I’ve been reading books, documents and articles relative to forests for decades. Every once in awhile, I get caught up in some new forest jargon. The most recent comes from the Ministry of Forests and their new concept “Legacy Tree” Any guesses? …..
What is a Forest?
The following terms, I hope will help you to appreciate the complexity defining what is a Forest.
My Webster Dictionary (1986) defines “forest” as a large tract of land, wholly or partially covered in timber(1) trees, whether growing naturally or specially planted.
Forest Life Cycle: The natural cycle of forest succession is birth, maturity, death, decay and rebirth. The natural full life cycle might take about 2,000 years. In 2020 reality, the full life cycle of an industrial tree farm is in the area of 120-160 years.
Natural Forest(2): high elevation to waters edge: river, lake or sea side. Historically, they have never been impacted by human activities ie logging, mining, agriculture or urban developments.
Old Growth Forest: governments, industry and public groups have only in the past 20 years come to accept that trees over 250 years of age, here on the BC Coast are given the label “Old Growth” Interior forests are Old Growth at 140 years.
Mature Forests: coastal trees from 120 – 250 years.
Ministry of Forests Categories
Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA’s): The Ministry of Forests has developed this category to enable Forest Companies to switch Old Growth Trees for a similar area, having old vegetation attributes. The trees are then available to be cut. They can then apply the term Old Growth Recruitment area, to reach their prescribed Old Growth guidelines.
Over-Mature, Decadent, Diseased, Ready to die, Fire Hazard trees are terms Industry, Professional Foresters and Governments have used in policy reports and press releases.
Legacy Tree: a new term (2019) created by the Min of Forests: covering the commercial species cut in BC A legacy tree is one which is 50% or larger than the specimen listed in the Big Tree Registry eg. Douglas Fir – Red Creek Fir is 42.6 Ft C. A legacy tree therefore must be a minimum of 21.3 ft C.
Proposed Government Policy
The proposed Government Policy will suggest as Best Practice, that trees of the 50% measurement or larger are NOT to be cut by any logging company. They must be left to grow, as B.C’s legacy example Old Growth.
Under easily achievable / fudged circumstances however, the Legacy / Old Growth Tree can be justifiably cut/ harvested. The minimum circumference number is easily fudged by just raising the tape measure 6 inches / 15 cm or if on a slope, stand at the up slope side of the tree.
Harvest ready: coastal trees, ranging in age from 60 – 120 years, ready to be sent to mills for processing or as raw-log exports.
2nd growth Naturally regenerated Forest, (1880 – 1960) and still alive in 2020: These timbered trees were cut and hauled to local mills. The cleared land naturally re-seeded over decades, growing into a multi aged naturally regenerated forest.
They will most likely continue to live when they are growing on private property. They are protected from being cut if they are in Provincial Parks, Regional Parks and OGMA sensitive habitat reserves.
2nd growth Forest / Tree Farm (1970 – present) are purposefully planted in logged cut blocks. The 2 year old saplings are grown by the millions in ultra specialized Silva-culture grow-op complexes.
3rd growth, 2010 – ongoing: purposefully re-planted, using genetically selected seed, sprouted and grown in the ultra-efficient incubators / greenhouses. They will be harvested in their 60th growth year.
Timber Harvest Land Base: Approximately 35% of the area of B.C. is designated as Timber Harvest Land Base. The ice-fields, steep slopes plus urban infrastructure lands ie. roads, homes, city centres, parks and reserves take up 65% of B.C.
Within the THLB, as of 2018, researchers now state that less than 3% of the Natural Old Growth forest remains. This equates that 97% of the Timber Harvest Land Base is now approaching 60 years of age. Before 1940, the average age of BC.’s coastal forests ranged between 400-600 years.
Reading the Canadian Forest Industry magazine suggests the 2nd growth harvest can begin at 50 years. The earlier harvest is responding to the exploding demand for trees to be ground up and processed into Wood Pellets, for local and international Bio-Fuel purposes.
Tree Farm Licence: A grant of land from the Provincial Ministry of Forests given to large corporations. Licences run for 20 years. Land grants can cover many thousands of hectares. Licence holders are required to pay a stumpage fee (tax) per cubic meter of wood harvested. Wood is then put on the open market or contracted to local mills for processing. 5 Corporations control the Tree Farm Licence allocations in B.C.
Woodlot Licence: A grant of land, 400 – 1,000 hectares in size, granted by the Ministry of Forests to individual applicants. Licences run 10 years between renewals. Holders, very often Registered Professional Foresters, must harvest a specific number of cubic meters per year or pay penalties. They must also pay a stumpage tax per cubic meter of wood harvested. The fiber must first be available for local processing. Under certain market conditions the logs do get exported.
B.C. Timber Sales: an arm of the Provincial Government, Ministry of Forests, which puts to open, public auction, Crown Land, within the THBL. BC Timber Sales, was established about 20 years ago, to counter claims from the American Forest Corporations, that crown land timber was being put on the open market, at a subsidized, lower price compared to the American Private Lands being logged. Disputes through the US / Canada Soft Wood Lumber Agreement, have consistently sided in Canada’s favour ie. Not being subsidized – i.e being sold at fair market values – internationally.
A walk in a Natural Forest
If you would like to walk through a well established 2nd Growth – Naturally regenerated Forest, amble the Quadra Community Centre Trails. Similar community forests trails are in Courtney and Campbell River.
A tiny 2 hectare area of natural, Old Growth Forest can be experienced at Power Pole 37, Valdes Road, following the Pink and Orange flagging tape for about 100m. The tree in the beginning photograph fits “Legacy Tree” requirements at 25.6 ft C / 7.7m. / age estimate of 900 years. A similar forest, with wonderful trails is on Cortes Island.
The survival of the remaining, low elevation natural / Old growth forests or their being exterminated by logging, is now being decided by our provincial Government. There is still time for you to submit your opinion and recommendations. Physical protests are also happening.
Footnotes
(1) timber: b) trees thought of as wood with a commercial value for building.
(2) Forest companies will split the Natural Forest into the sub-categories of High and Low Elevation. Low Elevation Natural Forests are highly valued as they are easier thus cheaper to access and market internationally for good profits. Researchers have concluded that less than 3% of the rich lower elevation natural forests in B.C. remain standing.
Rod Burns, CPHI, Quadra Island