Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic

The Problem

British Columbia is experiencing the largest recorded mountain pine beetle outbreak in North America. As of early 2007, approximately 9.2 million hectares of B.C. forest are considered to be in the red-attack stage - trees turn red about one year after infestation.

Largely located in B.C.'s interior, projections suggest that over half of the pine trees in the central and southern interior of the province will be dead by the summer of 2007.

A video of the problem

In addition to putting forests at risk, this natural disaster threatens the stability and long-term social, economic and spiritual well being of First Nations.

For more information on the social and cultural impacts of the MPB epidemic