Applied Research and Innovation Projects

LiDAR is currently underutilized as a planning and assessment tool for silviculture practices in northern British Columbia, and this project aims to address that gap by developing simple, reliable protocols for capturing and using imagery and scanning products to improve both treatment planning and post‑treatment assessment. The approach uses aerial and terrestrial LiDAR to collect pre‑ and post‑treatment data and imagery, which are compared against detailed manual ground sampling, including timber cruising, vegetation and coarse woody debris transects, and fire fuel assessments. The project will identify which tree‑, stand‑, and site‑level attributes can be reliably derived from LiDAR and how these measurements can be applied operationally, while also evaluating the effectiveness of commercial thinning in meeting prescribed timber objectives and its effects over time. Overall, the work is intended to demonstrate the technical feasibility of integrating LiDAR into BC’s silviculture practices, with the expectation that increased efficiency and lower costs would support broader adoption of commercial thinning and deliver associated economic and environmental benefits.

Across much of northern British Columbia, moose populations are declining due to habitat conversion, decreased forage availability, and increased predation. This project aims to identify the preferred commercial thinning density to promote moose habitat, including forage, within the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band. Long-term monitoring, including the collection of field data related to tree species composition, understory vegetation, soil and air temperature, available light, snow interception, and detecting the presence of wildlife are planned for this project. The findings of this research are provided to the Society of Ecosystem Restoration of Northern BC (SERNBC) and the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, to whom CNC is providing research services. Findings from the research can provide insight into preferred commercial thinning densities that may enhance moose habitat throughout the north.