Ken Day, MF, RPF, KDay Forestry Ltd.

KDay Forestry Ltd.

Ken Day RPF is a consulting forester in Williams Lake, B.C. where is practice is largely focused on silviculture in dry Douglas-fir forests.  In 2018, he retired from his position of Manager of the UBC Alex Fraser Research Forest after 31 years.  Prior to his time at UBC, Ken worked for various consultants and forest companies in the Okanagan Valley.  Ken has been a Registered Professional Forester since 1982, and in 1998 he received his Master of Forestry from UBC, focusing on the management of uneven-aged Douglas-fir in the IDF.  Ken is married, and has a daughter, a son, and two grandchildren.

Presentation Abstract for STOP 1, Station 3: Stand Development Pathways – An Introduction to the Silvicultural Systems Handbook

A silvicultural system is a plan for the care, development, maintenance and/or replacement of a forest stand over time.  It seeks to promote specific structural characteristics, ecological conditions and features consistent with desired objectives and values for the site over decades or perhaps centuries. 

At this station, Ken will review the concepts of Desired Future Condition, Current Condition, and Interventions to move the stand along a stand development pathway.  Drawing on the location of the stand and the landscape and the input of the audience, Ken will workshop a range of stand development pathways and discuss the opportunities and risks for the next intervention.

Link to Silvicultural Systems Handbook: http://library.nrs.gov.bc.ca/digipub/LMH79-singpg.pdf

Presentation Abstract for STOP 3, Station 3: Best Management Practices for Dry-Belt Douglas-fir – Managing for Resilience and Resistance

The Cariboo Natural Resource Region is pursuing improved management of Dry-Belt Douglas-fir landscapes and stands to maintain values and achieve community goals.  Since 2020 a team has been working on engagement, analysis and strategic planning to describe the problem, propose solutions, take input and initiate thoughtful change.  The work has (or is) focused on:

  • Vision, principles, goals, objectives and targets for management of the dry subzones of the IDF in the Cariboo,
  • Best management practices with supporting rationale, to guide management of Dry-Belt Douglas-fir forests,
  • An agenda for change, recognizing that there are barriers in policy and legislation,
  • Stocking standards for novel approaches to stand management,
  • Stand development pathways for five different current conditions comprising most of the stands in the current landscape.

Management of Douglas-fir in the dry IDF subzones of the Cariboo is challenging. Grasslands, aspen, pine, and spruce stands are desirable and important components of the future landscape, which will be dominated by Douglas-fir forests. Current forest composition, density and structure have diminished the resilience and resistance of landscapes and the diversity of habitats and wildlife in the area.  There is a strong need to return Dry-Belt Douglas-fir forests to a resilient, healthy and productive state, primarily through thinning and regeneration in the shelter of retained trees.

BMP # 7 seeks to improve resilience to wildfire by: abating fine fuels such that head fire intensity would not exceed 4,000 kW/m (Rank 4) at the 90th percentile of fire weather; restoration thinning to reduce crown bulk density and increasing fuel strata gap by targeting ladder fuels; thinning the matrix of the stand on 80% of the stand area plus 10% in gaps and 10% in unthinned skips; actively facilitating cultural and prescribed fire; reducing fuels under leave trees to reduce fire severity; collaborating with First Nations, BC Wildfire Service and the land manager, to plan and implement restoration thinning to support the use of cultural and prescribed fire.

Link to 1st Approximation: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/natural-resource-policy-legislation/legislation-regulation/frpa-pac/frpa-information/drybeltbmpdouglas-fir_area.pdf