|
Is the mountain pine beetle
new to British Columbia?
No. Lodgepole pine and the
mountain pine beetle have always co-existed as a natural part of the
ecosystem in British Columbia’s interior forests.
|
 |
|
|
Why is British Columbia in
the midst of a mountain pine beetle epidemic?
Forests of mature lodgepole pine
are prime habitat for the mountain pine beetle. The beetle also thrives
under warm weather conditions. The interior of British Columbia has an
abundance of mature lodgepole pine, and has experienced several
consecutive mild winters and drought-like summers. Beetle populations in
many parts of interior B.C. have increased to epidemic levels as a
result.
|
|
|
|
|
How exactly does the mountain
pine beetle kill trees?
Beetles attack pine trees by
laying eggs under the bark. When the eggs hatch, the larvae mine the
phloem area beneath the bark and eventually cut off the tree’s supply of
nutrients.
The beetles also carry a fungus
that causes dehydration and inhibits a tree’s natural defences against
beetle attacks. The fungi stains the wood blue or grey. Despite the
discoloration, the wood remains as structurally sound as unattacked pine
and can still be used for high-quality products.
|
|
|
|
|
Does the mountain pine beetle
have natural predators?
Birds - particularly woodpeckers
- enjoy feasting on mountain pine beetles. Beetle larvae can also be
susceptible to some parasites and insect predators. However, the current
epidemic is far beyond the level at which the beetle’s natural enemies
can be much help in B.C.’s battle against the beetle.
|
|
|
|
|
How is B.C.’s beetle epidemic
being addressed?
The beetle battle is being fought on many fronts. The Province of
British Columbia has a multi-faceted action plan to deal with the
short-term consequences of the epidemic, while also working to
sustain the well-being of the economy, environment and communities
over the long term.
British Columbia's Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan for 2006-2011
guides provincial responses and helps coordinate all levels of
government, communities, First Nations, industries and other
stakeholders working to mitigate impacts of the epidemic.
|
|
|
|
|
What is the current size of
British Columbia’s mountain pine beetle infestation?
The Ministry of Forests and Range estimates that as of 2007 the
cumulative area of provincial Crown forest affected to some degree
(red-attack and grey-attack) was about 13.5 million hectares.
Red-attack and grey-attack are stages of infestation. Trees turn
red after the first year of attack. In the following year, the trees generally turn
grey.
|
|
|
|
|
Does beetle-attack increase
the possibility of wildfire?
Large areas of dead pine stands represent a potential fire
hazard. The Province is directing fuel management activities in
beetle areas as recommended in Filmon’s Firestorm Provincial Review
report. Harvesting affected stands aids fire management by removing
the hazard and breaking the continuity of the fuels.
These fuel management treatments are specifically designed to
reduce interface fire threats to communities and First Nations
located in the infestation zone. The interface is the area where
urban development and wilderness meet.
|
|
|
|
|
What will be done with all
this beetle-attacked timber?
Not all of the beetle timber has
to be logged today. The timber is expected to retain its commercial
value anywhere from five to 18 years after attack (depending on local
site conditions). Research and "shelf-life" modelling continues to be
conducted to help determine priority areas where more immediate
harvesting is required to recover economic value.
|
|
|
|
|
What new and existing markets
are there for beetle-attacked timber?
Beetle-attacked timber can be used for anything from standard
framing lumber, to value-added wood products, to energy generation.
The beetle-transmitted blue stain has no practical effect on
strength properties, gluing characteristics or adhesion of furniture
finishes.
|
|
|
|
|
What does the current beetle
epidemic mean to future timber supplies?
Allowable annual cuts have been increased as an emergency measure
for salvaging or recovering the greatest value possible from
beetle-attacked timber. The temporary increases have resulted in a
surge in harvesting activity in some areas of the central Interior.
However, significant reductions to these allowable annual cuts are
inevitable as timber supplies decline and the epidemic finishes
running its course.
|
|
|
|
|
How are communities being prepared to deal with the
falldown in timber supply?
The $185-million Northern Development Initiative Trust (with $32
million set aside specifically for mountain pine beetle recovery
projects) and the $50-million Southern Interior Development
Initiative Trust have been set up to give communities the ability to
pursue new opportunities for stimulating economic growth and job
creation.
Many forest-dependent communities, through regional groups such
as the Cariboo-Chilcotin, Omineca, and Southern Interior beetle
action coalitions, have already begun planning around a transition
stage for diversifying and building long-term economic
sustainability.
|
|
|
|
|
Is the mountain pine beetle a
threat to other provinces?
Scientists believe the mountain pine beetle is a tangible threat
to other provinces as jackpine, found across the prairies and
eastern Canada, is a potential host species for the beetle if
predicted climate change expands the range of the beetle.
|
|
|
|
|
How is reforestation and
rehabilitation being handled?
Licensees – including BC Timber
Sales – are legally responsible to reforest any area that they harvest.
The most productive growing sites are identified to ensure a return to
fully stocked, free-growing timberlands as quickly as possible.
British Columbia has also committed $161 million to
Forests for Tomorrow – the reforestation plan designed to speed the recovery of forest values
in areas affected by the mountain pine beetle. Site surveys and
mapping, creating better growing conditions, and research into
preventing future infestations are just some of the work being done
through the Forests for Tomorrow program.
Not all infested areas will be
harvested, but they may need to be rehabilitated to restore forest
ecosystem productivity. Discussions with various stakeholders and other
government agencies are ongoing to ensure that any rehabilitation
efforts are part of overall, long-term planning.
|
|
|
|
|
What about conservation of
land use plans?
Some land use plans may need to
be revisited, since the current extent of the mountain pine beetle
infestation was not envisioned when those land use plans were approved.
Some harvesting of beetle-infested trees may need to occur in order to
reduce wildfire risks and ensure the values identified in the land use
plans are protected as much as possible.
|
|
|
|
|
What management techniques
are used to control beetles?
In addition to harvesting at the leading edges of what is known
as “green attack,” a variety of other techniques can be used to
manage infestations on a smaller scale. These techniques include:
- Pheromone baiting - luring beetles into
trees that have been ‘baited’ with a synthetic hormone that mimics the
scent of a female beetle. Beetles can then be contained in a single
area, where they can more easily be destroyed.
- Sanitation harvesting - removing single
infested trees to control the spread of beetle populations to other
areas.
- Snip and skid - removing groups of
infested trees that are scattered over a large area.
- Controlled, or mosaic, burns - burning
an area where infested trees are concentrated, to reduce high beetle
infestations in the area or to help reduce the fire hazard in an area.
- Fall and burn - cutting (felling) and
burning beetle-infested trees to prevent the spread of beetle
populations to other areas. This is usually done in winter, to reduce
the risk of starting forest fires.
|
|
|
|
|
How is the mountain pine
beetle managed in provincial protected areas?
BC Parks' conservation web site
addresses some of the more common enquiries about the management of
mountain pine beetle in provincial protected areas.
|
|
|
|
|
What can I do to try and
protect my private property against the mountain pine beetle?
It's important for private landowners with mature pine stands to
be vigilant against the mountain pine beetle, and aware of what an
infested tree looks like. If the beetle is present in their timber,
property owners have several options available for attempting to
limit the spread of the beetle across their land. For a list of
mountain pine beetle signs and indicators, and what private
landowners can do to fight back, see the
Mountain Pine Beetle in B.C. brochure
on the Ministry of Forests and Range web site.
last updated: February 2008
|
