Kamloops Update Feb 22, 2010

Completed Projects:
1) Reforested 1,425 hectares of Mountain Pine Beetle impacted stands with 1,813,895 trees. Project was completed spring 2009.

2) Reforested 725 hectares of Wildfire impacted stands with 919,290 trees. Project was completed spring 2009.

3) Conducted surveys on 1,375 hectares of Mountain Pine Beetle impacted BC Timber Sales TSL blocks to determine eligilbilty to be reforested under the FFT program. Target blocks had a lodgepole pine content of 70% or greater. Project was completed in July, 2009. An additional 960 hectares were added to this project in the latter part of October. Total area surveyed will be 2,334 ha's.

4) Conducted a 5 day Intermediate level and a 10 day Adanced level Accredidated Silviculture Survey Course. In total, 20 people attended with 9 of those being First Nations people from First Nations Bands within the Kamloops TSA. Topics covered were; Biogeoclimatic classification, stratification, survey legislation, design and procedures, forest health, variety of survey types (stocking, Free Growing, multi-story), and treatment recommendations. An exam was completed at the end for both the Intermediate and Advanced level courses. The intent of the project was to train and increase the number of accredited silviculture surveyors including First Nations people. This project was completed in July, 2009.

5) Completed 520 ha's of layout and Preliminary Field Reviews on blocks which will have an Overstory Removal site preparation treatment under a Forest Licence to Cut.

6) A project is underway to layout 800 ha's of older wildfire areas which will be planted in the spring 2010.

7) Planting Planning and tendering of planting blocks for 2010 planting is ongoing.

8) Completed 100 hectares of surveys within the Martin Mountain 2009 Wildfire.

9) Completed 875 hectares of regeneration survival surveys on areas previously planted in 2007 under the FFT program to assess plantation survival.

10) Initiated the sowing request for 2011 planting, which includes areas burned in 2009.

New since January, 2010

11) Initiated a project for planning the 2010 survey program in the Kamloops TSA and brushing of Meeker blocks in the Headwaters Forest District. Total estimated area is 2,000 ha's and includes ITSL blocks along with 2009 wildfire areas.

12) A project is underway with the Bonaparte Indian Band to build capacity and generate employment opportunities with respect to a GIS department, supply equipment and upload Cultural Heritage resource information into a GIS system to better enable the band to address and assess potential impact of FFT activities and other resource industries on cultural heritage resources within their traditional territory.

13) A new project has been started which is a continuation of project # 3085023 from fiscal 2008-09 to conduct Backlog Impeded and NSR Stands Data Review of previously harvested openings in the Headwaters and Kamloops Forest Districts. The project will complete the remaining outstanding openings in both the Headwaters and Kamloops Forest Districts. The objective of the project is to review the existing file data of pre-1987 harvested blocks, declare them Free Growing or prescribe a future treatment that will bring them to Free Growing. Included is a Technical File Review, a Professional Forester review and a Professional Forester letter/acknowledgement. Free Growing blocks contribute to the provincial timber supply.

14) A new project has commenced which is a helicopter field review of 3,600 hectares in the Kamloops Forest District and 823 hectares in the Headwaters Forest District. These areas have been recommended and scheduled in RESULTS for a Free Growing helicopter reccy to confirm Free Growing status from the Backlog Impeded and NSR Stands Data Review File Review of previously harvested openings completed in fiscal 2008- 09 under FFT project # 3085023.

15) A project is underway which will conduct a 10% audit (field check) of units reviewed last fiscal year as “Openings/SUs that are 'likely FG – non-recent survey'” as identified from the Backlog Impeded and NSR Stands Data Review File Review of previously harvested openings. The 10% audit (field check) will review Free Growing Status.