There’s good news for Alberta’s forests. Cold winters and the province’s aggressive control program have significantly reduced the population of one of Alberta’s most destructive pests, the mountain pine beetle. Populations have declined 98 per cent since their peak in 2019.
“The mountain pine beetle is a significant threat to our province’s forested lands, and we are working hard to protect the health of our forests and the livelihoods of thousands of Albertans. I am proud of the progress we have made in controlling the spread of mountain pine beetles throughout Alberta,” said Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks.
The province will continue the work to control the population of mountain pine beetles by working with local and Indigenous partners. Alberta uses measures such as population monitoring, risk assessments, cutting and burning infested trees, and harvesting highly vulnerable pine to reduce the impact of the insect. The mountain pine beetle can kill large tracts of mature pine which can threaten communities, industry, and forest resilience.