Join IBFRA on Thursday, May 20th for the second of three webinars on integrating climate change science in resource management in the boreal biome. The goal of this series is to provide a reference and to sparkle discussions in preparation of the 2021 IBFRA conference coming up this summer (August 16-20 2021) and entitled “A changing boreal biome: assessing vulnerability and resilience of boreal ecosystems and their socio-economical implications”.
For this second webinar, Pr. John Innes, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, Canada, will discuss the implications of the ecological impacts of climate change on societies in the boreal forest. To register for this free webinar, please fill out this form. Once registered, we will send you the information on how to join the webinar a few days prior to the event.
The recording of our first webinar is now available on our website - please check out Pr. Turetsky's fascinating and inspiring presentation!
Scientific summary of the webinar: While much concern in the past has focused on temperate and tropical forests, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the boreal forest is not only highly sensitive to climate change, but it is in the boreal that some of the biggest temperature changes are being experienced. The changes in the ecosystem resulting from climate change will fundamentally affect the communities that live there and that depend on the goods and services provided by forests. The changes will also have broader implications for society, especially if the changing climate results in increased emissions of greenhouse gases from boreal forests. The societal implications will depend on the way that individuals use the forest. For Indigenous communities heavily dependent on the forests, there may be changes to the animal populations that support them, including changes to caribou and to fur-bearing animal populations. Access to these communities may be disrupted, for example by changes in the timing of spring break-up. There may also be phenological changes that can disrupt traditional activities. For the forest industry, including Indigenous-owned enterprises, a warmer climate may curtail the logging season and shorten the operating time of roads. Changes in the magnitude and frequency of fires and other disturbances will affect all aspects of society. Many of the societal changes induced by these ecological changes may have cumulative impacts on the societies, undermining the fabric of communities and accentuating some of the widespread social problems that are already present.
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