Cost and efficacy of combining understory resilience treatments with sawlog harvesting operations in the Dry-Belt Douglas-fir

Project Title: Cost and efficacy of combining understory resilience treatments with sawlog harvesting operations in the Dry-Belt Douglas-fir

Recipient: Clinton Community Forest

Region: Cariboo

Theme(s): “Thin it to win it”; “Beyond the sawlog”

Awarded Amount: $50,000

Project period: 2025-2026

Description: Uneven-aged forests of the dry interior contain most of the population and infrastructure throughout the southern interior. These forests are ingrown and subject to uncharacteristically severe fire effects due to the 150 year absence of traditional cultural burning. Cariboo Forest Region has drafted a strategy and best management practices to improve resilience of these forests. The Clinton CF will pilot the application of “Restoration Thinning” from the draft best management practices produced by the Cariboo Forest Region for Dry-Belt Douglas-fir. Planning will include cruising for whole-stand stand and stock tables. The prescription will be implemented in two ways: 1) thinning in the understory is concurrent with overstory thinning; and 2) understory thinning is implemented separately. Shift-level costing will be tracked and submitted to Timber Pricing Branch. Field tours for practitioners and contractors will be offered.