Carmen Wong
Published: 2003
Total Pages: 154
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Natural disturbances (mainly fire, but also such phenomena as landslides, catastrophic wind events, floods, and pest infestations) are an integral part of the processes shaping & maintaining forested landscapes in British Columbia. Part 1 of this report presents a concise review of natural disturbance dynamics for each of the 14 biogeoclimatic zones of the province, based on published & unpublished research specific to British Columbia and to similar ecosystems elsewhere. Gaps in research are identified. Part 2 describes 11 methods from the literature for determining intervals for stand-replacing & stand-maintaining disturbances. Information provided for each method includes the principle on which it is based, its strengths & weaknesses, and the type of data & assumptions required. A step-by-step guideline identifies one or more appropriate methods to select, prepare, use, & analyze available data with a focus on data available to timber supply reviews in British Columbia. Part 3 demonstrates an application of the process in part 2 for selecting & using one of the methods for determining disturbance intervals in the Arrow Forest District. The final part makes recommendations, based on the results of the first three parts, on addressing the gaps in research & on quantitative methods for determining disturbance intervals in British Columbia.