How can we help our forests adapt to Climate Change?
Climate change is happening now and is predicted to significantly affect our forests, and therefore our landscape and our society. How are forests adapting to Climate Change?
Providing strategic forest management advice and facilitating assisted migration.
Climate Change Adaptation
The resiliency of our forests depends on interactions among plants and animals, the quantity and quality of forests, as well as human and natural disturbance. These elements combined can have an impact on the genetic fitness and diversity of our forests. Our forests are diverse in species, but each species is also made up of unique, locally adapted individuals and populations. So, any plan to adapt to climate change must incorporate genetic fitness and diversity at all levels.
Our forest’s capacity to adapt, thrive and provide the many benefits our society needs, depends on informed restoration and forest management plans.
Ontario’s forests also depend on successful forest management programs and initiatives in the United States, as many species we work with and rely on have southern populations for ideal seed sourcing for Climate Change adaptation efforts.
Climate Change Resources
- US Climate Change Tree Atlas
- Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources
- Synoposis of Ontario Government’s forest research including climate change
- FGCA Assisted-Migration
- OFRI impact of climate change on Ontario’s forests
- Adaptation Work Book
- Sign up for the Forestry Adaptation Community of Practice for webinars, research papers and news
- Natural Resources Canada – Forest Change Adaptation
- Natural Resources Canada Forest Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Drought and Migration Failure of 22 Canadian tree species
- MNRF Seed Transfer Tool
- US Seedlot Selection Tool
- Plant Hardiness