Mountain Pine Beetle: A Climate Change Catastrophe

[dino44211]

Even without man there would be a 200 year pine beetle catastrophe cycle. Whenever a long term natural process gets into a bad phase alarm bells are ringing. Putting the blame on man, climate, the beetle itself etc.. Maybe we should be aware that things that go well hundreds of years don't necessarily go well (our way) always. Probably above a critical tree density accompanied by a warm stroke of climate these epidemics occur. In itself it is a natural process that resets the natural succession.

[3340bobby]

in south of france where i live we have the same problem since last summer

The pine beetle appeared after a huge storm that badly damaged 1 milllion of acres of "maritime pine"

they already have killed millions of trees and are still spreading

Because of major drought this year we fear the worst for the remaining pines.....

[PacificCircle1]

similar to eco problems 1,000 miles to the south.

[onewhiteeye]

the reason this is happening is because there is no biodiversity. they should be cutting the forests down and replacing them with Red pines, oak trees, maple trees,willow trees and so on. this is what happens when you have a forest that is practically human made

[MTjepkema]

How about the fact that there is up to 4 times as much Lodgepole Pine in the interior of BC due to fighting fires.

They spend the winter under the bark. The beetles die after they lay there eggs. under the bark of the tree. If the eggs or larvae fall out of the tree during transportation they will die from exposure.

[1949daxxx]

How about we get some studies. Let's put a fine net around trees, cut them down, and haul by log truck. At the end, count the beetles in the net at the mill site, also count the beetles after the tree falls down. Then use nets when the tree is debarked. Also check the bark piles for beetles and count them. Find out how the beetle is spread.  Of course if we humans spread them, and transport them all over the province, they will multiply, just like boats spread the white man to Canada.

[1949daxxx]

I want to know where the beetles spend their winters. Is it under the bark of trees, or do they go to Hawaii for the winter? If they spend the winter in the bark and that is when all the logging takes place, do the beetles get free transportation? Do the beetles have seatbelts, so they don't fall out of the log when they are transported? Do the beetles like the cozy log piles they end up in? What do the beetles do when the tree is debarked? Do they like to live in bark piles? Why no info

[1949daxxx]

It is strange that this epidemic is only blamed on warm winters or climate. Has anyb ody done a study on what role all the logging roads, clear cuts and logging trucks have on the spread of beetles? I am betting that if the white man never came to B.C., then there would be no beetle epidemics.

[TreeCareEvergreen]

love the vid... hope all is well

[MrXstacey]

Speaking of nature doing it's job, trees produce large amounts of water vapour, a major greenhouse gas and is a huge contributor to global warming. So again, nature has a way of fixing itself, by having these pine beetles eat up a bunch of the trees so it can reduce the greenhouse gasses and return itself to more conducive temperatures as it's defence against the sun.

[MrXstacey]

One of the other things here is that the mountain pine beetle attacks trees over 80 years old. we've done such a good job of protecting our forests that there is so much old growth forest for it to feed on and the beetle is doing what it does. The dried timber of course becomes more susceptible to fires. but the pine cones of the lodgepole pine do not spread their seed unless they are set on fire. So nature already has a plan, it's just not so human friendly.

[dino44211]

@MrXstacey

One of the more sensible approaches to this natural phenomenon. Why is everybody speaking of disaster when a forest dies off temporarily? Except for the economic loss in the short term there is not so much to worry about I would say.

[gamesbok]

@dino44211 Possibly, but I would draw your attention to the Cod fisheries off Maritime Canada. 14 years that ban has been in force, and the cod haven't returned. It looks like the system has changed permeniently.

If the beetle problem is climate related then there is no prospect of it getting better.

[TenneyNaumer]

Pretty insulting to put subtitles when the native American was speaking -- I could understand him perfectly!

[zenarrrow]

@TenneyNaumer Quit being ultra-sensitive.

[thirtyforfive]

they should plant hemp once these forest burn down.

[gearlockT]

The beetle infestation is due to all the logging and transporting of those logs through BC, beetles can fly off logging trucks carrying infested wood. Some say that's not true but they don't know Jack. It is causing the problem. Back in Sask we don't transport wood because of dutch elm disease. If BC didn't rape their forests so bad all for profit there wouldn't be such a problem.

[robertg222]

At least the increase in CO2 levels will help new trees grow faster. Remember CO2 is food for all plants.

[abyssquick]

Thus the basis of photosynthesis... but this extra carbon wrested from the geological cycle, while enhancing growth and greening, isn't necessarily "good" for planetary ecology or climate generally. I've seen a few videos produced in the USA saying something to this effect, that CO2 isn't a "toxin" and therefore it isn't bad. Such perspectives lack ecological depth, and as a horticultural biologist myself, I can't help but be chagrined at such unconcern for depth and detail of understanding.

[menzodave]

In my country we have had a similiar situation with another bark beetle species a few years ago. I'm hoping for a happy end for BC, the ecological balance will come to pass.

regards from Switzerland

[lcbaudar]

Intense vid, but that website you have in the description doesn't go anywhere.

[KARStarla]

Pestliences, who could have known?

[kjeldoranking]

I think this is the plant adapting to kill humans which have become a problem on this planet

[Buffalohump77]

Damn, this is really disturbing stuff...

Surely the answer is to plant new trees that this beetle does not have a taste for?

[zenarrrow]

Yeah, why don't you go start planting some trees, lol.

[shradegear]

lol you kind of changed it....

[jhowe001]

Awesome clip. Well done. What are we doing to this planet....

[YouChooseASide]

2/3rds off all the trees were destoyed,2/3rd of all the water was destroyed 2/3rd of all the living was destroyed. Get ready YOUR TIME IS SHORT

[KARStarla]

Who heals the land right?