Policy Initiative

Canadian Studies Center > Canada Connect >

Policy Initiative

Leveraging and showcasing the wide-ranging expertise of MSU faculty on issues relevant to the Michigan-Canada and U.S.-Canada relationship, the Canada Connect Policy Initiative keeps Michigan legislators and key stakeholders informed on Canada-related issues key to Michigan’s economy, industries, and communities.

As part of the initiative, MSU faculty present legislators with policy briefs on issues concerning the Michigan-Canada relationship and address related inquiries during a subsequent public forum.

Addressing the Impacts of Catastrophic Wildfires Through Proactive Forest Management and Wood Utilization

Chad Papa, Ph.D.
Director, Forest Carbon and Climate Program
Department of Forestry

January 2026

Increasingly, Michigan has been impacted by the adverse effects of wildfires across the western United States and Canada. Emerging evidence suggests that these wildfires are in part driven by a changing climate and legacies of past management, specifically fire suppression. Current climate projections show that the risk of large-scale and severe wildfires will continue throughout the end of the century. Curbing catastrophic wildfires and their adverse effects on human health and livelihoods requires not only land-based contributions to climate mitigation but reductions in emissions across all sectors. Adopting a broader mindset to forest management and policy to address catastrophic wildfires through landscape-scale adaptive management is needed to protect the future of our forests and human health in Michigan and beyond. Furthermore, investing in emerging forest products and bioenergy could provide a necessary source of finance for forest management and additional climate-mitigation benefits.