Adapting forestry practices to address old-growth concerns in the Great Lakes–St.Lawrence forests of Ontario

Abstract

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest, particularly the eastern white (Pinus strobus L.) and red pine (P. resinosa Ait.) forests around Temagami and Sault Ste. Marie, was the centre of controversy regarding the treatment of old-growth forests in Ontario in the 1980s and 1990s. The controversy stemmed from changes in forest composition and structure occurring in the forest. For example, the Ontario public was concerned with the obvious reduction in numbers of large eastern white and red pine trees and their replacement with small, often poor quality, white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trees. Over the past two decades, changes in legislation, forest planning and stand prescriptions have been made in Ontario and practices at the forest and stand levels have also changed significantly. The new practices are based on linking forest activities to a better understanding of ecological processes in the forest; in particular, linking harvest and regeneration activities to our current understanding of natural disturbances and plant adaptations. These practices attempt to match more closely the conditions found in forests with a heritage of natural disturbance and reproduction, i.e., old-growth forests. For example, stand-initiating disturbances result in some trees being killed, some being damaged, and some surviving. The new harvest practices consider tree adaptations and site factors when deciding whether a tree will be cut or not. This paper provides examples of how this ecosystem-based forestry is being applied in Ontario.

Influence of herbaceous and woody vegetation control on seedling microclimate, leaf gas exchange, water status, and nutrient relations of Pinus strobus L. seedlings planted in a shelterwood

“…Over the past few decades, increased knowledge of the role of natural processes and past management practices on the regeneration of white pine (Pinus strobus L.)-dominated forests in eastern Canada and the northern United States has led to increased operational use and study of the uniform shelterwood system (Lancaster and Leak, 1978;Hannah, 1988;Burgess and Wetzel, 2002;Pinto, 2003) and other partial harvesting silvicultural systems (Raymond et al, 2006;Powers et al, 2008;Major et al, 2009a). In Ontario, a two-to four-cut uniform shelterwood silvicultural system is recommended (OMNR, 2004) and currently being applied to about 80% of the managed area of the red (Pinus resinosa Ait.)…”

Old-growth definitions and management: A literature review

“…The contemporary view of ecosystem dynamics recognizes the complex arrangement of plant communities, the importance of natural disturbances, and the role of initial plant composition in creating many potential end points to succession (Arsenault 2003). Pinto (2003) argues that structural and compositional changes are always occurring in the forest and this dynamic nature must be considered in any conceptual definition. Some of the literature focusses on boreal or sub-boreal forests where natural disturbances on the landscape are more frequent.…”

Effects of structural retention harvesting on seed production and seed characteristics of old-growth eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) stands in northern Ontario

“…In the absence of periodic natural disturbance by recurrent, low-intensity surface fires that create understory conditions suitable for seedling recruitment, management intervention is needed to secure adequate regeneration for perpetuation of old-growth white pine forests (Day and Carter 1990, Dovčiak et al 2003, Bebber et al 2005, Latremouille et al 2008. In Ontario and elsewhere, interest in management and conservation of old-growth forests has resulted in the development and use of novel silvicultural systems that seek to balance partial harvesting for fibre production with maintenance of stand structural complexity and ecological values (Kohn and Franklin 1997, Beese et al 2003, Pinto 2003.…”