From Seed to Forest: The role of Silviculture at Flash Forest
Silviculture is at the core of Flash Forest’s reforestation efforts, guiding our strategy from seed to thriving forest. In this interview, we sit down with our Silviculture Manager, Quirin Hohendorf, to understand the science and practices that drive our mission. From understanding the intricate details of tree growth to implementing innovative techniques for forest recovery, Quirin shares insights into how Flash Forest is transforming barren and burnt landscapes into lush, resilient ecosystems.
Quirin completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry Engineering and his Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies. He is also a Forester in training with the Forest Professionals British Columbia.
Can you describe your role and responsibilities as a member of the silviculture team at Flash Forest?
I am Flash Forest’s Silviculture Manager. I manage our monitoring program, establishment of field trials and seed procurement. It means that every day, I get to work with an amazing team from diverse professional backgrounds. I spend a lot of time planning reforestation projects and making sure they are well executed in the field. That includes getting boots on the ground as early as possible in the planning process to verify our initial desktop assessments. The work isn’t done after we have reforested an area, monitoring is very important to us. That means my team and I visit all our projects several times over the following years to make sure they are on track towards growing into a new forest.
What does a typical day look like for you in the field?
If we are working from a camp, I’m usually the first to get up and make coffee and have a little breakfast with my team. We then grab our lunch and water for the day, make sure all our gear is in the truck and after a quick safety check, we head up the logging road. When we get to our site for the day, I lead a daily tailgate meeting where we discuss potential hazards of the site, emergency plans and the overall plan for the day. Then, after a quick radio check we all head into our portion of the site. Depending on what I am working on, I usually spend my day sampling seedling densities, assessing the soil, assessing burn severity or any other number of assessments. Lunch is usually at the truck or in the bush. At the end of the work day, I meet up with the rest of the team and we head back to camp. I usually take a break, have some food, take off my field gear and hide from the bugs. This is a great time to throw a frisbee or kick around a soccer ball to relax. After dinner I download assessment data and make a plan for the next day. That often includes a bit of work in GIS to incorporate the findings of the day. Then it’s time for plugging in all the electronics and off to bed. I like bringing a book with me or I listen to podcasts before falling asleep. Rinse and repeat the next day.
What does a typical day look like for you when you’re in the office or working from home?
When I’m not in the field, I mostly work from my home. Those days look very different from field days and a lot more like most people’s office jobs these days. I get up, make coffee and tea for me and my wife and we have breakfast together. I then sit down at my desk while she heads off to work. First thing, I check what messages have come in during the night. Since we have employees across the country (and international collaborators), there is usually a bit of catch up to do in the morning. I then work on a to-do list for the day and get to work. My days are usually a mix of focus time, team meetings, and conversations with clients, partners and regulators. At the end of the day I like to get outside for a run or just a walk to the grocery store to clear my head and shift gears.
Can you explain the process of selecting tree species prescriptions for reforestation projects?
A prescription provides all the information needed to determine what tree species (and genetics) go where and any other steps that may need to be taken for the reforestation to be successful. We start by looking at what was there before the disturbance that makes reforestation necessary. Information about the type of forest that was present before is a good starting point. We then look at the current conditions. Is there a lot of competing vegetation that could hinder the growth of trees? Is there a risk of erosion? Is the area at risk of excessive browsing by livestock or wildlife? Has the hydrology changed because of the disturbance? We also factor in the local weather and climate, soils and topography as well as the effects of climate change. All this can factor into potential site treatments before or after planting of the seed pods.
Once we have decided what species we want to use, the proportions densities, we work on procuring seeds. Most jurisdictions have fairly strict regulations about what seed sources can be used and that is for a good reason. If trees are not genetically programmed for a certain environment they will struggle all their life and will be more prone to damage by weather events and insects. We sometimes get seed provided to us, sometimes we buy seed and sometimes we conduct our own collections with our amazing seed collection contractors.
What kind of modelling and software does Flash Forest leverage for site mapping and project scoping? How rigorous is the project scoping process?
We put a lot of effort into our site selection process to make sure the project will be a success. Where available, we tap into existing provincial and federal databases, use remote sensing data and collect field data. The more data we have available the better. In general the process looks something like this: we are contacted about a potential project or we are interested in a certain area ourselves. We conduct a coarse assessment of the area in a GIS, using satellite data and climate modelling. We then decide if this project is a good fit for us. If yes, we pull more detailed data and start a fine-scale analysis to narrow down the project area. This usually includes drone mapping. We’ve got great internal software tools to automate this process. We factor in things like wildfire burn severity, access, slopes, precipitation etc. At this stage it is important to get boots on the ground and see the sites for ourselves. We conduct a pre-assessment to confirm the sites we have delineated on our desktops are what we think they are. Usually we make some smaller changes after we have field data and then we are good to go for the planting season.
What is the importance of biodiversity in reforestation?
Reforestation can greatly improve biodiversity in a forest if it is done right. The trees we plant reflect what species have been present before. Disturbance events that make reforestation necessary often greatly shift the species composition of a place. That isn’t always a bad thing, for example it can provide more forage for herbivores. Forests, especially once they are mature, provide habitat for a whole range of species: from lichen to herbaceous species to cariboo. Many of our endangered species in Canada rely on forests as their habitat.
How do you develop and implement silvicultural practices to ensure successful tree growth?
We always start with our goals for the forest stand. Where do we want to be in 20, 50 or 100 years? We then develop a strategy to get there. It’s all about growing the right tree in the right place. The right mix of tree species and the right genetics make all the difference and ensure the trees don’t just make it through the first few years but grow up into an ecologically functional forest. That can sometimes mean we need to do site treatments before or we may need to plan for interventions afterwards. And then it’s important to come back and check that all our planning worked out and to see if we may need to do additional interventions. Additionally, all professional work in forests is regulated in Canada (and in most countries). This means we have to follow federal and provincial legislation when planning and implementing our projects.
How do you measure the effectiveness and success of reforestation projects?
This comes back to our monitoring program. We regularly visit our project sites after reforesting them to ensure their success. We sample seedling density with temporary plots which allows us to find out which species are where, to calculate seedling densities per hectare and also to map out which areas are doing well and which may be struggling. This, along with photo monitoring and other metrics help inform how the restoration is progressing. Many jurisdictions also have regulations around when a reforestation can be declared successfully reforested and many funding partners have their own requirements.
What inspired you to work in silviculture and forestry?
I think originally I decided to study forestry just because I liked the idea of working outside, in the ‘wild’ places most people only get to on their summer camping trips. While wood products and timber harvest are fantastic fields, I was more drawn towards ecological restoration and the humbling experience of working with nature to recover ecosystems from human impact. It’s a lifelong learning process and every time I see a new forest stand I learn something new.
What’s your favourite tree species?
It’s got to be a pine, but it’s hard to narrow it down to a single species. Pines are able to grow from the driest to the wettest climates and are really great at thriving where most other trees can’t survive. They often grow in cool gnarly shapes and pine needles smell amazing!
Stay tuned as we highlight some amazing updates from each of our departments over the next few weeks!
