Reforestation is a subject vital to the economy of British Columbia which depends heavily on its forests -- a valuable but expendable resource. This book provides silviculturalists with a broad reference to the science and technology of reforestation in the Canadian province that forms the single most diverse forest region in North America. The work combines, for the first time, both experiences recorded from practical reforestation projects and the results of scientific investigations.

The chapters of Regenerating British Columbia’s Forests were compiled and reviewed by experts in each field of discussion. Topics include:

- the physiological bases for seedling vigour and the interaction of reforestation with seedling physiology;

- the ecology of British Columbia’s bioclimatic zones and the role of ecological site classification;

- the application of financial analyses to reforestation decisions;

- current technology in manual, mechanical, and chemical site preparation, and in the use of fire to prepare planting sites;

- recent progress in tree genetics and breeding and its relevance to the production of tree propagules;

- nursery technology;

- methodology in planting evaluation;

- techniques of plantation release; and

- the role of insects, disease, and small mammals and birds in the reforestation process.

Regenerating British Columbia’s Forests will assist those responsible for planning reforestation projects to reach informed decisions and will challenge them to consider primarily the biological factors basic to reforestation success rather than short-term costs and production technology. Although its main audience is practising foresters and forestry students of British Columbia, the text will be of considerable interest to foresters in other parts of Canada, the United States, and Europe who manage reforestation.

D.P. Lavender is a professor and head of the Forest Science Department in the Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia. R. Parish is a research manager with the Canada-British Columbia forest resource development agreement. C. Johnson, RPF, is president of Pacific Regeneration Technologies, Inc. G. Montgomery is an editor and writer with G. Montgomery and Associates, Victoria. A. Vyse is a forest sciences officer with the Kamloops Forest Region. R.Willis is a regeneration silviculturalist with Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd. D. Winston is program director, Forestry Canada.

This book...will prove to be an excellent source of basic information for anyone working in forest management, silviculture, and forest regeneration not only in British Columbia but in surrounding areas as well. --- The book is attractively produced, with many clear illustrations and tables. It brings together a wealth of information for practitioners and, in fact, anyone interested in this crucial issue in the management of BC forests.