Unit 2 - Alberta's Forest Land Issues
Climate Change
Climate change continues to be an important topic of discussion and has been for many years. Although there are some people who disagree, it is difficult to ignore some of the changing weather patterns that have been occuring in recent years. What exactly
is climate change and is it the same as global warming?
According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “climate change occurs when long-term weather patterns are altered—for example, through human activity. Global warming is one measure of climate change, and is a rise in the average global temperature.”
According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “climate change occurs when long-term weather patterns are altered—for example, through human activity. Global warming is one measure of climate change, and is a rise in the average global temperature.”
Image Source: Pixabay
Image Source: Pixabay
The United Nations Panel on Climate Change states that, “the Earth has warmed 1° C since the 19th century and we are on track to warm another 2° C by 2050. If the temperature increased as little as 1° C, it would have a significant effect on the types
and location of the trees in our forests.
Forests play an important role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees take in carbon dioxide, store carbon and then release oxygen and water vapour. In this way, trees help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, the rate we are putting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is more than the forests can take in, resulting in a lot of excess carbon dioxide ending up in the atmosphere.
Forests play an important role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees take in carbon dioxide, store carbon and then release oxygen and water vapour. In this way, trees help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, the rate we are putting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is more than the forests can take in, resulting in a lot of excess carbon dioxide ending up in the atmosphere.
You have just learned the importance of forests on climate change; we will now talk about some of the effects of climate change on the forest, such as:
Click each collapsible row to view more information.
Image Source: Pixabay
Climate change will have a positive impact on the forest’s growing season, likely increasing the length due to warmer temperatures earlier in the spring together with longer summers. This could have the effect of increased plant productivity; however,
the negative effects, such as the timing of dormancy, leafing out, flowering, seeding, far outweigh this benefit.
Climate change, specifically global warming, will have a huge impact on pest insects, such as the mountain pine beetle, spruce budworm, gypsy moth and spruce beetle. The outbreak behaviour of insects will intensify as the climate warms. One of the most
feared outbreaks in Alberta is that of the mountain pine beetle. This insect lays its eggs under the bark and releases a fungus that prevents the tree from transporting the nutrients and water that it needs to survive. Weak and vulnerable
trees cannot defend themselves against this insect and the tree will start to die within a year.
Historically, Alberta’s cold winters were the best way of keeping the mountain pine beetle from entering and attacking the province’s forests. Climate change and the resulting warmer winters have reduced the normal number of insects that are killed and the population is now drastically increasing.
Historically, Alberta’s cold winters were the best way of keeping the mountain pine beetle from entering and attacking the province’s forests. Climate change and the resulting warmer winters have reduced the normal number of insects that are killed and the population is now drastically increasing.
Image Source: PxHere
Fires in Alberta have significantly increased since 2015. The Fort McMurray fire of 2016 caused the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history, to that date. Called “the beast”, 589 552 hectares were burned.
In 2019, wildfires in Alberta burned 869 188 hectares of land and studies conducted by the Canadian Forest Service estimate that forest fires could increase by 50% in the next 50 years.
The reason for the increase is linked to climate change; increased temperatures affect the soil moisture and increase drought stress on the trees. Additionally, the reduced amount of snow in the winter causes an area that is already dry, to be even drier. These conditions are conducive to fire activity.
In 2019, wildfires in Alberta burned 869 188 hectares of land and studies conducted by the Canadian Forest Service estimate that forest fires could increase by 50% in the next 50 years.
The reason for the increase is linked to climate change; increased temperatures affect the soil moisture and increase drought stress on the trees. Additionally, the reduced amount of snow in the winter causes an area that is already dry, to be even drier. These conditions are conducive to fire activity.
Image Source: Pixabay
Changes in temperature, precipitation, windstorms, hailstorms, and other weather changes will have major effects on forests. Wind and hail storms have the potential to damage trees by breaking them off at various lengths, such as at their base, or even
uprooting the whole tree. This, in turn, provides fuel for fires and habitats for wood-borer infestations.
Temperature and precipitation changes also affect forests. In addition to a longer growing season, an increase or decrease in temperature or precipitation may cause the geographic ranges of some tree species to move. Some species will gradually move north to higher altitudes as they will be at risk if their current conditions change.
As the temperatures increase, forests become drier. Forests, especially mature unmanaged forests, are more at risk of forest-fires. Some tree species are not able to grow in the new climatic conditions. For example in Canada, the massive dying-off of aspen of over 1000 km between Edmonton, AB and Prince Albert, SK has been linked to droughts and high temperatures.
Temperature and precipitation changes also affect forests. In addition to a longer growing season, an increase or decrease in temperature or precipitation may cause the geographic ranges of some tree species to move. Some species will gradually move north to higher altitudes as they will be at risk if their current conditions change.
As the temperatures increase, forests become drier. Forests, especially mature unmanaged forests, are more at risk of forest-fires. Some tree species are not able to grow in the new climatic conditions. For example in Canada, the massive dying-off of aspen of over 1000 km between Edmonton, AB and Prince Albert, SK has been linked to droughts and high temperatures.
This is a brief look at how Alberta’s forests affect climate change and, more importantly, how climate change is affecting our forests. You may have noticed that climate change has a ripple effect. For example, different weather patterns may kill the tree, which then falls to the ground and becomes a habitat for insects/diseases, but also becomes fuel for a forest fire. There is no doubt that climate change is having a pronounced effect on Alberta’s forests, but it also impacts all forests in Canada and the world.
Forest Facts
In eastern Canada, the unique makeup of the Acadian forest is being affected by climate change and warmer temperatures. Visit Radio Canada International to read this interesting article.
Image Source: Canadian Forest Service/Natural Resources Canada/Government of Canada