Drivers and Impacts of the Record-Breaking 2023 Wildfire Season in Canada

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Aug. 20, 2024

Abstract The 2023 wildfire season in Canada was unprecedented its scale and intensity, spanning from mid-April to late October across much of the forested regions Canada. Here, we summarize main causes impacts this exceptional season. record-breaking total area burned (~15 Mha) can be attributed several environmental factors that converged early season: snowmelt, multiannual drought conditions western Canada, rapid transition eastern Anthropogenic climate change enabled sustained extreme fire weather conditions, as mean May–October temperature over 2.2 °C warmer than 1991–2020 average. were profound with more 200 communities evacuated, millions exposed hazardous air quality smoke, unmatched demands on fire-fighting resources. not only set new records, but highlights increasing challenges posed by wildfires

Language: Английский

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Habitat loss accelerates for the endangered woodland caribou in western Canada

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 3(7)

Published: April 26, 2021

Abstract Habitat loss is often the ultimate cause of species endangerment and also a leading factor inhibiting recovery. For this reason, species‐at‐risk legislation, policies plans typically focus on habitat conservation restoration as mechanisms for To assess effectiveness these instruments in decelerating loss, we evaluated spatiotemporal changes an iconic endangered species, woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ). We quantified forest cover, key proxy habitat, all subpopulations Alberta British Columbia, Canada. Despite efforts under federal provincial recovery plans, requirements listed Canada's Species at Risk Act, lost twice much they gained during 12‐year period (2000–2012). Drivers varied by ecotype, with Boreal Northern Mountain affected most fire Southern more harvest. Our case study emphasizes critical gaps between planning management actions, which are core expectation legislation. Loss from 2000 to 2018 has accelerated. Linear features within ranges have increased over time, particularly seismic lines ranges, estimated that only 5% functionally regenerated. findings support idea short‐term actions such predator reductions translocations will likely just delay extinction absence well‐considered management. Given magnitude ongoing change, it clear unless cumulative impacts land‐uses effectively addressed through consider anthropogenic natural disturbances, fail achieve self‐sustaining populations across North America.

Language: Английский

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Canada Under Fire – Drivers and Impacts of the Record-Breaking 2023 Wildfire Season

Authorea (Authorea), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

The 2023 wildfire season in Canada was unprecedented its scale and intensity. Spanning from late April to early November extending across much of the forested regions Canada, resulted a record-breaking total area burned approximately 15 million hectares, over seven times historic national annual average. impacts were profound with more than 200 communities evacuated (approximately 232,000 people), periods dense smoke that caused significant public health concerns, demands on fire-fighting resources. exceptional can be attributed several environmental factors converged enable extreme fire danger country. These included snowmelt, interannual drought conditions western rapid transition eastern Canada. Furthermore, mean May-October temperature staggering 2.2°C warmer normal (1991-2020), enabling sustained weather throughout season. led larger proportion very large fires (> 50,000 hectares), many having for months spring into fall. Fires started May or June accounted two-thirds burned. Overall, characterized by major societal impacts, setting new records highlighting increasing challenges posed wildfires

Language: Английский

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Quantifying forest disturbance regimes within caribou (Rangifer tarandus) range in British Columbia

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 19, 2024

Abstract Habitat disturbance is a major driver of the decline woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ) in Canada. Different agents and regimes negatively impact populations to different degrees. It therefore critical that land managers scientists studying have detailed understanding affecting habitat. In this work we use recent advances satellite-based detection quantify polygonal forest ecotypes herds British Columbia (BC) from 1985 2019. Additionally, utilize data investigate harvesting rates since implementation Species at Risk Act (SARA) publication recovery strategies for BC. Southern Mountain are most threatened yet experienced highest disturbance, with 22.75% forested habitat within their ranges disturbed during study period. Over period, found total, 16.4% area was across all herd ranges. Our findings indicate BC face high, many cases increasing, levels disturbance. results provide scale, highlight need effective policies aimed preserving

Language: Английский

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Bioclimatic, terrain, and specific peatland composition are major drivers of woodland caribou winter habitat suitability in northern Ontario

Canadian Journal of Zoology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 103, P. 1 - 18

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Mapping of winter habitat suitability is important for the persistence and conservation at-risk woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus (Gmelin, 1788)). While well documented at national scale boreal caribou, particularly in highly disturbed southern ranges, remains understudied northern intact ranges such as Ontario. We used boosted regression tree species distribution modeling environmental variables with ecological relevance to predict map suitable northeastern Ontario, Canada. The best model suggests that peatland types climatic effect James Hudson Bay may have a marked (68.8% cumulative relative influence) on suitability. Based this, predictive identified large clustered zone centered within transition between ecozones. By accounting local-scale aspects bioclimatic variables, our provides comprehensive predictions this zone. Additional investigation role type different seasons regions help further understand use.

Language: Английский

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Causal attribution from retrospective data in Canada's woodland caribou system

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 35(3)

Published: April 1, 2025

Forecasting the benefits of management interventions intended to improve ecological conditions requires a causal understanding factors that lead system change. The attribution factor is defined as difference between outcome observed in presence and would have been factor's absence, is, counterfactual condition. Estimating this contrast relatively straightforward, where matched or randomized controls are available approximate However, researchers must reason retrospectively from observational data not available. In case, challenge establishing estimating true counterfactual, resulted absence factor, given it was present. Causal analysis permits estimation counterfactuals data, assuming model captures all common causes exposure outcome, independent other (i.e., exogenous), same directional change for units monotonic). I estimated habitat-related recruitment rates Canada's boreal population woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Aggregate habitat disturbance had low (17.6%). Attribution greater (29.5%) when disaggregated into different associated with pathways decline. considered nevertheless rarely exceeded 50%, suggesting there systematic and/or stochastic can limit effectiveness current recovery actions. More effort required understand these how they might be managed probability successful recovery.

Language: Английский

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The direct and habitat-mediated influence of climate on the biogeography of boreal caribou in Canada

Climate Change Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 3, P. 100052 - 100052

Published: Jan. 29, 2022

Language: Английский

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Assessing Pathways of Climate Change Effects in SpaDES: An Application to Boreal Landbirds of Northwest Territories Canada

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Oct. 4, 2021

Distributions of landbirds in Canadian northern forests are expected to be affected by climate change, but it remains unclear which pathways responsible for projected effects. Determining whether change acts indirectly through changing fire regimes and/or vegetation dynamics, or directly changes climatic suitability may allow land managers address negative trajectories via forest management. We used SpaDES, a novel toolkit built R that facilitates the implementation simulation models from different areas knowledge develop experiment study area comprising 50 million ha Northwest Territories, Canada. Our factorial was designed contrast effects on 64 landbird species using climate-sensitive and non-climate sensitive tree growth mortality, wildfire, landbirds. Climate-change were predicted increase suitable habitat 73% species, resulting average net gain 7.49 across species. observed higher turnover northeastern, south-central (species loss), western regions gain). Importantly, we found most differences occupancy attributed direct rather than simulated despite similar relative importance variables models. Even with close doubling annual burned 2100, 600 kg/ha aboveground biomass this region, climate-driven very small, likely pace changes, lags. The effect lags (i.e., equilibrium) varied wide range distribution, consequently occupancy, due These findings suggest hybrid approaches statistical landscape tools could improve wildlife forecasts when future uncoupling is anticipated. This lays some methodological groundwork ecological adaptive management new platform allows iterative forecasting, mixing modeling paradigms, tightening connections between data, parameterization, simulation.

Language: Английский

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International progress in cumulative effects assessment: a review of academic literature 2008–2018

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 65(2), P. 186 - 215

Published: March 30, 2021

This paper discusses trends in recent academic literature on cumulative effects assessment (CEA) the field of environmental impact (IA). We performed an inductive, thematic analysis peer-reviewed published between 2008 and 2018. find that most research CEA originates North America, much it is situated periodicals other than leading IA journals. There agreement still not well understood conceptually there remains a need for procedural guidance as support practitioners. Support regional strategic approaches to strong. Our review also shows that, increasingly, researchers advocate estimating relative ecosystem vulnerability anthropogenic activities by aggregating stressors differentiating heavily disturbed valued components zones. The concludes with our suggestions strengthen scholarship globally.

Language: Английский

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Climate‐informed forecasts reveal dramatic local habitat shifts and population uncertainty for northern boreal caribou

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(3)

Published: Feb. 8, 2023

Most research on boreal populations of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) has been conducted in areas high anthropogenic disturbance. However, a large portion the species' range overlaps relatively pristine primarily affected by natural disturbances, such as wildfire. Climate-driven habitat change is key concern for conservation boreal-dependent species, where management decisions have yet to consider knowledge from multiple ecological domains integrated into cohesive and spatially explicit forecast species-specific demography. We used novel forecasting framework provide climate-sensitive projections demography five monitoring within Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, over 90 years. Importantly, we quantify uncertainty around forecasted mean values. Our results suggest suitability may increase central southwest regions NWT's Taiga Plains ecozone but decrease southern northwestern driven conversion coniferous deciduous forests. do not project that population growth rates will despite changes suitability. emphasize importance efforts protect restore northern climate while highlighting expected spatial variations are important considerations local people who rely them. An ability reproduce previous work, critical thought when incorporating sources uncertainty, be refine forecasts, derive decisions, improve efficacy species at risk.

Language: Английский

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