National Forest Week is a wonderful opportunity to rediscover the beauty and wealth of our forests and to appreciate the countless benefits they provide.

The objective of the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program is to support Canada's forest sector in becoming more economically competitive, and environmentally sustainable, through targeted investments in innovative technologies.

Woodpecker activity on ash trees in the winter may not seem worrisome; however, it may be a sign that a beetle is hiding under the bark. Could it be the emerald ash borer?

Researchers with the Canadian Forest Service and Université Laval have been able to explain the synchronized hatching of the eggs of this insect species by studying its embryonic diapause, which consists of three phases: prediapause, diapause and postdiapause.

Birds are abundant in the boreal forest owing to its vast size and the variety of habitats that can be found there. Although immense and remote from large cities, the boreal forest is nevertheless subject to various kinds of developments and other human influences that could compromise its ecological integrity.

Contact us

Collaborating with scientists from the United States, France and China, Dr. Jean Turgeon of the Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC) used his extensive science expertise to contribute to an international review of two closely related alien invasive beetles, the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) and the Citrus Longhorned Beetle (CLB). The main tree genus attacked by both insects is maple. The review provides an overview of the insects' biology, history, research, and international control actions. Canada's eradication program for ALB is outlined, including costs to-date, as approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency; this is the first time such information has been published. Information on the closely related CLB, another alien invasive insect with the potential to devastate forests and orchards in North America if it becomes established, will also be of interest to the forest sector.

Recent publications of the Great Lakes Forestry Centre

GLFC research examining various aspects of producing fast-growing forest crops has identified a number of recommendations of interest to landowners and investors. The research has looked at aspects of plantation establishment, and developed sophisticated computer models to predict which species, establishment practices, and lands are best suited to purpose-grown tree plantations. Short- and medium-rotation plantations using native, non-native and hybrid varieties have been studied. The land base physically available for afforestation purposes has been quantified and mapped. The cumulative total of this analysis is helping to inform investment decision-making.

Canada has a demonstrated leadership role in forest fire research. Dr. Bill de Groot, a fire research scientist at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC) has developed the Canadian Fire Effects Model (CanFIRE), which is a model to simulate the physical and ecological effects of fire on boreal forest structure and composition. CanFIRE is also an extension model of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System, which is used by provinces to plan and manage their forest fire operations. Bill is working with federal, provincial and territorial colleagues to calibrate and implement the model across Canada. Because of the current concern about climate change, this model is now being used to study the carbon released from forest fires.

The management of forest-dwelling woodland caribou populations and their habitat continue to attract interest across Canada because caribou are listed as a threatened species under Federal legislation. Resource managers, conservation agencies, and research scientists are all contributing to the development of new knowledge to help conserve the species. As part of this collaborative effort, Dr. Ian Thompson at the Canadian Forest Service-Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC) recently embarked on a long-term, collaborative woodland caribou research project in Ontario.

Subscribe / unsubscribe

The initial results of laboratory research undertaken by Canadian Forest Service and Institut Armand-Frappier researchers on a pathogenic fungus (Beauveria bassiana) of the white pine weevil could lead to the development of a new biological insecticide.

The hemlock looper (Lambdina fiscellaria (Guenée)) is an insect pest of coniferous forests in North America. Several outbreaks of this insect have recently caused severe damage in the Gaspé and North Shore regions of Quebec.

Ground beetles, which numerous species make up the large family Carabidae, are often used as indicators of biodiversity. Their population dynamics are widely used in Europe and western North America to assess the quality of forest management from the standpoint of biodiversity maintenance.

In Ontario, a team of Canadian Forest Service pathologists have identified the presence of white rot decay in pines. This disease is caused by a fungus injected into trees by the Sirex woodwasp.

Studies done by researchers at the Canadian Forest Service, the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the Université du Québec à Montréal show that anticyclonic (high atmospheric pressure) conditions associated with sea surface temperature changes in the Pacific Ocean favour the development of large forest fires in the fire triangle area (area encompassing the Waswanipi, James Bay and Lac Mistassini regions).

From the standpoint of protecting litter-dwelling insects, clearcutting and scarification are among the forestry practices that should be avoided in mixedwood forests. Small-gap harvesting is the best silvicultural approach.

Mineral and oil and gas exploration is an effective way to diversify the resource economies of beetle-infested areas and may provide well-paying jobs in communities facing declining forestry-sector employment.

In northwestern Quebec, a large portion of the boreal forest is subject to paludification, a natural process involving the gradual accumulation of a thick layer of organic matter. Can the degree of paludification be predicted? What impact does it have on forest productivity?

Can seedlings intended for reforestation be planted anywhere, regardless of the seed source from which they were obtained? The Optisource software was developed to help forest managers answer this question.

Canada is required to prepare an annual report on the state of its forests to meet its international commitments and national requirements. To this end, the Canadian Forest Service co-ordinates the National Forest Inventory (NFI), which is based on a network of permanent sample plots covering all of Canada's forests.

When the Space Shuttle Discovery is launched April 5, it will carry white spruce seedlings to the International Space Station as part of a joint effort involving the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre and the Canadian Space Agency. The research is being undertaken to gain a better understanding of how wood develops, so that we can ultimately produce trees with the attributes Canada's forestry sector is looking for.

Under the projected global warming conditions, coniferous forest soils should release carbon into the atmosphere more readily than deciduous forest soils.

An increase in forest fire activity is expected to occur by the end of the 21st century. The results of a study conducted by Canadian Forest Service and Climate Risk Analysis researchers suggest that with climate change, the projected increase in precipitation will be insufficient to compensate for increasing temperatures and to maintain the evapotranspiration potential of forests at current levels.

During a drought period, the soil moisture content declines. Soil moisture plays an important role in forests since it has a direct effect on tree growth and transpiration by controlling the leaves' CO2 uptake

Based on the results of a study conducted by researchers at the Canadian Forest Service, Université Laval and the University of Winnipeg, climate change could lead to a decrease in jack pine, black spruce and trembling aspen growth.

Climate change may lead to a slight increase in plantation yields for certain seed sources.

A study undertaken by researchers at the Canadian Forest Service and the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue shows that with the expected climate change, peatlands should continue to accumulate carbon if the precipitation level remains high.

Science magazine Québec Science reveals the top ten scientific discoveries of the year for Quebec

In the era of molecular biology, DNA barcoding is being used to fill gaps in taxonomy and confirm findings obtained through traditional approaches based on morphological differences between species. DNA barcodes can be used to correctly identify and classify any kind of living organism.

Contact information

The use of herbicides in forestry is a topic that garners much attention. Issues surrounding this common forest management practice range from concerns over the potential impacts on the environment, to ensuring that the Canadian forest industry remains competitive through the use of highly effective tools to ensure effective forest regeneration. In recent years, public debate over the use of forest herbicides has intensified, often with minimal attention given to the wealth of science directly pertinent to the topic. Drs. Dean Thompson and Doug Pitt, research scientists at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre, hope to balance the debate by presenting some of this key scientific knowledge to interested readers

The Great Lakes Forestry Centre is constructing an expanded facility to rear and study invasive alien forest insect species. The laboratories will be attached to the existing research centre in Sault Ste. Marie, and will serve as a national nexus for work on forest pests

Subscription information

The Circumboreal Vegetation Mapping (CBVM) project was initiated by the Arctic Council's Conservation of Fauna and Flora (CAFF) Working Group to produce a standardized Potential Natural Vegetation map of the Boreal biome. The purpose of this map is to provide a global overview of the current relations between climate, vegetation and terrain in the Boreal zone to support conservation of biodiversity and monitoring of global change

Selected publications from 2009

Researchers at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre have recently developed a branch sampling method that is proving to be highly effective at early detection of low-density emerald ash borer infestations. This method has the potential to lower sampling costs and contribute to an improved management strategy for this non-native invasive insect pest.

The information obtained from annual tree rings enabled the researchers to travel back in time 300 years. A climatology model was then used to relate the drought periods to patterns of atmospheric circulation.

The internal physical characteristics of black spruce wood determine its main mechanical properties.

Rust is a disease that infects the leaves of poplar trees. While not a serious problem in natural forests, poplar rust can cause extensive damage in tree nurseries.

In a recent study, researchers with the Canadian Forest Service and the ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec developed some genetic markers that can be used to differentiate five poplar species that are widely distributed in eastern North America.

Each year, Quebec produces roughly one million cubic metres of peat. A study on the working conditions of the 700 or so workers in this industry revealed a high level of exposure to dust containing a variety of bacteria and moulds.

Based on a study conducted by researchers with the Canadian Forest Service, FPInnovations and the ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec, genetic selection of white spruce for wood volume only tends to produce trees that, when young, have poorer mechanical properties.

To highlight the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Laurentian Forestry Centre, a conference on fire and post-fire insects will be held on February 11, 2010.