Transcript Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council

Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council
Climate Change: What can you do?
Cliff Smith, Chair, AFGRC
Alberta Forest Products Association’s Conference
September 28, 2006
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
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Goals
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Genetic gain
Adaptation
Genetic diversity
Conservation
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
Photo courtesy of Dr. Barb Thomas
The Council
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
Council Activities

Policy Review/
Positions
Statements
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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
Council Activities
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Strategic Initiatives
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Workshops/ Conferences
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Council Communications
Forest Productivity
Advocacy
Research GAP Analysis
Climate Change
Post Harvest Stand
Development
National Participation

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Benchmarking of Genetics
Programs
Access & Benefit Sharing
Photo courtesy of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
AFGRC Communications
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
The Challenge of Climate Change

Drought tolerance
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Pest and disease
resistance
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Population
movement
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Flammability of the
forest
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
Photo courtesy of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
The Threat
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Radical changes in
climate
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New trees not
growing
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Economic
disruption
Photo courtesy of Duncan MacDonnell
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
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
AFGRC Statement of Principle 1
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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
AFGRC Statement of Principle 2
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Council's primary
concerns are
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loss of forest
productivity
loss of genetic
resources
increased pest and
disease outbreaks
extreme climate events
increased forest fire
frequency and intensity
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
Photo courtesy of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
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
AFGRC’s 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
AFGRC’s Next Step 2
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Council will
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inform the public
and other decisionmakers
promote the
development of
adaptation
strategies
Insert cover shot of AFGRC Climate Change fact sheet
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
What does this all mean?
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Climate Change is
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A serious issue
impacting
ecosystems
worldwide
Photo courtesy of Sarah Seinen
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
What you can do: 1
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Think and Plan
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Be prepared
Support and initiate
research
Talk to the AFGRC
Photo courtesy of Sarah Seinen
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
What you can do: 2
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Education
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Educate yourself
about the impacts
of climate change
Ask yourself if you
and your
organization are
prepared
Keenly observe
trends on your
reforestation sites
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
Photo courtesy of Doug Huffman
What you can do: 3
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Seed Planning (1)
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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
What you can do: 4
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Seed Planning (2)
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Follow all requirements of current
standards
Increase participation in both in-situ and
ex-situ conservation
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
What you can do 5:
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Move Seed
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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
Conclusion
What can you do?
Don’t rely on others.
Be proactive – NOW!
Photo courtesy of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com
For More Information
Cliff Smith, Chair
Alberta Forest Genetic
Resources Council

Phone: (780) 449-5626
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.abtreegene.com
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com