During 2005 and 2006, Council has identified and priorized some key research needs anticipated by various stakeholders.
Foundations for the discussion included the research gap analysis (see below) and other studies. One stimulus for the work was Council’s belief that anticipated climate and environmental changes could invalidate traditional methods of prioritizing 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…
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The 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.
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The dual challenges of changing climate and economic constraints continue to influence forest genetics programs in Alberta. Conservation of genetic diversity and maintenance of adaptability to natural environments remain among the primary objectives of all programs.
Programs for public land deployment involve two deciduous and six coniferous species native to Alberta. All programs are based on traditional methods of selection and breeding, with no genetic modification (GM).
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The dual challenges of changing climate and economic constraints continue to influence forest genetics programs in Alberta.
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