Invasive Alien Species in New Brunswick

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1 Invasive Alien Species in New Brunswick A stakeholder s Perspective Chris Dickie, BSc. Forestry INFOR Inc. November 6 th, 2015

2 50% Crown Land 20% Industrial Freehold 30% Private Land 40,000 private woodlot owners Worth over 100 million currently, over 165 million in 2004 (losses in woodlot sector) Land Tenure

3 Private Forest Industry Private woodlots - DNR Christmas Tree Production Ag. Maple Syrup Production DNR/Ag.

4 Christmas Tree and Greenery Industry Approx. 350 active growers Unknown number of wreath makers 500,000 trees harvested per annum worth approx million 5 million wreaths worth million Over 5,500 seasonal positions created

5 Production 80% of NB trees produced via plantation style production 20% wild stand or natural stand Still heavily managed, only difference is establishment and re-stocking Plantations are easier to work In contrast, NS is 85% wild stand production

6 Current Issues Climate Change Needle retention, pest and disease, abiotic stress Import/export regulations, border issues, international market access phytosanitary concerns #1 Pests and disease Limited chemical tools, lack of development in new cultural techniques and IPM strategies Limited professional expertise/field technical assistance

7 Pests/disease Balsam Woolly Adelgid Gypsy Moth Cytospora Root aphid Root rot (several) Shoot/tip blight Current Issues

8 Gypsy Moth Eurasian defoliator of mainly deciduous trees Balsam Fir are viable hosts Christmas Tree exports heavily affected by gypsy moth Phytosanitary regulations are onerous and costly e.g. Mexico requires two inspectors at growers expense (flown first class) plus 30 second shaking for all trees. 5,000 trees = 41.5 hours of shaking Cost of control

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10 Balsam Woolly Adelgid From Quiring et al. 2006

11 Maple

12 New Brunswick Maple Syrup Industry Third largest producer in the World Roughly 225 producers Crown and Private 125 members New Brunswick Maple Syrup Association 81 producers on crown land Total taps more than 2 million 5 million pounds of production $15 million annual revenues Increasing value adding Export development Europe, Asia

13 New Brunswick Maple Industry Largest producer in the world is in NB 165,000 taps over 600ha of lease Largest concentration is in St. Quentin Kedgewick area Issues of concern Over-harvesting/degradation of hardwood Leasing program expensive, lease rate increase Food safety issues Asian Long-horned beetle Climate Change

14 Asian Longhorn Beetle

15 Major Threat - Asian Longhorned Beetle Maple resource total replacement value of $522 billion (Nowak et al. 2000). Maple syrup industry valued at $224 million per year and growing Outbreaks in Ontario and the U.S. Worcester Mass. Latest and Largest $100 million cleanup effort under way 20 year old infestation Next to interstate and rail lines.

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17 Defining the Problem Invasive Species are an organism (plant, animal, fungus or bacterium) that is not native and has negative effects on our economy, our environment, or our health. Not all introduced species are invasive. Invasive plants and animals are the second greatest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss. Environment Yukon

18 Defining the problem Very large number of species in NB Some examples of note: Dutch Elm Disease Beech Bark Disease Butternut Canker White Pine Blister Rust Purple Loosestrife Norway Maple Flowering Rush Eurasian Millfoil Woodland Angelica Wild Turkeys Garlic Mustard Wild Parsnip Goutweed Glossy Buckthorn Japanese knotweed Himalayan Balsam Reed Canary Grass Various brown algae sp. Balsam Woolly Adelgid Gypsy Moth Smallmouth Bass Chain Pickerel What Species are priority? How do you decide?

19 Aquatic Species Green Crab Dydimo Smallmouth Bass Tunicates Chain pickerel Muskellunge Crayfish Zebra mussels

20 Terrestrial Plants Garlic Mustard Woodland Angelica Giant hogweed Dog strangling vine Japanese knotweed Purple loosestrife Common valarian Glossy buckthorn Himalayan balsam Oriental bittersweet

21 Forest Pests Emerald Ash Borer Asian Longhorn Beetle Brown Spruce Longhorn beetle Beech bark disease Dutch elm diseas Butternut canker White pine blister rust Chestnut canker Balsam Woolly adelgid Hemlock woolly adelgid Earthworms Nematodes

22 Knocking at the Door Asian Longhorned Beetle Maple Industry Emerald Ash Borer Forest Industry/traditional uses Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle Forest Industry Didymosphenia geminata (Lyngbye) M. Schmidt - a.k.a rock snot Recreational Fisheries/Atlantic Salmon

23 Predicting the Impact Sources of Uncertainty Speculation is that climate change will favour invasive species Place stress on native species Changes optimal flowering times Open niches for invasives Effects of climate are visible in NB Balsam Wooly adelgid Cytospora sp. Beech Bark Disease Very hard to predict invasiveness, especially in changing conditions

24 Economic Impacts $120 Billion US/yr Estimated global cost of 5% value of world s economy 34 billion/yr in Canada Inspection Mitigation programs losses

25 Environmental Impacts Beech Bark Disease Elimination of important mast tree Elimination of critical habitat Cavity nesters Escape trees Interference with regeneration in THWD stands Changes in stand structure - function

26 Social Impacts Emerald Ash Borer Removing ash from eastern forests All ash (and many other species) on the menu White ash and black ash are of very high cultural important to NB first nations Traditional uses

27 Vectors and Pathways How They Move Soils, live plants, wood products, bilge water, live bait, pet trade Shipping containers and materials Hitchhiking Purposeful introductions Sport Production Acclimation societies early settlers

28 How to Begin dealing with IAS? Need a method of coordinating efforts Provincial, regional, national and international levels Engaging stakeholder groups, special interest groups, governments, industry, GENERAL PUBLIC Education is key to success with IAS Actions of Individuals Directly influence the spread/control of IAS

29 Recognized Need Education is key to success Very low level of awareness at all levels Limited information what are IAS what species are invasive in this region prioritized list of species Develop protocols/best Management Practices and recommended strategies per species/stakeholder group Provincial Council was the answer Most provinces have had one established for years Many good examples to follow

30 New Brunswick Invasive Species Council

31 NBISC Funded through the IASPP Federal Funds Partnered at the Atlantic and National Levels to coordinate efforts Reduce duplication, increase capacity provincially, regionally and nationally Loss of program funding lead to the demise of the organization

32 Questions?