Implementation of natural disturbance-based management in northern British Columbia

Ecologically based landscape units and associated characteristics of natural disturbance (e.g., seral stage and patch size distribution) were recently developed for the northeast corner of British Columbia and used as the basis for establishing guidance and policy for natural disturbance-based management for two large timber supply areas. I discuss the development of the landscape units; development of guidance for the units; and implementation of the guidance for old forest, interior old forest, and early seral patch size objectives. This paper demonstrates how natural-disturbance-based management can be successfully implemented. Key words: natural-disturbance-based management, natural range of variability, seral stage distribution, old-forest requirements, patch size, guidance, implementation