Multi-block stocking standards

Multi-block stocking standards, also known as landscape reforestation standards, are a way of assessing forest regeneration at a broader, landscape scale rather than site by site. 

The standards set cumulative performance thresholds across multiple harvested sites, which allows flexibility in how regeneration targets are met while ensuring long-term objectives are achieved.

For a quick, up-to-date overview, watch Landscape Reforestation Standards Explained

What are the benefits of multi-block standards?

This approach reflects how forests function—as interconnected ecosystems. By managing regeneration across several blocks together, it better supports biodiversity, resilience, and long-term landscape goals.

Key benefits include:

• Stronger alignment with timber supply assumptions. These standards create a clearer connection between expectations and actual reforestation performance, which supports reliable timber supply planning
• Support for diverse forest conditions. By recognizing the importance of tree species composition and varying densities, these standards help achieve multiple landscape objectives such as timber production and enhancement of wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and wildfire resilience
• Greater flexibility and efficiency. Silviculture investments can be targeted to areas where they provide the most benefit

How do multi-block stocking standards work?

These standards set regeneration targets and minimums for the total combined results across multiple sites within a landscape. Variation among sites is allowed—some sites may have lower tree densities or higher proportions of broadleaf species—as long as the cumulative results meet the overall thresholds defined by the applicable landscape objectives.

Regeneration targets can be defined in two ways:

• Measurable metrics are based on direct observations, like counting well-spaced free-growing trees on-site
• Projectable metrics use stand survey data as inputs to a growth model, which projects future forest conditions to a specified point in time. With projectable metrics, each stratum in the population is modelled individually, and results are then rolled up into an area-weighted average to evaluate performance at the landscape scale
  • The model output is directly linked to long-term management goals—for example, merchantable volume per hectare if maximizing timber production, tonnes of carbon sequestered if maximizing carbon capture, or crown bulk density if reducing wildfire risk
  • This approach supports adaptive management by enabling ongoing evaluation of projected outcomes and allowing silviculture practices to be adjusted over time to improve forest health, productivity, and resilience
  • This approach accounts for multiple factors that drive stand development and long-term outcomes—such as total density, spatial distribution, genetic worth, and site productivity—whereas traditional standards often focus on only a subset of total density

How standards are developed and applied

Explore articles, technical reports, and presentations to learn more about how these standards are developed and applied. Please note, many of these resources date back more than 20 years. While they offer valuable historical context, some concepts and practices have evolved since they were published.

Assessing reforestation performance: A new approach (PDF, 338KB)
A brief, informal article published in the January-February 2003 issue of the FPBC magazine. The article proposes multi-block reforestation performance standards instead of block-by-block (SU-by-SU) standards.

A results-based system for regulating reforestation obligations (PDF, 105KB)
A paper published in the July-August 2002 issue of The Forestry Chronicle. The paper describes some of the concepts underlying the multi-block approach to setting reforestation standards, managing blocks, and assessing reforestation achievement.

Riverside’s results-based approach to reforestation obligation (PDF, 260KB)
Pat Martin’s PowerPoint presentation to the Fort St. John Code Pilot Project silviculture team in 2002. The presentation provides an overview of the multi-block approach that was under consideration for TFL 49

Setting targets, managing blocks, and assessing regeneration at the multi-block scale (PDF,945KB)
A PowerPoint presentation by Pat Martin and Greg Taylor to the winter NSC meeting in Prince George, January 2003. The presentation promotes the idea that setting targets, managing blocks, and assessing regeneration should be done at the multi-block (landscape) scale.

Stand survey and growth modeling for the TFL 49 results-based pilot project (PDF, 695KB)
A technical report by J.S. Thrower and Associates Ltd for Riverside Forest Products Inc, dated January 2002. The report provides yield predictions for lodgepole pine and interior spruce stands from a new type of silviculture survey.

Exploring the establishment of TSR reference thresholds for use in the Riverside results-based silviculture assessment system (PDF, 65KB)
A technical report by Craig Farnden, dated November 2002. The report addresses the problem of establishing a reference level for the multi-block system that reflects TSR reforestation assumptions. The report (a) discusses the challenges, (b) provides a first approximation method, and (c) demonstrates the method for the Fort St. John TSA.