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The Province began its first complete inventory program
in the 1960's. It encompassed all of the Island portion of Newfoundland
and all of Labrador as far north as the 56th parallel. The program evolved over
the years from a timber inventory to a broader ecosystem inventory, but the
underlying focus of providing sound statistical information to ensure
sustainable management has remained.
The current Forest Inventory Program in the Province is funded
through a cost sharing arrangement between the two pulp and paper companies and
the Crown. The program is carried out on a continuous cycle with 10 % of the
Province being inventoried in each year. The inventory process is as follows:
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colour aerial photographs are flown by
fixed wing aircraft each year in selected locations throughout the Province.
Each photograph partially overlaps the coverage of the previous photo so that
interpreters can view ground features in 3-dimensions (3-D). To facilitate this
3-D viewing, an interpreter uses a stereoscope which allows him/her to define
the height, species, age, and productivity of the forests. The information
derived from photographs is verified and supplemented by measuring a series of
ground plots. These ground plots also supply information on wildlife habitat and
abundance, timber volumes, soils, ground vegetation, etc.
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The next step in the inventory process
is converting the boundaries and information created by the interpreter on the
photographs into digital format. This is done by cartographic technicians who
trace the boundaries with an electronic mouse and store the information in a
Geographic Information System (GIS).
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After the information has been loaded into
the GIS, planners use it to produce theme maps of forest landscapes for planning
and other information needs. The information is also used with computer models to
determine the Annual Allowable Cuts (AACs) and impacts of fibre management
practices on other resource values.
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Step 1: Plot Sampling |
Step 2: Aerial Photography |
Step 3: Photo interpretation using stereoscope |
Step 4: Tracing boundaries from photo |
Step 5: output from traced photo |
Step 6: Computer Model |
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