Article: Under the Tree Seed Coat

By Mark McDermid

Viable tree seed sorted by the region from where it originates is a key pillar in Forests Canada’s tree planting initiatives. In this recurring feature, Mark McDermid, Seed & Stock Specialist at Forests Canada, answers all your tree seed questions.

How do you decide what to collect for seed each year?

Since we have a 17-year history of planting trees in Canada under the 50 Million Tree Program, historical planting records give us a great foundation of what we plant with our partners on an annual basis. These details include quantities by species, seed origin, planting location and stock types. I compare that information with what we have available in our long-term storage seed bank. Ideally, we would like to have a five-year supply of seed for our major conifer species. But ultimately, we are reliant on what seed crops are on the landscape to collect and with the warmer fall conditions over the last several years, it has been challenging to acquire due to early seed dispersal.

Who collects the cones and seeds?

Forests Canada is fortunate to have a dedicated group of seed collectors across the province. Many of these individuals have collected seed for decades and some are second-, third-, or even fourth-generation collectors! Many of them and their families started out collecting seed for the Canada Tree Seed Plant (Ministry of Natural Resources) when it was operating, and Forests Canada has continued working with this group since the closure of that facility. We also connect with people that have done the Certified Seed Collector workshop training course offered by the Forest Gene Conservation Association (FGCA). With the support of FGCA, we are developing some additional training which will include some mentoring opportunities.

Can anyone collect and supply you seed?

The short answer is…potentially! As mentioned above, we work with a variety of people to collect seed. But having the appropriate training and/or experience is paramount to continue the high standards and chain of custody required to maintain our programs. It is critical that collectors can identify species, understand the forecasting and timing of collection and implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) while collecting.

Forests Canada’s system is complex and functions as such with an infrastructure that ensures collection sites, quality checks, handling and shipping practices are executed correctly to maintain high-quality seed. As an organization, we are always looking for ways to improve and potential opportunities, which includes seed acquisition.

Do you have any questions about tree seed? Contact Us

Article featured in the Summer/ Fall 2024 issue of Our Forest