Whisper
May 7th, 2008, 04:54 AM
Edmonton -- Alberta plans to spend slightly more than $55-million this year to fight the spread of the mountain pine beetle.
The money, including $50-million in emergency funds, will be used to remove trees already killed by the beetle, cull those that are at risk and find new infestations, government officials said yesterday.
Crews are already at work on two hot spots: the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains south of the Trans-Canada Highway, and the region around Grande Prairie.
The province said its goal is to remove as much infested timber as possible before the beetles fly to new trees in July.
Scientists are also worried about evidence that the pine beetle has already jumped from lodgepole pine - found mainly in Western Canada - to Jack pine, a species that grows across the country.
The money, including $50-million in emergency funds, will be used to remove trees already killed by the beetle, cull those that are at risk and find new infestations, government officials said yesterday.
Crews are already at work on two hot spots: the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains south of the Trans-Canada Highway, and the region around Grande Prairie.
The province said its goal is to remove as much infested timber as possible before the beetles fly to new trees in July.
Scientists are also worried about evidence that the pine beetle has already jumped from lodgepole pine - found mainly in Western Canada - to Jack pine, a species that grows across the country.