Synopsis:
This study evaluated the effects of landscape management on the spread of mountain pine beetle colonization in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Researchers used annual aerial survey data and geo-referenced locations of colonized trees that were cut and removed to assess if the area colonized and the spatial extent of pine beetles differed between monitoring and management zones. Pine beetles were allowed to follow their natural course in the monitoring zone, while an extensive eradication program involving cutting and burning colonized trees was established in the management zone. Management resulted in no detectable effect on the scale of the zone. However, at the sub-zone scale, the area affected within the management zone had stabilized more than the monitoring zone. Therefore, the management program appeared to have reduced the success of long-distance movement by pine beetles, thereby reducing the risk of infestation.
Conclusions:
Forest management to control pine beetle (active removal of all colonized trees) resulted in no detectable effect on the scale of the zone (sub-regional monitoring vs management zones). However, at the sub-zone scale, the area affected within the management zone had stabilized more than the monitoring zone. Therefore, the management program appeared to have reduced the success of long-distance movement by pine beetles, thereby reducing the risk of infestation.
Thresholds/Learnings:
Caveats:
Even under the favorable conditions of the study, researchers could not be strongly conclusive about management effectiveness, likely due in part to data limitations. In order to improve data collection, future evaluations should involve conducting a comprehensive survey of vegetation age structure and spatial variation in tree growth rates (habitat modeling).