Mountain pine beetle isn't in Saskatchewan yet, but could be on its way: report

A newly released report fromSaskatchewan's Ministry of Environment warns of the possible spread of the devastating mountain pine beetle into northwestern Saskatchewan.

British Columbia saw a pine beetle outbreak which began in the mid-1990s and destroyed millions of hectares of forest. The beetle then spread intocentral and eastern Alberta, and there is now concern that the beetle could spread to the boreal forests of Saskatchewan.

The province's latest State of the Environment reportwarns that recent policy changes in Alberta may contributeto the eastward spread of the beetle.

"Alberta announced in 2018-19 that protecting key watersheds along the eastern stages of the Rockies and protecting endangered species would take priority over slowing the eastern spread of [the mountain pine beetle]," the report says.

"This could allow spot infestations along the eastern edge of Alberta to establish and spread, leaving boreal jack pine forests in Saskatchewan and the rest of Canada vulnerable to invasion by MPB. Large populations of MPB that have been building in western Alberta (Jasper and Hinton) may spread east," according to the report.

"That would mean mountain pine beetle could easily spread into east-central Alberta and Saskatchewan's northwest boreal forest."

The mountain pine beetle attacks and kills live trees by laying its eggs under the bark. The beetle preferslodgepole pines, although it poses a threat to all pine species.

Thegovernment of Saskatchewan is now looking to survey and prevent any infestations in the province's boreal forest ecosystems by making the public aware of the beetle'spresence.

Themountain pine beetleoutbreak in British Columbia was a significant blow to the province's softwood lumber industry. According to the Saskatchewan report, the beetle infested over 18 million hectares during B.C.'s outbreak, and killed54 per centof the province's merchantable lodgepole pine.

As ofnow, there is no indicationthat the beetle is in Saskatchewan. But its arrival could have similar impacts here, the province's report says.

If an outbreak were to occur, it would have negative effects on the forestry industrythe second largest in Saskatchewan's north, the report says.

Because large portions of Saskatchewan's provincial parks are made up ofpine forests, it could alsohave impacts on tourism and public safety, with an increased risk of forest fires because ofdeadtrees.

To fight the spread of the beetle into the province, Saskatchewan is now conducting surveillancein the boreal northwest and in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, the report says.

The province says it has launched an active management plan through aerial and ground surveys, as well as setting up57 bait stations in northwestern Saskatchewan and conducting ground-basedmonitoring.

The provincialgovernment isurging people to be aware and report anybeetles they may findto help prevent the further eastward spread of the insect.

The most effective method of control is to find beetle-infested trees in the fall and winter months, and then cut them down and burn them before the beetles spread out in the spring, the report says.