Author: Alan Vyse, Research Forester and Group Leader, Kamloops Forest Region, B.C. Forest Service

Abstract: Mountain forests of subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce occupy a large portion of south central B.C. They supply timber, water, and recreation values to communities in the valleys. Sustainable management of the forests for all values is now required. In 1992 a long-term interdisciplinary project was established at Sicamous Creek to examine the ecology of mountain forests and the effect of clearcutting and alternative cutting practices. Treatments include: 10ha clearcuts, arrays of 1ha openings, arrays of 0.1ha patch cuts, individual tree selection and uncut controls. The replicated experimental treatments at an operational scale have attracted many researchers to the site. The project was logged in the winter of 1994/95.

The early results support more operational trials with small patch cuts or patchy group selection, thus varying the amount of timber removed and size of gaps as a way of increasing the ecological diversity of harvesting practices in these forests.