Balsam fir trees 'at risk' in New Brunswick amid a changing climate
Forestry experts and farmers warn rising temperatures could harm tree health
While artificial Christmas trees might be the popular choice during the holiday season, nothing beats the smell of a fresh balsam fir.
But new research out of the University of New Brunswick shows the popular tree is at risk of being harmed by climate change.
Anthony Taylor, a forest ecologist and professor of forest management at the University of New Brunswick, said the balsam fir is an important species in the region, making up about 20 per cent of all the trees in the province.
Taylor and two other researchers have spent the past six years correlating historic climate data with previous balsam fir mortalities — or die-offs — and found these trees in particular are sensitive to high temperatures and periods of drought.
In the spring of 2018, Taylor said people noticed evergreens along the highway were turning red — and dying.
"They tended to be individuals or small clusters of trees, but they were bright red," said Taylor.
"And so then the question became, well, what's causing this?"
Using historical temperature and drought data, Taylor and his team were able to draw a strong link between the clusters of red trees and climate anomalies across the province.
"Just the year before, we had an abnormally dry summer, and it was also warm. It was a very warm, dry fall as well," he said.
"And so you had this warm, dry fall extending right into December. So you had a lot of trees basically going into dormancy in the winter time, going to sleep, under really dry, stressed conditions."
Taylor's research found this wasn't the first time mass mortality has happened here — the same condition was reported in 1986 and was referred to then as Stillwell's syndrome. Coincidentally, 1986 was also a dry, hot year.
"And so then that led us to the conclusion that climate is a driver of this mortality."
Shirley Brennan, executive director of the Canadian Christmas Trees Association, said drought is especially concerning for newly planted trees.
"We used to always just rely on Mother Nature and now we're looking at, do farms need to have irrigation? Do they need to be able to have a water source?" she said.
"So it's not a one time cure, like, oh if we all do this this is going to work. And so that's why there's ongoing research about it. But the more that we can work with the soil and find ways to keep that moisture in, the better. The better we, our industry, will be able to combat this."
Protecting from the ground up
Taylor hopes the research reaches the right people in New Brunswick — government officials who can put measures in place to curb climate change, but also tree farms and woodlot owners.
One Christmas tree farmer in Keswick Ridge said he's always had to adapt his trees to changes in the environment.
Gerry Redmond owns Red Robin Christmas Tree Farm in Keswick Ridge, near Fredericton, and he monitors his 25,000 trees very closely.
It takes eight to 12 years for the balsam firs he grows to reach the size of a perfect Christmas tree, so he is always monitoring the impact of climate on his trees.
If he has a really dry May, for example, the roots of new seedlings have trouble establishing, meaning he has to take extra care with his younger trees.
He said always plants more than he expects to harvest, because some trees don't make it, while others grow up patchy or with dry spots because of a lack of sun.
It's industry practice on farms like his to make adjustments as you go — and there is lots of research being done to create more resilient fir trees, Redmond said.
"There are seedlings I can get that can withstand drought or withstand too much water too."
So far, he has not seen any significant die-off because of weather, he said.
However, with research showing "there are significant things that are coming down the line," Redmond plans to "keep alert."
The future of the fir
Woodlot owners and tree farmers should consider introducing more diverse species into their lots, Taylor said. And on a larger scale, everyone should do their part to prevent further warming.
"I'm not suggesting that the balsam fir is going to disappear from the landscape anytime soon. It just seems to be one of the species right now that's sensitive to warming, and the kind of warning that we're experiencing.
"And so we may see a reduction in its growth and its availability across the region."
So, what is New Brunswick without the balsam fir?
"I don't even want to think about it," said Taylor.
"I mean, it's our provincial tree. Especially this time of year with Christmas coming on, it's such a beautiful smell."
"But if we do not get a handle on climate change and the climate changes as it's projected to do by the end of the century with this continued growth of emissions, it is a possibility to consider a province without balsam fir."
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