User information needs for forest management site classification in Manitoba

Abstract

Forest inventory in Manitoba reveals that considerable forest harvest expansion is possible because of present underutilization. Although underutilization does occur in some forest sections, Manitoba's 20-year forest management plan predicts shortages of softwood in currently utilized sections before the end of this decade. Better forest management is recognized as one way to overcome these expected shortages. Development of an effective forest management site classification system is seen as a necessary basis for this implementation. As a prerequisite to the development of such a system, current and future site classification information needs of professional management foresters in Manitoba were surveyed by means of a questionnaire and personal interviews. They were asked to identify the kinds of site classification information needed for different forest management programs and decisions, and to further qualify these in terms of location, scale and temporal suitability. Results of this survey indicate that a system involving both mapping and site-specific approaches is needed. Keywords: forest site classification, Manitoba, forest management, user needs, site mapping