
Wildfire devastation will lead to a rebirth of the boreal forest
Although the forest in many areas of Northern Saskatchewan have been devastated by wildfire, it is a natural occurrence that will lead to a more diverse ecosystem.
“It does create a rebirth for the forest,” said Provincial Silviculture Forester Michelle Young, who specializes in the science of managing forests.
“In many cases, they need that fire to regenerate because that is how they’ve adapted. The forests go through successional changes. They change in age and species over time, and a lot of times, a healthy forest landscape will include a mix of these different stages, and it does create a more diverse habitat.”
Young explained some species of trees, such as jack pine, have serotinous cones that are sealed with resin that only open with extreme heat, such as a wildfire. The seeds then drop into the nutrient-rich soil and sometimes can start growing in a matter of weeks.