CIF receives $194K to assess forests’ vulnerability to climate change

The federal government today announced $194,000 for the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF), for the Northern Prairie Forests Integrated Regional Assessment, a regional case study on the forest sector’s ability to adapt to climate change.

According to a government news release, the project is valued at $470,000, and will bring together public and private sector stakeholders, as well as local communities, to determine Saskatchewan and Manitoba forests’ vulnerability to global warming. Recommendations will be made for regionally appropriate climate change adaptation actions based on the project’s finding. The assessment will also support more climate change considerations in planning and decision-making.

“The CIF-IFC is pleased to partner with the Saskatchewan Research Council, the University of British Columbia and others to deliver this timely project to assess climate change vulnerability and to develop adaptation strategies across forest ecosystems in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This work will assist in the preservation of these landscapes into the future,” said Jordan MacMillan, technical extension forester with CIF, in a statement.

“We can use the power of Canada’s forests and forestry workers to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As our climate changes, so do our forests. Investing in these Climate Vulnerability Assessment partnerships in the Prairies (Weyerhaeuser and LP Building Solutions) and in Northern Ontario (Resolute and FPAC) will help us better determine what is happening in Canada’s forests and will inform future strategies on how to best manage these forested areas,” added Kate Lindsay, vice-president of sustainability and environmental partnerships, Forest Products Association of Canada.