Status: Completed October 2022
This project was conducted at a forestry site east of Haines Junction in Kluane. Team members met with staff from the YG Forestry Management Branch (“Forestry”) to discuss potential collaboration on silviculture research. The first project agreed upon was a trial that Forestry had set up at a logged site at Marshall Creek to compare the impact of mechanical site preparation (to prepare a seed bed for white spruce (Picea glauca) seedlings) with control areas. The study, located within the Champagne and Aishihik Traditional Territory, had been developed under the C/A Strategic Forest Management Plan with a goal of informing best management practices to support forest renewal after commercial logging. In January the Director of Heritage, Lands and Resources at C/A was contacted for advice on recruiting a C/A summer assistant to help with field work.
Project description
Forestry has submitted a budget request for their new fiscal year to support some of the work and this request would provide funds to hire a field assistant to help with the project. Objectives are to test the hypothesis that mechanical site preparation (scarification) will increase planted spruce seedling survival and growth in post-harvest salvage logged blocks in southwest Yukon. Additionally, to add to the scant body of knowledge of silviculture best practices for post-harvest cut-block regeneration in Yukon as well as engage Yukon University students and faculty in practical research in partnership with Yukon Forest Management Branch and Champagne and Aishihik First Nation, while building expertise, experience, and local network connections.
In 2021 Forestry contracted heavy equipment to scarify the ground and expose the mineral soil in parts of the study area. They then planted white spruce seedlings in control areas (where logging was carried out in winter to minimize ground disturbance) and in areas with mechanical site preparation. Our project will attempt to answer several questions: Do planted seedling do better in areas with mechanical site preparation or in control areas with only winter logging? We will also look for naturally regenerating seedlings in both treatment areas. We will tag individual seedlings and then measure their growth and survival rate. University resources: We have discussed how we plan to collaborate on co-supervising Tristan Sparks’ independent study and we both plan to take part in the early days of the field work to help establish the methodology. The field equipment required is available in the RRMT stores, e.g. measuring tapes, metre sticks, basic camping equipment (cooler, tent, stoves) and safety equipment (InReach, bear spray, first aid kit).
Expected outcomes include a research report presenting the results of the experiment and discussing the implications for best practices, submitted as a deliverable to Yukon Forest Management Branch and that students engage in research, building expertise and experience and future opportunities; successful partnerships with territorial and FN government agencies; greater connection between students and local professionals and potential employers.
Project team
Steve Biggin-Pound, Project Lead
Scott Gilbert, Project Lead
Partners and funders
Forest Management Branch
YukonU Scholarly Activity Grant