Beech Bark Disease expected to ravage Shaw Woods forests

While most residents of the Ottawa Valley have been consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic, another threat against one of the original economic drivers of the region has become front and centre for anyone connected to the historical lumber industry.

It’s a threat that will likely devastate one of the area's oldest natural forests.

The rapid infestation of Beech Bark Disease (BBD) is taking aim at one of Eastern Ontario’s most celebrated forestry education centres.

The Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre (SWOEC), considered by many to be Eastern Ontario’s premier student-focused forestry education facility, is the most recent victim of widespread tree destruction caused by BBD.

Fred Blackstein, one of the original founders of the centre, estimates most of the beech trees at Shaw Woods will die within the next five years.

“The impacts at Shaw Woods are most noticeable along the Old Growth Trail where the beech trees are already exhibiting various forms of wood rot, broken branches and tree tops,” Blackstein said. “During the heavy windstorms in mid-December a number of trees were heavily damaged, creating a significant safety risk to users of the Old Growth Trail.

“Immediate action was taken to mitigate those risks and the damage from the blowdowns. The safety of students and visitors to Shaw Woods is a major concern and volunteers continue to monitor the trails for hazards and remove the visibly declining beech trees that pose a risk to the public.”

BBD is an infection of the inner bark of the beech tree caused by a non-native insect-fungus complex. It restricts the movement of nutrients from the roots to the top of the tree. The disease, which was first identified in Canada in the 1890s and at Shaw Woods in 2015, ultimately causes the trees to die.

The 12-year-old SWOEC facility is in the heart of Shaw Woods, with the educational facility in the middle of the 160 hectares of wetlands and sustainable forests.

It is administered by a group of volunteers – most of them are retired with direct ties to the local forestry sector. The volunteers teach sustainable forestry practices that manage the social, economic and ecological values provided by forests.

Thousands of students, from both the Ottawa Valley and urban centres such as Ottawa and Perth, have spent time at the facility learning the science behind sustainability and conservation of forests and wetlands.

It is also a major tourist attraction due to its 14 km of natural trails, which are lined with beech trees. But recent safety concerns resulted in the closure of the Old Growth Trail.

While Beech Bark Disease is expected to have a long-term impact at Shaw Woods, Blackstein believes it provides a learning opportunity regarding the effects of invasive species on the natural environment.

“Within the next few weeks visitors to Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre can expect to see additional remedial work begin to ensure the safety of the trails for visitors is protected,” said Blackstein.

The widespread tree destruction caused by BBD is yet another blow to an already hurting industry.

Along with earlier infestation and damage caused by gypsy moths in many parts of the Ottawa Valley, many foresters are wondering if the decline of the forestry industry is coming sooner rather than later.

The historical and economic impact of forestry in the Ottawa Valley over the last 200 years can be compared to the impact of the auto sector on the city of Oshawa and surrounding areas.

Both industries – while different in terms of resources required and jobs created over several generations – created spinoff businesses that at one time employed thousands.

But both sectors are on the decline as the Canadian economy adjusts to global economic pressures.