Fire damage to Alberta's forests expected to last decades
Last year's record wildfires destroyed habitat for threatened species and will change the makeup of Alberta's forests for decades to come, says a new report.
And the assessment from the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute — a body funded by the University of Alberta and a provincial research agency — says the chance of a repeat of 2023's massive burn poses an ongoing challenge for both conservation and industry.
“The future of fire, and how land managers and industries respond to it, will determine the sustainability of Alberta's forests in the coming years,” the report says.
Last summer, a total of 1,088 wildfires burned about 22,000 square kilometres across the province from March 1 to Oct. 31. That's about five times the five-year average.
Alberta was a major contributor to forest losses across Canada, which were so great they accounted for a 24 per cent increase in global tree cover loss, says a separate report from the World Resources Institute released Thursday.
The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute report finds more than 28 per cent of the forest in Alberta's northeast corner burned. That region is remote and little-used.
But more than 10 per cent of the economically vital foothills region was burned. That region is home to much of Alberta's logging industry, as well as energy development, which also take a toll on the forest.
Several forestry companies lost between one-tenth and one-third of their harvestable trees.
“This represents the equivalent of more than a decade of forest harvest, impacting assessments of harvest sustainability in the future,” the report says.
The fires also lowered the average age of Alberta's forests, a crucial figure in determining which forests can be harvested.
Spruce and pine stands, some of the province's most economically valuable, are now on average six years and eight years younger.
The impacts aren't limited to industry.
“An increased frequency of extreme fire years with the added effects of human disturbances will drive declines in forest age, representing potential rapid, large-scale and ongoing changes in habitats and resulting biodiversity which could undermine ecosystem function,” the report says.
Some species are already suffering. Caribou herds, which have already lost the vast majority of their ranges to industry, lost more of them to fire. Losses range from more than five per cent in treed lowlands to as much as nearly 14 per cent in northern ranges.
The report warns that shrubs regrowing in burned-over areas attract moose and deer, which are likely to draw predators that also prey on caribou.
“Larger populations of predators will put these threatened herds further at risk,” says the report.
Aspen Dudzic of the Alberta Forest Products Association said industry is still assessing the effects of last year's fires and how they will affect harvesting plans.
“We make area-specific adjustments to our plans. It's difficult to say what those adaptations are going to look like,” she said
Increasing wildfires have long been forecast by climate scientists as regions like Alberta become hotter and drier. Much of the province is already under extreme drought and the government moved the start of the wildfire season up by 10 days to begin on Feb. 20.
“The critical question is whether the fire season of 2023 represents a rare event or whether the coming decades will see more fire years like 2023, particularly in the face of a changing climate,” the report says.
Picture the scenario in which you must suddenly abandon everything, gather your children, and evacuate your work and home. This fear is shared by 43 per cent of Alberta residents, as revealed in a new weather and property survey. Three-quarters of Alberta residents (76 per cent) also admitted having fears about wildfires and wildfire smoke.
Unfortunately, this fear is becoming more of a reality each year. Alberta declared an early start to this year's wildfire season — 10 days before the usual March 1 start date. As of Monday, there were 57 active wildfires in the province. This after last year's record-breaking wildfire season, in which Alberta saw 1,092 wildfires burning a total of 2.2 million hectares.
Whenever we get a major fire close to homes or businesses, there is a risk — not only of evacuation and an effect on residents' lives, but a looming threat of business interruption. Nevertheless, the early start and frequency of this year's fires are notable, and the unpredictability of when and where these blazes are going to start is concerning. Large fires can start close to populated areas with no notice, and it's crucial to be prepared.
The No. 1 piece of preparedness advice is awareness — always listen to authorities. If a community is on evacuation alert, residents need to be ready to go at the drop of a hat, equipped with a full tank of gas and a packed bag. Moving quickly can protect lives. For businesses, preparation can be a complex matter, but it is an important step toward mitigating risk and minimizing the effects of a wildfire.
Oftentimes, we see particulate levels in the air in major metropolitan areas that are up to 40 times the normal safe limit because of wildfire smoke, even though the fire can be as far as 1,000 kilometres away. Depending on wind direction, the result can be smoke-filled skies, similar to what we saw in several provinces and U.S. jurisdictions last summer. Both Edmonton and Calgary set records for “smoke hours” in 2023, according to Environment Canada numbers.
For business owners, employees and resi
Large fires can start close to populated areas with no notice.
dents, breathing in wildfire smoke can be dangerous, and providing clean air for employees, customers, tenants and residents is a priority. Employers can take steps to protect workers, including allowing for flexible work schedules on low air-quality days and installing additional air-scrubbing equipment.
Much discussion and action has taken place to protect, prepare and build communities to be more resilient to fires. Some of the strategies being deployed include new building technology with paperless and mould-resistant materials, more sustainable materials such as steelshake roofing and using more fire-resistant external building materials such as wood-free landscaping. Wildfires have also highlighted the risks of fire and smoke damage to commercial and residential properties. Residents and business owners need to be aware of the tangible ways they can protect their lives, properties and assets from wildfire. This includes making the roof fire-resistant, clearing away gutter debris, removing nearby coniferous trees, pruning trees and keeping the lawn mowed, using fire-smart landscaping and creating an evacuation plan.
Additionally, it's critical to ensure businesses and homes have adequate insurance coverage. Of note, 57 per cent of respondents in the weather and property survey conducted by First Onsite Property Restoration were concerned about whether their insurance was at the right level. Residents should check their policies or ask their insurance representative to confirm their limit.
Ultimately, catastrophes provide an occasion to reshape our thinking about how our communities are planned and constructed to provide a safer, more sustainable environment.
While community planners take into consideration how development can coexist with natural areas, communities can plan for events and take extra steps to prepare in advance to protect properties, reduce business interruption and safeguard lives.