Silviculture in conifer forest of

Bhutan.
 Silviculture ?

Science and art of cultivating forest crops (caring, tending,

harvesting) based on the study of the life history and general
characteristics of forest trees in combination with
specific site and social factors.

MANAGEMENT OF FOREST CROPS

Conifer forest:
Fir Forest

Hemlock dominated forest

Spruce forest dominated forest

Blue pine dominated forest

For the purpose of management, each forest type and each forest
site has to be looked at individually
Fir Forest; Management
Fir is a shade tolerant species, major competitors are
R. hodgsonii, Y. microphylla, A.racemosa and Betula
On sites with R. hodgsonii, select groups with presence
of a sapling bank.
On sites with Yushania or Arundinaria - reduction
of bamboo canopy through controlled grazing will help
regeneration. Make sure seeds are available soon after felling.
 Restrict the size of openings below
0.1 ha to avoid dominance of
bamboos and other competitors.
 Create oval-shaped openings perpendicular to the
slope for partial shading by the surrounding trees.
Direct sunlight dries up the seedbed (e.g. moss pads)

Proper felling direction, avoid damage to sapling and

poles as these will form future stand.
 Retain coarse woody debris for protection
from the animals. The debris also serves as
important seed bed once rotten.

Over sized trees should be retained to serve

as mother trees, wildlife habitat (e.g. Red
Panda and source of woody debris.

Follow management prescription strictly.

Hemlock Forest; Management:
Highly shade tolerant, regenerates best in small groups
(indirect sunlight). Opening size needs to be adjusted
according to site conditions.

On moist sites, without severe competition,

max. group opening of 0.35 ha. On drier sites
with bamboo and herbaceous
competition, create group size of 0.1 to 0.25 ha.
 Avoid damage to the existing groups of regeneration
during felling, directional felling is a must in this case.

Hemlock strongly depends on moisture in the

substrate, retain woody coarse debris (2 3m3)
and few over sized trees per opening to
maximize partial shading
Spruce Forest; Management:

Spruce is a intermediate shade intolerant species. Creating

large opening would be an option. Need to see the
competitors. Bamboos, Sambucus and Aconogonom are
serious competitors

Sites without competitors, maximum opening

size of 0.35 ha. can be created.
Incase of understory competitors, restrict the opening
size below 0.25 ha.
While felling avoid damage to the remaining stand.
Incase of damage, remove it immediately to
avoid bark beetle.
Do not create opening more than the prescribed size
Bigger opening attracts animals.
Follow sanitation prescription strictly
Blue pine Forest; Management:

Forms large stands of pure forests. Highly shade intolerant.

For mature stand (80 -90 years), create opening up to

0.35 ha. But make sure enough seed trees are left in the
surrounding (40% of surround trees blue pine).
Single tree selection is an option for local use.
In young stand, carry out thinning starting from crown
closure.
Moderate thinning (removal of 25% vol.) should be
carried out at least once in 10 years.
Thinning should not only concentrate on malformed and
damage trees. Elite trees should be favored by removing
immediate competitors.
Aim at creating well structured stand, avoid creating large
gaps in the canopy in young stands to avoid snow
damage.
In General
Follow management plan seriously.
Maintain prescribed distance between
openings and cable lines.
Avoid cable line radiating from one landing,
danger of interlocking and large opening.
Create parallel lines
Do not harvest in the intercorridor areas
until the next scheduled operation.
Tashi Delek