Forestry in British Columbia: Planning for future climate today

Abstract

In conclusion, let me re-iterate the main points of this paper. First, climate change is but one of many uncertainties that foresters face, and is probably better researched than some. Second, the pressure for wise carbon management will continue to houndforesters. They should prepare themselves with sound quantitative information that will challenge the validity of ambitious and perhaps inappropriate schemes for storing carbon. Foresters may well find themselves on the positive side of the carbon balance. But they should also point to the great utility of trees that goes far beyond carbon storage. Third, for a credible analysis of likely impacts of climate change, we need a new vision of the province, one that transforms our biogeoclimatic map to the year 2050. We shall find that the predominant role of altitude in our landforms calls for strategies quite different from those elsewhere in Canada, where changes will occur over 100's of kilometers rather than 100's of meters. Fourth, despite all uncertainties, we can develop what Buzz Holling and Ian Burton refer to as pre-adaptive, resilient strategies. The forest sector is adaptable by nature, but it has adapted mostly to a changing resource. This will remain important, but we must also prepare for a shift in the genetic resource. We have a good start on this task also. Finally, let us remember that adaptation and mitigation deserve to be balanced with limitation. The future is not as bleak as Gary Larson once portrayed. We are not dinosaurs, and our brains are larger than walnuts. Let's use them.