British Columbia’s Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan 2005–2010

Introduction

British Columbia is currently experiencing the largest recorded mountain pine beetle outbreak in North America. This forest health epidemic is a catastrophic natural disaster and is causing widespread mortality of lodgepole pine, the Interior’s most abundant commercial tree species. The epidemic puts forest values at risk and threatens the stability and long-term economic well-being of many communities. This plan builds on the Action Plans developed and implemented by the government over the past three years. During that time the epidemic has spread, and is no longer just a forestry problem. Therefore, this plan provides a broader, longer term approach involving all appropriate government ministries. It provides an overview of the Province’s response. It sets out objectives and actions aimed at mitigating the social, economic and environmental consequences of this widespread forest damage now and in the future.

The province’s total inventory of mature lodgepole pine (at least 80 years old) is approximately 1 billion cubic metres. Mountain pine beetles have reached epidemic levels several times over the last century in B.C., however past outbreaks were generally confined to limited geographic areas and were typically curtailed by cold weather. The current beetle epidemic has now killed approximately 283 million cubic metres of timber, with an annual red attack coverage of 7 million hectares in the central and southern interior of British Columbia. The outbreak continues to kill mature pine trees in the Central Interior and is well established in the Thompson-Okanagan and Kootenay regions. Infestations are now appearing in the Peace River Region. Only if a period of extremely cold weather (e.g. -20C in the fall or -40C in late winter) occurs throughout the affected area can the epidemic be stopped. As a result, it is likely the epidemic will only be over once it has infested most of the mature pine in B.C. Ministry of Forests modeling data¹ predict that at the current rate of spread, 50 per cent of the mature pine will be dead by 2008 and 80 per cent by 2013.

¹See Ministry of Forests Documents: Provincial Level Projection of Current Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreak and Expedited Timber Supply Review for the Lakes, Prince George and Quesnel Timber Supply Areas.

In the short term, the epidemic is expected to create an increase in economic activity as the timber harvest levels are increased to use dead trees before they decay and lose their commercial value. This short-term surplus of harvestable fiber will be followed by a significant reduction in the cut as the epidemic runs its course and dead trees reach the end of their economic usefulness. The loss of future fiber supply presents a very significant challenge to the communities affected and the province as a whole. About 25 per cent-30 per cent of the province’s timber harvesting land base is pine. In a large portion of the interior regions pine makes up over 50 per cent of the harvestable timber.

Mitigating the impacts of the epidemic goes well beyond forestry activities or the scope of any one ministry. It is a key priority of the provincial government. This plan provides a framework to guide all provincial ministries and agencies, and to assist communities, First Nations and other stakeholders to understand and carry out what must be done. It is based on the best science and information available today, but will be reviewed annually and updated to reflect new knowledge and changing circumstances. Implementation of the objectives and actions outlined will require a concerted effort, including cooperation and resources from all levels of governments, the forest industry and others.

A significant challenge is to address this epidemic in a manner that captures the best economic value of beetle-killed forests while respecting the other values and resource objectives identified in land use plans. Equally important is to begin implementing measures that will help communities deal with the potential economic and social impacts.

The objectives and actions described in this plan are based on a large body of work done by government ministries, and on input received from a wide range of stakeholders.

Additional information is available on the provincial government’s Mountain Pine Beetle Web site, which will be updated as new research and new information becomes available.

Overall Goal

The Province’s overall goal for this plan is to sustain long-term community, economic and environmental well-being while dealing with the short-term consequences of the epidemic.

Objectives

These objectives provide an overview of the Province’s measures to mitigate the impacts of the epidemic on forests and communities. Provincial government ministries and agencies are expected to work within these objectives to establish specific objectives consistent with their respective mandates. Others, including the federal government, communities, First Nations and industries will be encouraged to participate in planning and implementation.

The Province recognizes that responding to this unprecedented situation is complex, dynamic and involves many competing interests. It will be necessary to conduct a continuing dialogue amongst stakeholders during implementation, and to update and add to these objectives when appropriate.

Seven broad objectives have been adopted to guide the Province’s activities:

1. Encourage long-term economic sustainability for communities affected by the epidemic.
2. Maintain and protect public health, safety and infrastructure.
3. Recover the greatest value from dead timber before it burns or decays, while respecting other forest values.
4. Conserve the long-term forest values identified in land use plans.
5. Prevent or reduce damage to forests in areas that are susceptible but not yet experiencing epidemic infestations.
6. Restore the forest resources in areas affected by the epidemic.
7. Maintain a project management structure that ensures co-ordinated and effective planning and implementation of mitigation measures.

The key actions necessary to implement these objectives are identified on the following pages. Some actions are identified as taking place over the next five years, whereas others are scheduled to be done within the first year. Additional background and technical information can be found in the background and reference papers listed at the back of this plan.

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