Subalpine Fir Shelf-Life (Dendrochronology) Services

This study commissioned by the Ministry of Forests uses dendrocronology to determine the 'shelf life' of subalpine fir trees. Through careful analysis of tree rings under a microscope, we can determine the exact year of death, injury, or environmental disturbance such as drought or fire. Using this information, we are helping determine how long subalpine fir trees can remain dead and standing in the forest and still produce usable lumber, promoting sound salvage logging decisions.
  • Forest Regeneration & Restoration

Research objective: Research services provided aid the BC ministry of forests examine the wood quality of standing beetle-killed subalpine fir by assessing moisture content, specific gravity, and decay characteristics of wood harvested, with the intent to quantify amount of time a beetle-killed tree can stand after mortality, before decay characteristics render it as unusable lumber.

Start date: November 1, 2023

Partner(s): Ministry of Forests

Funder: Ministry of Forests

Research lead(s): Katee-Leigh Doyon

Research theme(s): Forest Regeneration & Restoration

Contact Us

For more information, please contact ieprojects@cnc.bc.ca or vrresearch@cnc.bc.ca