The development of British Columbia's tree seed transfer guidelines: Purpose, concept, methodology, and implementation

The development of forest tree seed transfer research, guidelines, regulations and policy has a long history in Canada, as well as in many other parts of the world. While the implicit assumptions of what is involved in developing seed transfer limits, guidelines and policy are generally accepted, the scientific and biological processes that underpin their validity are not readily available to most foresters. We provide an overview of the historical and current technical approaches to the development of seed transfer in British Columbia, and the overall framework which incorporates key biological, statistical and administrative issues in regulating the movement of forest tree seed. An example of how seed transfer information is developed from field experiments to guidelines or limits is provided from the lodgepole pine provenance tests in BC. Seed transfer research as it relates to the movement of wild or seed orchard seed will need to factor in the complications being predicted with climate change. As such, seed transfer research will continue to evolve as field experiments mature, new tests are established, statistical approaches and geographic information systems improve, and climate prediction tools attain greater resolution.