Responses of western Canadian aspen forests to climate variation and insect defoliation during the period 1950-2000 / E.H. (Ted) Hogg, James P. Brandt and B. Kochtubajda.: Fo4-67/2001E-PDF

In the early 1990s, dieback and reduced growth of aspen was noted in some areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Early studies suggested that the drought, in combination with defoliation by forest tent caterpillars, played a major role. This led to concerns about the current status of aspen forest health, including the question of how aspen may be responding to the climatic warming that is already evident in western Canada. To address these concerns, a regional study was established, entitled “Climate Change Impacts on Productivity and Health of Aspen” (CIPHA). CIPHA is a research and monitoring initiative of the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada in collaboration with Environment Canada and other partners, with support from the Climate Change Action Fund, PERD (ENFOR), and Mistik Management Ltd. The CIPHA study consists of a network of long-term research plots in 72 aspen stands across the boreal forest and parkland of western Canada, extending from the Northwest Territories to southern Manitoba. Tree-ring analysis has been conducted in each stand to determine how climate, insects and other factors have affected the growth and health of aspen forests over the past 50 years. Monitoring of aspen health and dieback was initiated in 2000, and is being continued to determine future changes in these forests.

Permanent link to this Catalogue record:
publications.gc.ca/pub?id=9.819870&sl=0

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