aang A whack oa the trunk with -the butt end of and axe handle used io be the preferred method for ‘determining a tree's soundness. [f the tree was dead it was felled. Recently, however, thinking has been changing, and the dead tree that was _ previously considered a hazard, is now being looked at for it contribution to biodiversity. ‘AS well, foresters are fearning to select living wildlife habilat. Wildlife trees provide structural. complexity. to forests, roosts, dens, perched and feeding sites for more than 90 species of animals nalive to B.C. As they die and decay, wildlife trees supply coarse woody debris and litter to the forest floor, Tecycling nutrients and providing shelter and foraging substrate for various ground-dwelling organisms. To deal with the ongoing loss of wildlife. tree habitat throughout B.C., the Wildlife Tree Committee (WTC) was formed in 1985, The committee consists of members from the Workers’ Compensation Board, federal and provincial governments, industry and public conservation organizations. In turn, the WTC created, with the help of Canada-B.C. Partnership Agreement on Forest . Resource Development (FRDAII) and the Ministry of Forests! Silviculture Branch,’ the Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessor's Course - the first of its kind in North America. The course combines information sessions and practical field experience in maintaining a safe work environment, and selecting and retaining. wildlife trees and future wildlife tree habitat. The Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessor's Course offers half-day | information seminars and three-day qualifying courses. So far, almost 1,000 operational people, WCB workers, fallers and those who assess the soundness of trees have gone through the course, Stewart Guy, a biologist and environmental educator and one of the coordinators of the WTC, was the course designer/developer. "T consider wildlife trees to be the sentinels of biodiversity," said Guy. "While a minority of people still feel thal growing big trees is all that matters, I think the majority feel that it's impartant to grow big trees, but also protect the intrinsic forest values." ; Participants begin the course by learning how to identify wildlife trees, then move on to basic ecology, pathology and safety. Using a. nine-stage tree-decay classification “system developed for the course, assessors can delermine which trees are suitable to leave standing. Because different species use wildlife trees at various stages of the tree's life and decay cycles, the course also teaches assessors to avoid fragmentation by leaving enough wildlife trees at different stages in the cycle. Fifteen Canadian Forest Service (CFS) research staff from the Pacific Forestry Centre (PFC) in Victoria took the course and are now certified Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessors. Following the course, a one-day workshop was held at PFC where pathologists and other Prince Rupert Skeena Pulp Cperations P.O, Box 1000 Prince Rupert, B.C. WB) 382 Terrace Terrace Operations 4900 Keith Ave. Terrace, B.C; V8G 5L8 “Managing Forests to be the Best” Repap British Columbia Inc. Hazeltons Carnaby Operations #10 North Boundary Rd. South Hazelton, B.C. VO) 2RO Smithers Smithers Operations P.O. Box 2237 Smithers, B,C. -VOV2NO. 7 NORTHWEST FORESTRY DIGEST - JANUARY, 1997 +"PAGE 25 Lf a tree falls... experts reviewed and updated some of the scientific material, in the course manual. "The ‘course offers a valuable standardized method for recognizing dangerous trees," said CFS scientist Dr. Eric Allen. “It will form the basis for the refinement of assessment procedures for hazard trees in urban and recreational settings. CFS scientists plan to continue working with the WTC, pursuing research related to tree soundness." Future plans for the WTC - and the Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessor's Course include working with B.C. Hydro trying to figure oul haw to leave wildlife trees along hydro lines, seismic (oil & gas) industry, preserving wildlife trees along seismic exploration lines in the northeastern portion of British Columbia. As well, a practical field guide to wildlife tree users, sponsored by FRDAII, is available. The guide contains the essential bialogy for species that use wildlife trees, and will be useful to foresters, biologists, arborisis, engineers, and those involved in planning and design of forest landscapes. "The demand for the course is high," said Guy. "And-as more foresters get into partial cutting and other silviculture systems wilh a requirement to- manage wildlife trees, the demand for the course will increase.” While the WTC originally dealt with wildlife trees in silviculture practices, now il’s tied in with harvesting and B.C.'s Forest Practices Code. This involvement included new guidelines —_ being developed for maintaining wildlife tree habitat in forest harvesting operations, and working in conjunction with larger-scale coastal and interior forest management and biodiversity puidelines. "In regard to wildlife trees, the WTC has planted a seed of recognition that has now become -an integral part of forestry," said Guy. "An awareness of the importance of wildlife trees has been established from the chief foresters right through to those people cutting firewood." and with the. MAURICE KRAVITZ OF Copper Bay Contracting is one of many contractors finding work on projects funded by Forest Renewal BC. 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