Silviculture survey reference documents

Find key resources to support silviculture surveys in British Columbia, including guidance on stratification, site index, maximum density, aerial assessments, and more.

On this page

• Stratification
• Complex vertical stand structures
• Site index
• Maximum density
• Aerial Assessments
• Spacing
• Elk
• Swiss needle cast
• Secondary structure surveys

Stratification

• Chief Forester's Forest Planning Practices memo on stratification (PDF, 175KB)
• Forest Cover Stratification and Milestone Declaration V1.4 (PDF, 3.6MB)
• Using Stratification to Achieve Non-Timber Objectives (PDF, 659KB)

Complex vertical stand structures

• Multi-Storey Survey Procedures Course Workbook (PDF, 2.6MB)
• SEDRSS Implementation Guide (PDF, 2.1MB)
• Appendix 3: Coastal Second Growth Douglas-fir (Fdc) Retention Stocking Standard SEDRSS (PDF, 664KB)

Site index

• How to Determine Site Index in Silviculture
• Site Index Estimates by BEC Site Series (SIBEC)
• SiteTools

Maximum density 

• Chief Forester Memo- Maximum Density Guidance- June 2022 (PDF, 171KB)
• Maximum Density for Lodgepole Pine - Southern Interior Forest Region (PDF, 114KB)
• Maximum Density for Lodgepole Pine - Northern Interior Forest Region (PDF, 2.6KB)

Aerial Assessments

• Aerial Assessments Suitability Matrix training video
• Using Aerial Assessments for Free Growing Declarations PDF
• Aerial Assessment Suitability Matrix

Spacing

• Field Guidelines for the Selection of Stands for Spacing - Coastal (PDF, 348KB)
• Field Guidelines for the Selection of Stands for Spacing - Interior (PDF, 470KB)

Elk

• Roosevelt Elk Impacts on Reforestation: Mitigation Options (PDF, 769KB)
• CRIT- Exemption from Obligation to Establish a Free Growing Stand Due to Damage by Roosevelt Elk Guidance (PDF, 329KB)

Swiss needle cast

• Swiss Needle Cast Data Collection Spreadsheet (XLSX, 3.5MB)
• Presentation: Swiss Needle Cast Data Collection Procedures (PDF, 2MB)
• Training videos:
  • Swiss Needle Cast Data Collection Procedures
  • Field Demonstration
  • SNAP Data Entry and Compilation

Secondary structure surveys

• Forest Planning and Practices Regulation Amendments to Protect Secondary Structure (PDF, 1.5MB)
• Explanation of Secondary Structure Regulation Amendments (PDF, 39KB)
• Suggested Survey Method for Measuring Stocking of Secondary Structure (PDF, 766KB)