Post-Conference Tours

The MASS Site Field Tour - September 24, 2009

The Montane Alternative Silvicultural Systems (MASS) study is a multi-agency cooperative between Western Forest Products, Island Timberlands, the Canadian Forest Service, B.C. Ministry of Forests, UBC, University of Victoria, and the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada (FERIC). This research was established near Campbell River on Vancouver Island to develop operationally feasible and ecologically sustainable harvesting and silvicultural systems in montane (winter snow-pack) coastal forests.

The project addresses regeneration, biodiversity and aesthetic concerns over clearcutting at high elevations. Over twenty integrated studies have examining the biological and economic consequences of clearcut, shelterwood, patch cut and dispersed or "green tree" retention alternatives. Studies funded by cooperators and several Federal and BC government programs include: seedling regeneration, natural vegetation, nutrition, soils, windthrow, forest birds, canopy insects, microclimate, forest health, genetics and forest growth. Several 15-year post-harvest studies were completed in 2008. Further information can be found on the MASS web site.

This one-day field tour guided by Bill Beese, Forest Ecologist with Western Forest Products, will leave from the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo at 8:30 am and return by 4:30 pm. Travel time to the research site is approximately 1.5 hours each way. Participants will view the various treatments from logging roads and two well established trails through the forest. Major findings will be described by several project scientists using poster displays. Participants must have sturdy footwear, warm clothing and rain gear. Most of the time on site will be spent outside. A box lunch, beverages and snacks will be provided.

Cost: $66.00/person (minimum of 10 registrants required).
(Includes round-trip bus transportation, lunch and refreshments).