Though wildfires are part of a forest’s natural lifecycle, there is no question they are becoming more frequent and severe as a result of climate change. And with the projected rate of climate change expected to grow 10 to 100 times faster than the ability of our forests to adapt naturally, we need to be working with nature to future-proof our forests and help them adapt to these changing climate conditions.

Using the latest science, researchers are finding new ways to minimize the impacts of these disturbances while maximizing the amount of CO₂ absorbed by our forests.

- Modern methods of harvesting are often intended to mimic natural disturbances to mitigate the severity of climate change impacts and new forest management strategies are regenerating harvested areas with trees that are better adapted to future climate conditions.

- Active forest management, in the form of tree thinning and carefully-planned harvesting, not only removes the decay and debris that can accelerate these climate emergencies but, through innovations in our sector, can turn that debris into the bioenergy that helps forestry communities reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

- The active monitoring and adjusting harvesting schedules to favour older, insect-damaged stands can help us not only avoid catastrophic wildfires, but regenerate these high-risk trees with healthier, younger forests able to absorb carbon faster.