Research Project
Full description Both productivity and sustainability of our forest ecosystems and operations are reliant on a healthy resilient forest. However, forest health and local communities that rely on the forest industry are both under constant threat from changes in climate and climate-induced insect outbreaks. The pace of these changes is outstripping the ability for trees to adjust to these threats. Likewise, traditional tree improvement methodologies are too slow to provide well-adapted seedlings for reforestation and ultimately achieving healthy forests for the future. Thus, we propose to integrate rapidly emerging technologies (genomics and metabolic profiling) and mathematical models into existing tree breeding programs to generate pest resistant and drought tolerant trees. Such integration provides an economically and environmentally stable foundation for both industry and dependent communities throughout the Canadian landscape.