Silvicultural Prescriptions and Regimes
November 5-6, 2025
Hilton DoubleTree, Portland, Oregon
The Forest Biometrics Research Institute will be holding a 2-day fall workshop on November 5-6, 2025, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Portland, OR. This workshop will emphasize using FPS for implementing Silvicultural Prescriptions and Regimes. Each participant will come away with a better understanding of using the FPS tools to develop and model a wide array of silvicultural practices for planning and analysis purposes. Emphasis includes the importance of site index, approaches for even- and uneven-aged management, and how to appropriately time silvicultural activities. Detailed examples will illustrate the impacts of stand versus forest-wide strategies.
This workshop is designed to be hands-on, with participants following along with the course material (to be provided). All participants should bring their own computers with FPS software installed. FBRI will not be providing computers for attendees at this workshop. The workshop will be conducted by Brock Purvis, FBRI’s Technical Support Manager, and Dan Opalach, FBRI’s Senior Forest Biometrician.
REGISTRATION
FBRI Workshop: Silviculture Prescription and Regimes
November 5-6, 2025
Hilton DoubleTree, Portland, OR
Registration link: https://www.regpack.com/reg/FBRIsilvicultureWorkshop
- FBRI Member: In-person registration $675
- Non-member: In-person registration $850
AGENDA
11/5/25: Wednesday 9:00am – 12:00pm
Compiling, Growing, and Expanding
Using a standardized database (to be provided), participants will run the cruise compiler and review the associated output tables.
Using the compiled database FBRI will provide step-by-step instructions for growing all stands to a common report year.
A discussion of the cruise expansion process including the significance of vegetation labels and the role they play in FPS, and using FPS to expand cruised stands into uncruised stands for a working forest inventory.
FPS Tree Defect – Thirds of a Tree & the PLOGS Table
Participants will be led through an exercise demonstrating how FPS allocates defect by thirds of a tree and also by individual log lengths (PLOGS Table).
Snags and Dead Trees
Examples demonstrating how FPS manages snags and dead trees will be analyzed and discussed including a review of the impact these tree group codes have on the SNAGS and DBHCLS Tables.
SPECIES, SORTS, and DIBCLS Tables
FPS will be used to provide examples regarding the difference in reportable volume based on how the SPECIES and SORTS tables are set up. Additionally, the DIBCLS table will be used to look at and verify how logs get merchandized, placed into sorts, and report volume.
11/5/25: Wednesday 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Site Index
An overview of the FPS compiled site index versus Jim King’s and Robert Monserud’s site index systems will be provided with emphasis on examining the rates of growth and the variation of FPS compiled site index with the Monserud site index over time.
Silviculture: Even- and Uneven-Aged Management
The difference between treatments and regimes when planning silvicultural prescriptions will be explained, and why it is an important distinction. Understanding the SILVICS table and how to define treatments and regimes within FPS. Using FPS to set up and model both even- and uneven-aged silvicultural treatments across a forest over time. This will include detailed discussion on what to consider when timing a silvicultural activity and how previous research can be used to make informed decisions.
11/6/25: Thursday 8:00am – 12:00pm
Census-Level Data into FPS
Top tips and strategies for incorporating census-level data into FPS. What we have learned so far and recommended approaches.
A Three Hundred Million Tree Record Case Study
A discussion on how FBRI was able to successfully load, process, and compile 300,000,000 tree records through FPS will be presented including lessons learned and top tips moving forward.
Site Index (Again!)
New methods for calculating site index will be discussed including how bitemporal lidar data and CFI data can be used to develop outstanding site productivity maps.
STAND Table
The STAND table and the role it plays in harvest scheduling will be discussed. Additionally, FPS will be used to grow stands out over a 100-year period using different regimes as the first part of the harvest scheduling process.
How to Model PCT Without Updated Cruise Data
Participants will be led through an exercise demonstrating the steps necessary to estimate residual stocking levels following a PCT treatment.
11/5/25: Thursday 1:00pm – 3:30pm
YLDSPP and YIELD Tables
Participants will set up the YLDSPP table for future species composition and stocking levels for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and all future rotations within FPS. These trees will then be incorporated into the YIELD table and grown forward as the second step in the harvest scheduling process. Additional discussion and examples identifying how to set up PCT and commercial thinning in second rotations will be reviewed.
Running the Harvest Scheduler
The FPS Harvest Scheduler will be used in conjunction with the growth projections in the STAND and YIELD tables to develop a long-term harvest plan. Additionally, the PLANCUT and PLANRES tables will be examined, and their relevance discussed.