Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council

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Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council

• Climate Change What can you do?
• Cliff Smith, Chair, AFGRC
• Alberta Forest Products Associations Conference
• September 28, 2006

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The Council

• Acts as an advisory group to the Minister of
  Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
• Serves as a sounding board for emerging issues
  and new policies
• Goals
• Genetic gain
• Adaptation
• Genetic diversity
• Conservation

Photo courtesy of Dr. Barb Thomas
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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The Council
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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Council Activities

• Policy Review/ Positions Statements
• GMOs
• Non-native trees in reforestation
• Conservation Plan
• Tree improvement standards (STIA)

Photo courtesy of Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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Council Activities

• Strategic Initiatives
• Council Communications
• Forest Productivity Advocacy
• Research GAP Analysis
• Workshops/ Conferences
• Climate Change
• Post Harvest Stand Development
• National Participation
• Benchmarking of Genetics Programs
• Access Benefit Sharing

Photo courtesy of Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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AFGRC Communications
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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The Challenge of Climate Change

• Drought tolerance
• Pest and disease resistance
• Population movement
• Flammability of the forest

Photo courtesy of Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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The Threat

• Radical changes in climate
• New trees not growing
• Economic disruption

Photo courtesy of Duncan MacDonnell
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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The Opportunity

• Some conditions may improve
• New products and markets?

Photo courtesy of MediaMatch West Communications
Inc.
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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AFGRC Statement of Principle 1

• The risk of
• status-quo forest management exceeds the risk of
  making changes to forest resource practices

Photo courtesy of FERIC
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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AFGRC Statement of Principle 2

• Council's primary concerns are
• loss of forest productivity
• loss of genetic resources
• increased pest and disease outbreaks
• extreme climate events
• increased forest fire frequency and intensity

Photo courtesy of Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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AFGRC Statement of Principle 3

• Proactive adaptation strategies are required

Photo courtesy of MediaMatch West Communications
Inc.
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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AFGRCs Next Step 1

• Provide advice to the provincial government

Photo courtesy of Canadian Forest Service
Laurentian Forestry Centre
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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AFGRCs Next Step 2

• Council will
• inform the public and other decision-makers
• promote the development of adaptation strategies

Insert cover shot of AFGRC Climate Change fact
sheet
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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What does this all mean?

• Climate Change is
• A serious issue impacting ecosystems worldwide

Photo courtesy of Sarah Seinen
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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What you can do 1

• Think and Plan
• Be prepared
• Support and initiate research
• Talk to the AFGRC

Photo courtesy of Sarah Seinen
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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What you can do 2

• Education
• Educate yourself about the impacts of climate
  change
• Ask yourself if you and your organization are
  prepared
• Keenly observe trends on your reforestation sites

Photo courtesy of Doug Huffman
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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What you can do 3

• Seed Planning (1)
• Assess your reforestation sites and choice of
  species based on an understanding of their likely
  response to climate change
• Collect sufficient volumes of seed by species and
  ensure coverage of the seed zones within your
  Forest Management Plan areas

Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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What you can do 4

• Seed Planning (2)
• Follow all requirements of current standards
• Increase participation in both in-situ and
  ex-situ conservation

Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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What you can do 5

• Move Seed
• Move planting stock further north or to higher
  elevation
• When moving across seed boundaries, avoid
  movements into lower elevation seed zones

Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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Conclusion

• What can you do?
• Dont rely on others.
• Be proactive NOW!

Photo courtesy of Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com
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For More Information

• Cliff Smith, Chair
• Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail afgrc_at_shaw.ca
• Web www.abtreegene.com

Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
www.abtreegene.com