Are productive yellow-cedar forests showing early signs of decline on Haida Gwaii?

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Yellow-cedar decline is among the most serious examples of forest dieback driven by global climate change.As yellow-cedar is of tremendous cultural importance, an integral part of temperate rainforest ecosystems, andcommercially valuable, understanding what is causing tree decline and death is essential for effectiveconservation and management of surviving forests. In 2014, the decline expanded to Haida Gwaii, posing asignificant challenge to Taan Forest Ltd., a Haida owned company that sustainably manages 193,000 ha ofrainforests. Taan Forest is deeply concerned about the observed decline and the potential implications for theirmanaged yellow-cedar forests.This NSERC Engage Plus proposal expands the new collaboration initiated between Taan Forest and Dr. LoriDaniels at UBC. In 2016, we developed and tested a new protocol for analysis and monitoring of yellow-cedardecline near bogs. While the growth of live healthy trees increased since c.1980, tree-ring analyses showedreduced growth of declining yellow-cedars before death. This tree-ring "signature" appears to be an earlywarning of decline in susceptible yellow-cedar. In 2017, we will sample forests at five sites suitable for timbermanagement and use the tree-ring "signature" to determine if productive yellow-cedar forests are also showingearly signs of decline on Haida Gwaii. We will work with Taan Forest to incorporate our findings in their bestmanagement practices to ensure sustainable management of yellow-cedar. Our findings will be shared inpresentations, a workshop, a written report, and a summer field tour, all to be held on Haida Gwaii.