Research Branch Staff Publications

Seed source selection and deployment to address adaptation to future climates for interior spruce in western Canada.

Citation:

Yanchuk, A.D. and O'Neill, G.A. 2006. Seed source selection and deployment to address adaptation to future climates for interior spruce in western Canada. Final report to the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Directorate Project A644. Victoria, BC. Research Branch, BC Ministry of Forests and Range. pp. 1-8.

Abstract:

Climate change is already signficantly affecting the health and productivity of Canada’s forests. Planted forests that are adapted to today’s climate will be maladapted when they are harvested in 60-80 years. However, if seedlots for reforestation are selected so as to maximize their adaptation over the duration of their rotation, productivity of Canada’s forests could be enhanced by capitalizing on increased future temperatures. To ensure that the most economically important tree crop planted in Canada - interior spruce (white and engelmann spruce and their hybrids) - is adapted to future climates, forest scientists from western North America have initiated a long-term project that will act as a cornerstone to the genetic resource management of interior spruce in western North America, and as a model for other species and regions.

Wild and domesticated interior spruce seedlots from 128 locations encompassing the climatic and latitudinal range of interior spruce in western North America have been carefully selected, grown, and planted in genetic tests in 18 disparate environments in BC, Alberta and the Yukon. The identity of each of the 73 728 trees planted in the tests has been mapped and recorded, and the test sites will be carefully maintained each year. Researchers will return to gather data on the growth, health and form of the trees, beginning at age 5. The data will be used to describe geographic and climatic tolerances of each seedlot, and to develop a seed deployment strategy that will maximize the health and economic value of interior spruce plantations in future climates. ‘Key’ funding to initiate this critical project, among the largest in North America, was provided by the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Directorate. The project brought together for the first time, four agencies (Research Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Alberta Forest Service, Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, and the USDA Forest Service) in an innovative project that will capitalize on advances in climate modelling, geographic information systems and ecological modelling to provide tools that will help maintain the health and productivity of Canada’s forests in a changing climate.

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