Mountain Pine Beetle Management in Alberta

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2 Mountain Pine Beetle Management in Alberta The mountain pine beetle (MPB) is the most destructive native insect pest of mature lodgepole pine forests in western North America. British Columbia is currently in the midst of the largest documented mountain pine beetle epidemic in the province's history. Alberta is also experiencing an unprecedented expansion of MPB populations into the pine forests along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains that could expand east to the boreal forest. The natural range of MPB is expanding and Alberta is experiencing infestations in areas where they have not historically occurred. The expansion of the range is due to the overabundance of mature lodgepole pine in Alberta, combined with the influx of MPB from British Columbia and recent weather patterns (milder winters and warm, dry summers) that are favourable for MPB development and spread. Timing is critical to effectively control a MPB infestation. Early detection is key as treatment of the infested trees at the outset of an infestation is the only proven control method. If an infestation is not controlled early, the result may be a widespread and disastrous epidemic such as British Columbia is experiencing. Alberta is working to reduce the susceptibility of pine forests before MPB arrive. Removing the susceptible prime brood producing stands will help mitigate the MPB population establishment, growth and spread. Slowing the progress of the population will assist with direct control efforts. The goal of Alberta s mountain pine beetle management action is to mitigate the effects of mountain pine beetle (MPB) on the social, environmental and economic values of Alberta s forests. This will be achieved through aggressive control of infested trees, a reduction in the overall susceptibility of Alberta s forests and, in the case of a major outbreak, recovery of dead and dying trees before the fibre is lost. There are seven key objectives to achieving this goal: 1 Effectively detect, accurately survey and aggressively control infested trees. 2 Reduce the number of highly susceptible stands 3 Minimize the impact of a major outbreak. 4 Establish SRD policies and procedures to facilitate efficient and timely MPB management. 5 Conserve all of the long-term forest values and maintain and protect public health, safety and infrastructure. 6 Maintain a project management structure that ensures effective planning and implementation of mitigation measures among all land managers and adjacent jurisdictions. 7 Communicate to all clients and stakeholders.

3 {Overview of MPB Control Strategy This document clearly identifies the management authority by land tenure and describes the three management strategies: CONTROL The control (beetle) strategy focuses on treatment of infested trees. PREVENTION The prevention (pine) strategy addresses the need to reduce the overall susceptibility of the pine forest. SALVAGE The salvage strategy mitigates impacts if a large-scale outbreak occurs. Land Categories There are four categories of land under consideration: 1 British Columbia Alberta and British Columbia are co-operating in an effort to control MPB outbreaks in areas adjacent to the Alberta border. 2 National Parks There are several national parks situated between B.C. and Alberta (Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay) that contain pine stands susceptible to MPB. Alberta, British Columbia and Parks Canada co-ordinate actions through regular meetings. 3 Alberta municipal and private lands There are significant areas of municipal lands and private lands that are susceptible to MPB outbreaks. Mechanisms to control these outbreaks involve partnerships with municipalities and private landowners. 4 Alberta public lands Two sub-categories are considered: Protected areas - various categories Working forest - primarily covered by Forest Management Agreements (FMA) Area of Primary Concern At risk of MPB attack and is the focus of the operational control tactics presented in this document. E Area of Primary Concern FMA Management Zones Montana

4 Management Roles and Responsibilities Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) SRD s role in MPB infestation control is to implement Level I treatments of the control (beetle) strategy and to facilitate and co-ordinate the efforts of all parties involved in the development and implementation of the control plans. SRD will conduct detection and surveillance surveys and, through collaboration with stakeholders, strive to ensure effective MPB management programs. Alberta Community Development (CD) Community Development is responsible for the management of protected areas and has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SRD that identifies roles and responsibilities between the two departments. Forest Industry Forest Management Agreement (FMA) holders are expected to co-operate with SRD in implementing the strategies to manage MPB. SRD will take the lead role in implementing Level I actions in the control (beetle) strategy. The FMA holders and other timber operators (permit holders and quota holders) will be responsible for implementing Level II actions deemed necessary by SRD to control the MPB under this strategy. For further details please refer to Alberta Forest Health Strategy and Shared Roles and Responsibilities between SRD and the Forest Industry. This document can be found at

5 OBJECTIVES Control (Beetle) Strategy To achieve this objective Alberta will rely on tactics such as accurate aerial and comprehensive ground surveys and treatment of infested trees. A complete description of the tactics can be found on the SRD website at When beetle-attacked trees are detected and confirmed through ground surveys, a Response Level is assigned. EFFECTIVELY DETECT, ACCURATELY SURVEY, AND AGGRESSIVELY CONTROL INFESTED TREES RESPONSE LEVEL I - Single Tree Treatment All known MPB infested trees will be treated using felling and burning, felling and bark peeling, bark peeling standing, monosodium methane arsenate (MSMA) injections, single tree harvest, or other acceptable methods. SRD is responsible for all Level I treatments. Single-tree treatments are preferred and will be used as extensively as possible. Level I treatments have marginal environmental impacts. Using Level 1 to stop an MPB infestation from reaching outbreak status is only feasible when populations are small. 2 RESPONSE LEVEL II - Stand Level Treatment Harvesting entire stands and/or prescribed burning augmented with Level I tactics. Level II responses will be used when Level I tactics are ineffective, not feasible or determined to be insufficient to control the infestation. The process for determining where Level II responses are necessary is included in the Interpretive Bulletin. Healthy Pine Forest Strategy This Strategy focuses on decreasing the MPB spread and outbreak potential by reducing the area of MPB susceptible pine stands. A standardized model (currently Shore and Safranyik) is used to identify the susceptibility of stands by evaluating stand age and size, species composition, and a measure of climate suitability. SRD will use the model results to establish the criteria to distinguish stands with high, moderate and low susceptibility. REDUCE THE NUMBER OF 2. HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE STANDS. Working Forest (Active Landbase) The primary tactic is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of harvesting to reduce the risk of MPB spread. The target is to do whatever is practical and feasible to reduce the area of susceptible pine stands to 25% of that currently projected in twenty years.

6 Parks and Protected Areas and the Passive Land base Alberta Community Development (CD) is the land manager for Parks and Protected Areas. There is limited opportunity to implement the Prevention (Pine) Strategy through harvesting on this land base. Tactics incorporating prescribed burning are envisioned as the primary response. On the passive land base, SRD will work with industry to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of using alternative harvesting methods, prescribed burning and/or other potential tactics. 3. MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF A MAJOR OUTBREAK. Salvage Strategy In the event of a large scale outbreak, where MPB populations continue to expand and control of the infestation is not possible (i.e. beyond a Level II response), Alberta will implement the Salvage Strategy to recover dead and dying trees before the fibre is lost. If the MPB population reaches outbreak status, conservation objectives will be incorporated into timber salvage operations, leaving some areas unharvested as temporary conservation areas. An integral part of the decision-making process for salvage will be to identify and describe key areas that will not be salvaged. 4. ESTABLISH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO FACILITATE EFFICIENT AND TIMELY MB MANAGEMENT. Mountain Pine Beetle Operating Ground Rules (MPB OGRs) Modified operating ground rules and planning considerations are necessary to implement quick MPB control operations. The development and use of the MBP OGRs will be area-specific. For the Prevention (Pine) Strategy on the working forest, planning must follow the Alberta Forest Management Planning Standard and the Interpretive Bulletin - Planning Mountain Pine Beetle Response Operations ( 5. CONSERVE ALL OF THE LONG- TERM FOREST VALUES. Forest Values MPB management plans and activities must take into account all forest values. However, the seriousness of a potential epidemic on the full range of forest values (tourism, wildlife habitat, recreation use, visual quality and biological diversity) warrants acceptance of increased short-term impacts of control treatments. Alberta will use Level 1 response to control infested trees in sensitive sites, critical wildlife habitat and parks and protected areas. The goal is to have minimal impact to the area while achieving all MPB management goals. Specific species habitat considerations will be adopted for grizzly bear, caribou, trumpeter swans and limber and whitebark pine on a site-specific basis.

7 OBJECTIVES Where infestations occur inside parks and protected areas, the objective will be to manage in a manner that mitigates the risk to values in parks and adjacent areas. These plans may include the use of prescribed burns or removal of infested or dead trees. SRD will work with CD to incorporate appropriate forest values into these MPB management plans. Strategic Planning Although SRD is the lead agency when managing MPB, success can only be achieved by coordinating and strategically planning MPB mitigation efforts among all land managers (i.e. including Alberta Community Development, Parks Canada, First Nations, municipalities and the forest industry.) Following are examples of interagency groups that serve to coordinate activities: Strategic Directions Council Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Alberta Community Development Parks Canada British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range B.C. Parks Alberta forest industry and the Canadian Forest Service Regional Working Groups Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Alberta Community Development Parks Canada private developers, municipalities Alberta forest industry B.C. forest industry B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range 6. MAINTAIN A PROJECT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE THAT ENSURES THE COORDINATED AND EFFECTIVE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION MEASURES AMONG ALL LAND MANAGERS AND ADJACENT JURISDICTIONS. Spread Control Overview Team Alberta Sustainable Resource Development B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range B.C. Parks Participation Effective communication with stakeholders to enable their meaningful participation in forest management activities is essential. Plan developers are obligated to enable meaningful public participation and SRD is engaged in ongoing programs to keep communities informed of activities. 7. COMMUNICATE TO ALL CLIENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

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