Lumber Yields and Values from Dead, Standing Alpine Fir

An interim classification system used by the British Columbia Forest Service (BCFS) for dead, standing alpine fir recognizes two groups: 1) trees with broken tops, or with tops broken at a point in the stem smaller than 4.0 inches DIB and with no conks visible; and 2) trees with tops broken at a point in the stem larger than 4.0 inches DIB. Trees in group 1 are considered to have wood product potential, whereas those in group 2 are considered useless. Group 1 is further divided into two quality groups, with the better being considered suitable for lumber manufacture, and the other suitable only for the manufacture of chips for pulping. Recovery studies of both these quality groups indicated that the classification system performed adequately in distinguishing lumber quality. Average lumber yields in the first quality class were 39 percent greater than in the second class; product values per unit of logs were 32 percent greater, based on BC Firmwood Cubic Scale. However, the values recovered indicate that only the largest diameter at breast height classes of the better quality group are likely to yield positive conversion returns at current costs and prices. Thus, unless there is a real scarcity of fiber, this potential source of additional supply would not appear to be economically recoverable.

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