Canadian Forest Service Publications
Red Belt in Alberta. 1974. Robins, J.K.; Susut, J.P. Canadian Forestry Service, Northern Forest Research Centre, Edmonton, Alberta. Information Report NOR-X-99.
Year: 1974
Issued by: Northern Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 12056
Language: English
Series: Information Report (NoFC - Edmonton)
Availability: Order paper copy (free), PDF (download)
Abstract
In 1971, thousands of acres of lodgepole pine forest in the upper foothills of Alberta were killed by adverse weather conditions; a phenomenon commonly known as Red Belt. Approximately 14,000 acres of mature and immature lodgepole pine were destroyed in the Cadomin area alone. Annual field surveys carried out by the Canadian Forestry Service since 1948 indicate that Red Belt injury is common in western Alberta, but this was the first time that severe damage had occurred over such a large area or resulted in such complete tree mortality. Such extensive and severe damage undoubtedly occurred prior to 1948, but has been unrecorded, and will occur again in the future. There can be little doubt that Red Belt has a significant influence on the type and distribution of forest communities over large areas of the Rocky Mountain foothills.