S C H I R P

Salal Cedar Hemlock Integrated Research Program

The objective of our research effort is twofold:

1. to determine the underlying causes of poor growth of regenerating western redcedar (Thuja plicata), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), amabilis fir (Abies amabilis) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) on cedar-hemlock cutovers invaded by salal (Gaultheria shallon) on the west coast of North America.
2. to establish the best operational means for improving productivity on these sites.

Analagous regeneration problems on Vaccinium sites at higher elevations have also been investigated.

SCHIRP has been supported by a variety of funding agencies including Forest Science Program, Forestry Innovation Investment, Forest Renewal BC, NSERC, South Moresby Replacement Fund, Forest Resource Development Agreements I and II. SCHIRP also received industrial support from Weyerhaeuser, Fletcher Challenge Canada and MacMillan Bloedel Ltd.

Partners include the University of British Columbia, Western Forest Products Inc., BC Ministry of Forests and Range, and the Canadian Forest Service.