Forest Genetics Section

Overview

Concerted reforestation efforts in British Columbia began in the 1950s. At that time foresters realized that, like our crop species, second growth forests could benefit from selecting desirable individuals from the wild. A successful tree breeding and improvement program reduced plantation failures and realized economic gains in tree growth and product quality.

Today, managing and conserving forest genetic resources are essential components of forest stewardship, contributing to B.C.’s position in a globally competitive forest industry. The Ministry of Forests and Range Forest Genetics research program includes not only tree improvement, but a wide range of initiatives related to genetic conservation, genetic resources management, and identifying and developing mitigation strategies for climate change impacts.

Our research program in forest genetics and tree breeding is a model for Canada, and attracts national and international interest due to its long history of success in a wide variety of species and traits, as well as the active and wide-ranging array of research projects. The Forest Genetics program is structured into four key areas:

  1. Tree Breeding and Improvement—Traditional selection, testing and breeding of native tree species.

  2. Genetic Conservation—Undertaking both theoretical research and using practical applications to maintain adaptive genetic variation in forest tree populations.

  3. Seed Transfer and Climate Change—Conducting research on genecology (the relationships between patterns of adaptive genetic variation and ecological variation) to help refine seed transfer guidelines, and using this knowledge to assess and help forests adapt to the impacts of climate change.

  4. Supporting research projects—These projects assist with the delivery and most effective utilization of selected and advanced-generation material from the breeding programs. Topics supporting these initiatives include physiology, genetic worth, and timber supply. Projects supporting better testing approaches include improving experimental design efficiency and statistical analysis methods. Other projects contribute to further technical developments in the field, such as biotechnology and molecular genetics. We also have programs advancing other important issues such as seed and cone pest concerns. Top

The Forest Genetics Section operates two Research Stations located at Cowichan Lake (Vancouver Island) and Kalamalka Lake (Vernon), and a Research Laboratory at Victoria. Forest Genetics staff currently consists of a team of 13 research scientists, a research station manager, and 21 technical and administrative staff based at Research Branch Victoria headquarters, the Laboratory, and the two Research Stations.

Forest genetics research is supporting a wide range of MFR initiatives, including:

  • developing climate models for analyzing the effectiveness now and in the future for genetic conservation strategies

  • optimizing the design of seed planning zones across space and time under future climate-change scenarios in support of the Future Forest Ecosystems Initiative

  • implementing the Forest and Range Practices Act through developing and refining the Chief Forester’s Standards for Seed Use

  • improving the accuracy of Timber Supply Analyses by building genetic worth into stand development models such as TASS and TIPSY

  • successful programs for selecting and breeding resistance to pests and diseases, including white pine blister rust, shoot tip weevil, and emerging initiatives with the mountain pine beetle

  • research on the biology and control of cone and seed pests

  • maximizing value from the working forest of B.C. by providing a sustainable supply of fast-growing, high quality seedlings that are adapted to site conditions

  • Advancing current developments in reforestation using broadleaved species, which mitigate risk by enhancing diversity and also support important habitat values

  • Using multi-trait selection to capture value for growth traits and wood quality

  • implementing new technologies such as molecular genetics and genomics, non-destructive wood quality assays, and advanced pollen management techniques to build partnerships with other agencies and make more rapid advancements in tree improvement. Top

New and Notable

  • Established a provincially mandated cone and seed pest research program, including an office, laboratory, and five research projects. These projects are highly collaborative in nature, and represent the first dedicated seed and cone pest research program in British Columbia. More

  • Forest Tree Genetic Resource Conservation and Management Challenge Dialogue, Co-chair—Facilitating a dialogue with stakeholders to create a collective vision and strategy for genetic resource conservation and management to support sustainable forest management in British Columbia, congruent to the range of values outlined in the Provincial Chief Forester’s Sustainable Forest Management framework. More

  • Initiated a new study to develop western redcedar seedlings that are more resistant to deer browsing. Plant secondary metabolites, such as monoterpenes, have been demonstrated to affect deer preference. This research has significant reforestation implications, perhaps leading to the prevention of delayed regeneration, reduced plantation failures and reduced economic and environmental costs of protection.

  • Recent work has shown there is significant genetic variation of traits related to resistance to the mountain pine beetle.  

  • Completed novel spatial analyses to account for multi-site environmental variability to estimate more accurate genetic parameters such as breeding values for western hemlock.Top

Collaboration

  • We play an active role in the Forest Genetics Council of B.C. (FGC), the agency that administers and tracks forest genetics resource management in B.C. The FGC facilitates communication and co-ordination among the various activities and agencies involved in tree breeding, gene conservation, seed orchard development, and policy development in British Columbia.

  • We collaborate with MFR Tree Improvement Branch, which is responsible for seed use related policy, planning and registration, and the Provincial Tree Seed Centre at Surrey, B.C.

  • Our researchers team up with others in Research Branch, for example in Growth & Yield, to quantify the benefits of tree improvement in second-growth forests.

  • Our scientists actively collaborate with a wide range of researchers at universities throughout B.C., the Pacific Northwest, and internationally in various research projects, including designing applications to optimize selection efficiency, testing herbivore resistance, genomics of defense biochemistry, and the evolution of pathogen and pest resistance.

  • The Genetic Conservation program has actively supported projects of the UBC Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics.

  • The Canadian Forestry Service – Pacific Forestry Station has a long-standing partnership with the Forest Genetics program in a number of projects, especially those with entomology and pathology aspects.

  • Many of our researchers are active members in committees of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), which fosters international cooperation and extension, providing opportunities for research and sharing information at conferences and meetings.

  • Scientists in the Forest Genetics program collaborate with tree improvement specialists internationally in governments, agencies, and academia to share their expertise, and to strengthen existing partnerships.

Ministry contact: Alvin Yanchuk
Please direct questions regarding webpage to For.Prodres@gov.bc.ca
Updated June 2009