Science highlights
Bioenergy
Researchers are calculating the amount of potential bioenergy feedstocks that are both available and ecologically sustainable
Boreal bird research
Is logging riparian areas sustainable?
Studying bird populations along streams gives new insight into sustainable logging practices
Boreal forest age and biodiversity
How does the structural complexity of the eastern boreal forest affect biodiversity?
The size range of trees in boreal forest stands is important to maintaining biodiversity
Mark Gillis
Canada’s National Forest Inventory
How can a national forest inventory monitor forest sustainability?
A plot-based network will provide a statistically relevant picture of how forests are changing over time
Carbon accounting
How can forest products help mitigate climate change?
Tracking carbon in both forests and forest products can help us find strategies to mitigate climate change
Climate change and species migration
How can we help Canada’s forests adapt to climate change?
Expanding the range of existing species could help
Drought and forest dieback
How is drought affecting Canada’s forests in a changing climate?
A climate moisture index is helping researchers assess the impact of droughts and providing the foundation for web-based, timely mapping of changes in drought severity in Canada’s forests
Forest fire management
How can modelling fire risk help fight forest fires?
Daily and weekly modelling of weather, fire risk and resource demand can optimize mutual aid in Canada
Forest hydrology
Is climate change linked to elevated levels of sulphur in forest watersheds?
A multi-disciplinary team of researchers in finding elev ated levels of sulphur in an Ontario watershed despite significant progress on acid rain.
Forest management policy
Can forest management sustain biodiversity by mimicking the natural forest?
Managing forest ecosystems as integrated systems is leading to better forest management policies
Forest pests, diseases and trade
Can science influence trade policy to protect Canada's forests?
International collaboration and common scientific understanding are key
Geographic information systems
How will a new map help boreal forest research?
New map creates common baseline for North America's boreal zone
Human interaction with wildfire
How can authorities help people mitigate the effects of wildfires?
Education can help people become fire smart, but individual commitment is still needed
International boreal forest monitoring
How can boreal forest countries learn best practices from each other?
An emerging circumboreal monitoring network is helping researchers and other forest stakeholders assess forest management practices across borders
Invasive species and biodiversity
How is the emerald ash borer jeopardizing the role of ash-dominated forests?
The devastating impact of the emerald ash borer extends beyond the loss of trees—researchers also want to understand how it is threatening biodiversity and shaping pest-management strategies
Invasive species surveillance
How are we improving the detection of invasive forest insects?
Optimizing the number of traps per site and using the right combination of lures could improve early detection of alien invasive species
Natural disturbances
What’s the right harvesting balance to optimize regeneration in the western boreal forest?
Researchers are emulating natural disturbances to find the optimum balance between forest harvesting and ecosystem recovery
Remote sensing
Can satellites help monitor biodiversity more effectively?
The BioSpace project is developing the capacity for a national biodiversity monitoring system driven by remote sensing satellites
Soil disturbance and bioenergy
What role does soil play in providing forest biomass for bioenergy?
Classifying soils across Canada could help determine how much biomass forest ecosystems can provide for bioenergy projects
Traditional ecological knowledge
How can we help preserve and learn from Aboriginal forestry knowledge?
Bringing Aboriginal youth and elders together is helping spread and preserve traditional ecological knowledge of Canada’s forests
Mike Flannigan
Wildfire and climate change
Will climate change lead to more forest fires?
Historical data suggests as it gets warmer the number of forest fires will increase
Wildfire suppression
Will climate change overwhelm fire suppression capacity?
Climate change could increase the number of forest fires that grow out of control