1. Guide to Developing FDP Stocking Standards
Forest Practices Branch
B.C. Ministry of Forests
December 2002

2. Objectives
Describe the process for amending the FDP to include stocking standards.
Describe the content requirements for the stocking standards.
Describe the link to the site plan.

3. Requirement for Stocking Standards in the FDP
A person required to prepare the FDP for the area under a Site Plan must ensure that the FDP contains the stocking standards (Operational & Site Planning Reg 18.1(2) & 18.2 ) required for the Site Plan
The Operational & Site Planning Regulation lists stocking standard requirements for even-aged , uneven-aged and areas without regeneration objectives
Amendments to the FDP for stocking standards are exempt from the notice, review & comments provisions

4. Steps in Developing FDP Stocking Standards
Prior to harvest a site plan is required unless a silviculture prescription is in effect for the area
A Site Plan cannot be prepared until FDP is amended and to include stocking standards and those standards are approved
Submit FDP amendment for stocking standards on an FS 789 or equivalent

5. Steps in Developing FDP Stocking Standards - continued
A complete set of stocking standards:
is not required at the start
can be built up over time
will be an integral component of the future Forest Stewardship Plan
In the short term, amendment submissions may be required to establish approved stocking standards for specific cutblocks.

6. Steps in Developing FDP Stocking Standards (cont’d.)
FDP amendments for stocking standards may be made for
individual cutblocks
groups of cutblocks
the entire FDP

7. Steps in Developing FDP Stocking Standards - continued
Stocking standards can be developed that apply to more than 1 licence area. For example: standards can be developed collaboratively at the TSA level
Different standards can be developed for the same site series. For example: minimum stocking standards (MSS) or minimum inter-tree distance (MITD) may be different for a given site series on colluvial slopes

8. Sample
Back to slide 4

9. Forest Development Plan Stocking Standards FS789
The FS789 is an optional format for stocking standards
The FS789 is a Shana electronic form
This form has some built in functionality to streamline the approval of stocking standards
The software to use the form is available free of charge
To access the FS789 form and to obtain information on Shana forms go to the following web address

10. A FDP will have an applicable set of stocking standards
FDP standards are developed by RPF .
DM reviews and if approved assigns a unique ID number

11. Detail of stocking standards

12. When approving stocking standards the district manager should choose from the following applicable set of numbers

13. Assigning Standards ID Numbers cont’d.
The district manager assigns one ID number to each set of stocking standards
The district manager may want to allocate a set of numbers to each licensee. For example: Weyco
A set of stocking standards may apply to one ecosystem or to more than one ecosystem
There may be more than one set of standards for each ecosystem or group of ecosystems. This can allow for alternate standards where site conditions require different management. For example: forest health, visual, etc.
The preferred and acceptable species may have conditions attached to their use. For example: not to comprise more than 20% of the well spaced trees within the standards unit SU

14. SITE PLAN STOCKING
STANDARDS
For each standards unit a forester assigns the ID number of the appropriate stocking standards for the unit from the FDP

15. Stocking Standards - Even / Uneven Aged Stands
Stocking standards is a generic term . For areas to be managed as even or uneven aged stands it includes:
Stocking requirements as defined in Operational & Site Planning Regulation sec 18.1
Regeneration Date
Earliest Free Growing Assessment Date
Free Growing Date

16. Stocking Requirements : Even -Aged Stands
Minimum height
Required height of the tree relative to competing vegetation in a 1 metre radius
Other performance standards
Minimum leave tree characteristics including form, health, vigour
Preferred & acceptable species
Minimum allowable horizontal distance
Minimum stocking standard (MSS) for preferred & acceptable
MSS for preferred
Maximum density
Maximum & minimum density post spacing

17. Stocking Requirements : Uneven-Aged Stands
Leave tree standards for each layer of trees to be retained
Preferred & acceptable species to be retained
Minimum basal area & or minimum density
Minimum leave tree characteristics including form / health / vigour
Applicable regeneration standards
Other performance standards necessary to produce and measure achievement of free growing

18. Stocking Standards for Areas Without Regeneration Objectives
Preferred & acceptable species to be retained
Minimum basal area or minimum density to be retained
Minimum leave tree characteristics including form, health and vigour

19. Selection of Preferred & Acceptable Species
The selection of preferred & acceptable species must be consistent with :
any higher level plan for the area
establishing a healthy ecological stand
commercially valuable
consistent with current & future timber supply
In general, preferred and acceptable species are selected from the primary and secondary species lists. In some cases, tertiary species also could be preferred

20. Selection of Preferred & Acceptable Species - continued
Primary, secondary, and tertiary species were determined on the basis of a species’ productivity, reliability, and silvicultural feasibility based on:
current knowledge of the productive capability of each site series (updated in 2000 to reflect SIBEC)
the silvics of the tree species
the growth and development of existing second growth forests

21. Selection of Preferred & Acceptable - continued
Primary species:
are ecologically acceptable
have a high rating for silvicultural feasibility, reliability, and productivity under the average conditions for a site series.
can be managed as a major component in a stand if the restrictions have been adequately addressed.
Primary species are not by default the preferred species. Species from any of the three categories can be chosen as preferred, if the species meets the identified management objectives and if restrictions can be dealt with through treatments.

22. Selection of Preferred & Acceptable - continued
Secondary species:
are ecologically acceptable
rank lower than primary species for one or more of silvicultural feasibility, reliability, or productivity.
Depending on the nature and extent of these limitations, secondary species can be managed as either a major or a minor component in a stand.

23. Selection of Preferred & Acceptable - continued
Tertiary species
are ecologically acceptable
rank lower than primary or secondary species for one or more of silvicultural feasibility, reliability, or productivity.
Depending on the nature of their limitations, on local conditions, and on management objectives, tertiary species are normally suitable only as a minor component within a stand. For example, tertiary species can be used as a minor component of all stands within an area.

24. Selection of Preferred & Acceptable Species cont’d
Preferred Species:
Management activities are primarily aimed at establishing these species.
The characteristics of these species are consistent with the desired timber and non-timber objectives for the site.
Acceptable species:
Management activities are not aimed at establishment
There may be a higher-than-acceptable site limitation, such as pest risk, or a lower productivity than the preferred species.
Special restrictions or limitations may apply to their use

25. Selection of Preferred & Acceptable Species - continued
In determining the appropriate preferred and acceptable species, review the recommended species options for the site. Consider:
• the desired stand structure
• the timber & non-timber objectives for the area
• the potential for natural regeneration
• the role of advance regeneration

26. Selection of Preferred & Acceptable Species - continued
• the hazards, such as pests, likely to affect the stand throughout the rotation
• the feasibility of the treatments required to establish the stand under existing management constraints
• the effect of the species or combination of species on the site
the maintenance of biodiversity

27. Species Selection & landscape level objectives
Several methods may be adopted in order to address landscape level objectives on a site-specific basis. Selecting a single species only for the minimum stocking standard preferred (MSSp) or selecting a minimum stocking standard for a species are both legitimate strategies in the right context.

28. Broadleaf Species
Broadleaf species should not be listed as preferred or acceptable where the objectives for broadleaf establishment or retention are:
to provide a nurse crop,
promote nutrient cycling, or
for general biodiversity objectives.
It is anticipated that these objectives will be achieved through the free growing guidelines, which allow for a broadleaf component, but at a stocking level where the projected impact on conifer crop tree growth is acceptable

29. Broadleaf Species
Broadleaf species should only be listed as preferred or acceptable if deemed acceptable as a new forest crop as either pure broadleaf or mixedwood stands on the basis of:
Broadleaf species are currently or will be included in the estimation of volume contributing to a management unit’s timber supply
Long term management objectives set out in a forest development plan (or in some instances a land use plan)
Consistent with an explicit strategy that provides stated management objectives for broadleaves. These strategies should incorporate careful analysis of growth and yield implications and set out viable silviculture regimes that will achieve the management objectives

30. Broadleaf Species cont’d.
Broadleaf species should only be listed as preferred or acceptable if deemed acceptable as a new forest crop as either pure broadleaf or mixedwood stands on the basis of:
A short-rotation interim crop to manage for root rot centres. The use of hardwood cropping for this purpose is currently considered an operational trial and is not recommended for widespread use at this time
Submission of FDP amendments listing broadleaf species as preferred may be appropriate where operational trials are to be established to manage for mixedwood or broadleaf stands (e.g., for enhanced production of high quality wood such as birch veneer)

31. Well Spaced
The provincial stocking standard guidelines were developed on the assumption of a 2 m minimum inter-tree spacing.
While a 2 m minimum inter-tree spacing is suitable for most sites, a reduced inter-tree spacing may be appropriate for sites where plantable spots are limited by site characteristics, a site condition, or where clumpy stem distribution is a normal and desirable stand characteristic.

32. Examples of situations where a reduced minimum inter-tree spacing may be appropriate
• hygric or wetter sites
• very rocky sites
• very harsh sites where protected microsites are critical (e.g., shade, snow creep)
• areas with a high potential for cattle congregation
• sites with a significant number of large wildlife trees (e.g., 50 uniformly distributed trees/ha)
• riparian areas with a high residual component
• sites where a stump avoidance strategy is employed to manage root rot
• cluster planting (e.g., grizzly bear habitat)
• partial cut areas with an abundance of residual regeneration.