Scientist says climate change driving Atlantic Canada’s wildfires but forests could be managed better

Forestry expert Anthony Taylor discusses the wildfires that burned in the Maritimes this summer.

Atlantic Canada’s wildfires are growing and a scientist at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) says the combination of climate change and regional forest management are making things worse.

Anthony Taylor is a forestry expert at the UNB. He studies the impact of climate change and forest composition.

“We should expect more weather like this into the future,” Taylor said. “That’s largely a consequence of inaction on climate change over the past 20 or 30 years.”

Taylor said the weather and drought conditions in the Maritimes can be blamed on the climate change already baked into the system and people should expect more warming in coming decades. He said weather impacts wildfires more than any other variable but the next biggest factor is ignition.

“More than 90 per cent of our fires that do occur, including this year, are from human ignition,” Taylor said. “Obviously we want to try to reduce and stop climate change but the next best thing after that is to be fire smart around the woods.”

Taylor says people should remember Smokey Bear.

“Only you can stop a forest fire and that’s been truer than ever.”

Taylor said the composition of the forest and its management also influence the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Hardwood and mixed wood forests are less flammable than dense conifers, he said, but it’s common practice to replant conifers after clear cutting. He said people shouldn’t stop planting conifers because industry relies on them, but forest management should include adequate diversity with hardwood and mixed wood stands.

“Strategically use those as firebreaks,” he said.

Nova Scotia’s longest burning wildfire on record hit Long Lake in the Annapolis Valley on Aug. 13 and it took six weeks until it was declared under control on Sept. 27. Nova Scotia’s worst fire hit Barrington Lake in 2023, burning more than 23,000 hectares and destroying 60 structures.

The largest single wildfire in the recent history of New Brunswick hit Oldfield Road in Miramichi on Aug. 6 and grew to more than 1,400 hectares.

Taylor said he agrees with Nova Scotia’s fire ban policies given the heightened risk.

“Like I was saying, most of the ignitions that occur are human caused.”