Large Stands of Yellow Cedar Mysteriously Dying

The phenomenon of dying yellow cedar prevalent in southeast Alaska is now documented as extending at least 150 km southwards into British Columbia.

A brief recognizance of BC's North Coast Forest District discovered many areas, some hundreds of hectares, with thick stands of dead and dying yellow cedar.

The unhealthy stands exist in BC along the mainland coast and adjacent islands, ranging from the Alaska border to Banks Island. Most mortality occurs on southerly aspects, often near bogs, and at 300 to 400 m elevation where yellow cedar concentrates.

The symptoms are consistent with those well-documented in southeast Alaska. Cedar stands comprise a mix of trees that died in various years along with struggling trees displaying yellowing foliage. Dead roots show damage that extends into stems of dying trees. Despite years of research in Alaska, the primary cause of yellow cedar's decline remains unknown.