In Quebec Through the GREAT PINES Establishment of Plantations and Through Natural Regeneration
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The present document is intended as a tool to promote the cultivation of great pines (eastern white pine and red pine) in Quebec through the GREAT PINES establishment of plantations and through natural regeneration. Il fournit, entre autres, de l’information sur les techniques d’aménagement des grands pins, sur la lutte contre les ravageurs in Quebec potentiels, sur la valeur des pins et sur les recherches en cours. We hope that after reading this document, forest managers, private woodlot owners and forestry companies will make these great pines a choice for the future in Quebec. A choice for the future Great pines in Quebec — A choice for the future Great pines in Quebec A choice for the future Summary Great pines in Quebec: A choice for the future Eastern white pine and red pine are the most imposing and sought- after pine species in Canada. They can reach a height of over 30 metres and a diameter of nearly one metre. These pine species played an important role in Canada’s economic development throughout the 19th century. Today, there are fewer pines growing in natural forests because they were overharvested in the past and because pine species do not regenerate easily. The decline in pine populations is also linked to damage caused by insects and diseases. Nonetheless, white pines and red pines are an important source of both lumber and appearance wood for the wood industry. Eastern white pine is the Quebec softwood species that fetches To obtain more information or additional copies of this the highest prices on the market. Owing to the scarcity of these document, please contact: trees, Quebec-based companies are forced to import nearly 50% of their pine wood supplies from the United States and from other Natural Resources Canada Canadian provinces. Canadian Forest Service 1055 du P.E.P.S. Since these trees can grow more than one metre in height each P.O. Box 10380, Sainte-Foy Station 3 year, we can expect yields as high as 300 m /ha for white pine Quebec, Qc G1V 4C7 3 stands and 350 m /ha for red pine stands at age 50. Tel.: 418 648-3524 The establishment of a pine plantation on a suitable site represents Association forestière des Cantons de l’Est an interesting forestry option, provided that appropriate silvicultural 138 Wellington Street North, Suite 100 interventions are implemented and the requisite budgets are Sherbrooke, Qc J1H 5C5 allocated for this purpose. Thanks to knowledge acquired from Tel.: 819 562-3388 recent studies and the development of new cultivation methods, www.afce.qc.ca such silvicultural treatments can play a key role in pest control and promote better growth of these pine species, thereby ensuring a Editor: good return on investment. Forest Innovation Partnership/ Partenariat innovation forêt The present document is intended as a tool to promote the culti- vation of great pines (eastern white pine and red pine) in Quebec Design: through the establishment of plantations and through natural Association forestière des Cantons de l’Est regeneration. ISBN: 978-1-100-13166-5 Legal deposit - We hope that after reading this document, forest managers, private Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 2009 woodlot owners and forestry companies will make these great pines a choice for the future in Quebec. Legal deposit - Library and Archives Canada, 2009 Great pines in Quebec — A choice for the future Table of Contents 1. Majestic pines . 1 2. History: it’s all because of Napoleon! . 4 3. Pine forests in Quebec today . 6 4. Use of pine species. 7 4.1 Use of eastern white pine. 7 4.2 Use of red pine. 8 5. Shortfall in supply. .9 6. Management of pines. .11 6.1 Natural stands. 11 6.2 Plantations . 12 6.2.1 Selecting a planting site. .12 6.2.2 Pure or mixed plantations. 13 6.2.3 Tending operations to protect the plantation. .13 7. Productivity of pines. 14 7.1 Eastern white pine . 14 7.2 Red pine. 14 8. Managing pines to reduce the impact of pests. 15 8.1 The main pine diseases and prevention methods . 15 8.1.1 White pine blister rust. .15 8.1.1.1 Site selection. 16 8.1.1.2 Systematic pruning. .16 8.1.2 Annosus root rot. .17 8.1.2.1 An enemy with a long reach . 17 8.1.2.2 Prevention is a priority. .17 8.1.3 Scleroderris canker of red pine (European strain). 17 8.1.3.1 Protection through pruning. .18 8.1.4 Other pine diseases . 18 8.2 The main insect pests of pines and prevention methods. .18 8.2.1 White pine weevil. 18 8.2.1.1 A simple control method: inspection and pruning . .19 8.2.2 Other insect pests of pines. .19 9. Canadian Forest Service research on great pines . 20 9.1 Genetics of eastern white pine. .20 9.2 Cross between eastern white pine and Himalayan white pine ( Pinus wallichiana): a white pine hybrid . 21. 9.3 White pine regeneration through somatic embryogenesis . 21. 9.4 Biological control measures for white pine weevil. 21 10. Various initiatives related to great pines. .22 10.1 In Quebec. .22 10.1.1 White pines in the Lower St. Lawrence region . 22 10.1.2 White pines in the Gaspé Peninsula. 22 10.1.3 IQAFF research on white and red pines. .23 10.1.4 La Mauricie National Park of Canada . .23 10.1.5 Studies conducted by CERFO. .23 10.2 Natural regeneration of white pines in Ontario. 23 Conclusion. 24 Bibliography . 25 Source of photos, figures, textboxes and tables. .26 Appendix 1: Simple steps for controlling the white pine weevil. .27 Appendix 2: Controlling white pine blister rust . .28 x Great pines in Quebec — A choice for the future 1 Majestic pines Of the nine pine species that are native to Canada, the eastern white pine and red pine are the most important and the most valued. Although their wood is soft, these trees are as deserving of the appellation “noble species” as some deciduous species like oak that have hard wood. Great pines dominate the forest landscape where they are still present. The harvesting and marketing of these pines marked the country’s history and economic development during much of the 19th century. Impressive in stature, eastern white pines and red pines can grow to a height exceeding 30 metres and have a diameter of nearly one metre. Eastern white pine is the tallest tree spe- cies found in eastern Canada. In his book Flore laurentienne,1 Brother Marie-Victorin mentions that white pines sometimes attain extraordinary dimensions (for example, heights of 90 metres and diameters of 2.5 metres). Today, eastern white pine is the Quebec softwood species that fetches the highest > market prices. >> Dominant white pines At present, white pines and red pines are fairly scarce species in natural forests because they were > >> overharvested during the 19th century. In addition, pines do not regenerate easily without the help of Red pine forest fires, which tend to be less frequent nowadays plantation because of fire suppression efforts. The decline in pine populations in Quebec is also attributable to at Lac diseases and insect pests, which take a particularly La Blanche hard toll on trees growing in plantations. Research has nonetheless added to the knowledge base and given rise to new approaches that point to a better future for these species. The need to preserve genetic resources from pine species in order to secure their future and the eco- nomic value of their wood provides the incentive to maintain the ecosystems in which pines grow, which are becoming increasingly rare in spite of their heritage value. 1 Frère Marie-Victorin, Flore laurentienne, p. 141. 1 DESCRIPTION EASTERN WHITE PINE (Pinus strobus)2 Cones Needles Isolated white pines have branches that extend horizontally from the trunk and point in the direction of the prevailing wind, giving the tree an asymmetrical shape. The crowns of tall pines tower over other coniferous species as well as hardwood species. A characteristic species of the Great Lakes forest region, the eastern white pine ranges from Newfoundland and Labrador to the southeastern part of Manitoba. In Quebec, the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region marks the northern limit of its distribution. These pines grow in a wide variety of habitats ranging from peat bogs to sand pits and rocky ridges. They grow particularly well in moist sandy loams. Eastern white pines reach a height of 30 m on average and they can live from 200 to Wildlife 400 years. The oldest known pines are believed to have been 600 years old. White pine seeds pro- vide a food resource for a The eastern white pine also has medicinal number of mammals and properties. For example, Aboriginal people nearly 30 species of birds. used pine resin as an antiseptic treatment Some birds nest under the for wounds. The needles, which are rich in canopy formed by its large vitamin C, were made into a tea that helped branches and others build to prevent or cure scurvy. In the 19th century, cavity nests in its trunk. white pine needles were used in the prepa- ration of many medicines. 2 Based on Trees in Canada and Flore laurentienne. 2 Great pines in Quebec — A choice for the future DESCRIPTION RED PINE (Pinus resinosa)3 Cone Needles Red pines typically form fairly dense natural stands; however, the denser the forest, the smaller the branches. Pure stands of red pine generally become established after a forest fire or harvesting.