2002/126 (a)

BACKGROUNDER

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION: A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE — AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

The agriculture and forestry chapters of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: A Canadian Perspective review recent Canadian impacts and adaptation research on the forestry and agricultural sectors. They indicate that climate change could have impacts on forests, forest management and agriculture in Canada, while emphasizing that there is still great uncertainty about overall impacts.

These are the second and third chapters of the report; a chapter on water resources has already been published. Chapters are being published as they become available.

The agriculture and forestry chapters are intended to raise awareness of some of the potential impacts that have been identified by scientists, including shifts in species distribution. In the forestry sector, climate change could cause fundamental changes in the dynamics of forest ecosystems. However, numerous studies of the impact of climate change on forests have come up with greatly varying results, because they consider different factors and make different assumptions. Adaptation strategies to help reduce the magnitude of potential negative impacts are also discussed. One potential adaptation option is to facilitate the establishment of tree species that are drought-tolerant.

The agriculture chapter focuses mainly on the impact of climate change on primary agricultural production in Canada and the potential vulnerabilities at the farm level. Climate change could lead to more extremes in weather conditions, increases in pest problems and water shortages. Favourable impacts include a warmer climate in general and a longer growing season. Adaptation strategies that are discussed include water management innovations, and changes in farm practices, such as crop diversification.

The full report will comprise 13 chapters. Nine focus on specific sectors — water resources (published), agriculture, forestry, fisheries, coastal zone, health, transportation, communities, and recreation and tourism. Other chapters provide background information and address research methods, costing and knowledge gaps. A synthesis report of about 20 pages will also be produced.

The chapters review published scientific literature, primarily from Canadian researchers. They also highlight the results of research funded by the Government of Canada’s Climate Change Action Fund.

Approximately 45 percent of Canada is covered by forests, and that represents 10 percent of the world’s forests. Forestry accounts for direct employment in Canada of close to 350,000 and provides an economic base for some 340 communities in this country, including many rural, northern and First Nations communities. It generates $34 billion a year in exports.

The agricultural and agri-food industry in Canada is recognized internationally as being among the best in the world, both in terms of food safety and quality, and in having a trade-friendly environment. Canada’s 247,000 farms are an important part of the economy. Agri-food exports in 2001 were more than $26 billion.

As they are completed, the chapters are being posted on the Government of Canada’s climate change Web site at http://www.climatechange.gc.ca. The chapter-by-chapter release on the Web site provides the public with an easily accessible source of information on climate change impacts and adaptation as they become available.

For more information, contact:

Ghyslain Charron
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-4447