Bur Oak grown horticulturally at Grand Oaks on Grand Lake, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia does just fine. It occurs naturally in N.B. and elsewhere on the eastern seaboard, why not in N.S? There are a dozen species of oak in Massachussetts. Should we be introducing bur oak and other species to the south and west of us to NS to speed up adaptation to climate warming and make our forests more resilient to pests?
Could we add a dozen or so species to our hardwoods to better adapt to climate warming and increase resilience to pests?
A recent post on the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners Facebook page on how we might reduce impacts of exotic pests, led to some interesting followup discussion on the Healthy Forest Coalition Facebook page about reducing clearcuts and on Assisted Range Expansion*:
*“the human-assisted movement of species to areas just outside their established range, facilitating or mimicking natural range expansion [associated with climate warming].(Source: NRC: Assisted migration)
1. Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners Sep. 21, 2018, citing Federal agency confirms presence of tree-destroying beetle in Nova Scotia (Canadian Press, Sep 21, 2018):
“It would be interesting to see the results of putting nutrients back into our forested land and also increasing pH… it works to add resilience to vegetable crops to prevent pest infestation; when a plant has what it needs nutritionally, it remains pest resistant. Let’s do our part in our woodlands… together we can! #ForestsProvide”
Following are responses posted on the The Healthy Forest Coalition Facebook page
Updated Sep 30 a.m.
2. ML shared post #1 above and commented: Emerald ash borer and hemlock wolly adelgid now have a confirmed presence in Nova Scotia in just over a year. Our forests need all of the help and proper stewardship they can get to ensure they remain healthy. Thousands of acres of clearcuts not included….
3. NH: Definitely, our disturbance footprint provides the conditions that abet the “invasive” species. I like very much all the trees in NS but we will lose the character…if we think we can garden thru sanitary means (tree removals) or herbicide or exotic bioontrols our way out of it. We need to reduce clearcutting which is letting glossy buckthorn* flourish, and maintain good forest process (shade age gaps dead wood, area, fire in cases). Now we’ve done that, go to southern Maine and get seed of species that are ready for our climate and are not able to get here…
*View More about glossy buckthorn
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A few years back (2014) I set up a website and started an Online Petition “to help put pressure on our health officials and politicians to allow & promote safe and sensible use of permethrin treatment of clothing & other fabrics (e.g. tents) in Canada.”
