Boyd Case Canadian Forest Service Presentation to CIFFC/NWCG Joint Meeting January 28-31, 2003

1. An Overview of Forest Fire Research in Canada Boyd Case Canadian Forest Service Presentation to CIFFC/NWCG Joint Meeting January 28-31, 2003 Boise, Idaho

2. Presentation Outline 1. Historical review of fire research in Canada 2. Major Research Organizations CFS, Universities, Provinces, Other 3. CIFFC Fire Science and Technology Working Group – Facilitating Research/Operations Cooperation 4. Emerging Fire Management/Research Issues 5. Summary and Closing Remarks

3. Historical Review of Fire Research in Canada

4. Early Years (1920s-1940s) Canadian Forest Service initiated fire research in Canada in 1925 • initial work aimed at understanding relationships among weather, fuels, and fire (fire danger rating) • used empirical research techniques (extensive field program – fuels, weather, test fire measurements) • small but effective research group focused on applied research (worked closely with operational agencies)

5. Golden Era (1950s-1960s) 1952 – Formation of Canadian Committee on Forest Fire Control Agency advisory committee to CFS on fire research needs (precursor to CIFFC) foster strong researcher/practitioner cooperation 1960s • Primary effort on a national fire danger rating system (FWI System) • Major recruitment of staff into regional establishments; emphasis on specialization in other fields (e.g., suppression, fire behaviour, fire ecology)

6. Growth and Prosperity (1970-1980s) 1970s • CFS continues to be the primary research organization in Canada (peak of fire program reached in mid-1970s with over 50 staff members) • Universities begin to develop fire research capacity 1980s • Fire management systems research emerges as key field of study due to computer technology (CFS and universities) • CFS produces Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction System • Fire ecology research grows, especially in universities

7. Adjustments and Realignment (1990s) Major budget cuts reduce CFS fire research program (<50% of 1970s level) and refocus of efforts (e.g., equipment/suppression research stopped; PNFI closed; some staff relocated) Emergence of national/international policy issues influences CFS fire research activities (e.g., resources shifted to focus on fire and climate change; transfer of systems/knowledge internationally) Emulating natural disturbance paradigm and new research funding procedures draw university researchers (e.g., ecologists, biologists, social scientists) towards fire management issues

8. New Era (present and near future) CFS remains the major fire research organization in Canada but universities and other organizations have increased capacity significantly Creative partnerships (between research organizations and internationally) have become essential to conducting fire research in Canada Multidisciplinary teams with diverse subject area experts are being created to address complex/integrated questions (e.g., values-at-risk initiative; fire and forest management) Operational agencies are becoming more active at directing and funding their research needs

9. Major Fire Research Organizations in Canada

10. Canadian Forest Service Fire Research General Research Areas • Fire Behaviour/Danger Rating • Fire Ecology • Fire Management Systems/Remote Sensing • Integrating Fire and Forest Management • Fire and Climate Change Resources • 25 full-time staff at 4 research centers • $2 million/year A-base O&M • $2 million/year external funding Primary Clients • Federal policy makers (e.g., CC, biodiversity) • Provincial fire managers and industrial forest managers • International organizations

11. Universities General Research Areas • Fire Ecology (leading role) • Fire/Forest Management Systems • Remote Sensing • Fire Economics Characteristics • Growing interest from non-forestry faculties • Independent or loosely coordinated research • Funded primarily through federal granting councils • Increasing cooperation with operational agencies • Key programs at U of T, U of A, UQAM • Smaller programs at UNB, Laval, U Brandon, U of C, UBC

12. Provinces/Territories Characteristics • Most agencies have limited internal research capacity • Provide critical leadership and coordination on some projects • Major funding provided to universities, consultants, and CFS for applied research projects • Catalyst for the identification of research needs and vital to effective information exchange/technology transfer Examples of Areas of Specialization/Leadership • BC – fuel moisture modeling/fire danger rating • AB – fire spread modeling • ON – Strategic Models/Fire Economics • QC – Information Systems/Technology development • PC – landscape fire management/fire ecology

13. Other Organizations Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada (FERIC) • Alberta-based Wildland Fire Operations Research Center • Created 2 years ago, partially in response to operational research gaps • Focus mainly on fire suppression issues • Short-term, applied research projects Canadian Model Forest Network • Entering third 5-year phase • Directed research projects at some of the 11 model forests • Emphasis on: • natural disturbance emulation • local level criteria and indicators of SD

14. CIFFC Fire Science and Technology Working Group(FSTWG) Facilitating Research/Operations Cooperation

15. FSTWG: Background and Mandate Formation Created in 1997 as one of CIFFC’s permanent working groups [after Canadian Committee on Forest Fire Management (CCFFM) disbanded] Mandate To promote, coordinate and support effective forest fire management research and technology transfer programs in Canada Membership and Meetings • Each CIFFC agency or a regional representative plus university liaison (currently 11 members) • Meets 2-3 times per year (at least once face-to-face)

16. FSTWG: Primary Objectives • Examine the range of S&T issues faced by Canadian agencies • Communicate and cooperate (e.g., pool resources and expertise) to address common interests/concerns • Promote linkages among operational agencies and the fire research community (government, university, consultants) • Facilitate technology transfer and implementation of results arising from new S&T work • Facilitate cooperation on interagency research/development projects (e.g., fire growth model)

17. Emerging Fire Management/Research Issues

18. Understanding and Managing the Role of Fire as an Ecological Process Fire is essential to maintaining healthy, productive forests in many of Canada’s forest ecosystems

19. Increasing Human/Social Impacts of Wildfire • Increasing values at risk • Expanding wildland-urban interface • Smoke effects on human health

20. Fire Suppression Limits Current suppression techniques are approaching their limit of economic and physical effectiveness Initial attack is highly effective (97+% of all fires are <200 ha) 2-3% of wildfires will continue to escape initial attack Increasing need for fuels management at the stand and landscape level to reduce potential for large fires

21. Climate Change • Forest fires make a significant contribution to GHG emissions (important Kyoto policy implications) • Climate change is likely to increase fire weather/danger significantly in many regions • Potential conflicts between fire use (for forest health) and biosphere impacts of fire

22. Increasing Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness • Strategic planning models • Operational information systems and decision support systems • Remote sensing/satellite technology

23. Summary and Closing Remarks • Fire research has been occurring in Canada since the mid-1920s • Most fire research tends to be highly applied and client focused • CFS remains the largest fire research organization in Canada; however, universities and other research organizations have become more involved in recent years • The CIFFC FSTWG facilitates cooperation and communication among researchers and managers to enhance innovation • Fire management issues have become more complex and integrated, and therefore fire research has become more multidisciplinary and cooperative • International cooperation is essential on a number of key issues and themes

24. Time For Dialogue