Operational Solutions

University of British Columbia Alex Fraser Research Forest, Williams Lake. On an ongoing basis, Symmetree conducts ecological assessments and develops stand level prescriptions, focusing on more complex stands and resulting prescriptions. Several years ago, Symmetree helped UBC prescribe, plan and layout a silvicultural systems demonstration area at the Alex Fraser Research Forest.

Windthrow Risk Assessment and Management. During 1995-97 Symmetree worked with Dr. Stephen Mitchell at the University of British Columbia to develop several windthrow management training packages and field tools, mostly aimed at understanding and assessing windthrow hazard and risk. Symmetree works with Dr. Mitchell to update these materials on an annual basis. Symmetree assists foresters throughout British Columbia, with windthrow issues, through monitoring training and prescription design. The goal is to help practitioners better understand the impact of wind and potential management approaches.

For more information on the Windthrow Management Workshop see: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/HFP/FORDEV/windthrow

Growth and Yield impacts of Partial-cutting (PrognosisBC). Symmetreerecently worked with the West Arm Demonstration Forest (WADF) in the Interior Cedar Hemlock zone (ICHdw subzone) near Nelson to compare future stand structural and growth and yield projections for five different partial-cutting prescriptions on five stands. Each stand received different structural modifications in the initial harvesting entry. The intent of this project is to identify potential management regimes to best meet the unique set of objectives in WADF, and to highlight the key considerations for development of successful partial-cutting systems in these ICH stands.

For more information on the “Using PrognosisBC to analyse partial-cutting options over a rotation” report SEE:
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/rsi/research/nextnotes/En059.htm

Complex Strategies and Prescriptions for Riverside Forest Products. During 1999-2000 Symmetree helped develop an approach to manage extremely heterogeneous IDF stands with complex management objectives and various levels of root disease. This approach incorporated a range of partial-cutting approaches and intends to bring this neglected forest type back into a sustainable management regime, in line with natural stand dynamics.

Prescriptions, Planning and Layout Advice for a Range of Operational Clients. Over the past 13 years Symmetree partners Ken and Bryce have worked with the following clients: Weyerhaeuser BC Coastal Group, Riverside Forest Products Ltd., Tolko Industries, Western Forest Products Ltd., International Forest Products Ltd., Slocan Forest Products, Weldwood of Canada, BC Timber Sales (formerly the Small Business Enterprise Program), Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd., Richmond Plywood Ltd., Teal Cedar Ltd., Gorman Bros. Lumber, Federated Coop Ltd., the UBC Alex Fraser Research Forest, the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, the Huu-ay-aht First Nation and the Nisgaa Tribal Council.

For an example of a prescription which was originally designed by Symmetree, see: http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/resfor/afrf/silvipres.html

Integrating knowledge, experience and common sense.