Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design

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The Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto offers graduate programs in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, forestry, and visual studies.

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Feasibility Analysis of Free-Use Permits for the Development of a Cedar Conservation Strategy: Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia
(2004) Pansino, Christine; Kenney, Andy; Munt, Leonard
Historically, cedar has been the cultural keystone species of the Haida First Nation. At present, due to a variety of pressures on the resource, an effective strategy is required for the conservation of western redcedar (Thu/a plicata) and yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) for traditional and cultural uses by the Haida First Nation in Haida Gwaii/ Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia One approach, the "Coast Forest Region Guidelines for Managing Cedar for Cultural Purposes" outlines three preliminaiy requirements for the development of a cedar conservation strategy: a)identify cultural cedar needs, b) assess cultural cedar supply, and c) formulate management decisions and recommendations based on these results. The current study focuses on the first requirement, cedar needs, by undertaking an analysis of free-use permits (FUPs) issued by the Ministry of Forests, British Columbia for the harvesting of Crown timber for cultural purposes (Section 49, Forest Act). Through an analysis of FUP records data current cultural cedar uses are identified, recent trends in cedar use and demand over time are quantified, and estimates of future cedar volumes required by the Haida for the short and long-term are projected. Minimum target volumes for the conservation of red and yellow cedar for future cultural uses are derived from these. Parameters regarding accessibility requirements for cultural cedar trees are discussed. Results indicate that if future trends in cultural cedar use continue at a rate similar to the recent demand, a steady increasing trend over time, the potential annual target volume may be estimated at I I, 720m3 by 2050. This study will determine the feasibility of using FUPs, the only data available to the Ministry of Forests, to predict the scope of future cultural cedar demand in Haida Gwaii/ Queen Charlotte Islands, and propose further recommendations for reliable cedar conservation planning.
Monumental cedar on British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands: Abundance, distribution, and implications for land-use planning and forest management
(2004) Parkes, Mike; Caspersen, John
Executive summary This study involved the analysis of timber cruise data1 to learn more about the abundance and distribution of large-diameter red cedar (Thuja plicata), and yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) on British Columbia's Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands. The impetus for this project was to ensure that concerns about the present and future supply of large-diameter cedar for the creation of monumental art e.g. totem poles, canoes) could be addressed in the Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands Land Use Plan. While this project focused specifically on Haida Gwaii, the results may also be relevant for other areas in the Pacific Northwest where cedar is a subject of concern. The study attempted to answer three specific research questions: •What is the approximate density of large-diameter cedar in remaining old-growth stands on the Queen Charlotte Islands? •What percentage of large-diameter cedar is of 'monumental quality'? •How does the density of large-diameter cedar vary with site conditions? Key Findings • Large-diameter red cedar (> 100 cm DBH) is relatively common, with an approximate density of 10-15 trees/hectare across the landscape. Large-diameter red cedar is most prevalent in the CWH wh1 subzone, however, the wh2 and vh1 subzones also contain significant amounts of large-diameter red cedar. Large-diameter red cedar is found predominantly in cedar-leading and mixed cedar-hemlock stands. • Large-diameter yellow-cedar is much less common than large-diameter red cedar. Very large yellow-cedar (> 160 cm DBH) is particularly rare. Large-diameter yellow-cedar is concentrated within the CWH wh2 subzone, with negligible amounts in the other two subzones. It is found predominantly in yellow-cedar leading stands. • Only a small percentage of large-diameter cedar ( approximately 10%) is of suitable quality to be used in monumental art. The exact proportion varies depending on the quality definition, and the tree species and size. • The three major biogeoclimatic subzones on the Queen Charlotte Islands have significantly different densities of large-diameter cedar. However, within a biogeoclimatic subzone, differences in large-diameter cedar densities between site series are relatively small. • The leading species in a stand is an excellent predictor of the stand's density of large diameter cedar. Height class and maximum slope are not significant predictors for the abundance of large-diameter red cedar. In conclusion, the project was successful in increasing knowledge of the abundance and distribution of large-diameter cedar, although concerns remain about the non-random nature of the sample data. Progress has also been made in identifying the site factors that determine where large-diameter cedar is likely to be found, and in determining what percentage of large-diameter trees are of monumental quality. However, field verification is needed to confirm the accuracy of site series data and the reliability of the 'monumental quality' definition used in this study. Land-use planners must consider cedar's role in monumental art together with cedar's other functions to ensure that this valuable resource is managed to bring maximum benefits to the inhabitants of Haida Gwaii, and the citizens of British Columbia.
Perspectives and Approaches to Sustainable Forest Management on the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii
(2005) Furrer, Martina; Blake, Terry; Kant, Shashi
The old growth hemlock and cedar forests on the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii are among the most biologically diverse temperate forests on Earth. They represent the largest intact temperate rainforests on Earth. Conflicts surrounding the use and management of forest resources on Haida Gwaii have received global attention. There have been many disagreements among the forest industry, the provincial government, the Haida Nation and local environmental groups with regard to forest management practices. There is much concern surrounding the current rate of harvest and the longterm supply of monumental sized red cedar (Thuja plicata). The objective of this paper is to look for similarities among the often contrasting perspectives and approaches to sustainable forest management of the forest industry, the BC government, the Haida Nation and several local environmental groups. A questionnaire was designed to assess different parties' understandings of and commitments to sustainable forest management. One representative from each of 11 organizations involved in forest management on Haida Gwaii was interviewed. With respect to their perspectives on sustainable forest management, all respondents agreed that sustainable forest management involves balancing ecological, economic and social components. They also agreed that sustainable forest management involves managing the resource such that today's needs are met without compromising the resource for future generations. The forest industry, the government, the Haida and the environmental groups agreed that cooperative work is a necessary precursor for sustainable forest management. The conservation and management of red cedar is important to the Haida and environmental groups, and to a lesser extent government and industry. This research shows the four groups share similar perspectives and approaches to sustainable forest management. They are not as far apart as it often seems on the surface. Acknowledging one another's positions and recognizing commonalities may be an important first step in improving forest management strategies and practices on the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii.
Examination of Potential Highgrading for Selective Helicopter Logging in the Queen Charlotte Islands
(2005) Mousseau, Karen; Caspersen, John; Munt, Leonard
It has been suggested that highgrading of preferred species and grades may be occurring in forest stands as a result of single-stem helicopter logging operations on the Queen Charlotte Islands. The possible occurrence of highgrading is a very contentious issue in the area. Despite this, no comprehensive analyses of this issue has yet been performed due to a lack of available post-harvest summary data at the cutblock level. The primary purpose of this study was thus to determine if evidence for highgrading exists based on a comparison of cruise and scale data for grades and species distributions on the west coast of Graham Island. A secondary purpose was to determine if greater volumes are being removed than prescribed in the heli-select system. Conventional clearcut blocks were used as a control group to account for discrepancies between cruise and scale data. Data for grades and species distributions were compared graphically, as well as statistically using Mann-Whitney tests. The analyses revealed that there is a particular focus on harvesting the highest grade categories and consequently, a lesser removal of the lowest grade categories. There is also a statistically greater removal of sitka spruce, and a similar trend is apparent for western red cedar. It can thus be concluded that highgrading is occurring in the heli-select harvest stands in the area, although further analysis would be required to determine the corresponding magnitude as well as the factors that may be influencing it.
Stand level forest management for biodiversity and Ecosystem Based Management on Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands
(2006) Toledo, Ricardo; Caspersen, John
Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) is gaining increasing legitimacy in the province of British Columbia as an integrated planning and operational framework that ensures social, economic, and ecological goals are achieved from activities in the forested landscape. Industry has expressed worry that the added restrictions imposed by EBM will represent an insurmountable loss of profitability. This study involves the analysis of site plans and timber cruise data for 14 randomly selected cut blocks on Haida Gwaii/ Queen Charlotte Islands (HG/QCI) in order to determine whether current management practices for stand level biodiversity are consistent with the Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) benchmarks. The quantity and quality of wildlife tree retention was examined. Percentage of wildlife tree retention was calculated using site plan records for all areas harvested between January 2004 and July 2006. Structural attributes were measured for a sub-sample of 14 blocks and compared to pre-harvest timber cruise data. The study found that on HG/QCI average per cutblock wildlife tree retention, calculated as a proportion of TAUP, would need to increase by 79 percent in order to meet the minimum EBM benchmark. No significant deviation in the quality of structural attributes and species composition of this retention was found relative to the pre-harvest stand. Unless levels of wildlife tree retention can be increased substantially, ecosystem-based management on HG/QCI remains a distant goal.
Western red cedar regeneration on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia: Comparing the performance of four browse barrier types, and recommendations for management
(2008) Satel, Alexander; Malcolm, Jay
This report presents the results of a study undertaken on Haida Gwaii in 2008 to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the long-term performance of four seedling protector (or browse barrier) types used in the protection of regenerating Western redcedar (Thuja plicata ). The assessment is provided to inform stakeholders and improve silvicultural practices on Haida Gwaii. In the study, 187 free-growing 11-year-old cedars protected by either Vexar, metal cages, Sinocast or Growcone protectors are assessed for 20 growth, form and health variables, and the browse barriers are assessed for their durability and condition. Findings suggest that, although cedars in metal cages generally perform significantly better in many aspects of growth, form and health when unbrowsed, the high variability between unbrowsed and browsed cedars in cages does not compare favourably with the performance of Growcone-protected seedlings. Results are contextualized in a discussion of the legislative requirements for cedar regeneration and the variety of challenges facing it on Haida Gwaii most notably the high population of introduced Sitka black-tailed deer Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis). The report also reviews the available literature regarding browse barriers, and finds that solid-walled protectors have frequently been show to improve seedling growth and survival. Seven key recommendations are outlined for consideration by the Haida Gwaii Forest District, local timber licensees, and the Council of the Haida Nation to promote sustainable cedar management on Haida Gwaii. The recommendations are to 1) undertake long-term protection trials, 2) discontinue the use of Vexar and Sinocast, 3) use metal cages in lowbrowse areas or for spruce, 4) use Growcone or similar protector types, 5) consider implementing cedar underplanting trials in protected areas, 6) consider developing a protector removal policy, and 7) to monitor regenerating cedar stands for stand health and composition after free-growing declaration has been established, preferably more than once per rotation cycle.
Monitoring the effects of deer on plant abundance and diversity in old-growth temperate coastal rainforests, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia
(2009) McKenzie, Annie; Kenney, Andy
Overabundant deer populations are a major factor affecting forest ecosystem dynamics in many parts of North America. Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) were introduced to Haida Gwaii, a remote island archipelago in British Columbia, in the late 19th century. The mild climate, abundant vegetation, absence of predators, low hunting pressure and lack of competing herbivores on Haida Gwaii allowed the deer to flourish and the population exploded. This long-term monitoring experiment studies the. effects of Sitka black-tailed deer on the diversity, abundance and reproduction of understory vegetation. In this study 20 deer exclosures were monitored over a period of 12 years from 1997 to 2009 in old growth forests on Graham Island, the largest island of the Haida Gwaii archipelago. The results showed that protection from deer did not have an effect on species richness. However, deer are having a significant impact on the abundance of understory vegetation in the medium height stratum (0.5 m - 1.5 m) and they are shifting the community composition towards less palatable species. The plant species most affected by deer browsing were bunchberry (Cornus unalaschkensis) and fern-leaved goldthread (Coptis aspleniifolia), and these are important forage species for Sitka black-tailed deer in their natural habitat in Alaska. Deer are also having an impact on plant reproduction, as a significantly higher proportion of flowers and fruits were found inside the exclosures. More research is needed to understand the impacts of deer on understory vegetation and therefore this study provides practical recommendations for improving this long-term monitoring experiment as well as recommendations for future research.
Stumping Deer: Are Old Growth Stumps Creating Refugia for Understory Plants on Haida Gwaii?
(2010) Holmes, Dan; Caspersen, John; Kenney, Andy
Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitchensis) were introduced to Haida Gwaii, British Columbia in the late 19th century and are having a dramatic impact on the regeneration of understory vegetation. Although never formally tested, past investigations have reported that in parts of Haida Gwaii understory vegetation is restricted to old growth stumps, suggesting they are providing refugia from browsing deer. Additionally, little is known about which plant species utilize stumps and whether these communities' changes during stand development. The objectives of this study is to (1) determine if old growth stumps are providing refugia for understory plants and (2) determine if stand age influences the understory plant community. Species density(# of species/m2) and percent cover of vegetation present on stumps above (>1.5 m) and below (<1.5 m) the deer browse line as well on the forest floor was assessed across sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) dominated stands of different ages: 10 years after clear cut harvesting, 30 years after clear cut harvesting, 60 years after clear cut harvesting and old growth (>250 years). Species density and percent cover was found to be greatest on the forest floor in the 10 and 30 year old stands, indicating that stumps are providing relatively poor refugia in younger stands. The only indication that stumps provided protection for understory plants was found in the 60 and >250 year old stands. In these stands percent cover was significantly greater on stumps above the browse line than on stumps below the browse line or the forest floor. Possible reasons for why stumps in younger stands are not providing refugia for vegetation include substrate preference and microclimate. Many plant species prefer to germinate and establish on soil rather than woody material. Furthermore, stumps extending beyond the browse line likely experience more extreme high and low temperatures limiting plant establishment and growth. However, these factors likely diminish as the stand ages. Most plant species appeared not to have a clear association with a single stand age class. The exceptions to this include Gaultheria shallon which appears to prefer 30 year old stands and graminoids which showed the greatest species richness on the forest floor of the 10 year old stands. Overall, the results from this study suggest that the understory vegetation of older stands will benefit the most from stump refugia. Species with strong preferences for soil substrate will benefit the least.
An Assessment of Habitat Suitability in Old Growth and Secondary Growth Retention Area’s on Haida Gwaii
(2015) Hudson, Virginia; Malcolm, Jay; Munt, Leonard
In British Columbia, tree retention in harvested areas has become a standard forest management practice, however the ecological benefits that result from tree retention remain uncertain. Tree retention in the harvested landscape is thought to have the potential to ameliorate negative ecological effects of logging as it can provide refugia for elements of biological diversity, structural enrichment by retaining forest features, and enhance connectivity in the landscape between forested areas. Habitat quality in retention areas is important for avian species as it can influence suitable nest site structural features, predation levels, prey availability, competition rates, and nest-area microclimate. In the following study, old growth and second growth tree retention areas were analyzed on Haida Gwaii in order to examine structural habitat features. The structural features present in these retention types were then related to the published habitat characteristics of three old growth forest dependent avian species at risk on Haida Gwaii, in order to determine if suitable habitat is available in these retention areas. The three species analysed were the northern saw-whet brooksi owl (Aegolius acadicus brooksi), the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), and the northern laingi goshawk (Accipiter gentilis /aingi). A total of 10 old growth and 11 second growth retention areas were surveyed in the Skidegate Plateau physiographic region of Haida Gwaii that were adjacent to cut blocks harvested within 3 years of 2015. The second growth retention areas surveyed in this study resulted from a harvest 50-65 years previously and most were mechanically thinned when 15-25 years old. Variable radius plots (prism sweeps) and snag and downed woody debris (DWD) transects were carried out in order examine structural features in retention stands. Vertical distribution of foliage was measured by estimating foliage percent cover in 6 height classes, while vertical canopy complexity was measured by estimating height differences between dominant and co-dominant canopy layers. Canopy gaps, salal (Gaultheria shallon) and Vaccinium (V. parvifolium, V. a/askaense, V. ovalifo/ium) abundances were estimated and dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium tsugense) and mossy platforms (> 18.5 cm dbh) were counted from plot centres. Old growth tree retention had significantly more diverse forest structure characteristics than second growth tree retention areas, however second growth tree retention areas contained some diverse features that most likely resulted from mechanical thinning. Results also indicated that old growth retention areas were significantly more suitable for all three avian species at risk with only a small proportion of the analyzed avian habitat characteristics present in second growth retention areas. Both retention types had edges exposed to harvested cut blocks, putting them at potential risk for forest edge related impacts, such as avian nest site predation and competition. My results indicate that second growth retention areas on Haida Gwaii lacked the structural complexity of old growth forests at age 50-65 years old. Strategies for improving habitats for old growth dependent avian species in such retention patches include: increased harvest rotation ages, strategic allocation in areas with large diameter trees and snags, and girdling or topping of suitable cavity nesting trees.
A discrepancy measure for segmentation evaluation from the perspective of object recognition
(Elsevier, 2015-03) Yang, Jian; He, Yuhong; Caspersen, John; Jones, Trevor
Within the framework of geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA), segmentation evaluation is one of the most important components and thus plays a critical role in controlling the quality of GEOBIA workflow. Among a variety of segmentation evaluation methods and criteria, discrepancy measurement is believed to be the most useful and is therefore one of the most commonly employed techniques in many applications. Existing measures have largely ignored the importance of object recognition in segmentation evaluation. In this study, a new discrepancy measure of segmentation evaluation index (SEI) redefines the corresponding segment using a two-sided 50% overlap instead of one-sided 50% overlap that has been commonly used. The effectiveness of SEI is further investigated using the schematic segmentation cases and remote sensing images. Results demonstrate that the proposed SEI outperforms the other two existing discrepancy measures, Euclidean Distance 2 (ED2) and Euclidean Distance 3 (ED3), both in terms of object recognition accuracy and identification of detailed segmentation differences.
Comparing the life cycle costs of using harvest residue as feedstock for small- and large-scale bioenergy systems (part II)
(Elsevier, 2015-06) Cleary, Julian; Wolf, Derek P.; Caspersen, John P.
In part II of our two-part study, we estimate the nominal electricity generation and GHG (greenhouse gas) mitigation costs of using harvest residue from a hardwood forest in Ontario, Canada to fuel (1) a small-scale (250 kWe) combined heat and power wood chip gasification unit and (2) a large-scale (211 MWe) coal-fired generating station retrofitted to combust wood pellets. Under favorable operational and regulatory conditions, generation costs are similar: 14.1 and 14.9 cents per kWh (c/kWh) for the small- and large-scale facilities, respectively. However, GHG mitigation costs are considerably higher for the large-scale system: $159/tonne of CO2 eq., compared to $111 for the small-scale counterpart. Generation costs increase substantially under existing conditions, reaching: (1) 25.5 c/kWh for the small-scale system, due to a regulation mandating the continual presence of an operating engineer; and (2) 22.5 c/kWh for the large-scale system due to insufficient biomass supply, which reduces plant capacity factor from 34% to 8%. Limited inflation adjustment (50%) of feed-in tariff rates boosts these costs by 7% to 11%. Results indicate that policy generalizations based on scale require careful consideration of the range of operational/regulatory conditions in the jurisdiction of interest. Further, if GHG mitigation is prioritized, small-scale systems may be more cost-effective.
Fully constrained linear spectral unmixing based global shadow compensation for high resolution satellite imagery of urban areas
(Elsevier, 2015-06) Yang, Jian; He, Yuhong; Caspersen, John
Shadows commonly exist in high resolution satellite imagery, particularly in urban areas, which is a combined effect of low sun elevation, off-nadir viewing angle, and high-rise buildings. The presence of shadows can negatively affect image processing, including land cover classification, mapping, and object recognition due to the reduction or even total loss of spectral information in shadows. The compensation of spectral information in shadows is thus one of the most important preprocessing steps for the interpretation and exploitation of high resolution satellite imagery in urban areas. In this study, we propose a new approach for global shadow compensation through the utilization of fully constrained linear spectral unmixing. The basic assumption of the proposed method is that the construction of the spectral scatter plot in shadows is analogues to that in non-shadow areas within a two-dimension spectral mixing space. In order to ensure the continuity of land covers, a smooth operator is further used to refine the restored shadow pixels on the edge of non-shadow and shadow areas. The proposed method is validated using the WorldView-2 multispectral imagery collected from downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In comparison with the existing linear-correlation correction method, the proposed method produced the compensated shadows with higher quality.
A simple area-based model for predicting airborne LiDAR first returns from stem diameter distributions: an example study in an uneven-aged, mixed temperate forest
(Canadian Science Publishing, 2015-10) Spriggs, Rebecca A.; Vanderwel, Mark C.; Jones, Trevor A.; Caspersen, John P.; Coomes, David A.
Tree size distributions are of fundamental importance in forestry. Airborne laser scanning (i.e., light detection and ranging, LiDAR) provides high-resolution information on canopy structure and may have potential as a tool for mapping and monitoring tree stem diameter distributions across forest landscapes. We present an area-based allometric model (with three levels of species specificity) that links ground-based plot data to the height distribution of LiDAR first returns, demonstrating the approach with survey data from a mixed, uneven-aged forest in central Ontario, Canada. Our model translates stem diameters into estimates of exposed crown area within 1 m height intervals; we then compared those estimates with the height distribution of LiDAR first returns. This basic approach gave reasonable goodness of fits (root mean squared error = 32%), but accuracy was improved by adding mechanistic features (root mean squared error = 17%) to adjust crown shapes and crown permeability and allow for crown overlap and gaps. The model showed no bias in predicting LiDAR returns in the mid to upper canopy (18–30 m) but tended to underestimate the returns from the understory level (2–8 m) and overestimate returns from the ground level and lower canopy (8–18 m). Our model represents an important contribution towards the remote mapping of tree size distributions by showing that LiDAR first returns can be accurately predicted from standard plot data via the inclusion of a few fundamental canopy properties.
Forest fire management expenditures in Canada: 1970-2013 [Dataset]
(2016) Stocks, B. J.; Martell, David L.
The csv formatted file named “Forest fire expenditures in Canada 1970-2013.csv” contains the Canadian forest fire expenditure data that is described in the paper entitled “Forest Fire Management Expenditures in Canada: 1970-2013” by B.J. Stocks and David L. Martell that was accepted for publication and will appear in Vol. 92, No. 3 (2016) of The Forestry Chronicle. The terms pre-suppression and suppression (or fixed and variable costs) are used to describe the two cost components of a fire management program. The pre-suppression costs include the fixed costs of hiring, training and equipping fire fighters, acquiring aircraft and constructing and maintaining buildings and other supporting infrastructure that are incurred or contracted for prior to the start of the fire season. Suppression costs include the extra costs incurred as the season progresses when fire fighters are called upon to work overtime, additional fire fighters are hired, extra aircraft are hired on short term leases and fire suppression resources are temporarily borrowed from other agencies. The codes used to designate each agency are, from west to east; British Columbia (BC), Alberta (AB), Saskatchewan (SK), Yukon Territory (YK), Northwest Territories (NT), Manitoba (MB), Ontario (ON), Quebec (QC), New Brunswick (NB), Nova Scotia (NS), Prince Edward Island (PE), Newfoundland and Labrador (NF), and Parks Canada (PC). All costs are expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars.
Planting the Seeds of Stewardship: Making Forest Conservation Matter to Urban Communities at Ontario's Royal Botanical Gardens
(2016) Damianopoulos, Janet; Koven, Anne
As urbanization increases, green spaces within urban environments will play an important role in both biodiversity conservation and human health and well-being. It is critical to demonstrate the value of these spaces to the urban public in order to gain their support for urban conservation efforts. This project explores the factors that contribute to environmental stewardship in the urban public. It presents strategies to build environmental stewardship at Ontario's Royal Botanical gardens through novel visitor activities and experiences. The aim of the activities and experiences is to raise awareness of the benefits that urban green spaces confer and to foster feelings of attachment to them. The end goal is to facilitate the formation of pro-conservation attitudes in the urban public.
Ontario's Species at Risk Protection: Implications for the Integration of the Endangered Species Act and the Crown Forest Sustainability Act
(2017) Serravalle, Jessica; Koven, Anne
This study sought to provide recommendations regarding how the ESA-CFSA Integration Project could be implemented to best protect species at risk without threatening the forest industry in Ontario. Taking a case study approach, the two main objectives of the study were to evaluate the implementation to date of the ESA in Ontario and assess the work accomplished by the MNRF with respect to the Integration Project. This was done through a review of the scientific literature and online documents, personal communication with stakeholder representatives, and direct observation. Overall, it was found that while there is significant disagreement between ENGOs and forest industry about the best way to protect species at risk in Crown forests, they both agree that the implementation of the ESA has not been completely successful, and these shared concerns can be used to create meaningful and effective progress on the ESA-CFSA Integration Project. Four recommendations are presented based on the findings: providing a roundtable discussion for all stakeholders, conducting further scientific research on AOC prescriptions and forest management plans, surveying forest managers to determine species at risk protection measures in place under forest management plans, and considering the possibility of requiring forest management plans to also be approved by the Species Conservation policy branch of the MNRF in order to ensure compliance with ESA protection.
A Mathematical Model to Predict CO2 Emission from Woody Biomass Storage Piles
(2017) Chen, Yabo; Krigstin, Sally
Biomass is promising to substitute petroleum-based products in generating bioenergy due to its potential to release less greenhouse gas (GHG) during processing. However, this opinion has been challenged. Two biomass piles established for bioenergy purpose were studied. Moisture contents for pile 1 and 2 were 51.1% before storage, then increased to 57.6% for pile 1 after 192-day storage; and 56.9% for pile 2 after 114 days. Overall pile densities of pile 1 and 2 were 169.4 and 165.3 kg-od/m3, respectively, with compaction taken into account (9.2% for pile 1 and 10.1% for pile 2). Total dry matter losses were 16.2% and 14.9% for pile 1 and 2, respectively. Consequently, pile 1 released 0.194 grams CO2 per gram dried biomass during storage; while pile 2 produced 0.178 grams CO2 per gram dried biomass. The CO2 emission during storage was found to be much higher than that generated from harvest and transport.
Assessing Adopter Experience and Tree Health for Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forest (LEAF)'s Adopt-A-Street-Tree Program in the City of Toronto
(2017) Dowell, Kimberly; Smith, Sandy
Management of Carbon, Water, and Biodiversity Across Canada’s SFI Certified Forests
(2017-01-12) Todgham, Sarah; Smith, Tat
Meeting future economic demands without compromising the needs of society, sustainable forest management has become a pressing issue for those involved in forestry. The primary focus of this research was to examine how land managers are accounting for conservation values such as carbon, water, and biodiversity in their long-term management plans. More specifically, this paper investigates the contribution of forest certification schemes such as, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), in the Canadian forest management framework. To investigate this research topic, a survey was distributed to fourteen land managers operating in the Pacific Maritime, Montane Cordillera, Boreal Plains, Boreal Shield, and Atlantic Maritime. The survey results indicate that SFI certification has led land managers to consistently focus on landscape level planning, protection of water quality and protection of special sites. Other indicators such as tree diversity, carbon management, and pest management within the SFI standard have varying degrees of focus due to geographic and policy differences.
The proposed use of pit and mound topography in conifer plantations: converting Cawthra Mulock’s coniferous plantations to mixed-species forest
(2017-01-22) Fox, Cali; Thomas, Sean
Forest managers have been increasingly interested in hastening the conversion of coniferous plantations to uneven-aged, mixed-species forest in an effort to increase native biological diversity and improve forest resilience. Studies investigating broadleaf recruitment are predominantly focused on the variation of understory light environments created by canopy gap openings. Although improved light availability contributes significantly to seedling growth, there are other physical and chemical alterations produced within treefall gaps that are often overlooked in tree regeneration studies. Treefalls are typically accompanied by uprooting, which leads to the creation of two important properties in understory environments: (1) the change in soil profile, and (2) the presence of pit and mound topography. The increased structural complexity of the forest floor, following treefall, has been found to greatly benefit germination and seedling growth of a diversity of tree species. The construction of pit and mounds has shown to be a successful strategy for improving species establishment and species richness in wetland systems, peatlands, and open-field habitats. However, the use of pit and mound topography within coniferous plantations to enhance broadleaf seedling growth and survivorship, remains unexplored. The proposed research will examine the effects of pit and mound topography, light intensity, and the effects of added biochar on the growth and survival of broadleaf seedlings in a coniferous plantation. The results can be applied to the management of coniferous plantations throughout Ontario. The results will also contribute to a better understanding of the regeneration niches of ecologically important northern temperate tree species.

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