MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – The threat of future Mountain Pine Beetle infestation along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains has prompted Mountain View County to make a call for federal government action.
During a recent council meeting, held by teleconference, councillors approved a letter from the municipality being sent to the federal ministers of Natural Resources and Environment and Climate Change.
Mountain pine beetle is an invasive insect that destroys lodgepole pine trees by cutting off nutrients. They have destroyed more than 16 million hectares of forest in British Columbia, as well as large forest areas in northern Alberta.
In the county’s letter, Reeve Bruce Beattie said action taken now might help prevent large economic loss in the future.
“We only have to look to British Columbia to see what can happen if the pine beetle is left unchecked,” said Beattie. “A legacy of fires and mill closures will last multiple generations and cost our economy tens of billions of dollars.
“Alberta has demonstrated that this situation can be mitigated, but timely investment is critical.”
The forestry industry is a vital economic driver in Alberta, and as such should be protected from pine beetle as much as possible, he said.
“In our county alone, West Fraser (parent company of Sundre Forest Products) provides over 500 direct and indirect jobs, $58.3 million in contracted services, and contributes over $13.6 million in taxation,” he said.
The province is asking the federal government to provide $60 million in pine beetle mitigation funding over the next three year.
The county’s letter is being sent following a recent presentation by Sundre Forest Products officials who urged stakeholders to help with the fight against pine beetle infestation.
