Grant: Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition

This project will investigate whether retention of living 'green-trees' on harvested sites may minimize the effect of disturbance caused by harvesting on forest ecosystems, and help conserve soil biodiversity and functioning.  We will identify the soil organisms and processes most sensitive to human utilization of forests, and how these can be preserved. Soil organisms have a vital role in nutrient cycling, so preservation of a healthy, functioning soil biotic community is essential for ecosystem function. Currently, only retention of coarse woody debris and limitation of forest floor removal are recommended to protect soil organisms after harvest. However, a more suitable management treatment may be preservation of green tree retention patches on harvested sites, which would provide soil organisms with a living, continually replenishing source of energy from their roots and litter. The effect of harvesting on soil organisms and associated functions is a critical knowledge gap thatprecludes certainty about the sustainability of current and proposed forestry practices. The decisive knowledge achieved through this research will allow BC forest managers to develop and use practices that are based on sound, defensible science. B.C.'s Forest Practices Act, Canada's National Forest Strategy and Canada's Biodiversity Strategy all emphasize the importance of maintaining forest biological diversity, the ecological integrity of forests and ensuring sustainable use of forest resources. Current policies, regulations, and guidelines do not sufficiently consider the importance of soil organisms to the maintenance of ecological functions. This is largely because the scientific information does not yet exist to guide decision-making.