Message from the Chair

This seventh annual report of the Alberta Forest
Genetic Resources Council represents a change in
our reporting practice. Members wanted a report
that was relevant to activities undertaken during
the most recent field season and to the calendar
year just past, and this is why you are now receiving
our report at this time of the year. I look forward to
your feedback on the value of this change in giving
you a timely and relevant annual report.

Recent months have seen Council make
excellent progress on three major initiatives
identified as immediate priorities by members.

The first involved external communications, not
only for Council but also for the forestry sector as
a whole. Next came advocacy in the area of forest
productivity, with the objective of integrating
forest genetic information into growth-and-yield
modeling and timber supply analysis. The third area
involved identification of and advocacy for tree
genetics research gaps and priorities along with
future opportunities.

The expertise and dedication of Council
members have also resulted in a number of
other issues moving forward. The conservation
of forest genetic resources has been addressed
with completion and endorsement of a gene

conservation plan. Other initiatives have included
protocols around access and benefit sharing of
genetic resources, criteria & indicators for genetic
diversity, and the review of tree improvement
standards in Alberta. Council has also turned its
attention to climate change. Given the magnitude
of potential change and its impacts on our forest
genetic resources, Council will continue to treat this
issue as a priority for the foreseeable future.

Doug Sklar, Narinder Dhir, Bruce Dancik, Pat
Wearmouth, Chris Shank and Steve Luchkow ended
their terms on Council, and we are indebted for the
contributions they made during their time with
us. We were glad to welcome Leonard Barnhardt,
Andreas Hamann, Bruce Macmillan and Scott
Milligan who joined us this past year, as well as our
newest members Dave Beck and John Stadt who are
coming on board in 2007.

Cliff Smith, Chair
Alberta Forest Genetic
Resources Council

Table of Contents

2 Tree Improvement

3 Gene Conservation Plan

4 Forest Productivity

5 Climate Change

7 Research: Gap Analysis

8 Research: Council Priorities

9 Outreach and Education
10 Partner Activity

Recent months have seen Council make excellent progress on three
major initiatives identified as immediate priorities by members.

Tree Improvement

Tree improvement programs in the province
involve two deciduous species and six coniferous
species native to Alberta. All programs are based
on traditional plant breeding methods with no
genetic modification (GM) involved. Conservation
of genetic diversity and maintenance of
adaptability to natural environments are primary
objectives of all native species programs. The
challenge of changing climate underscores the
importance of maintaining high levels of genetic
diversity in these breeding programs.

Most programs involve cooperative
arrangements either among companies,
or between Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development and single or multiple companies.
Several programs are also being developed by the
Department or by individual companies.

The first coniferous programs were initiated in
1976, and new programs have been continuously

reserves is also being initiated for all species
involved in breeding programs.

Increased wood production through faster
growth rates is a primary objective of the
programs, although some conifer programs are
designed to alleviate seed shortages. Researchers
are also selecting for disease resistance,
particularly in poplar programs.

Orchards of lodgepole pine, white spruce,
black spruce, jack pine, douglas-fir and western
larch have been established. To date, more than
1,100 kg of seed have been produced, and over
12,000 ha have been planted with improved
conifer seed. Progeny tests associated with the
older programs are yielding fast-growing healthy
individuals for inclusion in the next generation's
breeding and orchard populations.

Coniferous programs are summarized below.

Several forest products companies are
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. Thousands of poplar and aspen genotypes
have been selected, and more than 100 tests have
been established. Deployment on private land
began in 2000; testing is currently under way for
future deployment on public land.

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

added. Some mature orchards have produced

adaptation and conservation objectives are met.

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 (away
from natural habitat) reserves. In conjunction
with the Gene Conservation Plan for Native Trees of
Alberta, a system of in situ (within natural habitat)

# of

programs

parents in
programs

parents
under test

genotypes
in orchards

trees in
orchards

total seed
produced (kg)

hectares 1
planted 1

Douglas-fir

i

45

0

39

121

0

0

Western larch

i

27

0

18

80

0

0

Jack pine

i

70

0

56

434

0

0

Lodgepole pine

7

1,938

1,633

642

10,204

230.1

9051

Black spruce

3

266

179

221

3,268

0.7

0

White spruce

9

1,289

932

823

8,743

916.9

3,537

Grand Total

22

3,635

2,744

1,799

22,850

1147.7

12,588

* http://www.abtreegene.com/images/STIA.pdf

Conservation of genetic diversity and maintenance of adaptability
are primary objectives of all native species programs.

Gene Conservation Plan

The new (2006) Gene Conservation Plan for
Native Trees of Alberta identifies and describes
Alberta's native tree species and outlines a
methodology for identifying and protecting
populations of these species to ensure continued
forest health and evolutionary resilience.

The conservation plan is important to Alberta
because genes represent the potential of any
organism, population or species to adapt to the
environment. For Alberta's 28 native tree species,
environmental challenges include fragmentation
and isolation of populations due to economic
development and land-use conversion, climate
change and increasing pressures from pests and
diseases. These conditions have the potential to
erode the genetic variation required for evolution
and continued forest productivity and health.

The conservation plan and related activities will
identify measures to protect this variation for
future economic development, scientific study
and continued forest evolution and health.

Implementation will occur over the coming
decade or so. A formal protocol will help establish
conservation priorities by species. The initial
conservation emphasis will be on two species for
which large-scale planting of traditionally-bred

improved trees is in progress (lodgepole pine and
white spruce), and two species that are particularly
vulnerable to disease, wildfire and climate
warming (limber pine and whitebark pine). Efforts
to fill gaps in the network of protected populations
will be concentrated on Alberta's public lands.
Complementary efforts will be undertaken where
candidate populations for protection are outside
provincial public lands.

The Parks and Protected Areas Division of
Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture
and the Forestry Division of Alberta Sustainable
Resource Development have an agreement
to develop and coordinate implementation of
the plan with guidance from the Alberta Forest
Genetic Resources Council and in concert with
forest companies. The major part of the plan
deals with establishment of in situ (within
natural habitat) reserves for commercial and
non-commercial species. Companies involved in
tree improvement have the primary responsibility
for establishment and maintenance of reserves
for species in their tree-improvement programs.

It is envisioned that many of the reserves can
be established within the existing Parks and
Protected Areas network. However, there will

be a requirement for reserves to be established
on other public lands for some species and local
populations. Coordination between the working
group on native tree gene conservation and local
contacts and land managers will be crucial for
implementation.

Implementation of the plan commences in 2007
with establishment of in situ reserves following
gap analysis on a prioritized species basis. An ex
situ (away from natural habitat) component of the
conservation plan is under development for seed,
pollen and plant materials maintained in archives,
clone banks and field plantings.

Companies involved in tree improvement have primary
responsibility for establishment and maintenance of reserves for
species in their tree-improvement programs.

Forest Productivity

Council teamed up with Foothills Growth and
Yield Association in a joint project to promote the
incorporation of forest genetic information into
growth and yield modeling and timber supply
analysis.

With the support of Foothills Model Forest
Council made a successful application to the Forest
Resource Improvement Association of Alberta's
Open Funds program, resulting in funding for a
major Post-harvest Stand Development conference.

The conference was held in Edmonton
on January 31 and February 1, 2006, and was
attended by over 150 delegates from across North
America and offshore, including leaders and
experts from academia, government and industry.
Our objectives were to:

• Share and integrate information
concerning the effective management
of forest stands regenerated after
harvesting in Alberta;

• Determine delivery options for the
integration of genetic, growth and
yield, silvicultural and forest health
information;

• Achieve understanding by forest
managers of how this information can
be applied in policy and practice;

• Identify information gaps and associated
research requirements for growth and
yield modeling.

The delegates shared information and ideas
and listened to 25 speakers in plenary and
concurrent sessions. The speakers participated
in nine break-out groups focused on the fourth
conference objective noted above. More than 40
issues and 44 recommendations were identified
for consideration. A final panel of seven experts
reflected on the outcomes of the breakout groups
as well as their own perspectives on the major
themes of the conference.

Delegates explored ideas that could inform
Alberta forest policy and suggest action plans
appropriate for the Foothills Growth and Yield
Association, the Alberta Forest Genetic Resources
Council, their corporate members and potentially
other participating agencies.

The conference co-chairs concluded that
improved information and knowledge are
indeed required for the management of stands
regenerated after harvesting. Further action is
now required in the areas of program alignment,
integration of inter-disciplinary information,
education, application and research. As a follow-
up to the conference, three facilitated dialogues
will take place to focus on next steps in these
areas. Proceedings and other information can be
found on Council's website, www.abtreegene.com.

Delegates explored ideas that could inform Alberta forest
policy and suggest action plans.

Climate Change

In 2005 and 2006 the Alberta Forest Genetic
Resources Council conducted an in-depth review
of genetic resource management issues related to
climate change, drafted a framework document
for climate change planning, and adopted the
following statements of principle:

• Council accepts that climate has changed
in recent decades and scientific evidence
indicates this trend will continue. Early
impacts on forest ecosystems are now being

detected. Therefore, Council believes that
the risk of status-quo forest management
exceeds the risk of making changes to

management practices.

• Council's primary concerns are loss of forest
productivity due to inadequate adaptation
of current commercial tree species, loss of
genetic resources due to localized extinction
of populations, and impacts on forest
ecosystems such as increased pest and disease
outbreaks, extreme climate events, and
increased forest fire frequency and intensity.

• Because of the long-term nature of forestry.
Council believes that adaptation strategies
for forest resource management should be
implemented as soon as possible to mitigate
anticipated impacts of climate change.
Council recommends the use of research
results and pilot projects to adapt the current
reforestation practices to climate-informed
resource management strategies.

Climate change over the last half century has
increased mean annual temperatures by almost 1°C
across Alberta. This trend is expected to continue,
resulting in warming by about 2 or 3°C over the
next 50 years. Regional and seasonal patterns
of precipitation may also change substantially.

Such changes create new challenges for forest

management, and forest-based communities which
rely both economically and socially on the resource.

Even though warming by 2-3°C does not
sound very threatening, the effect on forests could
be substantial. The figure on the next page shows
how the tree and plant communities of today
might be located in order to be well adapted to
the predicted climates of the 2020s, 2050s and
2080s. The forests we see today are the result
of thousands of years of natural evolution and
ecological processes. The anticipated change in
climate may be too rapid and severe for successful
adaptation by our current forest trees.

Year

Data from NASA andAHCCD http://tinyurl.com/epy8o

Council believes that the risk of status-quo forest management
exceeds the risk of making changes to management practices.

Tree populations can naturally "move" by way
of seed dispersal to more suitable regions and
climates - but these are slow processes. Careful
and well-planned tree breeding and movement
of planting stock (further north and/or to higher
elevations) during reforestation activities can
assist in population adaptation.

Well established and carefully regulated tree-
breeding work in Alberta is already providing data
and seedlings to help forest managers prepare for

Methodology described in Ecology (2006) 87:
2773-2786 (http://tinyurl.com/nvk8p)

these anticipated changes. Genetic field testing
of planting stock has been done in Alberta for the
past 25 years, which has allowed us to generate
some preliminary information to guide these
activities. Further tests specifically designed to
answer these questions are under development.

Researchers in government, academia and
industry are working to better understand the
response of forest trees and ecosystems to
possible future climate change scenarios. Some
species are likely to benefit from warmer climates
with increased growth rates and an expanded
range, whereas other species could disappear
from some regions. We believe knowledge is
key to making the right decisions about forest
management today and in the future.

Council will advise the government of Alberta
on potential adaptation strategies, as well as
on research and resource needs. Council will
also develop an educational plan for the public
and inform other researchers and decision-
makers about climate change and its effects on
genetic adaptation. It will also work to promote
development of adaptation strategies with non-
governmental sectors and industry.

We believe knowledge is key to making the right decisions
about forest management today and in the future.

Research: Gap Analysis

A study completed by Council partners,
with support from the Alberta Forestry Research
Institute, helped pinpoint some forest genetics
research needs in the province.

Sixty-three surveys investigating research gaps
in forest genetics were completed, categorized
and analyzed to better understand the needs of
industry, government and academia in Alberta.

The survey identified not only gaps in current
research, but also gaps in the infrastructure and
personnel required to conduct these research
activities.

Respondents indicated that there is a lack
of basic knowledge about the genetics of tree
species found in Alberta. By gaining a better
understanding of these trees' genetic diversity and
how performance is linked to site, fundamental
questions would be answered that could directly
impact deployment strategies, climate change
considerations and, ultimately, government policy.

Three areas of work were of priority interest
to those who are users of research. They were
breeding program expansion, genecological work
including basic research, molecular tools and

nursery needs, and deployment issues related to
both material and policy.

Those who produce research, meanwhile,
showed broad levels of support for a more
comprehensive range of interests and needs.
Categorized by tree type, 56 per cent of the
desired projects were related to poplar and 24
per cent to conifer. Most of the
remaining projects were not
tied to specific species, though
one project related to willows.

Two categories of human
resources needs and priorities
were identified. One related
to liaison-type positions that
ensure effective knowledge
transfer between communities,
putting knowledge into
practice, and the teaching of
undergraduates. The second
had to do with additional
researchers needed to conduct
the work and/or statisticians
to analyze the data. The need

for quantitative and molecular genetics specialists
was specifically identified.

Although only a snap-shot, this survey
provided a significant amount of information
to assist with determination of next steps
and research priorities in the forest genetics
community in Alberta.

. . . fundamental questions would be answered that could directly
impact deployment strategies, climate change considerations and,
ultimately, government policy.

Research: Council Priorities

During the period under review, Council has
identified and priorized some key research needs
anticipated by various stakeholders.

Foundations for the discussion included the
research gap analysis (see page 7) and other studies.
One stimulus for the work was Council's belief that
anticipated climate and environmental changes
could invalidate traditional methods of priorizing
research needs. Forest policy and practice, and the
supporting research, have tended to follow a path
of risk avoidance. New pressures require us to lean
more toward a scientific assessment of the risks and
benefits associated with seed transfer and the use
of hybrids or exotics. Other issues to be assessed
in this way include levels of genetic diversity in
deployment populations, selection of fast growing,
insect- and stress-resistant forest trees, guidelines
for deployment of planting material in the
landscape, and guidelines for conservation of forest
genetic resources.

Following are the research areas advocated by
Council to support the development of science-
based policies and practices.

• Research supporting the development of
seed transfer guidelines. Transfer rules should
be based on knowledge of plant-climate
relationships. This research may utilize
experimental and modeling approaches.

• Research supporting the development of
guidelines for responsible use of exotics,
hybrids and out-of-range deployments. This
should include consideration of uncertain
future climates. Possible approaches may
include long-term field testing, ecological
niche modeling of risk of invasion,
experimental and empirical research on gene
flow and fitness.

• Research supporting the development of
guidelines for resourceful use of superior
genotypes from tree improvement programs.
This includes investigating the indirect effects
on adaptive traits when selecting for superior
growth and the feasibility of selecting for
resistance to environmental stresses, including
those expected under climate change
scenarios.

• Research supporting the development of
guidelines for managing genetic diversity at
stand and landscape scales. Research should
have an emphasis on commercially important
species. Possible approaches may include
risk-gain modeling of various deployment
patterns and genetic diversity levels in
populations.

J0

New pressures require us to lean more toward a scientific
assessment of the risks and benefits associated with seed transfer
and the use of hybrids or exotics.

Outreach and Education

The year ending March 31, 2007, is the last in Council's three-year strategy to create some basic
awareness and information resources for our stakeholders in media, public, industry and government
circles. Generous support given specifically for this task (see box) has allowed us to:

• Launch and provide monthly updates for a comprehensive website (www.abtreegene.com);

• Prepare and distribute this annual report;

• Prepare a fact sheet on Climate Change - one
of five fact sheets now available for download
on our website;

• Print two Council-related articles in a forestry
trade magazine;

• Create a slide presentation and speech for a
Climate Change panel session at the Alberta
Forest Products Association annual meeting
and conference;

• Provide information materials to the Minister of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and
potential partners such as the Alberta Forestry Research Institute.

Looking forward, we can see that genetic conservation, forest
productivity, climate change and mountain pine beetle are going to be
of critical importance to Albertans and their forests. We are planning a
second three-year strategy that will explain the role Council might play
in all these issues, while at the same time engaging young students
and teachers in the practical realities of what they must know and do to
ensure sustainable forests.

Our sincere thanks to our funding
partners of the past three years:

Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd.

Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc.

Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development

Canadian Forest Products Ltd.

Canadian Forest Service
Daishowa-Marubeni international Ltd.
Footner Forest Products Ltd.

Manning Diversified Forest Products Ltd.
Northland Forest Products Ltd.

Poplar Council of Canada
Tolko Industries Ltd.

University of Alberta (in kind)
Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd.

Looking forward we can see that genetic conservation, forest
productivity, climate change and mountain pine beetle are going
to be of critical importance to Albertans and their forests.

9

Partner Activity: Genetics and Reclamation

Council partners are involved in many
individual genetics-related projects; one example
is Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc.'s research in
support of improved well-site reclamation as well
as forest sustainability.

The overall goal of the work, supported by a
number of energy and forestry companies and the
University of Alberta, is to develop best practices
for reclamation of certain well-sites on forested
lands in northeast Alberta. The results may also be
applicable to other oilfield disturbances elsewhere
in the province.

The project will determine if replanting is
required at all disturbed sites and if so, what
tree species would be most suitable. Variable
site, moisture and climate can produce stock
selection challenges that have not previously been
addressed for boreal forest reclamation.

Specific challenges include establishment of
planted trees prior to site invasion by aggressive
herbaceous species; logistics related to planting
small but highly dispersed and highly variable
sites; and seed collection and propagation systems

suited to energy companies that require relatively
small numbers of trees from a number of different
seed zones.

Species used in the trials have included
trembling aspen, paper birch, white spruce and
jack pine plugs. Unrooted balsam poplar cuttings
were also tested in these trials. While statistical
analyses of results have yet to be completed,
preliminary observations indicate that pine and
birch appear to be the most versatile in terms of
survival and vigour. Balsam poplar also produces
vigourous growth under most site conditions
although establishment is somewhat more difficult
due to the additional preparation and handling
required to keep unrooted cuttings viable.

A best practices manual including ecologically
and economically sound well-site construction
and reclamation protocols will be produced in
2008, at the conclusion of the study.

Reclamation of these sites represents an
enormous opportunity for oil & gas and forestry
to work together to find the best solutions when
replanting these challenging sites. Industry

partners include Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.,
ConocoPhillips, Devon Canada, EnCana, JACOS,
Nexen and OPTI Canada.

The project will determine if replanting is required at all
sites and if so, what tree species would be most suitable.

disturbed

10

ALBERTA

COUNCIL

Secretariat:

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

GENETIC

Council Membership

Scientific Sector: Dr. Andreas Hamann, Dr. Ken Mallett,

Dr. John Spence

Biological Sector: Chris Shank

ISBN: 0-7785-4827-9 (Printed Edition)
ISBN: 0-7785-4828-7 (On-line Edition)
Pub No.T/120

Industry Sector: Steve Luchkow, Dr. Sally John, Bruce

Macmillan, Dr. Barb Thomas

Editorial/produetion management:
MediaMatch West Communications Inc.

Government Sector: Leonard Barnhardt, Dr. Ken Greenway,
Scott Milligan

Photos courtesy of:

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development,
MediaMatch West Communications Inc.,
Terry Osko, Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd.

Chair:

Cliff Smith