SNB Forest Management Fund Treatments

Treatment Criteria:

        The uniform spacing of dense, natural or previously treated, immature softwood, mixedwood or hardwood stands to select the best quality stems,  as crop trees to be left and thus improve species composition and enhance growth of  the spaced crop trees.  The majority of stems removed with this treatment are of merchantable size.

Eligibility Criteria:

*        Stands must have the potential to develop a minimum of 250 crop trees/ha of sawlog and veneer quality.
*        Crop trees must be windfirm, healthy dominants and co-dominants of the desired species with well formed
          crowns.
*        A live crown ratio of at least one-third is required.
*        Low thinnings are not eligible under this treatment.
*        Thinnings must be done to release the crown of crop trees.
*        Stands must have a minimum basal area of 18m2/ha of stems 8cm (or greater) at dbh.
*        Maximum density eligible under this treatment is 3,000 stems/ha.  (1,200 stems/acre)
*        Eligible stands must not exceed the maximum age requirements outlined below.

                                           Species                                      Max. DBH Age
                                            fir and field white spruce                       45
                                            spruce, cedar                                       55
                                            jack pine                                                *
                                            red pine                                                50
                                            white pine, hemlock                              60
                                            tamarack                                              40
                                            white ash                                              55
                                            yellow birch, sugar maple                      60
                                            red oak, red maple                               60
                                            white birch, poplar                                40

                                        *Jack pine is eligible for this treatment only if the diameter increment indicates less than
                                         10 years suppression.  Maximum age is 45 years.

Inspection Criteria:
*        Basal area to be removed must be between 25-40% in a uniform manner.
*        Hy-grading is not permitted.
*        Stocking of poplar not to exceed 25%.
*        A minimum of 250 crop trees/ha must have been released on at least three sides.
*        Post treatment densities must fall between 1,000-2,000 stems/ha.
*        A minimum stocking requirement of 60% is required.

        The uniform spacing of dense, natural or previously treated, sapling to young softwood, mixedwood or hardwood stands to select the best quality stems, as crop trees, thus improve species composition and enhance growth of  the spaced crop trees.  Stems removed during this treatment will be both commercial and non-commercial size.

Eligibility Criteria:

*        Stands must have the potential to develop a minimum of 250 crop trees/ha of sawlog and veneer quality.
*        Crop trees must be windfirm, healthy dominants and co-dominants of the desired species with well formed
          crowns.
*        A live crown ratio of at least one-third is required.
*        Low thinnings are not eligible under this treatment.
*        Thinnings must be done to release the crown of crop trees.
*        Stands must have a  basal area ranging between 10-18m2/ha stems 8cm (or greater) at dbh.
*        Minimum density eligible for this treatment is 3,000 stems/ha.  (1,200 stems/acre)
*        Eligible stands must not exceed the maximum age requirements outlined below.

                                           Species                              Max. DBH Age
                                            fir and field white spruce                  45
                                            spruce, cedar                                  55
                                            jack pine                                          *
                                            red pine                                          50
                                            white pine, hemlock                        60
                                            tamarack                                        40
                                            white ash                                        55
                                            yellow birch, sugar maple                60
                                            red oak, red maple                          60
                                            white birch, poplar                          40

                                        *Jack pine is eligible for this treatment only if the diameter increment indicates less than
                                        10 years suppression.  Maximum age is 45 years.

Inspection Criteria:

*        Basal area to be removed must be between 25-40% in a uniform manner.
*        Hy-grading is not permitted.
*        Stocking of poplar not to exceed 25%.
*        A minimum of 250 crop trees/ha must have been released on at least three sides.
*        Post treatment densities must fall between 1,200-2,200 stems/ha.
*        A minimum stocking requirement of 60% is required.

        The spacing of healthy, tolerant hardwood stands (including red maple but excluding diseased beech) in the polewood stage or greater to mold species composition, to encourage the crown expansion heeded to sustain rapid growth during the later part of the rotation and to favour trees of high quality.  The management objective is for a final product of high value bolt wood, veneer wood, or sawlog material.

Eligibility Criteria:

*        The stand must contain a minimum of 300 uniformly distributed potential crop trees per hectare with a
          minimum bole length of 5.5 meters.
*        Crop trees must require releasing in at least 2 sides of their crown.
*        Basal area prior to treatment must fall within section C of the Stocking Chart for Tolerant Hardwoods
          (Appendix II I).
*        A maximum of 90 m3(st)/ha  (10 cd/ac.) of merchantable volume can be removed.
*        Crop trees are defined as: Healthy, vigorous, dominant or co-dominant tolerant hardwoods (including red
          maple but excluding diseased beech) with a minimum diameter of 12 cm at breast height.
*        Crop trees must have a bole of at least 5.5 meters free of the following major defects:
                    - bulges
                    - cankers (cat faces)
                    - porcupine scars
                    - bear peels
                    - large burls
                    - seams
                    - butt rot
                    - hollow but
                    - conks
                    - open cracks
                    - branches (on two or more faces of the bole)
                    - poor form (very crooked trees; excessively large branches
                    - dead top
                    - serious crook or sweep (more than 25%), or crotch
                    - large holes or large dead branches

Inspection Criteria:

 A minimum of 250 uniformly distributed crop trees/ha must be crown released on two or three sides.
Crop trees must have a clear bole of a minimum of 5.5 meters.
Basal area following treatment must fall within section B of the Stocking Chart for Tolerant Hardwoods (Appendix II).
A minimum of 25% of the basal area must be removed from the stand.
All merchantable material has been removed or prepared for extraction and non-merchantable material laid close to the ground.
Total merchantable volume removed does not exceed 90 m3(st)/ha.

        The removal of trees to control stand spacing and favour desired trees using a combination of thinning criteria/methods without regard to crown position.

Eligibility Criteria:

*        Applicable to stands of a patchy uneven-aged  or multi-stage nature which do not qualify for a single
          treatment but which would benefit from a combination of treatments.
*        Treatment combinations may include S.N.B. activities (i.e.: selective harvesting) and/or a combination of
          government funded activities and/or improvement cutting.
*        This assistance shall not be available for stands which qualify for government assistance.
*        The assistance rate will be based on conducting one full treatment of variable thinning comprised of a
          weighted average rate per activity based upon established silviculture rates. i.e.: the rate calculation for a
         patchy stand requiring that 50% pre-commercially thinned; 25% release cutting and 20% should be
         semi-commercially thinned would be as follows:

                    Treatment                           % of Area                      100% Rate/Hectare
               Assistance/Hectare
                Pre-Commercial                         50%                  X             $704.                               =         $352.
                Release Cutting                           25%                  X             $200.                               =         $  50.
                Semi-Commercial                       20%                  X             $360.                               =         $  72.

                Total Assistance Available @ 100% Rate:                                                                               $474.
                Total Assistance Available @  65% Rate:                                                                                $308

Inspection Criteria:

*        The entire area being funded must be worked through.
*        Treatments of individual micro sites must be consistent with the relevant criteria. (i.e.: PCT densities,
          commercial thinning densities, etc.)
*        All merchantable wood must be prepared for extraction

S.N.B. General Fund Assistance Rate:         65% of calculated 100% rate.
 

        Shelterwood is defined as one or more thinning operation(s) carried out in stands in order to provide conditions conducive to the establishment of natural regeneration and/or enhance the growth of regeneration already present (which is not completely established) under the protection of the old stand, and to salvage wood that would normally be lost to mortality.

Eligibility Criteria:

*        Mature, windfirm, softwood stands.
*        The stocking of these stands must be at least 20 percent spruce*, white pine, cedar and/or hemlock.
          Special considerations for high density, balsam fir stands.
*        Stocking of established natural regeneration is < 60%.
*        Established regeneration is defined as seedling that are firmly rooted in the mineral soil and at least 30 cm
          tall. (12” +)
*        Low light conditions at the forest floor resulting from excessive crown closure must be inhibiting the natural
          regeneration process.
*        Stands must have an average merchantable diameter of at least 14 cm at breast height and be located on
          good sites.
*        Only the initial treatment is eligible for financial assistance.

**             Note:  Old field white spruce does not respond to this treatment unless sufficient soil disturbance is
                achieved through scarification.
 

Inspection Criteria:

*        Basal area removal in the range of 25-40%.
*        Residual trees must be of the desired species, be windfirm, and have good branch, stem and form
          characteristics.
*        Crown to stem ratio must be one-third or better.
*        Residual spacing, density and crown closure must be adequate to meet the stated objectives.
*        Stand must be stocked to at least 20% with spruce, white pine, cedar and/or hemlock.
*        Average merchantable diameter of the stand at breast height is 14 cm or greater.
*        All merchantable material must be removed or prepared for extraction and non-merchantable material laid
          close to the ground.
*        Stocking of acceptable established natural regeneration is < 60%.
*        Merchantable volume removed does not exceed 90 m3(st)/ha. (10 cd/ac)

        Is a method of selection harvesting in which individual trees are removed more or less uniformly throughout the stand.  This treatment is aimed at the creation or maintenance of balanced, uneven-aged (3 or more ) stands which will provide the opportunity for regular entries, without ever clear-cutting the stand.

Eligibility Criteria:

*        Stands must appear windfirm.
*        Stands will not qualify for assistance under current government funded programs.
*        Stands must be immature, mature, over-mature or uneven-aged.

Inspection Criteria:

*        Uniform removal of between 25-40% of the basal are.
*        Removed trees must be poor quality, poor vigour, undesirable species and/or impeding the development of
          more desirable trees in the stand.
*        Residual crop trees are to be sturdy, healthy and defect free.
*        An effort must be made to try and develop balanced uneven-aged class structure.
*        Remaining crop trees must be uniformly distributed throughout the stand.
*        This activity is not applicable to the "hy-grading" of stands or diameter limit cutting.
*        Upon completion, stands should have a minimum of 30% of the stems being comprised of shade tolerant,
           long-lived species (i.e.: red spruce, white pine, sugar maple, yellow birch, etc..)
*        The objective of this treatment is to create or maintain an uneven-aged class structure.
 

Additional Information:

        It is recommended that S.N.B. field staff, in consultation with the woodlot owner, prepare a detailed harvesting prescription for each stand receiving assistance.

        The felling or felling/removal of the overstory from a two story stand where the overstory is suppressed or threatening to suppress a young stand of desirable softwood trees not past the sapling stage.

Eligibility Criteria:

*        The overstory is generally of merchantable size but because of low merchantable volumes per hectare, it
          cannot be economically removed.
*        A minimum of 60% stocking of desirable softwood regeneration.
*        The overstory shall not exceed an average total merchantable volume of 90 m3(st)/ha.(10cd/ac)
*        Total volumes in excess of 63 m3(st)/ha must be removed. (7 cd/ac)
*        The overstory must have a minimum of 25% crown closure.
*        This treatment is not to be used to remove residual trees from cut-over areas.

Inspection Criteria:

*        A minimum of 60% stocking of desirable softwood regeneration.
*        A maximum total volume of 63 m3(st)/ha has been laid on the ground. (7 cd/ac)
*        Overstory trees have been either:
                (1) felled and laid close to the ground; or
                (2) felled and removed to roadside.
*        All merchantable material has been removed or prepared for extraction and non-merchantable material laid
          close to the ground.
*        A maximum of 90 m3(st)/ha of merchantable volume has been removed.

Methods:

*        Prior to treatment, the  understory must be assessed  for its ability to respond, thus avoiding treatment of
          suppressed stands that are incapable of release.

        The planting of young trees under the canopy of an existing stand of mature to over-mature trees.  This will allow certain species to develop a better form while in partial shade, increase the regeneration stocking levels and try to ensure a future valuable crop to trees, prior to partial and/or clear-cutting of the overstory.

Eligibility Criteria:

*        Stand must be in the mature to over-mature age class.
*        Stand must be between 25-75% crown closure.
                    Stand < 25% - Residuals should be removed and considered for full planting.
                    Stand > 75%- Some type of partial cutting should be completed first and sufficient time allowed to
                                           assess natural regeneration stocking (2-5 years post harvest).
*        Stocking levels of acceptable natural softwood and hardwood commercial species must be below 60%.
*        Must have sufficient planting opportunities to accommodate 90% stocking of planted and natural
          regeneration.
*        The present stand does not have the capability to provide desirable natural regeneration to the end of its
          maximum mature age.

Inspection Criteria:

*        Minimum stocking of natural and planted trees must meet 90% and have 40-90% stocking of planted trees
          only.
*        Density between 1,800-2,500 planted plus natural seedlings/ha.
*        Must meet planting quality requirements using 40 sq. m. plots.  A seedling is considered planted if all the
          following criteria are satisfied:
                -     alive or estimated to have been alive when planted and planted properly
                -     firmly imbedded to the root collar
                -     roots must have mineral soil contact
                -     no exposed roots
                -     not broken below the top whorl
                -     multiple stems are counted as one
                -     not planted on a sever microsites
*        Planted trees must be either softwood or hardwood with a minimum of intermediate for shade tolerance.
          Trees included are:
                        red spruce                         sugar maple
                        black spruce                      yellow birch
                        white pine                          red oak
                        Eastern hemlock                white ash
                        Eastern white cedar           black ash

                        Other tolerant species may be considered.
                        Not intended for stand conversion.
                        Must be native species.

Landowner Commitment:

        This treatment is not for aesthetics.  Landowners must be aware of the need and be willing to perform  partial or total harvesting once the planted and natural regeneration becomes established in the understory (minimum 0.5m in height with the roots penetrating into the mineral soil).
 

        The up-grading of the stocking on a previously full-planted site to achieve 90% stocking.

Eligibility Criteria:

*        Stocking level of previously planted site is between 60-90 %.

Inspection Criteria:

*        Stocking level of site > 90% after inter-planting.

*        Post-treatment density and stocking levels measured the same way as a plantation in the Silviculture manual.

 
 
  Mailing address:

SNB Wood Co-op Ltd.,                                             Phone: 1-506-433-9860.
P.O. Box 4473                                                            Fax: 1-506-433-3623.
Sussex, New Brunswick,                                           email: snb@nbnet.nb.ca
Canada, E4E 5L6.