Introduction to Silvicultural Systems Silvicultural systems are the essence of a silviculture prescription, providing a long-term planning perspective at the stand level and a foundation for building aprescription. They are legislated in the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and the regulations and standards enabled by the Code. A well-designed silvicultural system is a complex integration of both the art and science of forestry, and reflects an understanding of ecological relationships, long-term desires of the landowner, operational realities, and a creative spirit of innovation and discovery. The first challenge for practitioners inexperienced with various silvicultural systems is to determine the full range of choices available, and to sort through the confusing use and misuse of terminology. Note that this publication is only intended to ground you in the fundamental silvicultural systems concepts. ObjectivesThe general objectives of this workbook are: This workbook is divided into two parts.
Coppicing - A Lost Art Revisited - Verge Permaculture Coppicing has always been interesting to me as a wood production system (fuel, timber) because it uses trees that can be cut perpetually. In other words, the tree is cut and grows back. This is quite different from the type of forestry we practice here in Canada with spruce, fir, and pine trees. These conifers are cut once and then die. Here is a great Wikipedia definition on coppicing: In Canada we can grow a number of different trees that can be cut and grow back. Here is a great video on Coppicing from Britain. In addition to fuel and timber coppice systems can be used for basketry, propagation, mulch and fodder. In Ohaton in Camrose County, Alberta, they are using willow to clean up their waste water from a lagoon while growing a feed stock for producing heat for the municipality. Dave Jake and Mark Krawczyk are currently working on a book on Coppice Agroforestry which, if it is anything like his last book Edible Forest Gardens Vols I & II, will be amazing!