Climate-Based Seed Transfer
Interim Policy Measures
Ministry of Forests and Range
August 8, 2008
The following note is intended for forest professionals, cone collectors, seed orchard managers, stock coordinators, seed planners, nurseries, and all persons with an interest in tree seed and its use.
Consideration is being given to amending the Chief Forester’s Standards for Seed Use http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/code/cfstandards/ this fall.
Changes to seed transfer limits are required to address potential forest health and productivity impacts associated with climate and to guide the appropriate selection and deployment of tree seed. Changes to seed transfer support the objectives of the ministry's Future Forest Ecosystem Initiative (FFEI) http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/Climate_Change/.
Work is currently underway to develop a climate-based seed transfer model and system to be implemented within the next three to five years.
In the interim, changes to the existing seed transfer standards, based on recent developments in climate modelling and analyses of existing progeny tests and genecology studies, are also being considered.
Tree Improvement Branch and Research Branch (Forest Genetics Section) are leading these projects, working in collaboration with other ministry departments, the Forest Genetics Council of BC (FGC), universities and others.
The scope of interim changes being considered for this fall include expansion of the transfer limits for seed from natural stands and seed orchards. Specifically, the upward expansion of elevational limits for several tree species. Amendments (i.e. tweaks) to existing seed planning zones (SPZ) boundaries and transfer of seed between SPZs are also being considered. These interim changes are expected to increase seed deployment options - not restrict them.
The proposed changes will be vetted through the FGC's technical advisory committees and the Provincial FRPA Implementation Team (PFIT) beginning this September/October. We are also aware that persons start to enter seedling requests for the 2009 sowing year in SPAR in September and would therefore benefit in knowing the specifics of the proposed changes ASAP.
We anticipate the chief forester will be prepared to amend the standards in November 2008 (or earlier) with an effective date of April 1, 2009 - which follows the required 4-month notification period and corresponds with the beginning of the next fiscal reporting period. Persons with reforestation obligations can, however, waive this notification period in accordance with the provisions of FRPA s. 169.
For more details regarding the process for developing and implementing these interim changes, please refer to the following project plan: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hti/climate_change/projectplan.htm
In parallel with these interim measures, we will continue to develop a climate-based seed transfer system to replace our existing set of rules and SPZs. The objective of this longer-term work is to enable the identification of species and seedlots best adapted to a given site for the longer portion of the site’s future predicted climate. In doing so, Research Branch scientists are seeking to better understand adaptation of specific breeding populations. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/forgen/seedtransfer/seedtransfer.htm
Persons with reforestation obligations should therefore take future amendments to the seed transfer standards into consideration when estimating their future seed needs and investing in cone collections and seed procurement.
Updates on progress - both interim and longer-term changes to seed transfer - will be posted periodically at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hti/climate_change/index.htm
For more information please contact:
Lee Charleson, RPF
Seed Policy Officer
Tree Improvement Branch
Ministry of Forests and Range
ph (250) 387-4839
Email:Lee.Charleson@gov.bc.ca
