Interior western redcedar tree breeding program

Interior western redcedar is projected to expand its range northward as temperatures and precipitation increase in the central Interior. A new research program was recently initiated to develop seed orchards that will support this expansion.

Provenance tests for Interior western redcedar were established between 2009 and 2014. Recently, parent trees from these provenance tests, with above-average growth and survival on Interior sites, were selected for inclusion in the new Interior tree improvement program. We will also be testing some of the superior parents from the Coastal breeding program, including those with resistance to heartwood rot, and forward selections from coastal progeny trials planted in the Interior. Trees will be tested across a range of climates and the best-adapted individuals will be used to establish seed orchard that will serve the BC Interior. Plans are in place to start having seed orchards producing seed for Interior western redcedar by 2040-2045.