About climate change and tree seed resources ...

Climate change presents many challenges to sustainable forest management: The long life of tree species and long rotation cycles mean that the effects of today's decisions can persist for a century or more. In addition, many of our tree species have large ranges, and the adaptive variation among populations compounds the complexity of making reforestation decisions based on an uncertain future climate.
Climate change is expected to cause more weather extremes and weather-related emergencies, such as drought, flood, and forest fires. Other impacts could include seed crop interruptions, forest health issues, and local climate changes, all of which add to current natural and artificial regeneration challenges.

How this conference will help ...

On November 14-15, 2007, in Sault Ste. Marie, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Climate Change Initiative and Forest Genetics Ontario are hosting a conference on

Adapting to Climate Change: Managing Tree Seed in an Uncertain Climate

(To register, go to www.fgo.ca).
This conference will focus on seed movement and regulation tools (guidelines/zones), the science behind identifying and predicting patterns of adaptive variation response to climate change, the need to revise seed movement decision-making, and reforestation aspects of management planning under climate change. Conference goals are:

1. To build awareness about climate change and its potential impacts on the deployment of forest genetic resources, for example, seed transfer guidelines, seed source bulking, seed banking, and tree improvement strategies
2. To open a debate among those concerned about impacts of climate change on forest genetic resources
3. To develop a roadmap for future actions promoting adaptation of forests to future climate

What will happen after the conference?

Forest Genetics Ontario and its provincial technical forum will continue to discuss, develop and promote ways of handling these questions among their members and partners including OMNR, forest industry and forest conservation groups.

By completing our survey, YOU can help the conference and our future plans succeed:

You can help ensure the success of this conference by giving organizers and speakers more insight into how people think about and are acting on seed management and climate change. Preliminary survey findings will be presented at the conference along with presentations by Canadian and American experts in climate change and genetic resource management.

1. Online here - just scroll down, enter your responses, and click the "Submit Survey" button.
2. By fax or mail -- print and complete this form and mail to:
   

    Forest Genetics Ontario . 705-942-9140 (fax)
    510 Queen, Suite 24	
    Sault Ste Marie, ON
    P6A 2A1
    

Tree Seed and Climate Change Survey

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Climate Change Initiative/Forest Genetics Ontario September 2007

• Whom do you work for?
  
  Provincial government
  Federal government
  Municipal government
  Forest industry - harvesting
  Forest industry - renewal
  Forest industry - management planning (SFL)
  Forest conservation NGO
  Forest consultant/contractor
  Other:


• What province or state are you from?
  
  Province/State:


• What is your background?
  
  Forestry
  Biology
  Planning
  Other:


• How many different tree species do you now work with?
  
  
  


• What are your main three tree species of interest?
  
  


• What is your job focus?
  
  Research
  Program Management
  Forest Management Planning
  Forest Operations
  Other:
  


• What is your education?
  
  College diploma
  Bachelor of science
  Post-graduate
  Other:
  


• What is your age?
  
  20-29
  30-39
  40-49
  50-59
  60+
  

Please share your general perceptions about climate change

Please share your perceptions of climate and forest management

Please share your perceptions of climate and managing tree seed supplies