Investing in the future of wild Pacific salmon

Numbers-based decision-making may be our best bet to save threatened salmon populations

“Despite all the pressures they’re facing, Pacific salmon are still showing up,” says UBC Forestry

Prof. Tara Martin

Chinook, coho and sockeye salmon runs are quintessentially BC; however, stocks have been on a marked decline since the mid-1990s, largely due to habitat loss, warming ocean temperatures from climate change , fishing and shifting landscape uses.

“Climate change is perhaps the single biggest overarching factor because it’s depleting salmon’s food sources in the ocean, where some species spend the majority of their lives,” notes UBC Forestry Prof. Scott Hinch, Director of the Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Lab.

“Compounding the impacts of climate change are land use practices such as forestry, agriculture, urbanization and water extraction that degrade habitat and can also create numerous barriers for fish to access habitat,” Scott adds. “It’s almost like death by a thousand cuts.”

In the Fraser Valley, around 85% of floodplain habitat used by 19 genetically and ecologically distinct Pacific salmon populations has been lost to agriculture, housing and businesses. In addition, “our research also shows that around 64% of stream length is now either lost entirely or inaccessible to salmon due to barriers, such as dams, floodgates and road culverts,” says Tara.

To address this, Tara and her team have embarked on a project that takes a Priority Threat Management approach to quantify threats to wild Pacific salmon species and the related costs of protecting them. Developed by Tara’s Conservation Decisions Lab, Priority Threat Management is a decision-making tool that illustrates how to recover the most species for the least cost using a scientific, data-driven approach.

“Priority Threat Management draws on empirical data and expert knowledge of major threats to biodiversity to forecast the expected outcome of tailored management strategies on species recovery and persistence, along with the cost and feasibility of those strategies,” says Tara.

The approach can help decision-makers in Indigenous, federal, provincial and municipal governments select the most prudent path forward to save as many species as possible for the least cost. Importantly, research also shows that the expected benefit of implementing salmon management strategies increases when supported by Indigenous and crown governments, Tara adds.

Learn more at: pacificsalmonecologyconservationlab .ca

Habitat restoration is a key lever Tara and Scott’s research, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology in April 2022, calculated that to support healthy populations of 14 distinct salmon species in the Lower Fraser River would cost approximately $20 million per year for 25 years. Moneys would go towards a suite of habitat restoration strategies that would involve restoring coastal areas found at the tidal mouths of rivers, along with freshwater restoration, barrier removal, habitat protection and updates to watershed management policies.

Implementing conservation strategies for an additional three salmon species would double the cost, their assessment concluded. Doing nothing will likely lead to the slow decline of all 19 salmon species found in the Lower Fraser.

“Run sizes in the southern latitudes are shrinking, whereas salmon populations in northern regions are doing ok,” says Scott. While the number of salmon in the north Pacific continues to increase, population diversity is declining, which will ultimately further weaken salmon’s resilience to climate change, adds Scott.

We’ve hit a tipping point where ecosystems are collapsing,” Tara says. “Now is the time to support science-based conservation and climate adaptation efforts.”

Learn more at: taramartin.org/research lower-fraser-river-salmon

When I first got started in this field, the term urban forester was controversial. Since then, the profession has come a long way.”

Born and raised in Burnaby, BC, Mark McDonald (BSc’19 (Forest Sciences), MUFL’22) was not thrilled by his high school experience. At 18 years of age, he entered the workforce, developing skills as an arborist with a private landscaping company.

Work Experience:

Para Space Landscaping Inc.

4 years

Labourer - landscaping (2003-2004)

Plant Health Care Supervisor (2004-2005) Diagnosed common plant diseases and pests and oversaw their eradication using sustainable methods.

Landscape Maintenance Supervisor (2005-2007)

Groundsman/Climber (2007-2008)

City of Burnaby

12 years

Labourer 3 – Arborist (2011-2016)

Tree Pruner (2014-2016)

Field Arborist (2016-2022)

Aboricultural Foreman (2022)

Tree Inspector (2016-2023)

Parks Forester Foreperson (Present position as of Jan. 2023)

Tree maintenance and care were what appealed to Mark the most. While learning the ropes as a tree climber on one contract with the City of Burnaby, Mark also got a glimpse into the local government’s work culture.

These experiences raised questions in Mark’s mind about the relationship between trees and the urban environment. Eager to learn more, Mark began researching forestry and horticulture programs, and found the right fit with UBC Forestry’s Bachelor of Science in Forest Sciences program, which offered an option to major in forest pathology.

“I find plant evolution, physiology and health issues really fascinating, especially in urban areas where trees are highly susceptible to many factors that affect their survival, including pests and diseases, often acquired through contact with people and through trade goods.”

Mark identified a need for the City of Burnaby to expand into remote sensing and geomatics applications for its tree inspection work. He saw how, like many other cities, Burnaby’s tree canopy was shrinking as the local human population grew and densified. In collaboration with architects, engineers and various other disciplines, Mark put forward nature-based and engineered solutions to create urban green spaces that are more climate resilient and sustainable, and provide ecosystem services that can benefit an increasingly diverse population of community members

In pursuit of his goal to extend his knowledge base to better fulfill his career aspirations with the City of Burnaby, Mark juggled his studies with work. His undergraduate degree thesis project examined a type of Phytophthora water mold that is in the same genus as pathogens that caused the Irish potato famine and is responsible for sudden oak death. The water mold was found growing on red alders in Burnaby. Mark’s study on the subject - conducted under the supervision of UBC Forestry Prof. Richard Hamelinwas later published in the Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology in 2022.

Also in 2022, Mark completed a Master of Urban Forestry Leadership at UBC Forestry. The comprehensive, 14-month, online, course-based master’s program takes an interdisciplinary perspective and focuses on strategic management, decision-making and creativity. In 2023, Mark enrolled in UBC Forestry’s Climate Action and Community Engagement online micro-certificate course, which teaches students how to lead climate action and greening initiatives in their communities.

I’ve always enjoyed being out in nature, camping and hiking,” says Mark. “But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to appreciate the presence of greenery in my neighbourhood.

Now, I’m proud to be part of the growing network of urban foresters who are helping to manage and maintain optimal levels of urban canopy cover in our communities.”

Education:

The University of British Columbia

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Forest Sciences, Forest Pathology 2019

The University of British Columbia

Master of Urban Forestry Leadership, Urban Forestry

Jul 2021 - Aug 2022

The University of British Columbia

UBC Forestry’s Climate Action and Community Engagement Micro-Certificate enrolled in 2023

Learn more: Master of Urban Forestry Leadership: forestry.ubc.ca/future-students/graduate/professional-masters-degrees/master-of-urban-forestry-leadership