Silviculture Systems Workshop: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. What is the alternative?
Grant Summary:
Project Title: Silviculture Systems Workshop: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. What is the alternative?
Recipient: Woodlots BC
Regions: Thompson/Okanagan & Kootenay
Awarded Amount: $15,000
Project Period: 2025-2026
Description: The project is a workshop held in conjunction with the 2025 Woodlot Conference. It involves a field site visit to a woodlot that showcases stand management for multiple values over 40 years, followed by a facilitator-led indoor workshop to discuss alternate silviculture systems, where we are headed and how to get there, recognizing that a “one-size fits all approach” will not work. Participants will review observations from the field trip and brainstorm ideas and strategies to promoting alternate silviculture systems, with the intent to produce a written report and a series of recommendations.
Halfway Reporting:
The following is based on halfway reporting by the grantee.
July 27, 2025
Photo by: Woodlots BC
The workshop is titled “Silviculture Systems Workshop: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. What is the Alternative?”
Plans are well underway for the Woodlots BC workshop/conference scheduled for October 16-18, 2025 in Osoyoos. We already have 50 registrants, industry sponsors supporting us and a growing list of confirmed speakers to contribute to the success of the conference and workshop.
We are thrilled that the local school teacher for the Environmental Science 12 class has asked if she can bring her students out to the Woodlot 0411 when we have our workshop field tour there on October 17, 2025.
The field site visit to Woodlot 0411, nestled in the scenic Rock Creek area will showcase woodlot management for 40 years. It will feature informative speakers who will delve into the unique management practices employed on this tenure, highlighting its long history of sustainable harvesting and its innovative approach to integrating ecological values. Firsthand knowledge of how this woodlot, with its logging history dating back to the 1940s, has evolved under the BC Woodlot Program, demonstrating effective fuel mitigation through regular harvesting and prioritizing old tree attributes and wildlife habitat will be shared. This is a fantastic opportunity to witness practical examples of “Small Tenures, Big Connections” in action, showcasing how careful management can contribute to biodiversity, forest health, and wildlife conservation while sustaining local economies.
Following the field site visit we will head indoors to discuss and capture the thoughts generated from our walk and talks in the woods.
To make use of the expertise at the workshop, we will divide the delegates into 16 breakout groups. Each group will be given one of four topics including (i) Silviculture Systems; (ii) Public Use of Crown Woodlot Lands; (iii) Woodlot Future Goals; and (iv) Community/First Nations/Government Relations. Each group will view their topic through one of the four lenses: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly and the Alternative. Group participation will be encouraged by roaming moderators. Discussions on directed questions will lead to a few summary points to be presented to the entire conference audience.
During our reflections, and to paraphrase a famous historical saying: “Ask not what the forest can do for you but what you can do for the forest.”
Photo by: Woodlots BC
Photo by: Woodlots BC
Photo by: Woodlots BC