The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers regularly publishes reports and studies to inform and contribute to the knowledge base of Canada’s Forests. Choose one of the publication types below to access recently released publications or use the search to find information by keyword or topic.
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Recent Releases
Environmental leadership
Canadian Wildland Fire Risk Assessment Framework
The Canadian Wildland Fire Risk Assessment Framework provides a common approach for governments, Indigenous organizations and land managers to understand and assess fire impacts and hazard characteristics of wildland fires across the country. The framework explains key components of wildland fire risk and offers guidance to support consistent and reliable assessments at local, regional and national levels.
The document outlines what to consider when assessing wildland fire risk while enabling users to adapt it to different needs and contexts. It focuses on long-term, landscape-level risk, rather than real-time fire response.
By establishing a common approach, the framework improves how wildland fire risk is understood and compared across Canada, while still allowing flexibility. The framework is meant to evolve over time as new science and tools become available.
By improving consistency and clarity, the framework strengthens decision-making for wildland fire prevention and planning, and supports better policies, safer communities, and more effective wildland fire risk management across the country.
Natural disturbances
CCFM FPWG Spongy Moth Risk Assessment
This assessment was triggered by recent increases in detection of spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar), an invasive species, in un-infested areas of Canada, as well as outbreaks in areas where this pest is considered established. The objective of this assessment was to characterize the risk posed by spongy moth’s spread to currently un-infested forested areas across Canada, including the effect of climate change on the risk of spread and establishment of this insect. The assessment also identifies information needs that, once addressed, will help reduce existing uncertainties around spongy moth risk, and ultimately, will enhance prevention and management of spongy moth in Canada.
Natural disturbances
Review of Conceptual Advances in Disturbances Interactions
The Forest Pest Working Group (FPWG) under the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) is working towards best practices for analysis, decision-making and action to make forest pest management in Canada more proactive, more coordinated, and ultimately more effective. Its work focuses on developing and implementing a National Forest Pest Strategy, providing an integrated framework for prevention, detection, and response. The aim is to help all the jurisdictions involved work together to maintain healthy forests and a sustainable forest sector.
Carbon and climate
Strategic Plan for Climate-Sensitive Growth and Yield Modelling
The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) is pursuing a collaborative, national level initiative to develop climate-sensitive growth and yield models. The ultimate outcome is envisioned to be a national-level open-source approach, applicable in both managed and unmanaged forests, drawing from a diversity of approaches and models and having characteristics of interoperability, modularity, scalability, and complementarity with models developed by provincial and territorial forest management agencies. The climate-sensitive growth and yield modelling initiative will help advance the understanding of how climate change is affecting forest growth or mortality in the present and how future forests will be affected by these changes. Developing more accurate and reliable growth and yield models will support the sustainable management of forest resources.
Natural disturbances
Canadian Wildland Fire Prevention and Mitigation Strategy
The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers has spearheaded the development of the Canadian Wildland Fire Prevention and Mitigation Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy outlines a vision, goals, commitments, and targets to provide a clear path forward for wildland fire prevention and mitigation efforts in Canada. The Strategy highlights the need for a whole-of-society approach and builds upon the progress already made by all governments, Indigenous Peoples, and other partners to manage wildland fire. The Strategy reflects over two years of engagement by the CCFM with municipal, provincial, territorial, federal and self-governments, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representatives, academia, industry, and many others across Canada. Together, our combined efforts can build a more wildland fire resilient society.
Bioeconomy
Renewed Forest Bioeconomy Framework
Ministers endorsed a Renewed Forest Bioeconomy Framework. The Renewed Framework builds on the 2017 Forest Bioeconomy Framework for Canada by focusing directly on addressing the continuing challenges the forest sector faces to realize the potential of the forest bioeconomy in Canada. A corresponding set of responsive actions for jurisdictions to implement as appropriate was developed to accelerate the development of the bioeconomy in Canada, in line with sustainable forest management frameworks in the provinces and territories. These actions include creating biomass availability maps and supporting development of certification tools; developing standards for bioproducts and environmental performance; and coordinating support for demonstration projects. In doing so, this framework will help ensure Canada’s bioeconomy thrives as a high value sector and a central contributor to climate, environmental, economic and social goals.
