Quantifying Cumulative Effects of Machine Traffic and Slash Loading from Harvesting on Aspen Regeneration.

Harvesting aspen (Populus tremuloides) forests stimulates natural regeneration throughout the Canadian Boreal Region; however, the cumulative effects of machine traffic disturbance and heavy slash loading could reduce natural regeneration success. The objective therefore was to quantify cumulative harvesting effects on a block level using field and aerial measurements in Duck Mountain Provincial Park, Saskatchewan. Using global position systems (GPS) and geographic information system (GIS) technology, machine traffic patterns were delineated into six disturbance classes based on the number of passes. Slash cover was quantified into four percent coverage classes from aerial images collected with an unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV). Aspen regeneration plots were established for a range of traffic patterns and slash loadings to measure stocking density, root collar diameter, height, and leaf area index. Multispectral images from UAVs were used to assess aspen regeneration at the block level in relation to slash loadings and machine traffic patterns. This presentation will discuss the relationships between traffic patterns, slash loadings and aspen regeneration.