Last month the Canadian Council on Invasive Species (CCIS) hosted the anticipated Wildfires, Climate Change and Invasive Species virtual conference. Over 20 speakers from across Canada and the US shared their research and expertise to an audience of over 300. Attendees represented government, practitioners, non-profits, academia, Indigenous leaders and others. Through engaging discussions, knowledge-sharing, and communication across borders, this event tackled some of the most urgent environmental challenges facing our forests and communities. Topics discussed included:
Emerging Threats: Discussions on how invasive species are intensifying wildfire risks and the ways climate change is accelerating their spread.
Collaborative Solutions: Insights from government, industry, and Indigenous leaders on building cross-sector strategies to mitigate these threats.
Tools and Technology: Showcases of innovative approaches to invasive species control, wildfire prediction, and climate adaptation.
This conference was undertaken by CCIS as part of the National Invasive Species and Climate Change (NISCC) Network. NISCC is a national initiative to reduce the joint effects of climate change and invasive species by building stronger scientist-manager communities
Conference Outcomes
Through discussions and feedback from attendees and speakers, a key outcome of the conference was recognition of the urgent need for continued dialogue on these global issues. There was also a particular emphasis on amplifying Indigenous perspectives and leadership through these conversations. The conference highlighted the value of Indigenous knowledge in understanding and addressing the impacts of invasive species and wildfires in the context of a changing climate.
Building on this momentum, CCIS is committed to hosting follow up webinars to further these critical conversations started during the event. We will also be publishing an Event Summary Report in 2025. Subscribe to our Newsletter and keep an eye on our news/updates for more details on the report and webinars!
Thank you to the incredible support of our Sponsors and Moderators – Environment and Climate Change Canada, Nova Scotia DNRR, Thompson Rivers University, Forests Canada, Sustainable Forestry Initiative and SenseNet. Your commitment to protecting our environment and fostering collaboration around these issues is invaluable.
Our sponsors played a vital role in making the Wildfires, Climate Change, and Invasive Species Virtual Conference a reality. But their contributions go far beyond funding—they are actively working directly on these critical environmental issues.
We asked a few of our sponsors to share their thoughts on why they chose to support this event and how their work aligns with the fight against wildfires, climate change, and invasive species. Read on to hear directly from the organizations driving change and supporting the solutions we need to protect our forests, communities, and ecosystems.
Forests Canada: Supporting Resilient, Thriving Forests
Q: Forests Canada has been a key player in forest restoration and management. Can you tell us why you felt it was important to sponsor this conference on Wildfires, Climate Change, and Invasive Species?
At Forests Canada, our vision is diverse, resilient, thriving forests today and for future generations. In sponsoring this event, we recognize that wildfires, climate change and invasive species are all serious threats to our forests and that we have a role to play in supporting the long-term health of our forested landscapes. Our goal is to support efforts that share knowledge and bring what we learn to our tremendous networks.
This year is our 20th year of supporting forest restoration efforts, and we have supported the planting of over 46.5 million trees, contributing to over 900,000 hectares of connected forested landscapes. We know that it’s not about just planting trees, but ensuring we work with landowners on maintaining and managing planted sites for the benefit of healthy forests. This includes managing for invasive species as well as supporting interventions that improve climate adaptation.
Q: Invasive species are a growing threat to Canada’s forests. How is Forests Canada addressing these challenges through your programs, and what role does education play in mitigating these risks?
Recently, we conducted a landowner survey where we learned landowners would like Forests Canada to follow up with support after their planting project was completed. We responded by creating a Landowner Guide to help provide resources and guidance on what to expect in the years to come. In this guide, there is a section devoted to invasive species, how to identify and where to seek further guidance on managing these threats. We encourage landowners to be an active participant in the management of these newly created forests.
We will also be providing webinars in spring 2025 to help engage and support landowners to maintain their properties, including invasive species reporting and management. Additionally, every year we partner with the Invasive Species Centre, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and Natural Resources Canada to host the Forest Health Review to bring the latest information around invasive species and forest health to practitioners to support the implementation of best practices in prevention and management.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative: Advancing Forest Sustainability
Q: What inspired the Sustainable Forestry Initiative to sponsor this conference, and how does it align with your mission of promoting sustainable forest management?
SFI is sponsoring the Canadian Council on Invasive Species’ Wildfires, Climate Change, and Invasive Species conference because we believe that addressing invasive species and fostering collaboration across sectors is essential to effective sustainable forest management. The conference is aligned with SFI’s mission to advance sustainability forest-focused collaboration and provides a great opportunity to engage with key stakeholders and share best practices for tackling major threats to forest health (including invasive species), ensuring forests can continue providing environmental, social, and economic benefits for the communities that rely on them.
Q: Wildfires have become more intense and frequent due to changing climate conditions. How does SFI incorporate wildfire risk management into its Forest Management Standard certification?
Wildfires can threaten public safety, property, water quality, air quality, and wildlife habitat, while also contributing to increased carbon emissions. Through Objective 10 of the SFI Forest Management Standard, SFI-certified organizations are required to limit the susceptibility of forests to the undesirable impacts of wildfire. Certified organizations are tasked with managing forests in a way that promotes resilience by reducing fuel loads, mitigating the spread of invasive species, and restoring forests following wildfire damage. By implementing climate smart forestry techniques within the context of fire ecology and fire regimes, forests become more resilient to the risks posed by climate change, such as drier conditions and higher wildfire susceptibility.
Additionally, SFI emphasizes community engagement. As part of our Fire Resilience and Awareness Objective, SFI-certified organizations must raise public awareness about the benefits and risks of wildfire, as well as methods for minimizing potential damage. There is a great opportunity to grow public awareness about the many benefits that well-managed forests deliver to society in fire risk reduction, fuel management, and the value of controlled fire. By incorporating these proactive measures into our standard, SFI ensures that forest management supports long-term sustainability while addressing the increasing threat of wildfires.
