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British Columbia is currently in the midst of a Mountain Pine Beetle infestation that is unparalleled in Canadian history. The epidemic threatens to kill 80% of the mature pine within the interior of the province and has the potential to spread into the boreal forests of western and central Canada.
The Mountain Pine Beetle naturally exists in endemic populations within BC’s forests. It plays an important role in the life cycle of Lodgepole pine forests. The beetles typically attack older, weakened trees and together with fire, create disturbances which are naturally regenerated by Lodgepole pine.
Successful fire suppression over the last century has resulted in an abundance of mature pine susceptible to attack. Combined with recent favourable climate conditions (warm winters and hot dry summers) ideal conditions exist for the Mountain Pine Beetle to extend its natural range and for the beetle population to explode. The only known way the spread of the beetle will be stopped is through prolonged periods of very cold weather, a sustained period of -25 degrees Celsius in the early fall or late spring and – 40 degrees Celsius in the winter.
By March 2005, the Ministry of Forests estimated that the beetle had infested over 7 million ha (and area equivalent to the size of new Brunswick) and killed over 280 million m3 (a volume equivalent to 4 times the normal allowable annual cut of the province). Today the area of beetle attack ranges from Mackenzie in the north, to Princeton in the South, to Smithers in the west and Cranbrook in the east.
The forest industry has responded by salvaging as much beetle attacked timber as possible before it deteriorates. This has lead to increased economic activity in the form of timber harvesting, manufacturing and silviculture activities. In 10 to 15 years, however, timber supply issues will exist as replanted stands will not yet be ready for harvest.
Action is being taken by industry, governments, communities and other stakeholders on a number of fronts to mitigate the impact of the beetle attack in the short term, mid-term and long term:
- The provincial government has developed the Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan which provides a high level framework to direct provincial ministries and to assist coordination between government, industries and stakeholders. It sets out seven key objectives, each supported by a number of actions.
- An assistant Deputy Minster has been appointed to coordinate MPB activities across government
- Annual harvest levels have been increased in areas hardest hit by the beetle. This will facilitate the harvest of additional volume enabling the province to capture value before these trees deteriorate and to expedite the reforestation of infested areas. Emergency Bark Beetle Management Areas have been designated to enable government to expedited harvest approvals. This will enable industry to aggressively attack the beetle in outbreak areas by cutting trees before the beetles emerge and fly to green stands
- Research funded by the Canadian Forest Service and the BC Ministry of Forests is ongoing, assessing a wide range of beetle related issues including markets, product development, biology, stand dynamics, community impacts, wood properties, reforestation, biodiversity, hydrology, fuel management, as well as others.
- Community coalitions comprised of representatives from local governments, environmental groups and industry have been established to help forest dependent communities prepare and recover from Mountain Pine Beetle impacts. Funding from the provincial government has been allocated to enable these groups to develop economic diversification plans to help maintain community stability.
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For more information about the Mountain Pine Beetle go to:
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