Climate change and Canada's forests : Changements climatiques et les forêts du Canada, des impacts à l'adaptation

Based on the work of the forestry authors of the recently released Canadian national assessment1, this report summarizes the current state of knowledge of current and future impacts of climate change and its implications for forest management. [...] For example, the current unprecedented outbreak of the mountain pine beetle in British Columbia and Alberta, the recent spruce bark beetle outbreak in the Yukon, the dothistroma needle blight outbreak in northwestern British Columbia, aspen dieback in the Prairies, unprecedented levels of fire activity in the western boreal forest, and the recent occurrence of record forest fire seasons in the Yuk [...] For example, the rate of increase in fire activity will be lower in Atlantic Canada and in the moister eastern portions of the boreal forest whereas it will be higher in the forests of western Ontario and western Canada. [...] Ontario One of the most significant sources of the vulnerability of Ontario forests to climate change is an increase in the frequency and intensity of disturbances. [...] In terms of forest fire, the frequency of wildfires is expected to increase in Quebec’s western and northern regions, decrease in the east, and remain constant in the center of the province.