Richard Thompson and Nancy Densmore January Stand Level Biodiversity Final Report “Proof of Concept”

Question? Is the structural retention (WT and CWD) left associated with cutblocks adequately maintaining habitat for dependent species at the site and across the landscape now and in the future?

Stand Level Biodiversity What are we measuring? % area retained Tree size Wildlife tree class tree species CWD Size CWD decay class Ecological Anchors – e.g. large hollow trees, bear dens Windthrow Invasive Species

How are we measuring it? Standardized protocol Plot base and overview Randomized design Quality assurance Protocol Available on the Web: Standardized protocol Plot base and overview Randomized design Quality assurance Protocol Available on the Web:

2005 Provincial Sample Summary of retention levels (hectares) on 201 sampled cutblocks A Total gross block area6,916 BTotal patch retention area (includes 33 hectares of temporary patch retention) 932 CTotal dispersed retention area 1 (includes 99 hectares of temporary dispersed retention) 385 DTotal rotational Patch area ETotal rotational Patch area 2 considered unconstrained FTotal rotational dispersed area

Average Indicator Value by BEC BEC ZoneBlocks Sampled (ave % retained) Vet Trees #/ha of patch Ecological Anchors #/ha of patch Large Dead trees #/ha of total retention Large trees live and dead #/ha of total retention BWBS16 (15%) CDF1 (24%) CWH47 (24% ESSF14 (14%) ICH6 (30%) IDF20 (37%) MH3 (20%) MS7 (26%) SBPS15 (7%) SBS72 (14%)

Distribution of baseline indicator data

Retained species abundance SBS blocks

WT class 3 or higher, dbh >30 cm and height >10m for 72 SBS blocks

Comparison of Data on Large Dead Tree Abundance for Kolmogorov-Smirnov test

CWD Patch/Harvest Volume

CWD Patch/Harvest Length

Categories of windthrow 70 SBS cutblocks

Patch location 69 SBS Blocks :

Summary Trend or indicatorGood for Biodiversity Risky for Biodiversity 13.7% overall retention (32% 30% retention) X 42% of blocks with large patchesX 9% of blocks with external non- contiguous patches X 7% of blocks with zero retentionX 84% of blocks have patch retentionX 63% of blocks with 3 or less tree species retained X 43% of blocks with few large treesX 51% of blocks with many large treesX CWD volume comparable patch to harvest area and baseline X Long pieces of CWD less common in harvest area compared to retention patches and baseline X

Where to Next? Data sets continue to be built Data Management Systems being built Work to build baselines Work to put stand structure into landscape Data sets continue to be built Data Management Systems being built Work to build baselines Work to put stand structure into landscape