Stocking Standards
One of the most important decisions in any reforestation program is working out how to meet stand objectives over time. This means understanding how a stand fits within the management unit and within landscape priorities, and how best to meet those priorities.
Creating a good stand depends on choosing suitable species and stocking levels, and achieving prompt and effective establishment. Together these factors influence stand structure, forest biodiversity, stand economics, future utilization, forest health, and rotation lengths.
Access a range of material to help develop your understanding of stocking standards.
History
- A Short History of the Control of Species Selection for Reforestation in BC
- How the use of the term 'free growing' in British Columbia is linked to harvest date and assessment date
Species Selection
In British Columbia, most forest sites can support a variety of tree species, giving the silviculturalist a range of species from which to choose.
This document is intended as an aid to developing stocking standards. It is a guide that may be used by licensees in preparing, and district managers in approving, stocking standards. The guide rates ecologically suitable species as primary, secondary and tertiary species with an assumed timber management objective.
- Reference Guide for Forest Development Stocking Standards - updated Sept 7th, 2021(XLSX)
- Reference Guide for Forest Development Stocking Standards - updated March 2019 (XLSX)
- Single Entry Dispersed Retention Stocking Standard Framework Implementation Guide (Coastal) - Feb 2014 (PDF)
- Fir Retention Stocking Standard (Coastal) - Aug 2016 (PDF)
Forest Health
Regeneration dates and stocking standards will result in areas being stocked with ecologically suitable species that address immediate and long-term forest health issues. The key focus of the stocking standards should be the forest health risk posed to the maintenance of a supply of commercially valuable timber.
- Consideration of Climate Change When Addressing Long-Term Forest Health in Stocking Standards (PDF)
- Guidance for assessing FSP stocking standards alignment with addressing immediate and long-term forest health issues (PDF)
- Roosevelt Elk Impacts on Reforestation: Mitigation Options (Coastal) (PDF, 769 KM)
- Exemption from Obligation to Establish a Free Growing Stand Due to Damage by Roosevelt Elk Guidance (Coastal) (PDF, 330 KB)
Establishment to Free Growing Guidebooks (EFGG)
These guidebooks offer help in selecting preferred and acceptable tree species from the primary, secondary and tertiary species now summarized in the Reference Guide to FDP stocking standards. They outline a process for species-selection decision making. The legislative references are no longer valid, but provide context for the Reference Guide and guidance for developing stocking standards.
- Cariboo (PDF,5.1MB)
- Kamloops (PDF, 2.2MB)
- Nelson (PDF, 4.3MB)
- Prince George (PDF, 4.2MB)
- Prince Rupert (PDF, 4.1MB)
- Vancouver (PDF, 3.7MB)
The following tool provides forest practitioners with the best available science-based information about tree species selection for a given geographical location. It informs tree species selection decision-making at the stand and landscape levels, in the context of a changing climate.
Training Materials
This guide focuses on the key content, legislative tests and critical issues that must be considered when reviewing and approving stocking standards under FRPA.
Training material for developing stocking standards in the context of FRPA legislative requirements:
