Record forest fire season in 2023: an invoice of more than $ 8 billion for Quebec

The fires that have reduced millions of hectares of Quebec forest in 2023 to the ashes cost more than $ 8 billion at low words. Therefore, according to a first study which assesses the collective bill for this historic season.

A voluminous report. However, published on Wednesday, quantifies the consequences of these fires beyond the financial losses already reported to the room by various industries, including the silvicultural sector. In addition,

In 2023. For example, even if there was no full village to have switched to fire as we saw last year and even this year in Canada, we were still surprised by the magnitude and severity of the seasonrecalls Laurent Da Silva, economist of climate change and co -founder of the firm Nada Conseils, at the origin of the report.

Two years later, the need for a real assessment was essential, explains Mr. Moreover, Da Silva, both to encrypt the extent of damage and disturbances, but also to highlight Human stories behind figures.

Interrupted economy

Unsurprisingly. Meanwhile, the companies that bring communities to life in the heart of the boreal forest have been hardly affected. However, On this level, the costs generated by the fires amount to more than $ 3.7 billion.

The fires forced the evacuation of whole communities. Similarly, the closure of neuralgic roads and the suspension of production in the forest and mining industries.

Employees had to be repatriated urgently record forest fire season 2023: while equipment has been damaged. Therefore, Access limited to the forest has also complicated the work of companies that have continued their activities. Furthermore, disturbing their production chain.

Faced with the prospect that 300. However, 000 hectares of burned forest struggle to regenerate, the Quebec chief forester revised downwards the forest possibilities to guarantee The sustainability of forest development. Nevertheless, This decision, according to the authors of the report, could result in losses of around $ 3 billion in the coming decades.

In addition, as the fires occurred in the middle of the high season for the outfitters and the SEPAQclosings and access prohibitions have caused estimated income loss, in total, at nearly $ 35 million. In addition,

Local companies, whose sales have dropped, have also suffered from this fire season. For example, Despite a limited sample of traders surveyed. Consequently, A clear narrative emerges on lived experience [alors que] Several found themselves in a more difficult financial situationit is said.

To these costs are added the government’s emergency interventions. the note of which is more than $ 1 billion. Nearly $ 210 million was notably spent by the SOPFEU To fight the flames, 10 times the average of previous years.

More than $ 865 million are notably allocated to restoration. reconstruction after fires, including background production, the business support program and risk mitigation measures.

Upset lifestyle

However. these figures should not make people lose sight of the multiple impacts that the populations that depend on the boreal forest.

The prohibitions that have targeted a good part of Quebec territory have compromised many record forest fire season 2023: hunting. fishing outings, as well as traditional indigenous activities that punctuate the daily life of these communities.

Through the province. 655 hunting camps and chalets were the prey of flames especially in Jamesie, in the MRC of the Vallée-de-l’Or and in the Cris de la Baie-James territories. At the heart of the latter, the camps can act as a main residence, note the authors.

Anchoring in the territory is important. For distant or forestry communities, it was downright a lost summer. All activities in the forest which are the foundations of life in these communities have been stopped. […] It is a lifestyle that has been impacted.

As the sky was tinged with orange record forest fire season 2023: and the light was transformed under the effect of smoke plumes, the air quality, it fell alarmingly.

During intense pollution days. forest fire fumes would have caused approximately 90 additional deaths linked mainly to respiratory and cardiovascular diseasescan we read. This is without counting the 964 emergency visits. 110 hospitalizations counted in the network to treat cases of asthma, bronchitis and other pulmonary conditions.

These pressures on the health system represented expenses of $ 585.4 million.

Impacts that are difficult to anticipate …

By burning. the forests have released large quantities of carbon in the atmosphere that has so far been stored in biomass and soil.

These shows will contribute to increasing the impacts of climate changewhich range from reducing the productivity of agricultural land to material damage caused by increased risk of flooding. the report record forest fire season 2023: explains. This will inevitably lead to additional economic costs for humanity and considerable impacts on ecosystems.

However. the authors have restricted their analysis to forest areas at risk of regeneration, that is to say those which, in the absence of human intervention, would not become carbon wells in the decades to come. Potential damage to these CO emissions₂ Released in the atmosphere could be an estimated $ 3.1 billion, but this estimate is prudent, according to Mr. Da Silva.

We do not know how these areas will evolve. if we will be able to intervene everywhere [pour favoriser la régénération de ces forêts, dit-il.

The report also acknowledges that fires have affected natural habitats. in particular two distribution areas of cariboue’s bolds whose disturbance threshold has been exceeded, without however encrypting the monetary impact.

As a natural phenomena that participate in the regeneration of forests. the fires in itself do not pose A concern for ecosystemsit is said, but it is important to understand In which fire regime the 2023 season is registered.

…. other impossible to quantify

In the absence of available data, other costs have not been included in the exercise, such as the increase in insurance premiums or the loss of value of the properties. The same goes for the deterioration of the mental health of those who had to evacuate their residences.

We spent a lot of time gathering their testimonies: they told us about what is akin to post-traumatic shock syndromes in their children. who stress as soon as they smell the smell of a campfire. People also had to be absent from work. start taking medicationsays Laurent Da Silva, who underlines that these impacts were only mentioned by a small portion of respondents.

Such stories nevertheless clarify the portrait of multiple traces – including intangible – which the lights have left. in their wake. These significant consequences are also record forest fire season 2023: the subject of studies elsewhere in the country.

Following this report. funded by Natural Resources Canada, the Quebec government and Ouranos, two other components will linger with the effects of these record fires in the coming decades and the solutions envisaged to better manage the risk of future fires.