Hayley Hesseln

Economic analysis of geospatial technologies for wildfire suppression

Geospatial technologies used to fight large fires are becoming increasingly available, yet no rigorous study exists of their effects on suppression costs or fire losses, nor do we know whether these technologies allow more efficient combination of firefighting assets used to suppress fires. The high cost of these technologies merits an assessment of these values. Using data from all large-scale fires originating on US Forest Service land greater than 1620 ha in the Northern Rocky Mountains for the 2000–03 fire seasons, we estimate random parameter models of total fire expenditures, agency fire suppression costs, fire duration, and area burned. Site factors, geospatial technology use, and firefighting assets are used as explanatory variables in these regressions. In addition, stochastic cost frontier models are estimated for suppression costs to judge the efficiency of input use for fires with and without geospatial technology use. We find that although geospatial technology use does not appear to significantly increase suppression costs when other factors are controlled, it does seem to allow more efficient allocation of resources such as labour and capital by fire managers seeking to minimise the costs of controlling large fires. Both of these results suggest that the high cost of using these technologies may be offset by improvements in the use of costly firefighting assets by fire managers.

Adaptive Capacity of Forest Management Systems on Publicly Owned Forest Landscapes in Canada

The degree to which Canadian forest management policies, institutions, and other factors either support or hinder the development of climate change adaptive capacity is discussed. The analysis is based on discussions with government and industry forest managers across Canada. Managers feel that they have the tools and the technical capability to successfully adapt. However, while these tools and abilities are available to forest managers, they are not always utilized due to policy barriers or lack of resources. Also, the adaptive capacity requirements of forest managers may be increasing as a result of global warming, as well as broader social, economic, and market trends. A model of “embedded science,” in which scientists closely interact with forest managers in planning exercises leads to increased adaptive capacity. Some institutions, such as forest certification, have the potential for providing a framework for determining adaptation and adaptive capacity requirements. However, they will need to be modified in order to realize that potential. Forest management policy generally supports adaptation, but may limit the implementation of adaptation options in cases where the required innovation lies far outside of business-as-usual activities. Forest management policy needs to become more flexible and forward-looking, focusing on expected future outcomes under potentially different conditions, while at the same time acknowledging the uncertainty in expected outcomes. Reforming existing forest tenure arrangements and providing forest managers with more flexibility and local autonomy will allow more timely adaptation to climate change as well as other sources of change.

UArctic: evaluating 10 years of collaboration

The University of the Arctic (UArctic) was established in 2001 by the Arctic Council to enhance human capital by making higher education accessible to northerners and by fostering a regional identity. A decade later, we assess whether UArctic is delivering on its mission. Using an online query, we asked UArctic members and affiliates to evaluate the effectiveness of the network, the degree to which UArctic’s programmes have been successful to date and the potential for continued success. We identify UArctic’s relative strengths as viewed by its members and its challenges moving forward. Our results suggest that the UArctic network has many proponents and has contributed to enhancing the profile of the North. UArctic’s greatest achievement has been the success of its student mobility programme and the undergraduate programme. These two initiatives were the impetus for UArctic’s creation, yet respondents feel that the network is moving away from these goals and should return to basics. The membership also identified key challenges moving forward: securing sustainable funds, the need to shift the strategic focus and greater administrative and financial transparency. This research has implications for the continued success of UArctic as it relates to Arctic and northern policy, and the future of private and public financial support for the network’s continued success.

Boreal Forests of the Circumpolar World

The boreal forest accounts for about one-third of all global forest resources and is found in seven of the eight Arctic countries. The boreal biome, also known as the taiga, lies south of the Arctic Circle and runs through Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States, and Canada (out of the eight Arctic countries), as well as Japan, Mongolia, and Scotland, making it one of the largest biomes in the world.

Regulatory Uncertainty Around New Breeding Techniques

Emerging precision breeding techniques have great potential to develop new crop varieties with specific traits that can contribute to ensuring future food security in a time of increasing climate change pressures, such as disease, insects and drought. These techniques offer options for crop trait development in both private and public sector breeding programs. Yet, the success of new breeding techniques is not guaranteed at the scientific level alone: political influences and social acceptance significantly contribute to how crops will perform in the market. Using survey data, we report results from an international panel of experts regarding the institutional and social barriers that might impede the development of new plant technologies. Survey results clearly indicate that regulatory issues, social, and environmental concerns are critical to the success of precision breeding. The cross-regional analysis shows heterogeneity between Europeans and North Americans, particularly regarding political attitudes and social perceptions of targeted breeding techniques.