Lessons from Canadian wildfires and Indigenous land reformation with Dr. Gary Bull

In this Canada Day episode, I am joined by Dr. Gary Bull, Professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry. In our conversation Gary discusses the fundamentals of fire ecology in the context of Canada’s forests, and how it has changed in recent years. He describes the grand transition – both a paradigm shift in forest management practices in British Columbia and indigenous land reformation. From his deep experience in working with multiple stakeholders in the forest sector, he talks about opportunities and solutions for more resilient forests – that include indigenous and community stewardship, growing markets for ecosystem services and bioenergy and private investment. Show notes:Host: Shauna Matkovich - The Forest Link Details 00:51 Introduction to Gary Bull and his work 04:01 Summary of the wildfire situation in Canada and BC 07:58 Cause of wildfires in BC and Canada 14:20 Community perceptions on fire-smart forest management 15:19 Bioenergy as a solution 16:35 Resources for wildfire management 18:32 Private capital needed for the “Grand restoration” 21:10 Indigenous rights and forest stewardship 23:52 Production of new markets for wood 26:49 Canada and the Paris Agreement 30:59 Advice for investors, considering investing into forests Significant quotes:[03:22]            Last year, we would see that the wildfires produced three times more emissions than all industrial sources of emissions in Canada. [12:26]            I think now, the recognition is that especially in these landscapes, the boreal landscapes, and parts of the temperate that we will have to use fire as a management tool. [14:02 ]           We're going to move into an era of active forest management, not just for producing timber from mills, but for active, for producing, preserving ecosystem health.[18:32]            I don't think governments will ever be able to find all the money required to do the kind of restoration we want and the kind of things that I'm seeing happening, for example, in Brazil, right now, where investors are coming in offering up private investment capital to help with what I would call the Grand restoration challenge. [26:31]            And I think first nations are in a great position to lead the conversation, and essentially bring these other stakeholders to the table and say, look, we want jobs too, we want investment too, we want ecosystem health and we think we know how to get there.[29:16]            And so what this [fire suppression] has led to in Alberta (and people will find this perhaps puzzling to understand) is too much old forests. And so, these old forests are now highly vulnerable to fire. Links mentioned:UBC Faculty of Forestry: https://forestry.ubc.ca/Sound Library:Nature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud                  Sign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.