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Update on CWFS
Climate Change and Fire Management
Research Strategy Forum
February 17, 2009
Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy
• Approved by CCFM Ministers in 2005
• Linkages to climate change, public safety,
economic competitiveness and sustainable
resource development
• ADM Task Team and Core Team
Desired Future State
• Resilient communities and an empowered
public
• Healthy and productive forest ecosystems
• Modern business practices
• CWFS presents an honest assessment of
current/future problems and a way forward
that requires major commitment
CWFS Strategic Objectives
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Enhanced public education/awareness
Expanded/innovative S&T program
Pan-Canadian FireSmart initiative
Enhanced wildland fire preparedness and
response capability
Wildland Fire Continues To Be
Important
• Average annual cost is $700 million
• On average 20 communities and 70,000
people are threatened
• Resource protection needed regardless of
product being produced
• Potential for burned area and costs to
double by 2050 as a result of climate
change
Climate Change
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Boreal zone “bulls-eye” for CC impacts
More ignitions (lightning & human-caused)
10-20% increase in fire activity in next 20 years
Longer fire seasons
Increase in escaped fires & area burned
Shorter fire return intervals
Less terrestrial C storage
More smoke transport/public health issues
Significant impacts on forest
industry and communities
Climate Change & Fire Protection
• A simple level of protection
experiment
– Used Ontario’s level of protection
analysis system
– Climate change scenarios for 2040
(2CO2)
• Increased fire occurrence
• Increased spread potential
– A range of resource increases over
current levels
• Results:
– To maintain current level of fire
escapes – must double the fire
suppression resources in Ontario
Changes in number of
fires escaping initial
attack
Climate Change & Threatened
Communities
• Most threatened communities
are in regions with projected
increases in area burned of 50200% with climate change
• Similar increases in
evacuations and health
impacts can be expected
Still Advancing …. But Slowly
• Full implementation is becoming more
urgent
– Approximately 7% of the CWFS has been
achieved over 3 years
• Progress must be accelerated
– Refocus implementation plan
• Need ongoing commitment & support
– Ministers still onboard
Moving Forward
• CCFM Wildland Fire Management Working
Group established
– Stronger linkage to CIFFC (largely same people on
Board of Corporate Trustees)
– More strategic discussions of wildland fire
– CWFS primary focus
• More analyses:
– Links to climate change
– Forecast impacts of more fire on the landscape to
communities & resources
CWFS and CCFM Priorities
Theme 1CC Impacts &
Adaptation
Theme 2- Industry
Transformation
CCFM
WFMWG (&
CWFS)
Important to recognize that there are elements
in the CWFS that go beyond the scope of the
CCFM (e.g., public safety). It is also linked to
activities being undertaken by several other
working groups
CCFM Wildland Fire Management Working Group
Work Plan 2009-10
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Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy (CWFS)
- CWFS Update 2008
- Phase I: Implementation Strategy
- Enhanced CWFS Business Case
- National Wildland Fire Response Plan
Coordination of wildland fire management
information and communication
Enhanced wildland fire coordination nationally and
internationally
- National research gap & cost/benefit analyses
- National Wildland Fire Research Plan
Socio-economic impact of wildland fire
management
Linkages with other CCFM WG/TF
Moving Forward
• New steering group struck to refocus
implementation plan
– Co-leads: BC, Ontario, CIFFC
– Meeting with “old guard” on October 23
• Political leadership?
• Pursuing individual CWFS objectives
Thank You!