BEC – Research & Extension Activities
Sent for Review Feb/1/09 Will MacKenzie
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The BEC Master database is being upgraded to expanded its usability.
Classification information collected since the 1970s from 50,000 BEC plots
represents a $60 million investment. To maintain this investment, older
records are being reformatted and paper records added to the database. BEC
Master represents the best data source for integrated ecological
characteristics and species distributions in BC. The information supports
regions in ecological classification and numerous scientific initiatives. Most
recently, BEC data are shedding light on climate change, for instance:
o
SFU is backcasting with BEC data to compare pollen records from lakes
with past climate patterns, to gain insight on how BC ecosystems are
structured under warmer climates.
o
Natural Resources Canada (NRC) is looking at ways to use the data for
predicting bio-climate envelopes to see how ecosystems will be
distributed under various modelled predictions of climate.
o
National ecosystem correlation project led by NRC is comparing forest
ecosystem classifications among jurisdictions to develop a common
classification for Canada.
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Updated BEC website, which is used by a broad audience, ranging from
district staff to secondary school teachers.
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Revising standards and forms for BEC field data collection. This includes best
practices for using GPS, and methods for collecting information on nontimber forest products and coarse woody debris. The changes are being
compiled for revisions to Land Management Handbook 25.

Data collection continued for newly classifying high-elevation ecosystems.
With alpine and subalpine areas covering 15% of the province, this work fills
the largest gap remaining in BEC and will generate the most detailed
classification of alpine ecosystems in the world. Provisional zone and subzone
maps have been created and classification is being determined to the site
association level. The province's alpine will be split into northern, southern
and coastal zones with subzones based on a snowiness index, since snow
insulation and persistence drives floristic communities. Alpine classification
will lead to better understanding of tree growth limits and the implications of
climate change. It also addresses important wildlife habitat and recreational
terrain. Royal BC Museum is a collaborator on the project.
Applicable Divisional Priorities & Major Issues
 Climate Change & Forest Carbon (FSD, OD)
 Coarse Woody Debris (FSD)
 Data Systems & Information (FSD)
 Nontimber Forest Products
Sources
Will MacKenzie
Ecology – Research Activities
Sent for Review Feb/1/09 Will MacKenzie

Piloting classification of seral ecosystems with testing in the ICH and SBS
zones. The work aims to determine the feasibility of identifying site potential
based on early seral vegetation, rather than on mature stands. So far, results
indications that a seral component that could readily be added to BEC.
Among other things, it would assist with ecosystem recovery initiatives.

In collaboration with Royal Roads University, investigating the ecological
conditions conducive to producing high-quality plants of interest to First
Nations. The project is being conducted in Burns Lake, in partnership with
Burns Lake Community Forest, on the Queen Charlotte Islands, in
partnership with Haida Guardians, and near Williams Lake (see Coupé). An
inventory of highly productive site ecological conditions will be generated and
mapped using TEM or PEM.

Research is being conducted in response to Haida First Nation concerns that
introduced deer are obliterating valued traditional plants on the Queen
Charlotte Islands. For instance, devil's club is of high cultural value but as
been all but extirpated by deer browsing. In collaboration with Royal Roads
and Haida Guardians, the abundance of vegetation in similar ecosystems on
the Islands and mainland is being compared. This work will enable identifying
the sites on the Queen Charlottes that have the greatest potential for
producing traditional plants once deer are excluded.
Applicable Divisional Priorities & Major Issues
 First Nations (OD)
 Nontimber Forest Products
 Second Growth Management
 Sustainable Forest Management
Sources
Will MacKenzie