Investing in Forest Fertilization: tools, measures, analyses

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Investing in Forest Fertilization tools,
measures, analyses
By Ralph Winter Forest Practices Branch
July 25, 2005
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Objectives

• review the growth and yield tools that we use
• review stand level outcomes
• review forest level outcomes
• review industry comments
• summary

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Ministry has comprehensive growth and yield tools

• These tools help integrate biological information
  with treatment effect and stand management
  actions
• Tree and Stand Simulator (TASS) and TIPSY are the
  primary tools to evaluate stand treatments

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Typical TIPSY output
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Volume/age information from TIPSY
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Volume/age information from TIPSY
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Typical TIPSY output
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Analysis of a fertilized spruce plantation at age
50 compared to untreated. A volume response at
age 70 of 16 cubic metres.
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Analysis of a fertilized spruce plantation at age
35 compared to untreated. A volume response at
age 70 of 17 cubic metres.
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The Internal Rate of Return for fertilization is
dependant on time to harvest
5 IRR can be achieved if time to harvest is less
than 35 years - 30 to 40 year Govt bond rates
are at 4.73
Spruce plantaions - 100 km - SI 19.6
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Silviculture affects conditions produced at the
forest level
m3 (millions)
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
untreated harvest schedule
0.5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
decades
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Allowable cut effect - sustain harvest levels
longer and 5.9 increase in the midterm
Cranbrook TSA
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Forest level analysis - TFL 52
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TFL 52 comments
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TFL 52 comments
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Other factors that have been analysed in
comprehensive silv strategies

• direct and indirect jobs
• income tax generated
• wildlife habitat
• biodiversity

• Log quality profiles
• changes in harvest
• net revenue impacts
• stumpage

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Summary

• fertilization research is included in GY forest
  models.
• models are used to forecast a variety of measures
  including volume, value, revenue, ROI and jobs
• analyses indicate that fertilization can have a
  positive impact when done at the right sites for
  the right reasons
• every tree to be harvested in the next 20-60
  years is in the ground today. Fertilization
  treatments need to commence soon if significant
  short or mid term timber supply improvements are
  desired
• operational support from industry for forest
  fertilization

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Industry comments in FIA submissions

• Increase wood volume and utilization. This will
  increase product output and reduce recovery
  costs. Also, reduce rotation age - Bonaparte
  Kamloops TSA
• "Fertilization is a silviculture treatment that
  can be effectively used to increase the
  merchantable yield and value of established
  forests". - TFL 14
• Operational Fertilization programs have been
  recognized as a high priority for the future
  timber supply issues through the TSA silviculture
  analysis - Westfraser

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