• Sterner, T.N.
  Maritimes Forest Research Centre - Fredericton, New Brunswick
  
• Embree, D.G.
  Maritimes Forest Research Centre - Fredericton, New Brunswick
  
• van Raalte, G.D.
  Maritimes Forest Research Centre - Fredericton, New Brunswick
  

Twenty-three sample plots were established ín Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia in 1976 to monitor the effect of defoliation on mortality of balsam fir during the current budworm outbreak. Sixteen plots were located in the Highlands (south of the National park) and seven in the Lowlands. Results show that, about 67% of the balsam fir in the Highlands is dead. An additional 10% can be expected to die in 1978 and over 50% is heavily defoliated. Damage to Lowland fir is about half as severe as in the Highlands. Using Nova Scotian inventory data, over 1 million cords of balsam fir can be presumed dead on the Island (south of the National Park) and a minimum of 400,000 cords can be expected to die in 1978, if the budworm outbreak persists.