Fresh out of high school in 1980, I worked for a forest consultant and quickly realized that forestry was the right fit for me. My formative years in the profession were spent working for consulting firms in the Okanagan, Kootenays, and Cariboo. I am a graduate of Selkirk College and the University of Alberta.
In 1995, I joined the Ministry of Forests, where I have worked in a variety of roles as both a technician and a forester, with silviculture forming the majority of my work since 1988. Career highlights include field-based work with great colleagues, being a member of the Coast Region Implementation Silviculture Team, coaching junior staff through the Forest Technologist Entry Level Program in Mackenzie, and contributing to initiatives related to partial cutting.
In May 2023, I began my current role as Silviculture Reporting Specialist with the Office of the Chief Forester, where I strive to keep my work as practical and grounded as possible. For recreation I downhill skiing, hockey, kayaking and attending local concerts.
Presentation Abstract
Our profession is increasingly being asked to implement innovative silviculture practices and to expand the use of partial harvesting systems—often referred to as alternatives to clearcutting. This remains a pressing topic, driven by both social expectations and ecological objectives to promote a range of values across the forest landscape.
Partial harvesting is inherently more complex than clearcutting and requires an understanding of the elements integrated across key operational phases. These phases include planning, preharvest development, site plan preparation, harvesting, surveys, and reporting. The focus of this presentation is on the reporting of partial harvested areas with treed retention.
We are observing a growing number of reporting errors associated with the silvicultural system clearcut with reserves, particularly where the amount of treed retention is not being reported accurately. This trend highlights the need for improvements in updated user guides, legal submission specifications, training, communication, and a renewed commitment to reporting information that is both accurate and representative.
The test of reporting quality is whether the submitted information is consistent with the stocking standards and truly reflects post‑harvest stand conditions.
Accurate reporting is critical, as it is a foundational component of the forest management “pipeline”. Reported information is relied upon for key processes such as vegetation resource inventory, timber supply analysis, identification of future treatment opportunities, and long-term silviculture monitoring.