P

Partial cutting: refers generically to forest stand harvesting entries, under any of the several silvicultural systems, to cut selected trees and leave desirable trees for various stand objectives. Partial cutting includes harvest methods used for seed tree, shelterwood, selection, and clearcutting with reserves systems.

Patch: a stand of similar-aged forest that differs in age from adjacent patches by more than 20 years. When using the term patch in designing landscape patterns it refers to the size of either natural disturbance openings which led to even-aged forests or those openings created by cutblocks.

Patch-cut silvicultural system: a silvicultural system that creates openings less than one hectare in size and is designed to manage each opening as a distinct even-aged opening.

Planning: organized preparation for purposeful action. Planning involves examining a situation, working out what is desired (goals, objectives, policies), exploring, analyzing and evaluating options, and devising a course of action (procedures, strategies).

Planning horizon: the time period which will be considered in the planning process.

Planning term: the term of the actual plan before it must be updated.

Polygon: a closed geometric entity used to graphically represent area features with associated attributes.

Potential natural community: the biotic community that would become established on an ecological site if all successional sequences were completed without interferences by humans under present environmental conditions. Natural disturbances are inherent in its development. It may include acclimatized or naturalized non-native species.

Pre-harvest silviculture prescription (PHSP): a document that applied site-specific field data and developed silviculture practices for areas in advance of logging. Replaced under the forest practices code by silviculture prescriptions.

Primary range: areas which livestock prefer to use when management is limited. Primary range will be overused before secondary range is fully used.

Protected area: a designation for areas of land and water set aside to protect natural heritage, cultural heritage or recreational values (may include national park, provincial park, or ecological reserve designations).

Protected Areas Strategy (PAS): the Provincial government strategy in place to meet BC's commitment to develop and expand the protected areas system to protect 12 percent of the province by the year 2000. The goals of the strategy are to protect viable, representative examples of natural diversity in the province, and special natural, recreational and cultural heritage features.

Provincial forest: Crown forest land designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council under Section 5 of the Forest Act.