The Forest Biometric Research Institute will be holding a 2-day Fall Workshop on October 15-16, 2024, 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 developing silviculture approaches for planning and analysis purposes.  Emphasis includes the importance of site index, approaches for even- and uneven- aged management, and how to appropriately time silviculture activities. Detailed examples will identify 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 will need to bring their own computers with FPS software installed. FBRI will not be providing computers for attendees at this workshop.

The instructors will be Brock Purvis, FPS Technical Support Manager and  Dan Opalach, FBRI Senior Forest Biometrician.

REGISTRATION

The registration fee is $675 for FBRI members and $850 for non-members.

AGENDA

Day 1: Tuesday 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, including the effects of growing with natural regeneration or excluding natural regeneration.

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 uncrusied stands for a working forest inventory.

Defect, Snags, and Lesser Vegetation

Participants will be lead through an exercise demonstrating how FPS allocates defect by thirds of a tree. Additionally, examples on how FPS manages snags, dead trees, and lesser vegetation will be examined.

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.

Noon – Lunch provided

Day 1: Tuesday 1:00pm – 4:00pm

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.

How to Model PCT Without Updated Cruise Data

Participants will be lead through an exercise demonstrating the steps necessary to estimate residual stocking levels following a PCT treatment.

Silviculture: Even- and Uneven-Aged Management

The difference between treatments and regimes when planning silviculture 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 silviculture treatments across a forest over time. This will include detailed discussion on what to consider when timing a silviculture activity and how previous research can be used to make informed decisions.

4 PM Adjourn

 

Day 2: Wednesday 8:00am – 12:00pm

Census-Level Data into FPS (Part 1)

Top tips and strategies for incorporating census-level data into FPS. What we have learned so far and recommended approaches.

Census-Level Data into FPS (Part 2)

Using a lidar dataset (to be provided), participants will be lead through a process where FPS is utilized to compile and grow trees.

Site Index (Again!)

New methods for calculating site index will be discussed including how bitemporal lidar and CFI data can be used to develop outstanding estimates of site productivity.

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.

Noon – Lunch provided

Day 2: Wednesday 1:00pm – 3:00pm

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.

3PM – Adjourn