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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

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Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council

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  1. Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council Climate Change: What can you do? Cliff Smith, Chair, AFGRC Alberta Forest Products Association’s Conference September 28, 2006

  2. 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

  3. The Council Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. AFGRC Communications Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. AFGRC’s 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. For More Information • Cliff Smith, Chair Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council Phone: (780) 449-5626 E-mail: afgrc@shaw.ca Web: www.abtreegene.com Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council – www.abtreegene.com

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