Field Assessment Score Sheet

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Nova Scotia's Old Growth Forests
Field Assessment Score Sheet

PART I - Species and Age Criteria
> 30 % crown closure, > 50 % of basal area in climax species typical of the landscape and > 30 % of the basal area > 125 years old.	Old Growth Class 1
> 30 % crown closure, > 50 % of basal area in climax species typical of the landscape and > 30 % of the basal area > 80 years old.	Mature Climax Class 2
> 30 % crown closure, > 50 % of basal area in climax species typical of the landscape and > 30 % of the basal area < 80 years old.	Immature Climax Class 3
< 50 % of basal area in climax species typical of the landscape	Non-Climax Class 4

PART II - Stand Composition - Pick the highest score that applies in each category - Maximum total score = 100
1. Age of oldest 30 % of the basal area
60 - 80 years	Score 5 ____
81 - 100 years	Score 10 ____
101 - 125 years	Score 20 ____
126 - 175 years	Score 30 ____
> 175 years	Score 40 ____

2. Primal Forest Value
Extensive or recent logging evident	Score 0 _____
Light evidence of old partial logging	Score 5 - 10 _____
Past logging suspected but not evident	Score 10 - 15 _____
Past logging unlikely	Score 20 _____

3. Diameter of Living Trees
> 50 trees\ha have a diameter > 40 cm	Score 3 ____
> 70 trees\ha have a diameter > 40 cm	Score 6 ____
> 100 trees\ha have a diameter > 40 cm	Score 9 ____
> 20 trees\ha have a diameter > 50 cm	Score 12 ____
> 5 trees\ha have a diameter > 60 cm	Score 15 ____

4. Total Bole Length of Standing and Fallen Dead Trees
400 m with diameter > 20 cm	Score 3 ____
200 m with diameter > 30 cm	Score 5 ____
200 m with diameter > 40 cm	Score 10 ____
200 m with diameter > 50 cm	Score 15 ____

5. Overstory Crown Closure
Uniform closure with little light penetration	Score 2 ____
Uniform closure with a few small canopy openings (hardwood)	Score 5 ____
OR
Mosaic of different densities (softwoods and mixwoods)	Score 5 ____

6. Stand Structure
One Understory	Score 2 ____
Multiple layers in the understory	Score 5 ____

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