A network of permanent ground and satellite-based monitoring plots is being established as part of the inventory program. These plots will be used to monitor forest growth and change to the forest over time.

The Permanent Monitoring Plot (PMP) Program provides baseline information on the state of the forest resource, and provides a mechanism for long term monitoring of change to forest and vegetation condition. The ground plot information complements a satellite based monitoring program. The information will help with timber supply planning and assessing sustainability of proposed land use and forest activities. The ground plot data will be critical for developing yield curves and site index curves, also used for timber supply planning and general forest management planning. The plot information will also be used for other purposes such as ground truthing forest inventory, satellite vegetation classifications, and ecosystem classification.

PMPs are fixed area plots permanently established in the forest and are intended to be measured periodically (every 10 years) indefinitely. Since the plots will be periodically re-measured, it enables the ability to derive accurate trend assessments over time and therefore contribute to the ability to monitor cumulative impact in the NWT.


Forest Growth

Forests are dynamic. Trees grow and die, and new ones grow to take their place. Work is done to understand how the forest changes across the NWT. The inventory program looks at forest growth rates, productivity, succession, and to tries determine current and potential volume of various forest types.

The information is used to make recommendations and decisions about harvest methods, sustainable harvest levels, appropriate reforestation techniques, and for general harvest planning. It may also be used to predict the rate of growth and regeneration of forest after fire or other disturbances such as seismic activity.

All regions harvest trees to some extent for fuel wood and building materials. In some northern communities, availability of fuel wood near the community is becoming a concern. Growth and yield information can help to plan community wood lots or identify areas where trees are best left for other uses such as habitat.

The PMPs described in the previous section are the basis for providing growth and yield information in the NWT. These plots will be used to monitor forest growth, yield and change to the forest resource over time.

WESBOGY

The NWT belongs to the WEstern BOreal Growth and Yield Cooperative, an informal group of agencies involved in forest growth, yield, inventory and planning in western Canada. The cooperative works to encourage member agencies to work in a coordinated fashion to improve the efficiency of their research and development efforts; facilitate data sharing; provide a forum for communications. The group may undertake to conduct or sponsor research projects as it sees fit and subject to availability of funds.

National Forest Inventory

The purpose of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) is to "…assess and monitor the extent, state and sustainable development of Canada's forests in a timely and accurate manner."

The Canadian Forest Inventory Committee (CFIC) has agreed on a set of 25 key attributes that will be reported in the NFI. Additional attributes may be added on a provincial or territorial basis. The NWT Permanent Monitoring Plot design was adopted from the NFI PMP design and therefore fulfils all of the objectives of the National Forest Inventory as well as providing information for other programs such as cumulative impact monitoring and growth and yield.

The NWT has committed to establishing ground plots and satellite plots as apart of the NFI.