32, 39-43.

Regulations: Operational Planning Regulation. BC Reg. 107/98, Part 6, ss.48-51.

Silviculture Practices Regulation. BC Reg. 108/98, Div.3, ss.19-21.

Guidebooks: Stand Management Prescription Guidebook. March 1999.

11/19/03