UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER IT'S NOT - Dr. Seuss
In the study area, many stands were found to be at risk from catastrophic wildfire due to fuel build-up, and to forest ingrowth internally, and in adjacent forests. The subclasses of mature forest that can be mapped are critical structural attributes including some remaining large old trees habitat for many species buffers and connectivity between other ecosystems opportunities for restoration into Old Forest ecosystems
Mature Forest ecosystems are dominated by mature trees,; but excludes mature riparian forests, mature coniferous and broadleaf woodlands. The mature forest types that can be mapped are Mature Coniferous (MF:co), Mature Broadleaf (MF:bd) and Mature Mixed (MF:mx). Mature forests are an important buffer to sensitive ecosystems. They provide some of the same values associated with Old Forest ecosystems and can also be important recruitment sites for old forests. Mature Forest ecosystems have many important structural attributes, including some remaining large, old trees. These stands typically have a history of selective logging and have forest ingrowth, but the mature and old trees they contain are structurally important for wildlife. Mature forest sites provide excellent buffers for old forests and have good potential for restoration to historical stand structure.
Mature Forest
Some Species at Risk found in Mature Forest Ecosystems are: Lyall’s Mariposa Lily, Wolverine. Fisher Williamson’s Sapsucker, and Olive-sided Flycatcher
Subtypes of Mature Forests
Mature forests were divided into three sub-types: coniferous, mixed and broadleaf.
Coniferous Mature Forest
Coniferous mature forests are dominated by ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. They are the most common type of mature forest ecosystem in the study area. These forests occur on sites with a wide range of ecological conditions. Typically, drier sites have ponderosa pine with some Douglas-fir in the overstory, and bunchgrasses and scattered shrubs in the understory. Slightly moister sites often have a mixed Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine overstory, and pinegrass with some bunchgrasses and shrubs in the understory.
Mixed Mature Forest
Mixed mature forests have a mixture of both coniferous tree species, including Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine, and broadleaf tree species, including trembling aspen and paper birch. These ecosystems occur on moister sites than coniferous mature forest ecosystems and have shrubby understories with scattered grasses and forbs.
Broadleaf Mature Forest
Broadleaf mature forest ecosystems have broadleaf tree species in the overstory including trembling aspen and paper birch. These ecosystems occur in moister sites than coniferous mature forest ecosystems and have shrubby understories.
Information on Mature Forest Ecosystems from the BC Ministry of Environment- Central Okanagan Mature Forest Ecosystem - Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory
Wildlife
