Banff National Park of Canada
Background
Aerial Ignition© Parks Canada
The Fairholme Range between Banff National Park's East Gate and Lake Minnewanka represents the largest continuous tract of undisturbed montane habitat in the park. The montane is vital both for wildlife habitat and as a benchmark for ecosystem health in general. It represents only 3% of the park land mass, yet is the richest in terms of species diversity and abundance. However, habitat quality has declined as forests have become denser and older in the absence of fire. Prescribed burns will help restore biodiversity to this important area.
The decision to initiate fire restoration along the Fairholme in 2003 was influenced by two factors: a low elk population in the Lower Bow Valley, and the eastward spread of mountain pine beetle. Burning while there are fewer elk will limit over-browsing and allow the regeneration of aspen, Douglas fir and deciduous shrubs. Prescribed fire will also protect against uncontrolled wildfires and reduce the potential spread of mountain pine beetle onto lands adjacent to the park.
Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB)
Mature montane pine forests are susceptible to beetle infestation. Due to fire suppression over the past 100 years, prime beetle habitat has been produced in the Fairholme area.
Mount Norquay© Parks CanadaIn the fall of 2001, it was estimated that approximately 2000 trees in the park between Mount Norquay and the east park boundary were infested with mountain pine beetle. About 850 of these trees were removed in the spring of 2002 to slow the spread of the beetle. Currently it is estimated that there are about 6,000 - 8,000 trees attacked by beetles between Banff townsite and the East Gate.
In the absence of control work, the population grows about five-fold each year. Short of very extensive logging, high-intensity prescribed fire is the one tool that could be effective in slowing the spread of the mountain pine beetle.
Work Done to Date
Guard burning was conducted near Carrot Creek during October of 2002. The objective of this initiative was to further reinforce the existing fire break. This will help to contain a more intense prescribed burn. Guard burning was also done to reduce forest fuels near an important wildlife denning area in order to protect it from the prescribed burn.
Carrot Creek Fire Break
Thinning of the Carrot Creek fire break began in February, 2002. Two thinning techniques were implemented. On the steep upper slopes, trees were cut and piled into large windrows that were later burned. On the lower slopes, trees were removed and branch debris was burned on site. A total of 190 hectares was thinned during the winter of 2002.
Carrot Creek Fire Break© Parks CanadaFuel reduction within the Carrot Creek fire break resumed in late February, 2003, thinning an additional 90 hectares. Most of the slash debris from the thinning operation was burned in large piles that ensured hot fires and minimal smoke. As well, trees along power lines were removed where prescribed burns are planned, to prevent interruptions in service following the burn.
Devil's Gap
A 3.0 hectare fire guard was burned between the second Ghost Lake and a scree slope in late October to contain a prescribed burn at the east end of Lake Minnewanka.
Mountain Pine Beetle Control
MPB Bait© Parks CanadaSeveral patches of lodgepole pine trees in the Tunnel Mountain area that contained mountain pine beetle larva were cut, piled and burned during March and April of 2002. Some sites have been baited with an attractant to localize new beetle attacks. In late February, 2003, control work began on the bait sites, consisting of cutting and removing, or cutting, piling and burning affected trees.
The Trees on Stoney Squaw
Over 450 trees have been killed by mountain pine beetle on the south facing slopes of Stoney Squaw since 2001. Since these trees provide cover in an essential wildlife corridor, they were left standing.
Once their needles drop off, the trees could stand for twenty years or so before being blown down in heavy winds. Until then, they provide habitat for species such as woodpeckers.
Burning MPB trees© Parks CanadaThe dead trees do not pose an additional fire hazard if left standing. East of Banff townsite, the park will systematically detect and remove infested trees to reduce the spread of beetles beyond the park boundary. About 850 trees in the Tunnel Mountain campground area were removed in 2002.
Parks Canada's long-term strategy is to manage the forest by restoring fire to these fire-dependent ecosystems. Creating a mosaic of younger stands of lodgepole pine and aspen can reduce the potential for large-scale outbreaks of insect infestations, such as mountain pine beetle.