Assessment of paper birch trees tapped for sap harvesting near Fairbanks, Alaska

Abstract

With increased growth in the birch sap extraction industry, the need for assessments of tree health and sustainability of birch tapping practices also grows. Site visits and evaluation of tapping practices were conducted at two commercial harvest locations in the Fairbanks area, Eva Creek in Ester and Cache Creek near Murphy Dome in 2007. In this evaluation we report on walk through observations and a pilot dissection study of tapped trees at each location. Numerous improper tapping practices are reported as well as breach of the Alaska Birch Syrupmakers’ Association (ABSA) “Best Practices Guidelines for Tree Tapping”. There will be a companion biological evaluation to this site visit report produced in 2008 by the same authors that will review the “Best Practices” guidelines developed by the ABSA and evaluate impacts to paper birch trees tapped for sap harvesting in Alaska.