Planting for Tomorrow: Responding to Climate Challenges in the French-Severn Forest

Lumber frames our houses and cottages. It floors, furnishes, and decorates the interior making it feel like a home. Wood chips mulch our gardens, and fences delineate our yards. Delicious Sunday brunch includes pancakes with locally sourced maple syrup, paired with locally grown berries. All of these are examples of forest products (timber and non-timber products) derived from the French-Severn Forest in the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere (GBB) region. 

Westwind Forest Stewardship Inc. (hereafter Westwind) is the non-profit organization responsible for managing the French-Severn Forest in a way that benefits both people and nature. As holders of the Sustainable Forest License for the Crown/Treaty land in the French-Severn Forest, Westwind is responsible for planning timber harvest, tree marking and planting, preparing forest management plans (FMP), and much more. 

But what does forest management look like in a changing climate? How will Ontario forests be affected by climate change?

Impacts of Climate Change on Ontario Forests

Climate change poses significant risks to Ontario forests, impacting their health, productivity, and species composition. As temperatures rise, forests become increasingly susceptible to severe and frequent disturbances, including drought, wildfires, pests, and diseases. These changes not only threaten the ecological integrity of forests but can also have economic ramifications for the forest industry. 

According to Environment Canada, climate change is limiting access to resources, increasing operational costs, and altering local timber supplies. Combined with higher transportation costs and more frequent disturbances, these changes are intensifying economic challenges for the industry, its workers, and local communities. 

Warmer Temperatures

Warmer temperatures have led to extended growing seasons, a trend that may initially appear beneficial. However, when combined with other changes, such as altered precipitation patterns, these shifts present significant challenges for native species, particularly in terms of forest regeneration. Climate models predict that droughts will become more frequent and intense in many regions, posing a direct threat to the survival of seedlings and saplings. While mature trees with well-developed root systems may be better equipped to withstand drought, young trees are more vulnerable due to their limited ability to access deep soil moisture. This vulnerability can lead to increased stress, jeopardizing seedling survival and hindering forest regeneration.

Prolonged droughts can even affect mature trees. As water availability diminishes, trees experience stress, which can result in reduced productivity and compromised reproductive success. Stressed trees are also more susceptible to insect infestations and diseases, which exacerbate the challenges to forest health.

Milder winters have allowed insect and pest populations to thrive, increasing the likelihood of outbreaks that can devastate forest health. Late frosts and variable spring temperatures can damage needles and emerging buds, with the degree of damage differing depending on species. 

Frozen ground is a requirement for winter operations to occur in the French-Severn Forest as it minimizes the impact of machinery on the landscape. Rising temperatures may lead to a shorter harvesting window, posing challenges for forest management operations. This is particularly challenging in areas with blanding’s turtles, where there are restrictions on summer harvesting in order to protect this species at risk.

Shifting Rainfall Patterns

Rainfall patterns in Ontario have shifted alongside rising temperatures. While total rainfall amounts have remained relatively stable, precipitation events have become less frequent, with significantly higher volumes of rainfall during each event. However, these changes are not keeping pace with the increasing heat. Warmer temperatures lead to higher evapotranspiration rates, which accelerate the loss of moisture from soil, trees, and plants. This imbalance between less frequent but heavier rainfall events and increased evaporation creates drought-like conditions, placing significant stress on Ontario’s forests and exacerbating the risk of wildfires. Fortunately, while the risk of wildfires is anticipated to increase with climate change, the FSF has a greater proportion of hardwoods than more northern forests, which reduces the risk of large wildfires. 

Heavy rainfall also contributes to increased flooding, washouts, and soil erosion. The combined effects of reduced soil moisture, extended dry spells, and heightened fire intensity pose substantial challenges to forest health, biodiversity, and the local economy.

Increased Severe Weather Events

Ontario is experiencing more frequent extreme weather events, including heavy rainstorms, tornadoes, wind and ice storms, and prolonged heat waves. Severe weather events can have long-lasting impacts on forests, taking decades for ecosystems to fully recover and potentially altering forest structure and productivity permanently. Ice accumulation on trees from ice storms can increase their weight, causing large branches to break, which affects overall tree growth and makes them more susceptible to pathogens and pests. Prolonged heat waves with no precipitation can create drought conditions. During that time, fuel loads for potential wildfires increase along with the probability of ignition, the rate at which the fire can spread, and the intensity of the burn. 

Forest Management in a Changing Climate

All of these potential shifts in forest health are concerning as forests can play a vital role as carbon sinks, storing significant amounts of carbon in both biomass and soil. Changes in forest ecosystems—such as altered growth patterns or shifts in species composition—can undermine their ability to sequester carbon effectively. This reduction in carbon storage capacity could further exacerbate climate change by diminishing the role that current and future forests play in regulating atmospheric carbon. In light of these challenges, applying sustainable forest management practices is crucial for influencing the carbon cycle and enhancing carbon sequestration in Ontario forests. 

A 2018 study conducted by the Ontario Forest Research Institute of the Ministry of Natural Resources, found that sustainably harvesting forests for long-lived hardwood products—such as those used in construction and furniture—can be more effective for carbon and greenhouse gas mitigation than simply protecting forests from harvesting. The study highlighted that young forests capture more carbon from the atmosphere than mature forests, as their rapidly growing trees collectively sequester carbon at a faster rate. By harvesting these trees sustainably and using them in durable products, carbon is not only sequestered but stored over the long term. This underscores the importance of sustainable forest management practices in addressing climate change and promoting resilient forest ecosystems.

Species Selection

Earlier this year, GBB staff spent a day in the field with Westwind staff checking in on a seed production area (SPA). A SPA is an area planted with young seedlings and managed specifically for seed production. The area provides seeds of known origin, in high quantities, and with improved genetics.

But this wasn’t just any SPA. Westwind’s SPA was planted with trees sourced from warmer southern regions, as projections indicate that Canada’s climate will increasingly resemble that of more southern areas as a result of climate change.

With help from the Forest Gene Conservation Association (FGCA), Westwind planted eastern white pines (Pinus strobus) from southern Ontario, Virginia, and South Carolina. This was done to promote cross-pollination, enhancing the genetic diversity of future seeds, and providing trees with a better chance of thriving in future climate conditions that the French-Severn Forest will face.

Although the trees in the SPA are too young to produce seed yet, the Ontario Tree Seed Policy was updated in 2020 and now allows Westwind to source seed from areas that are considered to represent current and future growing conditions. Previously, most seed was required to be sourced from local seed zones. 

What You Can Do To Support Forest Resilience

Whether you own a woodlot or just a few trees on your property, there are several actions you can take to strengthen forests and help them adapt to climate change.

  • Maintain Existing Forests: Focus on preserving the current forest cover and look for opportunities to increase it.
  • Enhance Forest Connectivity: Work to restore and connect natural areas, allowing trees and wildlife to migrate more easily in response to changing conditions.
  • Practice Sustainable Forestry: To maximize forest health and carbon storage, consult a Registered Professional Forester and use an Ontario-certified tree marker when harvesting woodlots to ensure best practices are followed.
  • Create a Diverse Forest: Before harvesting, plan for the regeneration and establishment of a variety of native species. Consider both current climate conditions and projected future changes. Establish drought-tolerant species like oaks, hickories, and pines in drier areas. Consider planting species at the southern edge of their range in cooler, wetter microhabitats (e.g., north-facing slopes or near water). After harvesting, monitor the forest’s response and adjust cutting cycles as needed.
  • Improve Forest Health: Remove unhealthy trees and reduce overcrowding to promote growth. Diversify the age and structure of your forest through thinning, harvesting, and planting. Protect the forest edges from drying winds, conserve snow cover for moisture, and reduce the risk of windthrow to increase resilience.
  • Manage Pests and Diseases: Research and identify pests, diseases, and invasive species that could affect your forest. Monitor your property regularly to enable early intervention if issues arise, and report findings on EDDMapS.
  • Stay Informed and Engaged: Stay up to date on new practices, research, and incentive programs that can benefit your woodlot. 
  • Join Incentive Programs: Participate in local conservation associations and incentive programs focused on sustainable woodlot management, such as the Ontario Woodlot Association or Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program.
  • Choose Sustainable Materials: When building or renovating, opt for sustainably grown Ontario wood to support local forests.

      By taking these steps, individuals can play a vital role in enhancing forest resilience and contributing to the overall health of Ontario’s woodlands.

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