• Introduction The forest of Prince Edward Island (PEI) is part of the Acadian Forest region. The Acadian Forest is generally described as a complex forest, found in a zone of transition between the Boreal Forest…

Conservation and Biodiversity

• Diversity Enhancement Efforts should be made to retain existing cavity trees and incorporate them into leave patches of legacy trees. When present, trembling aspen are preferred for legacy trees as they have the greatest…
• Environmental Standards Waste, litter and other forms of garbage must be properly disposed of in the manner prescribed by the Island Waste Management Corporation.

Operational Standards

• Harvest Standards All stumps must be cut to less than 15 cm (6 in.) in height and below the lowest green limbs, unless tree form makes this impossible or specified in the management plan. Then stumps must be cut as…
• Planting Standards Covertypes dominated, prior to disturbance, by the following species are eligible for all planting treatments:

Planning and Management

• Woodlot Management Plan The woodlot management plan will provide a framework for the implementation of forest management treatments to meet the owners objectives (e.g. to increase biodiversity, improve timber quality,…

Maintenance Treatments

• Manual Maintenance The elimination or suppression of undesirable vegetation competing with established seedlings by means of hand or handheld tools for the purpose of reducing competition and increasing the growth and…
• Chemical Maintenance Chemical suppression of undesirable vegetation that is competing with established seedlings for the purpose of reducing competition and increasing the rate of growth or survival of established…

Planting Types

• Full Planting The planting of designated seedlings appropriate to a site in an area without sufficient natural regeneration to achieve a prescribed stocking.
• Fill Planting The planting of designated seedlings appropriate to a site in an area partially stocked with previously planted seedlings.
• Enrichment Planting The planting of designated seedlings in an area already suitably stocked with crop tree species and is in a suitable condition to support seedling survival. For example, the objective of planting…

Site Preparation Methods

• Mechanical Site Preparation The process of preparing a suitable number of microsites (i.e. mineral soil exposure, brush redistribution, and vegetation control) by mechanical means for the purpose of slash, duff or grass…
• Manual Site Preparation The process of preparing a site for the purpose of slash and/or duff reduction and increasing the survival rate of planted seedlings or for the preparation of seedbeds suitable for germination of…
• Manual Brush Piling The piling of harvest residue by hand. May be one treatment or part of other treatments in preparing an area for natural regeneration and/or planting.
• Chemical Site Preparation Chemical suppression of undesirable vegetation prior to establishment, for the purpose of reducing competition and increasing the survival rate of established seedlings.

Harvest Methods

• Select Tree Harvest Harvest technique in pole staged or older stand. Multi-pass treatment over time. Utilized to harvest mature/over mature trees (or specific/undesirable trees). Used to modify vertical structure of…
• Strip Harvest Management technique in pole-stage or older stands by harvesting ≥85% of trees in area with strip width equal to 0.3-2 tree heights. Multi-pass treatment over time. Used to modify vertical structure,…
• Patch Harvest Management technique in pole staged or older stand using harvest removing trees in area with width equal to 0.3-2 tree stand heights. Maximum patch size opening: 0.5 ha (≈70 m diameter). Multi-pass…
• Block Harvest Even-aged management technique where new seedlings become established in fully exposed micro-environments after removal of >85% of existing trees. Regeneration can be planted or natural regeneration…
• Shelterwood Harvest Even-aged management technique practiced on older stands to establish new crop or release existing crop of desirable seedlings before next or final overstory harvest. One or more partial cuts of…
• Seed Tree Harvest Treatment used to modify stocking, species composition and vertical structure of stand and create crown space to favour natural regeneration establishment.

Other Techniques

• Wildfire Fuel Mitigation Reducing fuel load and combustibility in extended areas of property so if wildfire occurs it would burn at lesser intensity and be easier to manage. Targets coniferous trees; does not remove all…

Pre-Commercial Thinning

• Pre-commercial Hardwood Thinning Spacing of naturally regenerated sapling stands (4-8 m height) to achieve a hardwood stand with minimum 15% softwood and healthy, vigorous trees capable of accelerated growth.
• Pre-commercial Softwood Thinning Spacing of naturally regenerated sapling stands (2-6 m height) to achieve a softwood stand with minimum 15% hardwood and healthy, vigorous trees capable of accelerated growth.

Pruning Treatments

• White Pine Blister Rust Pruning Removal of live branches from white pine trees to prevent the spread of white pine blister rust by increasing air flow within stand and produce valuable knot-free trees.
• Crop Tree Pruning Removal of live or dead branches from crop trees to produce valuable knot-free trees.

Release and Commercial Thinning

• Crop Tree Release Release of healthy immature trees with potential to develop into high quality trees. Maximizes growth of veneer or sawlog-quality trees.
• Commercial Hardwood Thinning Thinning of dense hardwood pole stage (immature) stands to improve tree quality, growth, species composition, species diversity, and extend life of stand. Designed to promote growth of best quality…
• Commercial Softwood Thinning Thinning of dense softwood pole stage (immature) stands to improve tree quality, growth, species composition, species diversity, and extend life of stand. Designed to promote growth of best quality…
• Commercial Plantation Thinning Thinning of dense softwood plantations to improve tree quality, growth, species composition, species diversity, and extend life of stand. Designed to promote growth of best quality trees for veneer…

Landscape Features

• Hedgerow and Shelterbelt Planting The planting of one or more rows of strategically placed evergreens, deciduous trees, and/or shrubs in an area to create a hedgerow or shelterbelt of a desired height and density for the purposes of…
• Forest Management Lines A line cut and clearly marked around the perimeter of a property. Such a line is not intended to be or to replace a legal survey. Rather its purpose is to mark the limits for forest management…
• Recreation Trails A defined route developed to improve recreation access within or through an area for non-motorized uses.

Water and Riparian Management

• Riparian Management Zone The land and vegetation directly adjacent to bodies of water such as streams, ponds, lakes, bogs and wetlands. This area can be very productive for animal and plant life because of the increased…

Wildlife Habitat Enhancement

• Nesting Box Establishment Nesting boxes are important to some species that have lost many natural nesting sites due to habitat destruction. Old dead or dying trees are important natural nesting sites for these birds.
• Artificial Brush Cover Piles and Nesting Areas The placement of natural materials from previous harvests or such other materials as may be appropriate (see PEI Forest Wildlife Manual) for the purpose of improving wildlife habitat.
• Game Bird and Mammal Habitat Conservation or Enhancement Based on a landowner's objectives for the property, the assessment of the property for any limiting factors for game birds or mammal's habitat needs of species desired by the landowner (e.g. Ruffed…

• Plant and Animal Species of Special Concern Includes uncommon, rare or endangered native plant or animal species or any species listed on the Government of Prince Edward Island, Division of Environment, Energy and Climate Action website.

• Definitions Comprehensive glossary of terms used throughout the Forest Management Standards Manual.

• Road and Water Diversion Construction Before developing a new forest road or trail, a road or extraction trail plan must be developed to minimize environmental impacts.

• Biomass Guidelines Forest biomass can be used as alternative for fossil fuels when heating or producing energy.

• Tree Species Shade Tolerance Chart Can survive and grow well in shaded conditions: