SALMON ARM, B.C. – The mountain pine beetle has killed a forest area in British Columbia the size of New Brunswick, but the infestation may bring opportunities for the province’s cattle producers.
“It is a massive change to the landscape,” said Duncan Barnett, a rancher and consultant to the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association.
“The impacts are great but so are the opportunities.”
He told producers at their annual meeting in Salmon Arm May 26 that the province has developed a strategy to deal with the problem of millions of dead pine trees, including reforestation, forage replanting and removing dead trees for lumber.
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The beetle has created the largest forest insect infestation in Canada’s history and the most severe infestation is in the middle of the province, where B.C.’s cow-calf industry is located.
“Every sector and region has their views on what should be done and how important their issues are, so somebody has to co-ordinate that on a provincial level,” Barnett said.
Beef producers want more forage once trees are removed. In many areas tree ingrowth and encroachment has been a major problem so if timber is removed, grass could regrow for livestock and wildlife habitat.
Barnett said the infestation will also bring problems to the cattle industry. In some areas where trees are replanted, livestock may have to stay out to protect the seedlings.
Another problem is the loss of natural barriers such as a thick wall of trees that acts as a fence to keep cattle from drifting out of their range. Fences and cattle guards will be required to replace the natural barriers but cattle producers say they cannot afford to build or maintain them.
“We all know that with the industry and economic crunch that it has been in, we are not looking to pick up the cost,” Barnett said.
More roads will be built as loggers remove dead trees, which will create safety concerns and require cattle guards.
When these roads are eventually closed, some lessees may lose access to parts of the range.
Another problem is introduction of invasive plants. Disturbance from logging and road building creates a high risk of noxious weeds spreading and preventing forage regrowth.
As well, fallen trees have damaged fences and trails.
Water supplies could also be jeopardized because no one knows how the deadfall or massive removal might affect water supplies and watersheds.
Scientists believe by the time the infestation has run its course, about 80 percent of the lodgepole pine in B.C. will be affected. The beetle is also spreading into western Alberta where jack pine forests could also be at risk.
