productivity

biodiversity

conservation

2004-05 annual report

members | Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council

Scientific Sector

Biological Sector:
Industry Sector:

Dr. Bruce Dancik, Dr. Ken Mallett
Dr. John Spence

Dr. Chris Shank

Mr. J.P. Bielech, Dr. Sally John,
Mr. Steve Luchkow, Dr. Barb
Thomas, Mr. Pat Wearmouth

Government Sector:

Dr. Narinder Dhir, Dr. Ken
Greenway, Mr. Doug Sklar

Chair:

Mr. Cliff Smith

For further information, or to request additional copies of this
report, please contact:

Cliff Smith, Phone: (780) 449-5626 Fax (780) 449-5626
Web Site: www.abtreegene.com
E-mail: afgrc@shaw.ca

ISBN No. 0-7785-4091 -X (Printed Edition)

ISBN No. 0-7785-4092-8 (On-line Edition)

Pub No. T/082

Editorial/production management:

MediaMatch West Communications Inc.

Photos courtesy of:

Alberta Community Development, Alberta-Pacific Forest
Industries Inc., Alberta Sustainable Resource Development,
MediaMatch West Communications Inc.

table of contents

Minister’s Message i

Chair’s Message ii

Standards for Tree Improvement 1

Status of Tree Improvement Programs 2

Biodiversity and Forest Genetic Conservation 3

Climate Change 4

Examples of Work by Partners 5

AFGRC Communications 8

Trees of Renown

9

minister’s

I wish to extend my congratulations and thanks to the
Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council for the work it
performs on behalf of all Albertans, helping to safeguard
the viability and diversity of our treasured forests. Your
contributions are important and much appreciated.

strategies that balance conservation and consumption for
the benefit of all Albertans. For example, there will be areas
of the forest where various uses might be curtailed, and
areas where increased fibre production might be desirable
and appropriate.

As Alberta’s Minister of Sustainable Resource
Development I am aware of the many - and sometimes
challenging - expectations people have of our
tremendous forest resource. Our publicly-owned
forests, covering 60 per cent of this province, face
growing pressure for increased recreational and
tourism opportunities, for additional conservation and
more protected areas, and for greater job creation and
community sustainability.

Against this backdrop, it is imperative that we focus
increasingly on integrated, sustainable land management

For these reasons - and because of looming questions
about the effects climate variability might have on forest
productivity - we are fortunate indeed to have in place
this Council and the expertise and dedication of its
members. Their deliberations, and the advice they provide
to government, are greatly appreciated as we continually
search for new and better ways to sustain our forests, and
the Alberta way of life they support, for future generations.

David Coutts, Minister,

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

message from the chair

The year 2004-2005 was marked by some very gratifying
successes as we moved forward on a number of strategic
priorities.

Funds were secured from industry, provincial and
federal sources to allow creation of some much-needed
communications products. These will help us provide clear
and credible information to Albertans who express an
interest in forest productivity, biodiversity and conservation.

Along the vein of forest productivity, Council was successful
in its joint application, with Foothills Growth and Yield
Association and Foothills Model Forest, for FRIAA (Forest
Resource Improvement Association of Alberta) funds
to support a major Post Harvest Stand Development
Conference in early 2006. This conference will focus on the
integration of knowledge from the disciplines of genetics,
silviculture, and forest health into the prediction of stand
development and growth and yield following harvesting.

In addition, Council members and partners discussed the
need for systems of access and benefit sharing of genetic
resources, as called for under a 1992 Biological Diversity
Convention. Canada has signed the convention, but does
not yet have a policy in place, so Council is working to stay
abreast of developments.

Work was completed during the year to organize a very
successful workshop identifying concerns related to forest
genetics and climate change. On another front, Council
agreed that the issue of reporting under Canada’s national
criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management -
as it applies to genetic diversity - should become a standing
item on its agenda.

All of these items and issues are intimately related to the
maintenance of public forests that are sustainable over the
long term for the full range of social, environmental and
economic values. Thanks are certainly due to all Council
members and support staff for their work and commitment
over the year.

Our gratitude extends to AFPA representative Bob Udell,
who provided strong leadership and contribution since
Council’s formation in 2000 and who retired during the year.
His seat as AFPA Conifer representative was taken by Pat
Wearmouth, who vacated his position as AFPA Deciduous
representative. Pat’s role in the latter position was taken by
Steve Luchkow.

Cliff Smith, Chair,

Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council

tree improvement

The Standards for Tree Improvement in Alberta (STIA)
were implemented May 1, 2003. The standards guide
traditional reforestation activities, enable industry to
plant genetically improved stock on crown land, and
direct reforestation and conservation efforts necessary
to preserve the genetic diversity and health of Alberta’s
crown forests. The standards consist of five sections,
which are:

• Ownership and Data access

• Material Collection, Handling, Registration and
Storage

• Green Area Deployment

• Breeding, Testing and Verification

• Production of Controlled Parentage Material

These standards were developed by more than 40
scientists and resource managers working within
the Alberta Forest Genetics Framework (AFGF). This
framework process was guided by a Primary Task Group
(PTG), which delegated technical work and oversaw
completion of the standards to a publishable form. Built
into the framework process was the provision for an
annual review for the first two years after implementation.
These reviews were undertaken by the PTG with user and
stakeholder input in the fall of 2003 and 2004.

The Primary Task Group has completed a first and
second year review of the standards. Most of the
recommended and approved revisions coming out of this
review process have been incorporated in the standards
manual and took effect July 1, 2005.

Revisions coming out of the review process were

generally minor in nature; however, a few of the more
complex issues were referred to a special genetics
technical group which will be working to resolve them
for future revisions. One major change to the standards
was implementation of the new digitized seed zones for
Alberta. These seed zones guide collection, handling
and deployment of wild seed used in reforestation of
crown land to ensure that deployed stock is adapted
and sufficiently diverse to maintain forest health
and productivity. The seed zones were developed in
conjunction with, and are nested within, the recently
revised Natural Regions and Subregions of Alberta. Both
the revised seed zones and Natural Subregions are now
available in digital form. Revisions to both were made
using improved data availability, much of it GIS based.

To improve the resolution for resource management
activities, line work for both was done at 1:250,000 scale.

The Standards for Tree Improvement in Alberta manual can
be found on the web at http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/forests/
fmd/manuals/index.html.

status of tree improvement programs in alberta

Tree improvement in Alberta involves more than 20 active
programs in eight native species, of which six are coniferous
and two are deciduous. All programs are based on traditional
plant breeding methods, and no genetic modification is
involved. Conservation of genetic diversity and maintenance
of adaptability to natural environments are primary objectives
of all native species programs. Most programs include genetic
gain as a primary objective, although some are designed
primarily to alleviate seed shortages. Several exotic species
are under consideration, either as pure species or as parents
in hybrid programs. While some companies have initiated
independent programs, most programs are being developed
through cooperative arrangements either among companies,
or between Alberta Land & Forest Division of Sustainable
Resource Development and single or multiple companies.
Several programs are also being developed by SRD alone.

The first coniferous programs were initiated in 1976, and new
programs have been added. The older programs are beginning
to mature, and some orchards have produced considerable
amounts of seed for operational deployment. A broad genetic
base has been accumulated, and thousands of wild genotypes
have been preserved by grafting in ex situ (offsite) reserves. In
conjunction with the Alberta Genetic Resources Conservation
Plan, a system of in situ (on site) reserves is also being initiated
for species involved in breeding programs.

Programs for deciduous species were initiated more
recently. Since the early 1990s, several forest products
companies have been investigating and developing
programs in aspen and aspen hybrids, balsam poplar,
hybrid poplars and birch. The first aspen cooperative
program was formally initiated in 1992 by a group of
companies. Priorities for hardwood programs include
breeding and testing for adaptation, growth rate, disease
resistance, and wood quality traits. Research in stock
production, establishment, silviculture, and breeding
techniques has proven essential for working with both
aspens and poplars.

Hundreds of genotypes have been selected, and tests
have been established on a number of sites. Deployment
of hybrid poplars on private land began in 2000; public
land deployment of native hardwoods is expected by 2007.

Provincial genetics policy ( Standards for Tree
Improvement in Alberta), enacted in 2003 and revised
in 2005, encourages investment in tree improvement
activities. These standards establish a framework for
program development and accrual of benefits, while
ensuring that genetic diversity and conservation
objectives are met.

# of

parents in

parents

genotypes in

trees in

total seed

programs

programs

under test

orchards

orchards

produced (kg)

1

45

0

39

119

0

1

27

0

18

80

0

1

68

0

52

320

0

6

1,664

1,477

503

8,413

138.98

3

254

179

294

3,065

0.19

9

1,275

794

817

8,622

868.46

21

3,333

2,450

1,723

20,619

1,007.63

Progeny tests associated with the older programs
are yielding fast-growing healthy individuals
for inclusion in the next generation’s breeding
populations.

Coniferous programs are summarized at right.

Douglas-fir
Western larch
Jack pine
Lodgepole pine
Black spruce
White spruce
Total

Biodiversity, short for “biological diversity,” means the variety
of life or the great number of ways that living things differ at the
genetic, species and ecosystem levels.

Many individuals, programs and organizations are working to
conserve Alberta’s biodiversity at the species and ecosystem
levels. For example, Alberta’s system of protected areas
ensures that representative ecosystems are preserved while
Alberta’s Species at Risk Program works to identify and
recover species at risk of extinction. The Alberta Forest Genetic
Resources Council is unique in having an important role in
conserving the genetic diversity of Alberta’s forest resources.

The genetic component of biodiversity provides the raw
material allowing species to adapt to changing environments.
It is impossible to predict what genetic combinations will be
most suited to future conditions. Populations possessing a
wide variety of genetic types are more likely to have the right
adaptations for future circumstances while those with narrow
genetic diversity will be too specialized to be able to respond.
The genetic variability of wild tree populations is considered
a “heritage resource” because of the vital role it plays in
sustaining vibrant and productive ecosystems.

The Council is working to maintain genetic diversity in
Alberta’s tree populations through a variety of programs.

One program ensures that the seed and seedling stock used
in reforestation maintains genetic diversity. Council has
endorsed the document Standards for Tree Improvement in
Alberta that has been adopted as policy by the government
of Alberta. This document provides detailed instructions on
how tree breeding, tree orchard operation and collection and
deployment of seed must be undertaken to ensure sufficient

genetic variability in timber harvest areas.

A second program ensures that wild populations of trees
retain the natural genetic variability that has evolved over
millennia. Over the past year, Council has worked with SRD and
Community Development in developing a gene conservation
strategy. When completed, the strategy will provide a detailed
plan to protect the natural genetic variability of priority Alberta
tree species. The plan emphasizes in situ (on site) conservation
involving protecting wild tree populations in their natural
habitats and subject to the influence of natural evolutionary
processes. The number of trees to be protected is determined
using the scientific principles of quantitative population
genetics. Buffer zones will surround the protected trees to
protect them from pollen contamination from surrounding
planted forest. The genetic conservation plan also recognizes
that in some cases, ex situ (off site) conservation is needed to
supplement in situ efforts. Ex situ conservation generally entails
storing representative samples of wild tree genes in seed banks
and is particularly important for populations whose survival is
threatened.

The global Convention on Biological Diversity states that a
fair and equitable portion of the benefits accruing from the
development of genetic resources must revert back to the
provider of the genes. International negotiations are currently
in progress towards development of legal structures ensuring
that owners and providers of genetic resources benefit
from their work. Council, through the Standards for Tree
Improvement in Alberta, has anticipated these developments
in providing clear guidelines for ownership of tree genetic
resources and the intellectual property rights entailed in
development of genetically improved tree stock.

Alberta’s forests and forest ecosystems are the
result of thousands of years of natural evolution and
ecological processes. Predicted climate change due
to global warming is expected to disrupt these forest
ecosystems. The magnitude and nature of these
disruptions will depend on the extent and rate of
climate change.

A study sponsored by Alberta Environment (http:
//www.parc.ca/research_pub_scenarios.htm) and
regionally scaled and adjusted to the 1961-90 climate
normals using the Alberta Climate Model (http:
//www3.gov.ab.ca/env/info/infocentre/publist.cfm)
demonstrates some plausible climate change
scenarios for Alberta. These future climate scenarios
indicate that by 2050, average mean annual
temperature in the province may increase by 3°C to 5°C
accompanied by annual precipitation changes in the
range of -10% to +15%. These changes are expected to
be gradual but the cumulative change over the lifespan
of trees, which usually is 80 - 200 years or more, will
be substantial.

The changed climate will affect tree species and their
distribution ranges. It can be expected that over time,
tree species’ natural ranges will migrate northwards
and to higher elevations than they are found at present.
Since trees are the dominating species in most
forest ecosystems, significant changes in associated
plant communities and ecological processes at the
landscape level can also be expected.

With the change in climate and ecology of the forest,

genetic change will be necessary for tree species and
populations to adjust to the new environment. This change
occurs gradually in nature through the genetic processes of
mutation, migration, genetic drift and natural selection. With
a rapidly-changing climate, particularly with the warmer
and drier growing seasons indicated by the scenarios
for Alberta into the 2050s, these processes will likely be
inadequate to maintain adaptation in all cases, and human
intervention will be required. Effective intervention is
complicated by the fact that the expected impact of climate
change on forest genetic resources in Alberta is not well
understood.

Recognizing this problem, significant work now focuses
on the development of a better understanding of possible
future climates at the regional level and the response of
forest trees and ecosystems. Such knowledge is key to
developing an adaptation strategy for forest management
for the future. In the area of forest genetic resources
management, an important concern is the choice of
appropriate seed sources and tree varieties for use in
reforestation today and their suitability for the future. Trees
planted today will need to grow for many decades under
climate conditions that are expected to change more
rapidly than in the recorded past. Genetic composition and
diversity levels of the seedlots may need adjustment to
decrease risks of maladaptation in future climates. In some
cases different or entirely new species may be needed
for reforestation. Provenance research in forestry is key to
providing some of these answers. Work in Alberta over the
past 25 years and ongoing is providing some preliminary
information to guide future activities, but much more needs
to be done.

examples

by partners

ATI SC

The Alberta Tree Improvement and Seed Centre (Alberta
Sustainable Resource Development) carries out applied
research in support of the provincial forest genetic
resources management program and practical tree
breeding to enhance growth, yield, timber quality and the
climatic and pest hardiness of the future forest. The focus
is development of scientific knowledge on genetic variation
in wild populations and species, inheritance patterns and
their relationship to important adaptive and commercial
traits. The current emphasis of work is on summarizing
results from provenance trials of white spruce, black
spruce, lodgepole pine, jack pine and tamarack. These
trials were established during 1976 - 1990 throughout
Alberta and are providing valuable scientific information
on natural genetic variation among species-populations,
their adaptations to regional geography and climate, time
trends in growth and survival, pest damage, and field
performance under varying site conditions. A new area
of work is to develop mathematical models to extend our
understanding of adaptive genetic variation and climate
relationships to future climates using global warming
climate change scenarios for Alberta.

Alberta-Pacific

Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (Al-Pac) has an
active research program supporting its activities in
tree breeding and poplar farming. The company is fully
committed to developing the best practices possible,
and making sound decisions based on science. Al-Pac
is pursuing four separate tree improvement programs
including a clonal native balsam poplar program, hybrid
aspen and poplar breeding programs and a birch

program. Clonal selections (~400) for the balsam program
will be completed during the winter of 2005-06 and three
years of hybrid poplar breeding has produced thousands
of new genotypes for testing. Initial clonal selections have
been made from the hybrid aspen breeding program and
the last of a series of birch trials installed.

Some of the recent or ongoing research topics include
developing protocols for selecting disease and drought
resistant seedlings and clones, determining wood quality
and pulp yields of poplars, establishing optimum fertilizer
regimes, developing an economically viable mass
propagation system for hybrid aspen, understanding the
potential risks associated with the planting of non-native
poplars, determining carbon sequestration values for
hybrid poplar plantations, undertaking growth-and-yield
modeling of hybrid aspens and poplars, and investigating
the community perceptions of growing hybrid poplars as
an alternative agricultural crop.

Al-Pac’s poplar research program is conducted in
conjunction with partners from a diversity of sectors
including Oil & Gas, Universities and the Natural Sciences
Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

Canadian Forest Service

Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service
(CFS), operates the Northern Forestry Centre (NoFC)
which services Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the
Northwest Territories. Broad research themes at NoFC
include biodiversity, carbon budget modeling, fire ecology
and fire systems, impacts and adaptations to climate
change, innovative forest management practices, socio-

economic issues, and sustainable forest management.
The Laurentian Forestry Centre in Quebec has research
programs in tree biotechnology and advanced genetics.
The Atlantic Forestry Centre in New Brunswick is home to
the National Tree Seed Centre and conducts research into
tree gene conservation. CFS laboratories also collaborate
and partner with provincial government genetic programs.
Several CFS researchers provide advice and help with
pest problems associated with tree seed orchards and
have helped with programs in breeding for resistance.

FGAA

The Forest Genetics Alberta Association (FGAA) is up
and running as of the summer of 2005. The four founding
members are the Alberta Tree Improvement and Seed
Centre, Tolko-High Level, Northlands Forest Products and
Manning Diversified Forest Products.

The association was created to administer members’
cooperative tree improvement programs and to carry out
selected research and conservation activities. Reduced
staffing for all partners, along with increasing workload to
run the programs and meet requirements of the Standards
for Tree Improvement in Alberta, also prompted the
decision to put a formal organization in place.

Two geographic areas are covered, one in the northwest
and the other in the northeast. The northwest area covers
the tree improvement programs for region G2, white spruce
and region J, lodgepole pine. The northeast area covers
the tree improvement program for region El, white spruce
and region PI, jack pine. These programs are in various
stages of development but are mostly younger in age.

Poplar Council of Canada

A new poplar clone directory for Canada will be
available later in 2005, accessible to members only. It
includes such categories as codes, parentage, origin,
commercialization status, trial status and who to contact
regarding the material. The council held a Genomics to
Production Workshop April 7-8, 2005, in Edmonton with
support from Genome Canada and CFS. A summary of
the workshop will be available on the council’s web-site.
The workshop brought together government, industry and
academics to discuss how to put genomics tools to use.
The herbicide working group is working to get licences for
additional herbicides for use with poplar.

HASOC

HASOC, a consortium of five forest companies, was
established in 1995 to provide a cooperative framework
for coniferous tree improvement in west-central Alberta.
Member companies are Canadian Forest Products Ltd.;
Weyerhaeuser Company; Hinton Wood Products, a
Division of West Fraser Mills Ltd.; ANC Timber Ltd. and
Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. HASOC orchard
research focuses on operational trials related to health
and productivity. The five programs managed by HASOC
involve parent selection and breeding, progeny testing,
orchard establishment and management, and related
research. Seed orchard establishment at HASOC’s 320-
acre orchard site began in 1986. The site now contains
three lodgepole pine orchards, two white spruce orchards
and one black spruce orchard. A total of 262.56 kg of
seed, or 81.3 million seeds, have been harvested from the
four orchards currently in production.

All programs are managed to maintain high levels
of genetic diversity in both breeding and orchard
populations. Comprehensive white spruce and lodgepole
pine progeny tests will enable continued gain through
breeding and confirm adaptation of orchard stock.

WBAC

Western Boreal Aspen Corp. has four industrial members:
Ainsworth Engineered Canada LP, Daishowa-Marubeni
International Ltd., Footner Forest Products Ltd. and
Weyerhaeuser Company. Collectively these four
companies harvest 4.5 million cubic meters of hardwood
(approx. 90% aspen, 10% balsam poplar) to supply
three OSB mills and one pulp mill (DMI). Significant
accomplishments in 2004-05 include:

Plantation silviculture: a) initial planting density -five
year data from plaid factorial spacing trials on two sites
were analyzed to determine the impacts of initial density
on growth and yield of aspen; and b) rootling propagation
- a study investigating the influence of origin, orientation
and root segment size on rootling propagation was
completed in 2004. This has conclusively demonstrated
the importance of segment size and planting orientation
on propagation success. Alberta Forestry Research
Institute (AFRI) funded mass vegetative propagation
experiments are continuing through 2005 using the
stacked styroblock system and rootling propagation
methods in a series of operational trials at four Alberta
forest nurseries.

Native aspen and balsam poplar tree improvement:

a) first-generation breeding of aspen was completed in
2004, progeny tests are being established in 2005-07.
Controlled pollination of balsam poplar using the cut
branch technique was initiated in the winter of 2004-05
as part of an AFRI-funded hybrid balsam poplar breeding
project; and b) clone testing of wild aspen selections
continues: in the first phase, WBAC plans to test 300
wild selections from each of two breeding regions;
future candidates for clonal screening will be sourced
from controlled crosses in the breeding program. WBAC
members have begun assembling wild balsam poplar
collections for multi-location screening trials.

Hybrid aspen and hybrid poplar: breeding and done
testing: a) a first cycle of aspen hybrids has completed
four growing seasons in field trials. Some of the tested
trees are achieving over one metre in height increment per
year. (This is about 10 times the average height increment
of white or black spruce tested in Alberta). A second cycle
of hybridization has begun with funding from AFRI; and
b) WBAC initiated a balsam poplar hybridization program
in 2004 with funding assistance from AFRI. This will
generate hybrids with North American cottonwoods and
European black poplar.

Communications

A workshop in late 2003 identified a need to institute
some procedures and products that would help Council
communicate clearly with government, industry and
public stakeholders.

Sustaining Alberta’s forests through emerging and
unprecedented changes in social and ecological
environments can only occur with the support and
informed understanding of these stakeholders. For this
reason, communications was included as one of Council’s
strategic priorities.

The Chair has worked with suppliers to create a
foundational Strategic Communications Plan, from which
several useful products have flowed over the year in
review. Industry and government made some specific
financial contributions to make this happen, and Council’s

thanks goes to them for their generosity and vision.

Three fact sheets are now available, providing a clear
overview of the mandate and objectives of the Council,
and the rationale and processes behind coniferous
and deciduous tree improvement. These fact sheets
were designed to be housed on the Council’s website
(abtreegene.com) and available for printable download by
anyone interested in the subject.

A clear and attractive annual report was created for
Council, and is also available on our website. Work on
creating the structure of the website was begun in the
year in review.

Sponsors have committed to a three-year
communications plan that will see completion of a
comprehensive suite of products designed to help
communicate our message clearly and honestly to all
interested, from students to Open House visitors to
partners in the research community. Plans have already
been finalized for further fact sheets to be produced in the
coming year (Year Two), as well as to officially launch our
website at abtreegene.com.

Trees ofg

The purpose of the Trees of Renown program, sponsored
by the Devonian Botanic Garden, is to identify and
preserve the oldest, biggest, most unusual, or locally

or historically significant trees or stands, as a heritage
resource for future generations of Albertans.

The Alberta Forestry Association announced in 1983 the
program was “designed to gather and record information
about unique trees, to help identify and locate them, and
to protect them as much as possible.” Two editions of a
Trees of Renown Honour Roll were produced, the second
with 115 trees.

Recently, in cooperation with founding members Dr Bruce
Dancik and Dr Peter Murphy, individuals from within ASRD
have revived the concept, the name, and the program.

The new Trees of Renown program will complement other
conservation initiatives and programs, such as the Rare
and Exceptional Stands program and the Heritage Tree
Foundation of Canada. Land reservations, designed to
protect the trees from harvest or other industrial activities,
will be placed on an area around the most deserving or
outstanding nominations.

Two trees have been verified as new additions to the Trees
of Renown Honour Roll. The first is a 47 m white spruce
on the Christina River, in the Fort McMurray area. The
second is a Limber pine with an estimated age in excess of
1,000 years and a diameter of over a metre. It stands on a
slope overlooking Crowsnest Lake. Other trees have been
proposed and as they are verified, will be added to the roll.

402 Meadowview Terrace
Sherwood Park, Alberta T8H 1X7
Phone: (780) 449-5626 Fax: (780) 449-5626
Website: wwwabtreegene.com
E-mail: afgrc@shaw.ca

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