Unit 2 - Alberta's Forest Land Issues
| Site: | MoodleHUB.ca 🍁 |
| Course: | Issues & Trends in Forestry [1cr] - AB Ed copy 1 |
| Book: | Unit 2 - Alberta's Forest Land Issues |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Wednesday, 17 September 2025, 12:06 PM |
Information
- Unit 2, Alberta’s Forest Land Issues, is designed to take approximately 3 hours to complete.
- You will complete the following tasks and assignments in this unit:
- Read Unit 2, including all pages, associated videos, publications, etc.
- Complete 2.1 Quiz with a mark of 50% or higher
Learning Objectives
After completing this unit, you will be able to:- Describe some of the issues related to Alberta’s forest land, such as:
- access management
- herbicide use in timber management
- fire management
- age class management
- maintenance of biodiversity
- climate change
Introduction
If you have taken other forestry courses, you may have noticed a recurring theme of sustainable forest management. The Government of Alberta is committed to protecting and managing the province’s forests. They do this through the development of legislation and policies and then reviewing those standards on a regular basis in order to continually improve them.
Image Source: Pixabay
The government requires that forest industries prepare a detailed forest management plan; they must:
- be prepared for a 10 year term
- identify the area covered
- identify specific stands for harvest in the next 10 years
- show the company’s plans for reforestation
- include consultation from all stakeholders
Once a forest management plan is approved by the Government of Alberta, the forest company can then negotiate a Forest Management Agreement (FMA) with the government.
Currently in the province of Alberta, there are 20 Forest Management Agreements; if you are interested in reading the information included in these agreements, visit Alberta.ca.
Although these Forest Management Agreements contain very detailed and specific information, there are still some issues related to the management and protection of our Alberta forests.
In this unit we will discuss these issues:
Although these Forest Management Agreements contain very detailed and specific information, there are still some issues related to the management and protection of our Alberta forests.
In this unit we will discuss these issues:
- Access management
- Herbicide use in timber management
- Fire management
- Age class management
- Biodiversity maintenance
- Climate change
Click image to enlarge.
Courtesy of Alberta.ca
Courtesy of Alberta.ca
Access Management
When thinking about access management on Alberta’s forest land, you might think about some of the more recent issues involving the use of ATVs or quads on public land.
Access management involves much more than this one issue, and fortunately the Alberta government has policies and legislation to deal with the issue of access management.
Access management involves much more than this one issue, and fortunately the Alberta government has policies and legislation to deal with the issue of access management.
Image Source: Pixabay
Image Source: Pixabay
The Alberta government defines access management as: “The placement, management and reclamation of linear infrastructures (i.e., roads) and the associated impacts arising from the use of that infrastructure by industry and all other public groups.”
In other words, access management involves a process of examining roads, oil and gas pipelines, seismic lines, transmission lines, etc., and how they will affect the forest land in Alberta.
When new developments in a forested area begin, road access is needed . Roads increase the amount of human activity but also alters such things as:
- The physical environment, such as soil density, water content, stream crossings, etc.
- The chemical environment of soils and water.
- The plants and animals who make water their home; erosion, sediment, and chemicals are all a threat to aquatic plants and animals.
- Wildlife habitat; animals can be killed by construction equipment and vehicles with the increased traffic. Wildlife may need to change their location to avoid this disruption to their home ranges.
- The spread of non-native plants, animals and other organisms; vehicles can alter habitat, disturb the soil, remove the forest cover, transport seeds, etc. which can increase the dispersal of exotic and non-native plants, insects, and diseases.
Historically, resource development in Alberta was managed in a “reactive” manner, meaning there was no plan in place ahead of the development. This often caused unnecessary disturbances, and, in fact, many different companies created their own roads without consulting each other.
A collaborative approach to access management by industry, offers many advantages, such as reduced costs, sharing of inventory and other information, better management, avoiding duplication, sharing new knowledge and innovation ideas, less risk, and better government relations.
Land use plans, which include access management plans, are started as early as possible to ensure that public lands are managed according to provincial government laws, regulations and policies.
One successful access management plan is the Berland Smoky Regional Access Development Plan 2011 (BSRAD Plan); this plan is a working example of access management because of its success in recruiting participation from industry, government, research agencies, public groups, and others.
You don’t need to read the Berland Smoky Reclamation Plan in its entirety, but a brief review of the plan will give you an idea of the details covered in such a plan.
Herbicide Use in Timber Management
Courtesy of YourGreenPal.com
The most widely used herbicide for timber management is glyphosate, more commonly known as Roundup, used by homeowners to kill weeds.
In northern Alberta and many parts of British Columbia, glyphosate is used to destroy aspen trees, often referred to as poplar trees, and birch trees. These broad-leaf trees are destroyed to make room for the lodgepole pine, which is commercially valuable to the forest industry.
In northern Alberta and many parts of British Columbia, glyphosate is used to destroy aspen trees, often referred to as poplar trees, and birch trees. These broad-leaf trees are destroyed to make room for the lodgepole pine, which is commercially valuable to the forest industry.
Each year in Alberta, 30 000 hectares of broad-leaf trees are sprayed with glyphosate; this equates to half the number of hectares of forest harvested annually. This number now exceeds that of British Columbia, as shown in this graph.
The use of glyphosate on Alberta’s forests, specifically the spraying of aspen and birch trees, can cause damage to the forest land, including harm to wildlife, fire break, toxicity, and less biodiversity.
The use of glyphosate on Alberta’s forests, specifically the spraying of aspen and birch trees, can cause damage to the forest land, including harm to wildlife, fire break, toxicity, and less biodiversity.
Click image to enlarge.
Source: National Forestry Database.
Courtesy of an article in the Edmonton Journal, author Elise Stolte.
Source: National Forestry Database.
Courtesy of an article in the Edmonton Journal, author Elise Stolte.
Click each collapsible row to view more information.
Image Source: Pixabay
- About 89 species of wildlife use the aspen tree to nest or live; when glyphosate is sprayed to eliminate the aspen trees, their habitat is eliminated.
- Moose eat the leaves of the aspen tree in winter; they will either move to other areas or die without food in the winter.
- The vegetation that is killed eliminates a source of food for animals such as bees, insects, beavers, and birds.
Image Source: Pixabay
- Aspen trees contain a naturally high level of water and lower amounts of resin which make them less flammable.
- Aspen trees are commonly known as “asbestos forests” by wildfire scientists because they form natural fuel breaks.
- Firefighters are known to take cover in a stand of aspen trees for protection against a forest fire.
- Aspen trees naturally thrive after an area has been cleared by logging or wildfire.
Image Source: Pixabay
- The main ingredient in glyphosate is known to be toxic to fish, amphibians, and wildlife.
- If fish ingest glyphosate, whoever eats the fish, humans or wildlife, now become potentially harmed.
Image Source: PxHere
- Without aspen trees, many other associated shrubs and vegetation are lost.
- Aspen forests transpire 50% more moisture than conifer trees.
- Aspen trees utilize water more efficiently and create better water quality.
Forest Facts
Are there alternatives to spraying? Watch this video on Edmonton’s non-conventional way of removing invasive weeds.
You can also read about this unique model at CTV News.ca.
Fire Management
If you lived in Alberta between 2011–2019, you will remember some of the worst forest fires in history; the Slave Lake fire of 2011, the Fort McMurray fire of 2016, and the High Level fires of 2019. It is not hard to think about the negative impacts
these fires have had: loss of homes and property, threats to communities, loss of natural resources, loss of jobs, wildlife disturbance, etc.
Image Source: Pixabay
Image Source: Pixabay
However, fires also have a positive impact on the forests because they play an essential role in the forest cycle. Natural forest fires help to: remove old trees, remove diseased trees, replenish the soil, control insects, etc. In addition, the lodgepole
pine requires heat in order to open its cones. Many other trees are also well-adapted to fire.
With both advantages and disadvantages of natural forest fires, how does Alberta’s government balance the benefits and damages due to wildland fire?
In 2004, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers introduced a task force of federal, provincial, and territorial deputy ministers. One year later, the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy (CWFS) was developed and introduced. The CWFS was renewed in 2016 in an attempt to balance the social, ecological, and economic aspects of wildland fire. The strategy looks at root causes and symptoms of current and potential fire management issues.
Alberta established a wildfire management program under the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, developed to protect the 39 million hectares of Alberta’s forest land. Due to the severity of the 2015 fire season, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry commissioned a review of the program. The review looked at what could be learned from the 2015 fire season and how to prepare for long-term future challenges. One part of the review looks at Alberta’s FireSmart program and how to improve the program and implement FireSmart projects. The FireSmart program can be found here. You may also want to explore some of the other resources on the Alberta Wildfire website, such as the many interesting wildfire status reports and videos.
In 2004, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers introduced a task force of federal, provincial, and territorial deputy ministers. One year later, the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy (CWFS) was developed and introduced. The CWFS was renewed in 2016 in an attempt to balance the social, ecological, and economic aspects of wildland fire. The strategy looks at root causes and symptoms of current and potential fire management issues.
Alberta established a wildfire management program under the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, developed to protect the 39 million hectares of Alberta’s forest land. Due to the severity of the 2015 fire season, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry commissioned a review of the program. The review looked at what could be learned from the 2015 fire season and how to prepare for long-term future challenges. One part of the review looks at Alberta’s FireSmart program and how to improve the program and implement FireSmart projects. The FireSmart program can be found here. You may also want to explore some of the other resources on the Alberta Wildfire website, such as the many interesting wildfire status reports and videos.
Image Source: Pixabay
Forest Facts
Did you know that the Government of Alberta has a prescribed fire program whereby a fire is deliberately set, under specific conditions, in order to prevent a larger uncontrolled fire that could occur?
Age Class Management
You may be familiar with the census that Canada conducts every 5 years to collect information about the population, such as age, number of people, sex, race, education levels, etc.
A forest inventory is similar in that it gathers characteristics of trees for a specified and defined area. When discussing sustainable forest management, an inventory is the starting point and a valuable indicator of economic, ecological, and social
sustainability.
The inventory of a forested area is taken using a variety of methods, each one providing specific, different information. Some of the methods include: aerial photography, light detection and ranging imagery, ground level observation, post-harvest surveys, and current and past harvest results.
The inventory of a forested area is taken using a variety of methods, each one providing specific, different information. Some of the methods include: aerial photography, light detection and ranging imagery, ground level observation, post-harvest surveys, and current and past harvest results.
Image Source: Pixabay
We have learned that before forest companies can harvest an area, they must develop a Forest Management Plan, with a 200 year planning time frame; the 200 years represents two full cycles in what then become part of their Forest Management Agreement with the government of Alberta. This plan includes, among other things, a detailed account of how much and what kind of wood will be harvested. These plans are reviewed every 10 years and cost the companies millions of dollars, but it is all for the sake of sustainability.
Image Source: Pixabay
The first step in taking a forest inventory is to fly over the area and take pictures. The images from aerial photography are so accurate that individual trees, types, heights and health can all be identified.
The next step is for workers to physically go into the forested area and measure trees for accuracy.
With these two steps taken, an accurate inventory of the forest will include:
The next step is for workers to physically go into the forested area and measure trees for accuracy.
With these two steps taken, an accurate inventory of the forest will include:
- tree counts
- age
- size
- species
- health
Alberta's Forests
Alberta’s forests have been inventoried over the last 70 years and is useful information, not only for the present, but also to project how the forest will grow in the future. A healthy forest should consist of different species and ages. All of the forest inventory data is used by forest companies to determine how much of the forest can be harvested sustainably, and to ensure the forests are healthy.
Image Source: Alberta Forest Products Association
Visit the Work Wild website and use the Forest Issues and Management Interactive Map to learn more about the forest.
Forest Facts
An estimated 2000 year old alpine larch in Kananaskis, Alberta is the oldest recorded tree in Canada.
Image Source: Pixabay
Maintenance of Biodiversity
Before discussing the maintenance of biodiversity, it is important to understand the actual meaning of biodiversity.
In simple terms biodiversity is the variety of all living species. However, if you look at the image, you can see that there is much more to biodiversity.
Biodiversity includes all of the following:
In simple terms biodiversity is the variety of all living species. However, if you look at the image, you can see that there is much more to biodiversity.
Biodiversity includes all of the following:
- Species diversity–animals plants, insects and microorganisms
- Ecosystem diversity–where the species live, connect and interact
- Genetic diversity–the make-up of each living being
Click image to enlarge.
Biodiversity image courtesy of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. More information on the ABMI can be found at www.abmi.ca
Biodiversity image courtesy of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. More information on the ABMI can be found at www.abmi.ca
With biodiversity, we have ecosystems.
All the different plants and animals are called biodiversity; their interaction with one another and their environment is called an ecosystem. Maintaining healthy ecosystems is important to everyone; they clean the water and air, provide us with food and raw materials for many purposes, regulate the climate, and recycle the nutrients.
Biodiversity is the key indicator of how healthy an ecosystem is.
In Alberta, when industries start preparing their forest management plans for government approval, conserving wildlife and tree species is a priority of forest management. Forest companies strive to maintain all habitat types and all forest types and ages. In this way, a more resilient ecosystem will develop, in case of insect, disease, fire or climate change issues.
All the different plants and animals are called biodiversity; their interaction with one another and their environment is called an ecosystem. Maintaining healthy ecosystems is important to everyone; they clean the water and air, provide us with food and raw materials for many purposes, regulate the climate, and recycle the nutrients.
Biodiversity is the key indicator of how healthy an ecosystem is.
In Alberta, when industries start preparing their forest management plans for government approval, conserving wildlife and tree species is a priority of forest management. Forest companies strive to maintain all habitat types and all forest types and ages. In this way, a more resilient ecosystem will develop, in case of insect, disease, fire or climate change issues.
Image Source: Pixabay
Forest Facts
It is imperative that the biodiversity of the forested area be measured or monitored. However, it is impossible to monitor and maintain the biodiversity of a forested area without first collecting the relevant data. This biodiversity information can then be used to assist in land-use plans, policies, and sustainable resource management. Biodiversity needs to be measured in order to make informed forest land-use decisions.
The organization that leads the way in measuring and monitoring biodiversity in Alberta is the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI). They use a grid of 1,656 site locations, 20 km apart, to collect biodiversity information from the boreal forest in the north to the grasslands in the south. Visit their website and you will see how detailed their monitoring program is; a leader in monitoring biodiversity in Canada.
07 Tom Habib from ABMI on Vimeo.
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
2.1 Quiz
Alberta's Forest Land Issues
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2.1 Quiz