1. Vegetation Management Alternatives in Boreal and Temperate Forests: What Do We Know About Releasing Conifers? Speakers: F. Wayne Bell, forest ecology research scientist, OFRI Alan Wiensczyk, ecosystem and stand management extension specialist, FORREX Kandyd Szuba, biologist, Forest Products Group, Domtar Inc., 3:00—4:30 pm January 13, 2010 Ontario Forest Research Institute

2. Purpose of Presentations This following presentations will provide an overview of a multi-agency project that will be completed in 2010. The presentations are designed to make you aware of the type of work that is being completed.

3. Agenda Introduction – Wayne Bell Synthesis of literature – Alan Wiensczyk Stand level analyses – Wayne Bell Landscape level analyses – Kandyd Szuba Summary – Wayne Bell Questions and Answers - All

4. Introduction The project has involved: Updating the Canadian Forest Management Database, Synthesizing relevant vegetation management literature, Conducting yield and cost:benefit analyses, and Conducting landscape-level analyses related to alternatives for releasing conifers.

5. The synthesis included but was not limited to research carried out in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec since 1990. Emphasis was placed on techniques for releasing conifers (i.e., black spruce, white spruce, jack pine, lodgepole pine, red pine, and white pine) from herbaceous and woody competitive vegetation. Introduction

6. Introduction Project Partners Multi-agency partnership consisting of NGOs: Forestry Research Partnership (CEC-FRP), FORREX, Spatial Planning Systems, and National Council for Air and Stream Improvement - Canadian Operations (NCASI). Universities: Lakehead University (LU), Université de Moncton, and University of Guelph (U of G). Forest industries: Domtar Inc. - Forest Products Group (Domtar), and Tembec Enterprizes Inc. - Forest Resource Management Group (Tembec). Governments: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), Quebec Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (QcMNRF), and Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Forest Service (NRCan-CFS),

7. Introduction Primary Deliverable A 100+ page technical information report of current information on vegetation management alternatives that includes an executive summary and six technical sections.

8. 1) Why practice forest vegetation management? 2) What are the alternatives and their silvicultural effectiveness? 3) What are the environmental consequences of using silviculturally effective alternatives? 4) What are the social issues associated with using silviculturally effective alternatives? 5) What are the cost implications of silviculturally effective alternatives? 6) What are the landscape-level implications of Implementing Integrated Forest Vegetation Management Alternatives? Introduction Six Sections

9. Vegetation Management Alternatives Section I: Why practice forest vegetation management?

10. Why Vegetation Management? Reduce competition for moisture, nutrients and light. Maintain the presence of conifers in the ecosystem

11. Why Vegetation Management? Jack Pine Ecology - Light Requirements (Source: Logan 1966) Height (inches yr 4)Height (inches)

12. Why Vegetation Management? Planted Pw Stem Volume Growth

13. Why Vegetation Management? (VMAP) Goals “ to develop approaches to managing forest vegetation that could reduce dependence on herbicides in Ontario’s forests” “to determine economically- and ecologically-sound vegetation management practices that are socially acceptable” “to advance forest regeneration knowledge and further all aspects of forest vegetation management”