Fundy Model Forest Research Articles

Sensitivity of the Landsat enhanced wetness difference index (EWDI) to temporal resolution

We investigated the sensitivity of the Landsat enhanced wetness difference index (EWDI) to temporal resolution in detecting forest harvesting and silvicultural activities in the Fundy Model Forest in southern New Brunswick. The severity of disturbance was underestimated in the multiyear EWDI because of regrowth and natural variability. In certain instances the severity of disturbance was overestimated with an annual EWDI; for example, a herbicide application in a young stand could have an annual wetness difference approximately equal to that of a forest clearcut. In general, we found annual EWDI differences to be more accurate than multiyear differences in detecting change. The sensitivity of satellite image change detection techniques to temporal resolution must be considered when national or international protocols are developed to provide input to forest monitoring or carbon accounting efforts.

Interpretation of landscape pattern and habitat change for local indicator species using satellite imagery and geographic information system data in New Brunswick, Canada

We measured the extent and rate of habitat change and interpreted landscape metrics for fragmentation in the Fundy Model Forest, New Brunswick, from 1993 to 1999 using geographical information system baseline data updated with landscape changes detected on Landsat satellite imagery. We report on three categories of landscape metrics (habitat cover, patch size, and nearest neighbour), which we interpret as applicable to potentially fragmentation-sensitive local indicator species in specific habitat types. Between 1993 and 1999, 5.6% of forest land in the Fundy Model Forest was estimated by satellite image analysis as having >30% of canopy cover removed, primarily as a result of forest harvesting treatments. In four of five habitat types, the rate of habitat loss from harvesting outpaced habitat replacement due to forest growth. Changes in landscape pattern metrics indicate that fragmentation has occurred in each of the five indicator species habitat types over the available time period; furthermore, the rate of fragmentation exceeded the rate of habitat loss. Declines in the number and area of mixedwood patches dominated the fragmentation of the landscape in this region. More attention to the spatial distribution of harvesting activities may be necessary to change this trend in landscape pattern in the future.

An economic impact analysis of market and policy changes in a New Brunswick Fundy Model Forest community

A two-sector computable general equilibrium model is calibrated to the New Brunswick community of Petitcodiac using translog cost function regression analysis, and a questionnaire. Simulations are conducted for marginal reductions in both the price of lumber and the timber supply. We observe that both reductions have negative impacts on output and most production factors in the forest sector. Other production sectors tend to expand as production factors flow to where they receive their highest return. Results of this study indicate that the New Brunswick community is more (less) significantly impacted from timber supply (forest price) changes than a comparative study reports for a region in Alberta. Key words: CGE model, translog cost function, timber supply, lumber prices, regional economics, community impact

Learning about community capacity in the Fundy Model Forest

The forest plays an important role in New Brunswick’s economy. The Fundy Model Forest, located in southeastern New Brunswick developed a multi-stakeholder approach to public participation in sustainable forest management. This paper presents the main results of a research conducted in the year 2000 with representatives of the 31 FMF partner organizations. The objectives of the survey were mainly to verify the responsibility taken by partner organizations in term of community capacity and leadership in communities in order to develop and optimize collaborative management of forest resources. The survey was based on semi-directed interviews. Key words: community capacity, multi-stakeholder, public participation, sustainability, forest management, consensus building, decision making, Fundy Model Forest, individual learning, organizational learning, adaptative management, non-timber values

Change detection and landscape structure mapping using remote sensing

Satellite remote sensing has long held promise as a powerful method of detecting forest canopy changes and mapping landscape structure over vast, often multi-jurisdictional forest areas. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) spectral response, for example, can be related accurately to changes in physiology and cover at a range of small to intermediate mapping scales. These data have been available continuously for almost 20 years; many areas have earlier satellite image archives stretching back to the 1970s. When considering spatially-explicit changes to landscapes—caused by natural and human disturbances—over this time period, digital, synoptic, and repeatable satellite remotely-sensed data are emerging as the observational media of choice that forest managers must possess and use wisely. In this paper, successful use of satellite remote sensing in two of Canada’s Model Forests is described. First, in the Fundy Model Forest in southeastern New Brunswick, a 15-year TM image sequence was used to detect area changes associated with different harvesting and silvicultural practices. Second, in the Foothills Model Forest in west-central Alberta, grizzly bear habitat maps have been created from multi-scene TM land cover mosaics. These map products constitute critical information on landscape change and configuration required to answer key management questions. The paper concludes with a prognosis for the future role of satellite remote sensing in sustainable forest management as data quality continues to improve (i.e., increasing spatial, spectral, temporal, and radiometric resolutions), and methods are brought into the purview of forest managers and practitioners. Key words: remote sensing, landscape change, forest fragmentation, human disturbance, management information needs, habitat

A comparison of pre-European settlement forest characterization methodologies

The characterization of "natural" or "presettlement" forest has become a relatively common practice in Canada as forest managers strive to put into practice concepts of sustainable forest management. Various methods have been developed to undertake such characterizations, leading to confusion about how to define "presettlement forest" and uncertainty over the approach that will best serve as a basis for management. We report on two methods of presettlement forest characterization: the "Witness Tree" and the "Potential Forests" approaches. We compare results from these approaches to the existing forest composition in the Fundy Model Forest, New Brunswick. Both approaches indicate a decline in the predominance of tolerant hardwood and eastern cedar since presettlement. However, the Potential Forests approach consistently suggests much higher presettlement frequencies of spruce (Picea spp.) and, in most cases, pine (Pinus spp.) than the Witness Tree method. Differences between frequencies of tree species estimated by the two methods probably result from biases associated with both methods and the different scales of reporting. If used critically, the combined use of both sets of presettlement forest information will allow managers to determine the historical frequency of individual tree species and forest communities. Such information will provide some guidance in maintaining the diversity of native species and community types. Key words: presettlement forest, ecological land classification, Witness Tree method, Potential Forests, forest management, biodiversity

Large-area forest structure change detection: An example

We used the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) enhanced wetness difference index (EWDI) to detect forest changes in the Fundy Model Forest, a large, multi-jurisdictional forest management unit in southeastern New Brunswick. The average annual change on the landscape was approximately 3068 ha over a 15 year interval (1984‐1999). The estimate of total change (almost 50 000 ha) as a percentage of the total Fundy Model Forest available productive forest land (approximately 240 000 ha) translates into a rate of change of approximately 1.3% annually.

Interpretation and Classification of Partially Harvested Forest Stands in the Fundy Model Forest Using Multitemporal Landsat TM Digital Data

RÉSUMÉLes changements du couvert forestier générés par des opérations de récolte partielle ont été étudiés à l'aide d'images multitemporelles du capteur Thematic Mapper de Landsat acquises en 1992 et 1997, au Nouveau-Brunswick. Cinquante peuplements étiquetés à l'origine comme étant des peuplements d'épinette, de sapin, de pin, de feuillus d'ombre, de feuillus de lumière et des peuplements mixtes ont été sélectionnés et classifies par année de traitement par coupe partielle. L'analyse visuelle des compositions colorées et les indices de brillance, de verdure et d'humidité obtenus par transformation tasseled cap conjointement avec les valeurs de NDVI et une analyse en composantes principales ont montré un patron de changement dans le temps dans la plupart des zones de perturbation. Par exemple, nous avons noté un accroissement de la réflectance dans le visible, une diminution de la réflectance dans le proche infrarouge et un accroissement de la réflectance dans le moyen infrarouge dans les peuplements partiellement récoltés. L'information sur les changements a été concentrée dans une ou deux des trois composantes principales retenues dans l'analyse et dans la composante humidité de la transformation tasseled cap de TM. Des comparaisons avec les zones non perturbées et les zones de coupe à blanc ont été effectuées pour montrer les différences de réflectance et les transformations dans les images reliées aux coupes partielles, aux coupes à blanc et aux conditions non perturbées. Une hiérarchie de classification incluant des coupes à blanc et des peuplements soumis à une coupe partielle a été développée. Les zones de coupe à blanc ont été cartographiées avec une précision de 71% entre 1992 et 1997 à l'aide d'une méthode par pixel individuel. Pour l'ensemble des coupes partielles, la classification des peuplements individuels basée sur les valeurs moyennes de brillance, d'indice de verdure et d'humidité en 1992 et 1997, pour chaque polygone dans le SIG identifié comme ayant subi un traitement par coupe partielle, atteignait une précision de 71%. Ces résultats semblent suffisants pour justifier le développement d'une technique optimale de classification et la mise au point d'un logiciel pour la mise à jour automatique des inventaires forestiers à l'aide des données de télédétection.

Fundy Model Forest: Partners in sustainable forest management

Scenario planning was used to develop a consensus-based, multi-stakeholder management planning process for a 114 000 ha land base in New Brunswick, Canada. This is part of the Fundy Model Forest, which involves four major landowner groups, along with 26 other Partnership organizations. Public consultation and Partnership input were used to define 25 scenarios, determining effects of alternative means of riparian strip management, road construction, vegetation and insect control, harvesting, maintenance of biodiversity, and plantation establishment. The Woodstock forest modelling software was used to determine effects of each scenario on timber supply, forest structure, measures of biodiversity and ecological integrity, areas of mature forest, and wildlife habitat. In a series of workshops, the Partners were successful in reaching consensus on a Fundy Model Forest "preferred" management scenario, which was conveyed to the land managers for implementation. Development of the management planning process and the use of scenario planning procedures in the Fundy Model Forest are described. Key words: scenario planning, sustainable forest management, Fundy Model Forest, timber supply, biodiversity

Estimation of forest Leaf Area Index using remote sensing and GIS data for modelling net primary production

Ecosystem models can be used to estimate potential net primary production (pNPP) using GIS data, and remote sensing input of actual forest leaf area to such models can provide estimates of current actual net primary production (aNPP) . Comparisons of pNPP and aNPP for a given site or regional landscape can be used to identify forest stands for different management treatments, and may provide new information on wildlife habitat, forest diversity and growth characteristics. Leaf area estimates may be obtained from satellite imagery through correlation with physiologically-based vegetation indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). However, in areas with high Leaf Area Index (LAI), vegetation indices usually saturate at leaf areas greater than about 4. In predominantly deciduous (hardwood) and mixedwood stands remote sensing estimates may be influenced by understory and other factors. We examined digital Landsat TM imagery and GIS data in the Fundy Model Forest of southeastern New Brunswick to determine relations to forest leaf area index within different stand structures or covertypes. The image data were stratified using GIS covertype information prior to development of LAI predictive equations using spectral reflectance, and the prediction of LAI from Landsat TM imagery was improved with reference to estimates of stem density which are standard forest inventory information contained in GIS databases. Actual stand LAI was compared to assumed maximum LAI values for several species and sites using an ecosystem process model (BIOME-BGC) which relies on climate, soils and topographic information also obtained from the GIS. Subsequent comparison of pNPP and aNPP revealed that even disturbed sites in this environment can reach close to maximum site potential. Specific sites with suboptimal species composition were identified. A future refinement of this approach is to classify the imagery independently of the GIS, which assumes a homogeneous covertype for each polygon in the system, and thus improve still further the aNPP estimates through higher covertype and LAI estimation accuracy.

Forest management strategies to reduce spruce budworm damage in the Fundy Model Forest

Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) outbreaks cannot be prevented, but the amount of damage that occurs can be managed. Tree species, stand age, hardwood content, and drainage class, as well as the outbreak severity and length, determine the amount of tree mortality during budworm outbreaks. Silviculture and forest management can be used to reduce the incidence of the most damaged stand types across the landscape. The amount of defoliation in mixed balsam fir-hardwood stands is strongly negatively related to hardwood content, especially with hardwoods > 40%. The Spruce Budworm Decision Support System (DSS) links models of stand and forest response to budworm outbreaks and inventory interpretation to a GIS, and can be used to evaluate effects of outbreaks and management on forest structure and timber supply. An example using the Spruce Budworm DSS for a portion of the Fundy Model Forest indicated that losses from a future budworm outbreak could be reduced 34% by directing harvesting and silviculture towards conversion of one-half of the most vulnerable stand types into low susceptibility or non-susceptible species. Key words: decision support system, vulnerability, silviculture, insect damage

Developing an Ecological Land Classification for the Fundy Model Forest, southeastern New Brunswick, Canada

The methodology for developing and mapping a hierarchical Ecological Land Classification (ELC) is presented. The classification provided a systematic methodology that explained the distribution and composition of southern New Brunswick's forested landscape. The nested structure of the ELC identified and provided a hierarchical linkage between ecosystems from the size of forest stands to climate regions. This framework made the collection and analysis of data efficient and gave confidence that tree species distributions, which were central to understanding the influence of abiotic factors on the forest systems, were controlled by the factors examined at each level of the hierarchy. This ELC methodology, developed for the Fundy Model forest, was successful in describing and mapping the Climate, Geomorphologic, and Regolith controlled forest ecosystems. Preliminary classification indicates that spatial referencing of the Site Level is achievable.