Balsam fir trees 'at risk' in New Brunswick amid a changing climate
Forestry experts and farmers warn rising temperatures could harm tree health
While artificial Christmas trees might be the popular choice during the holiday season, nothing beats the smell of a fresh balsam fir.
But new research out of the University of New Brunswick shows the popular tree is at risk of being harmed by climate change.
Anthony Taylor, a forest ecologist and professor of forest management at the University of New Brunswick, said the balsam fir is an important species in the region, making up about 20 per cent of all the trees in the province.
Taylor and two other researchers have spent the past six years correlating historic climate data with previous balsam fir mortalities — or die-offs — and found these trees in particular are sensitive to high temperatures and periods of drought.
Forest
ecologist Anthony Taylor used historic climate data and tree mortality
mapping to conclude that balsam fir trees are highly sensitive to
changes in environment. (Ben Ford/CBC)
In the spring of 2018, Taylor said people noticed evergreens along the highway were turning red — and dying.
"They tended to be individuals or small clusters of trees, but they were bright red," said Taylor.
"And so then the question became, well, what's causing this?"
Using historical temperature and drought data, Taylor and his team were able to draw a strong link between the clusters of red trees and climate anomalies across the province.
"Just the year before, we had an abnormally dry summer, and it was also warm. It was a very warm, dry fall as well," he said.
"And so you had this warm, dry fall extending right into December. So you had a lot of trees basically going into dormancy in the winter time, going to sleep, under really dry, stressed conditions."
Taylor's research found this wasn't the first time mass mortality has happened here — the same condition was reported in 1986 and was referred to then as Stillwell's syndrome. Coincidentally, 1986 was also a dry, hot year.
"And so then that led us to the conclusion that climate is a driver of this mortality."
Shirley Brennan, executive director of the Canadian Christmas Trees Association, said drought is especially concerning for newly planted trees.
"We used to always just rely on Mother Nature and now we're looking at, do farms need to have irrigation? Do they need to be able to have a water source?" she said.
"So it's not a one time cure, like, oh if we all do this this is going to work. And so that's why there's ongoing research about it. But the more that we can work with the soil and find ways to keep that moisture in, the better. The better we, our industry, will be able to combat this."
Protecting from the ground up
Taylor hopes the research reaches the right people in New Brunswick — government officials who can put measures in place to curb climate change, but also tree farms and woodlot owners.
One Christmas tree farmer in Keswick Ridge said he's always had to adapt his trees to changes in the environment.
Gerry Redmond owns Red Robin Christmas Tree Farm in Keswick Ridge, near Fredericton, and he monitors his 25,000 trees very closely.
Christmas tree farm owner Gerald Redmond says he’s always had to adapt his trees to changes in the environment. (Ben Ford/CBC)
It takes eight to 12 years for the balsam firs he grows to reach the size of a perfect Christmas tree, so he is always monitoring the impact of climate on his trees.
If he has a really dry May, for example, the roots of new seedlings have trouble establishing, meaning he has to take extra care with his younger trees.
He said always plants more than he expects to harvest, because some trees don't make it, while others grow up patchy or with dry spots because of a lack of sun.
It's industry practice on farms like his to make adjustments as you go — and there is lots of research being done to create more resilient fir trees, Redmond said.
"There are seedlings I can get that can withstand drought or withstand too much water too."
So far, he has not seen any significant die-off because of weather, he said.
However, with research showing "there are significant things that are coming down the line," Redmond plans to "keep alert."
The future of the fir
Woodlot owners and tree farmers should consider introducing more diverse species into their lots, Taylor said. And on a larger scale, everyone should do their part to prevent further warming.
"I'm not suggesting that the balsam fir is going to disappear from the landscape anytime soon. It just seems to be one of the species right now that's sensitive to warming, and the kind of warning that we're experiencing.
"And so we may see a reduction in its growth and its availability across the region."
The
balsam fir makes up about 20% of all the trees in the province, and
about two million are exported each year as Christmas trees. (Danielle McCreadie/CBC)
So, what is New Brunswick without the balsam fir?
"I don't even want to think about it," said Taylor.
"I mean, it's our provincial tree. Especially this time of year with Christmas coming on, it's such a beautiful smell."
"But if we do not get a handle on climate change and the climate changes as it's projected to do by the end of the century with this continued growth of emissions, it is a possibility to consider a province without balsam fir."
Your best chance to find them is along sections of highway that are subject to lots of salt. Check them out and you'll see that cedar is especially vulnerable.
According to Christmas tree grower Mr. Redmond "So far, he has not seen any significant die-off because of weather, he said."
Some people would rather be under a couple kilometers of ice? Let's try that out.
Jimmy Cochrane
Reply to Greg Abison
You’ll be safe from the ice as long as you obey to pay your carbon taxes.
Eddy Geek
Reply to Greg Abison
How on earth did you get there?
Eddy Geek
Reply to Jimmy Cochrane
After ALL of this time and you STILL have zero clue about Canada's carbon tax
serge montague
Reply to Eddy Geek
It's not hard to figure out a tax which accomplishes Zero
Eddy Geek
Reply to serge montague
Is that what wee Pierre told you?
You have internet access, use it to actually learn something
serge montague
Reply to Eddy Geek
NO, the climate action plan auditor told me that. His report was all over the internet .
Eddy Geek
Content Deactivated
Reply to serge montague
Sure thing tea roll Buh bye
serge montague
Reply to Eddy Geek
"eddy's gettin upset!" George Costanza
Don Corey
Reply to Eddy Geek
It's simply an income redistribution scheme.
Don Corey
Reply to Eddy Geek
Perhaps you should consider following your own advice.
Reply to Don Corey
Trust that he never will
Bob Leeson
Balsam fir does best in cool climates with an annual temp of 4°C, and are one of the most cold tolerant trees known in the world. Their roots need to be constantly moist, and will die if their roots dry out even for a short time.
As the climate changes, their most southern distribution is moving northward, becoming less common in many north-eastern US states. Connecticut for example has had to classify them as endangered due to being at risk from eminent extirpation.
Too bad, because although not an important forestry tree economically like red and white spruce in the Maritimes, they're invaluable to wildlife.
Jimmy Cochrane
Reply to Bob Leeson
Most of the province was very dry this summer. There is always collateral damage from a dry season. More apres peau to wave the climate change flag though.
Bob Leeson
Reply to Jimmy Cochrane
I bet many US north-eastern states wish it was just one random season due to natural variation, but unfortunately it appears to be a multi-decade trend, just as predicted in early regional climate models made in the 1980s. I wonder why governments hire scientists when they won't listen to them or heed their findings anyway?
Don Corey
Reply to Bob Leeson
Well, you're wrong about them not being economically important. Although spruce is the preferred species for NB sawmills, balsam fir is actually the dominant species available to sawmills in northern NB. That will change over time though, but more so because of spruce plantations ready for harvesting and much less so because of climate change.
Buy a piece of lumber and you'll see it's graded SPF.....means spruce, pine and fir; for NB that means spruce and fir.
Bob Leeson
Reply to Don Corey
The "F" in SPF normally stands for Douglas fir and several other species. Balsam fir is mostly used for pulp & paper. It's lightness, low strength (both compression & bending), lack of durability (it decays quickly), and lower nail holding strength make it less desirable for framing or other structural construction purposes. It's also small, and mostly sapwood. Sure it can hold up a 6" stud wall for a 1 story home, but there are much better choices available and thus they are not included in higher grades.
Don Corey
Reply to Bob Leeson
Well, you're very wrong again. Balsam fir is included in the "F", and is an important species in many NB sawmills (of which you obviously have zero knowledge, but I do).
Buy lumber graded SPF from NB, and it'll include both spruce and fir; or the fir will be sorted out at the sawmill so bundles graded SPF could be fir only.
Albalita Star
Reply to Don Corey
Hey you can't tell bob he's wrong...he's an expert in this field...well all fields really...
David Amos
Reply to Albalita Star
He is barking up the wrong tree trying to argue that topic with Don
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