Climate change bad news for boreal forest.Scientists are not able to predict the exact consequences of climate change, but some say they might not all be bad. Because Canada is a northern country, it is likely warmer weather will provide benefits such as a longer growing seasons growing season, period during which plant growth takes place. In temperate climates the growing season is limited by seasonal changes in temperature and is defined as the period between the last killing frost of spring and the first killing frost of autumn, at which and less demand for heating in the winter, Environment Canada Environment Canada (EC), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act ( R.S., 1985, c. E-10 ), is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for coordinating environmental policies and reports in The Science of Climate Change. However, these benefits come at a cost. Without strategies in place to adapt to the changes. Canada may miss out on the benefits entirely. The paper states that the boreal forest boreal forest Noun the forest of northern latitudes, esp. in Scandinavia, Canada, and Siberia, consisting mainly of spruce and pine [Latin boreas the north wind] in particular will be vulnerable to disease, fire and competition from other tree species as the weather warms. If carbon dioxide carbon dioxide, chemical compound, CO2, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is about one and one-half times as dense as air under ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure. levels double, for example, it could shift the boreal forest belt northward north·ward adv. & adj. Toward, to, or in the north. n. A northern direction, point, or region. north by 500 kilometres, changing the makeup makeup In the performing arts, material used by actors for cosmetic purposes and to help create the characters they play. Not needed in Greek and Roman theatre because of the use of masks, makeup was used in the religious plays of medieval Europe, in which the angels' faces of the species therein. But a natural replacement in tree species is not going to happen in our lifetime, says Steve Colombo, a research scientist with the Ministry of Natural Resources' Ontario Forest Research. Some scientists foresee the changes taking place within the next 30 years, but not Columbo. "It is going to take a long, long time before the natural forests in Ontario will be replaced by more southerly located species." In general, the species dominating Northern Ontario Northern Ontario is the part of the province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron (including Georgian Bay), the French River and Lake Nipissing. Northern Ontario has a land area of 802,000 km² (310,000 mi²) and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it will be adaptive to climate change, at least to the century 2050. But it does not mean one should not prepare for future opportunities. If the climate changes, industry, government and communities may want to decide changing the forest composition by bringing in high-value, adaptive species that can survive in mild winters. "It is a management and a social decision," he suggests. The debate over changing species composition is in its infancy. There have been no discussions on government policy changes that would allow new species to be introduced, but "people are talking about it," says Columbo. Within the next five or 10 years this kind of discussion will be happening more frequently. To his knowledge no company is studying new forests yet. Corporations are just beginning to discuss the alternatives, while the idea has forestry scientists abuzz with the potential. "It is a really exciting period for a forester and someone concerned about natural resources," Colombo says. By guiding ecological process the sector can take advantage of the future environmental changes. By planting trees "we have the ability to obtain more from the same area by working with the natural system to modify it ... to our benefit." The importance of the forest industry in Ontario is being brought home more these days. Concerns over wood supply, operating costs operating costs npl → gastos mpl operacionales in Ontario, and the practice of forestry has a direct impact on the provincial economy, communities and jobs. "We should not be shy about saying forestry and supply is a good thing for the province." www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/education/scienceofclimatechange BY KELLY LOUISEIZE Northern Ontario Business Northern Ontario Business is a Canadian magazine, which publishes monthly in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The magazine covers business news and issues in Northern Ontario. |
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