Climate Change & the Boreal Forest

More than half of the world’s natural forests have been destroyed over the past 50 years. In Canada’s boreal forest, more than 30% has already been allocated for industrial development, most of it since 1990. Alarmingly, the pace of development is accelerating. Technological advances are making previously non-commercial forests accessible for harvest; and the search for oil, gas, minerals and hydro-electric power is moving further into once-remote territory.

In addition, at least one-third of the world’s forests are in danger from global warming. Many climate change models predict a dramatic shrinking of the boreal forest. Studies show that the forest in Saskatchewan may well be replaced by vegetation more typical of a grassland ecosystem by the end of the century (see maps below). The effects of climate change are expected to create unprecedented levels of insect infestation and forest fire in the boreal forest. The warmer and drier weather in the summer is also expected to reduce tree growth and reproduction.

For more information, see our forest fact sheet, Climate Change and Saskatchewan's Boreal Forest (PDF).

For more information on the climate change issue, see the climate change section of our website.
 

Ecoregions of Canada before climate change

Projected ecoregions of Canada after climate change

Source: Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada

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