Policy
Last updated on August 16, 2019Forest policy and guidance is helping to adapt British Columbia's forest management practices to address climate change and variability.
Policy includes both legally enshrined statutory policy, such as legislation and Chief Forester's standards, and non-statutory policy.
Examples of British Columbia's pro-active forest policy for adaptation:
- Seed transfer standards provide for the limited range and population expansion of Western Larch into areas projected to be climatically suitable in the year 2030
- Changes to natural stand and orchard upward elevation transfer limits (100–200 metres) of most species have been made to seedlots registered on the Seed Planning & Registry system
- Incorporation of Enhanced Basic Silviculture (EBS) in Forest Stewardship Plan stocking standards and the use of the EBS Tenure Obligation Adjustment available in the Interior Appraisal Manual
- Development of the Climate Change Informed Species Selection (CCISS) tool
Climate-Based Seed Transfer
Planting seedlings adapted to future climates via assisted migration is recognized as a key strategy to address climate change in B.C. Climate-Based Seed Transfer is a climate change adaptation initiative and key action that will transition B.C. to a seed transfer policy framework and system that is climate-based.
Forest Stewardship Action Plan
The Forest Stewardship Action Plan for Climate Change Adaptation signals an important policy direction in forest stewardship management. The plan envisions that B.C.’s forests provide a broad suite of goods and services that benefit society now and in a changing climate. Its goals are to foster resilient forests, maintain future options and benefits and build adaptive capacity.
Guidance
Guidance to assist forest managers in adapting to a changing climate:
Enhanced Basic Silviculture
Guidance for incorporation of EBS in Forest Stewardship Plan stocking standards and the use of the EBS Tenure Obligation Adjustment available in the Interior Appraisal Manual:
Forests for Tomorrow
This document is about encouraging conifer mixes when conifer management is the chosen strategy, though it does not apply to conifer/broadleaf mixtures:
This guidance covers the assisted movement of species into biogeoclimatic zones/subzones where they are not currently considered as preferred or acceptable in response to anticipated climate change:
This guidance on integrating fuel management regimes into silvicultural treatments can be used to garner multiple benefits when planning and undertaking silviculture treatments:
Silviculture Stocking Standards
These updates to the Reference Guide for FDP Stocking Standards, intended to guide reforestation decisions, identify areas where tree species should be promoted or demoted based on local understanding of the species ecological tolerance and projected climate change:
This memo highlights mechanisms within the existing legislative framework that can be used to manage risks associated with innovative practices:
Guidance for adjudicating the Forest Planning & Practices Regulation requirements that stocking standards address both immediate and long-term forest health issues:
This memo outlines the context of existing legislative requirements and highlights some key considerations when planting larch in areas of assisted range and population expansion:
Guidance to professionals and tenure holders on how to address the potential risks to immediate and long-term forest health associated with species selection decisions:
Forest Stewardship Plans (FSPs)
Guidance on the consideration of any significant information, including new science, operational trends and regional forest health issues, when approving forest stewardship plan extensions:
Guidance that clarifies the mechanisms available to incorporate flexibility into forest stewardship plan results or strategies.
The Tree Species Selection Tool provides the best available information to support tree species selection decisions in the context of a changing climate.