George Duffy and Bob Christian describe the results of Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB)infestation and control programs in the central region of Alberta (Whitecourt, Fox Creek and Slave Lake) since the big inflight from B.C in 2009. Without further inflights, there is a very slow advancement south and east. Areas that had the original inflight have seen close to 100% pine mortality. Activity in those stands are limited to tree salvage. Monitoring and control has focused on the areas where MPB is advancing slowly.
Level 1 control is limiting infestation to a slow stand to stand spread. There have been no large flights of MPB from one Alberta zone to another. Control methods involve removing pine that could support MPB spread. Spread has not been aggressive as originally feared. Level 1 and 2 control are slowing the advance of MPB; monitoring that spread is still a challenge. The challenge for forest companies is redoing their harvest plans to account for MPB harvest and long term pine supply. The central committee urges that this is not the time for complacency.
George Duffy is a forester with Alberta Newsprint Company. Bob Christian is a partner and senior analyst at ForCorp Solutions Ltd. Their presentation was part of the Mountain Pine Beetle Forum for Researcher-Practitioner Information Exchange at the University of Alberta, April 24, 25, 2013.
