| | In a changing climate, species that can walk, fly, swim or slither away from an unsuitable environment will have a distinct advantage over trees. That could mean trouble for Alberta’s forested lands and for their role in maintaining healthy landscapes. And that makes sustainable woodlot management more essential than ever.
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A warmer climate could mean a longer growing season, increased tree growth rates and the ability to grow different tree species. But other possible changes – like drier conditions, and increased variability and extremes in the weather – could have negative effects on forests.
“Forests will be under stress because many trees won’t be in their normal range [for weather conditions]. And trees that are stressed are more susceptible to disease and insect infestations,” says Victor Brunette, Manager of the Alberta Woodlot Extension Program for Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. “We expect a lot of insect infestations, new diseases, and more severe outbreaks of diseases we have now.”
Lower precipitation levels would reduce tree growth and increase the risk of fires. Increased weather variability could mean sudden temperature changes that could set back tree growth. Brunette explains, “[For example], if it’s very nice and mild in December and suddenly the temperature drops drastically, trees that are not necessarily in their best range could suffer from not having hardened for the winter.”
Even without climate change, Alberta’s forested areas face serious challenges. Brunette says one estimate is that Alberta has lost roughly 2.5 million acres of forested land since the late 1980s, due to conversion of forested areas to other land uses like agriculture, oil and gas, and urban development. Another challenge is the narrow age range of trees in many forests. He says, “In Alberta right now, a lot of forests are about the same age. So if they are really threatened or damaged or stressed, because they are already over-aged, climate change might affect them even more.”
Brunette emphasizes the importance of trees in healthy, resilient landscapes. “Well balanced landscapes have 10, 20 or more percent of trees on them,” he notes. Forested areas perform significant landscape functions like increasing water retention, slowing water runoff, protecting water quality, providing shade, reducing wind speed, catching snow, and storing carbon.
“We may be at the hinging point right now. If we decide to protect nature at the landscape level, we will be better prepared in five, 10 and 20 years to face climate change impacts,” says Brunette. The Alberta Woodlot Extension Program is playing a part in this by raising awareness of the importance of retaining private woodlots and by providing information to landowners on sustainable woodlot management.
Brunette adds, “Whether we are talking climate change or not, we still need to reduce the level of deforestation if we want to protect the water in this province. Alberta has only 2% of the national water supply. And to protect the water quality and quantity over the long-term, we have to manage our forests and landscapes in a better way.”
New Processing Scholarship!
The AESA Agri-Food Processing Scholarship, established in April 2005, is available to Alberta students in at least their second year of post-secondary studies related to environmental issues in agri-food processing.
The scholarship, created by AESA’s Processing Based Committee, provides a maximum of $3000 to successful applicants. It is being offered through a partnership of the Processing Based Committee, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, and the Alberta Food Processors Association.
Processing Based Committee member Dr. Terry Rachuk says, “We want to make students aware of the value of sustainability in processing and the importance of issues like effluent, solid wastes and energy use, and practical options for reducing inputs, and for reusing and recycling byproducts.” |
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