Fire, climate change, and the role of fire refugia in boreal forest futures | OCS Science Seminar

April 21, 2026 OCS Science Seminar presented by Dr. Diana Stralberg (Northern Forestry Centre). Abstract: Climate change is driving larger and more severe wildfires, in part because drought conditions are becoming more common. Some places—known as fire refugia—are more likely to escape burning because of their physical setting, moisture conditions, or vegetation characteristics. In this work, we combined satellite-derived fire severity data with information on topography, wetlands, climate, and vegetation to better understand what limits fire impacts and map where these more fire-resistant areas are likely to occur. This work contributes to a growing set of tools for understanding drought sensitivity, anticipating vegetation change, and supporting climate-informed forest and land-use planning.