Wildfire Resilience and Biomass Supply

Climate change has more than doubled the likelihood of extreme forest weather conditions in Canada. Over the years, in Canada, the annual area burned by wildfires has witnessed a steady increase, with an average rise of 330,000 hectares each decade. The intensified fire seasons in Canada and other countries necessitates urgent efforts to promote wildfire resilience while facilitating a sustainable and reliable biomass supply. Wildfire management involves prevention and mitigation treatments such as thinning, as well as post-fire harvest activities including the sustainable extraction of biomass from affected areas. However, the complexities and risks associated with the conditions of recently burned areas make it challenging to manage the collection of this biomass.

On October 5, 2023, a hybrid workshop titled “Wildfire Resilience and Biomass Supply” was held in Quebec, Canada. The workshop, organized by IEA Bioenergy Task 43 (Biomass Supply) and Université Laval, brought together experts from Canada, Europe, Australia, and the United States to gather insights and best practices to promote sustainable wildfire and biomass management. This report shows the main conclusions of the workshop.

The full report is available here: Wildfire Resilience and Biomass Supply

Main highlights:

• Governments needs to increase efforts on wildfire resilience and sustainable biomass utilization. A holistic approach to fire management is imperative for countries, including those historically unaffected by wildfires. Thus, sustained dialogue is crucial for mitigating wildfire impacts and advancing sustainable biomass practices.
• It is crucial to consider the costs of inaction versus adaptation. The capacity to manage landscapes in the face of wildfires and the annual funding allocated to those activities are limited, thus strategies need to be harmonized with other objectives, such as forest product manufacturing and community protection. Furthermore, addressing wildfire impacts involves considerations beyond wood supply, encompassing aspects related to wildlife, carbon sequestration, and other ecological factors. The development of regional strategies is critical to effectively manage the multifaceted challenges posed by the increasing wildfire activity.
• Future research should continue to explore strategies to facilitate biomass recovery from wildfire prevention and salvage activities, including optimizing the quality and inherent characteristics of the recovered biomass. This activity can, in turn, increase bioproducts and bioenergy generation.
• Sustainable forest management, incorporating fuel management and biomass removal for bioenergy, offers a mutually beneficial solution, particularly for communities susceptible to both fire risk and energy insecurity.
• Enhancing forest landscapes and industrial structures’ resilience is crucial, for instance, by introducing fire-resistant species. Fire salvage harvesting is also vital, governed by factors such as tree species, plantation age, fire intensity, and regulatory requirements.
• Effective strategies for recovering affected trees and reaching markets can lead to success but necessitate efficient coordination across the supply chain. The use of standardized, georeferenced data on the harvesting history of forest stands and burn pattern classification for recovered wood is also important.
• Governments could facilitate cost-sharing opportunities between bioenergy production and wildfire fuel management. Additionally, it is crucial to promote leadership while enhancing community-level benefits, such as job creation and revenue generation.

Photo Credit: Natural Resources Canada, 2023