Permanent Growth Plot (PGP) Description
A Permanent Growth Plot (PGP) is a circular 400m2 plot in which is nested a 100m2 Forest Ecosystem Classification (FEC) plot, and a 25m2 regeneration subplot. The PGP is a single growth plot that is directly correlated with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Boreal Region Growth and Yield Permanent Sample Plot (PSP) system.
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Establishment and measurement of PGPs is carried out according to the protocols described in the "Forest Co-op Field Manual for the Location and Measurement of Permanent Growth Plots".
Information collected in the measurement of a PGP includes the following:
Plot Level Information
- Plot location information (UTM co-ordinates)
- Vegetation classification
- Soils information
- Ecosite classification
- Plot photographs
- Stand history (natural disturbance, silvicultural treatments)
Tree Level Information
- Species
- Origin (natural, planted, coppice, layer etc.)
- Status (live, dead, veteran, cut etc.)
- Diameter - breast height
- Crown class (live trees), decay class (dead trees) or quality class (in GLSL)
- Tree deformities
- Heights (sub-sample by species and crown class)
- Ages (sub-sample by species, taken outside plot)
- Stand structure (single, double, complex etc.)
- Regeneration (species and count)
- Coarse Woody Debris (species, size, length, decay class)