Wildfire Management and Climate Change in Canada

Wildfires are a serious societal issue in Canada and around the world. We discuss how wildfire is related to several issues of concern raised in the world scientists' second warning, including climate change, human population growth, biodiversity and forests, and freshwater availability. Furthermore, we touch on the potential future health impacts and challenges to wildfire suppression and management in Canada. In essence, our wildfire scientists' warning to humanity is that we, as a society, will have to learn to live with more fire on the landscape. We provide some recommendations on how we might move forward to prepare for and adapt to future wildfire regimes in Canada. Although this effort is primarily Canadian in focus, the concepts and information herein also draw from international examples and are of relevance globally.