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Alberta and Parks Canada Eastslopes Strategic Forest Management Plan
Dave Dalman, Bonita McFarlane, Ian Pengelly, and Alan Westhaver |
Natural disturbances such as fire, insects, and disease
represent ecological processes that have the potential
to destroy large tracts of merchantable timber.
Recently, a massive infestation of mountain pine beetle
(MPB) in British Columbia (BC) has caused tremendous
damage to timber supply and impacted the economy and
forest dependent communities. The MPB has spread to
Kootenay National Park in BC and Banff National Park in
Alberta. The outbreaks within the national parks pose a
potential threat to neighbouring industrial forestlands
in Alberta. One of the guiding principles of the
national parks mandate is the protection of ecological
integrity (EI). Ecological processes such as natural
disturbance are an integral component of EI. The MPB is
a naturally occurring insect and thus, is considered
part of a functioning ecosystem. Managing the beetle to
prevent its invasion and subsequent damage to
neighbouring timber supply areas -- while maintaining EI
-- presents a challenge for managers in these national
parks. The challenge arises in devising control measures
that are compatible with the EI mandate, will be
acceptable to the public, and do not have a negative
effect on visitor experiences.
The session will discuss an innovative regional plan for
the eastslopes of the Rocky Mountains to manage MPB,
fire, and other valued ecosystem components, based upon
ecological and social research, multiple agency
objectives, and stakeholder consultation. |
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