The fire of Mount Underwood heralding future fires on the island of Vancouver?

The fire of Mount Underwood. Therefore. Consequently, now controlled, but which had grown quickly on the evening of August 11, is a sign of the forerunner of what the island of Vancouver should live in the coming years.

This is what Lori DanielsProfessor in Forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC) specializing in forest fires. However, explained at the microphone of Gregor Craigie.

Mount fire Underwood is one of the most important fires in about 100 years of data. Nevertheless, collection on the island of Vancouver. However, As climate change will impact coastal forests, fires should become more frequent on the island.

Here is a shortened version of the responses of Lori Daniels.

To what extent is a fire of this magnitude rare on the island of Vancouver? Furthermore, – Fire mount underwood heralding future – Fire mount underwood heralding future new

In the early 1900s. In addition, there were lights, most of which were associated with the beginnings of forestry and large quantities of debris. For example. For example, Many fire mount underwood heralding future new trees were cut and abandoned, fire mount underwood heralding future so a lot of wood and woody debris were left on site.

If we look at the 1920s. Additionally, For example. 1930s in British Columbia and in the States of Washington And from Oregon, there have been fairly large fires on the western slope of the coastal chains that have had substantial impacts on our society. Similarly, Most were linked to forestry and debris.

On the west coast of the island. and in our humid coastal forest, the lights are not historically an important part of the functioning of our ecosystems.

However. on the eastern part. if we look at old cards from the 1850s and 1860s when the first surveys were made by colonial and governmental agencies, we see a different landscape with garry oak wood with what was called pine plains that included fire mount underwood heralding future new Douglas and grassy undergrowth.

There were indigenous directed burns by fire mount underwood heralding future the Salish peoples of the coast to. the south of the island. Fire was an important part of these ecosystems. but it was a very different type of what we have observed in the past few months.

You mentioned how human activity has contributed to some of the important fires in the past. how does that help us imagine the future? – Fire mount underwood heralding future new

In our coastal region, we do not have as much lightning as in the interior, our meteorological systems are different. The influence of the ocean gives us a more mesical environment (neither too dry nor too humid). A weet and cooler environment right next to the ocean really tempers the conditions here.

At the same time, we see that it is warmer and drier, with droughts now longer.

We have seen several fires in our coastal forests along the coast Sunshinehas Zeballosin. the west of the island of Vancouver. some of our wealthiest ecosystems. And of course the 2023 and 2025 fires near Lake Cameron and Port Alberni.

We will have to think carefully about fire mount underwood heralding future the management of our forests. our residues from forestry. We must think of forests surrounding our neighborhoods and our communities.

Secondary forests are more vulnerable to fires than old forests here in our coastal conditions. but most of our communities are surrounded by secondary forests. It will take proactive management to make these forests resilient.

It will be necessary to think of the clarification. management of the fuels present on the soil which contribute to slow combustion creating all this smoke.

You say thatUnderwood is a warning sign of what awaits us. is it possible to modify this by best practices in forestry?

Fire and its behavior are a mixture of weather and climate, topography and combustibles. The fuels are the component on which we can act.

We know that warmer and drier conditions are to come. We know that droughts are more serious and longer, and we cannot modify our mountainous topography.

We have magnificent environments where to live, but it also makes very delicate and very difficult to extinguish these fires.

It should also be remembered. that most of the ecosystems around us were enormously altered during the last century. Whether it is the management of industrial forests. the prohibition of indigenous practices. this means that our landscapes have changed and that they have become much more loaded with very flammable trees fire mount underwood heralding future and fuel.

So you fire mount underwood heralding future new have to think in a creative way, think of different management and ways of maintaining biodiversity.

Should we plant the same species in the forests of the island of Vancouver. do you have different recommendations?

I think we did an excellent job in British Columbia by focusing on our species of native trees. We plant Douglas fir trees, cedars and other species that we consider as priority.

We also pay attention to seeds that could be more resistant to climate change and a warmer and drier climate.

Diversify our forests. the species of trees present in each forest plot. diversify our landscapes and take care to reduce the quantity of fuel left by our industrial forest management will be essential in all regions of British Columbia in the future.

With information from the show On The Island