The movement of tree seed for reforestation in Alberta is regulated by 90 geographically distinct seed zones, designed to emulate locally adapted wild tree populations (ASRD 2009a, Figure 1). Seed zones are geographic subdivisions of Natural Regions and Subregions and reflect climate, ecology and early results of coniferous tree species provenance trials. Free movement of tree seed for replanting is permitted within a seed zone but not among zones, in an attempt to prevent maladapted seed from being planted, and to preserve locally adapted seed stock. If sufficient quantities of seed for reclamation cannot be sourced within a seed zone, a variance application may be made to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development to use seeds from a different seed zone.
The present seed zone map for Alberta is limited to tree species planted for commercial use, with timber yield being the main criterion used in experimental testing of seed zones (for example, Rweyongeza 2011). However, with increasing interest from the energy industry in using shrub species (for example, Saskatoon, blueberry, choke cherry, dogwood, bearberry and buffalo berry) in reclamation (Alberta Environment 2010), rather than tree species alone, a map delineating appropriate seed sources or provenances for shrub species in Alberta is required. Appropriately-sized seed zones are a tool to minimise risk associated with planting seed maladapted for the geographic location of any particular re-vegetation project. Although smaller than necessary seed zones ensure that local adaptation is preserved, they complicate seed procurement and increase the cost of reclamation. On the other hand, larger than appropriate seed zones simplify seed collection and reduce the cost of reclamation, but risk using maladapted stock during re-vegetation projects.
Currently, the largest users of shrub seed in Alberta operate in the Lower Athabasca oil sands region. The largest single group of shrub seed users in the province is a cooperative of five oil sands companies – Suncor Energy, Imperial Oil, Canadian Natural Resource Limited, Shell Canada Energy and Syncrude Canada Limited. Other potential users include the in situ oil and gas industries, local, provincial and federal government agencies, and non-governmental organisations. The movement of shrub seed in Alberta is currently unregulated, but reclamation practitioners are encouraged to follow the seed zones developed for tree species as outlined in the Alberta Forest Genetic Resource Management and Conservation Standards (ASRD 2009a).