Canadian working group plans to look at ways to improve recovery of forests after wildfires

A national organization is seeking people with experience in Canada's forestry sector as they put together a working group that will examine ways to improve forest recovery following wildfires.

Jessica Kaknevicius is the CEO of Forests Canada. She said last year the group reached out to tree planting organizations, to ask them how they are changing their planting practices after forest fires. "We got a lot of insight in terms of this kind of gap of knowledge with how should we be planting differently?"

"That's everywhere from looking at species selection, to looking at how densely are we planting, health and safety of planters, where are we planting, all those things," she said. "From that dialogue last year, what really came about was the need to bring together a national working group to share best practices, identify gaps, to get better trees in the ground, and really focus on survivability."

Kaknevicius said planting practices in Canada are changing.

"Historically it might have been focused on the forest industry," she said. "Now we're looking at more ecosystem-based projects and approach to managing our forests, and restoration, and reforestation."

"Part of that also means are we planting the right species to be able to make sure that we're maximizing future fire resilience?" Kaknevicius said. "There's been a lot of research that has shown that things like hardwood species, so trees with leaves, help to slow down fire when when fire is burning through a landscape, but those species are not necessarily what are being planted today."

Forests Canada said it's looking for people with experience in things like forest management, post-fire ecology, Indigenous land stewardship, seed supply and nursery operations, and climate adaptation to be part of the group.

Applications are being accepted via the Forests Canada website until March 31.

Kaknevicius said the group will also look at ways to implement any changes it proposes.

"It'll be different by province," she said. "We don't have a national approach to this for sure, and nor should we, because everything is owned and managed by the provinces on the Crown land level."

Applications close a day before the official start of Ontario's forest fire season on April 1, and Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance said preparations are well underway in his community.

"In Sioux Lookout, we've had a heavier than normal snowfall, so we're anticipating a bit of a later start to our fire season, and the spring, we're told, shouldn't be too bad," he said. "But even though we've had the snowfall we've had, they're still looking at a hot summer."

"Long range forecasts are predicting a really hot August."

Lawrance said municipal staff have met with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry about the 2026 fire season.