The landscape of Okanagan’s hills, in the aftermath of sprawling wildfires, bears scant resemblance to its former lush greenery. The flames now yield scarred raw land, visible from Kelowna, where once towering trees have been replaced by ashen remains.
Robert Gray, a wildfire ecologist, has been analyzing the extensive damage ensued. He conjectures that the regrowth of trees in certain areas is unlikely. The resilient trees, he explains, settled into the region about a century ago amidst a different climate. However, with increasing dry spells, newly sown trees might struggle to take root.
“Even if they do, their growth might be stunted. They will likely be supplanted by shrubs, grasses, and herbs, thus transforming the landscape drastically,” says Gray.
Notwithstanding, Gray anticipates that the charred terrain could prove favorable for low-lying plants, potentially heralding an age of biodiversity. He contends that the current shift in the province’s landscape, especially around Kelowna, is however unpiloted and requires exigent measures from authorities.
“Small, isolated high-severity fires can enhance biodiversity, but it’s crucial that we determine the course of action rather than merely reacting,” Gray interjects.
This year alone, wildfires in British Columbia have swept through a record two million hectares, marking their devastating footprint. In the Okanagan alone, they’ve endangered countless homes and the wildlife that cohabitate the region.
Adam Ford, a biology professor at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus, has followed the movements of several wildlife species over the summer as fires encroached on their ecosystems.
“High-temperature fires can penetrate deep into mineral soil, thus delaying the restoration of vegetation. Conversely, fires can also be instrumental in clearing invasive shrubs, enhancing sight lines, and replenishing nutrients to understory plants,” explains Ford.
Ford further details that mule deer, for instance, have demonstrated adaptability to post-fire conditions, often returning just hours after the fire’s passage. The problem, though, exacerbates when wildlife cannot escape rapidly spreading fires and consequently perish.
Ira Sutherland, a forester and Ph.D. student from UBC, has spent many years studying wildfires in the province and has spent the last two and a half years unraveling B.C.’s forest management history. Sutherland’s research largely delves into entrenched historical mechanisms that impede land management institutions in B.C. from evolving as required to confront increasing environmental challenges like wildfires.
Sutherland’s study narrates how forest management institutions have adapted in the past, albeit belatedly. “It’s akin to bravely treading a dark alley till you finally look up and search for the exit strategy,” he says, drawing an analogy.
He suggests a three-pronged approach to counter the escalating landscape challenges: reinstating local forest management, restoring complex landscapes, and implementing reflective processes to aid in transforming institutions.
