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magazine / ja03 / indepth
Canada's burning bush
The Boreal Forest is arguably one of Canada's most important
resources. "It produces huge amounts of forest products as
well as blueberries, medicines, mushrooms, pelts and food. It is
our largest and most valuable forest from an ecological and economic
standpoint," says John Cary, president of the Ontario Forestry
Association. For these reasons alone, the heat and storms of summer
are elements to fear as stray bolts of lightning or careless campers
can cost Canadians millions of dollars in firefighting efforts.
In a cloud of smoke, this pervasive yet fragile ecosystem can be
decimated. Learn how we battle this natural disaster and how fire
is shaping the boreal forest.
Features:
Battling the dragon
On the attack with Canada's elite boreal firefighters
Let it burn!
Why Canada's National Parks use fire to prevent fire
Smokejumper
An interview with one of B.C.'s elite parattackers
The forest of fire
How the boreal forest ecosystem is forged by the hottest of the
four elements
Firefighters of the future
Wildfire managers use a new set of tools to fight fires — computers
Canada's incendiary past
Fires that have burned their way into Canadian history
Departments:
The interactive midway:
Games, quizzes, and other fun media — you could WIN a prize!
The knowledge toolbox:
How to create a safe campfire
Just the facts:
Stats and figures about forest fires in Canada
CG reads:
Further fiery reading — buy it online!
Cartographer's table:
Fire attack zones
From the CG vault:
Archives of past CG articles
Re:sources:
An information guide to stories in Canadian Geographic
Contributors:
Michael Bhardwaj
Asha Jhamandas
Kris Popp
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