Lucas Brehaut had high hopes for his research on forest regrowth after wildfires, but nature had other plans as wildlife in Newfoundland’s wilderness took a keen interest in his work, causing havoc with his equipment.
Brehaut, a wildfire researcher with the Canadian Forest Service, embarked on a study to analyze forest regeneration in Atlantic Canada post-wildfires, a region experiencing an increase in forest fires despite its cooler and wetter climate compared to other parts of the country.
Following a forest fire near Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., in 2022, Brehaut and his team began a project to assess forest regrowth under rising temperatures due to climate change by using 19 open-top chambers (OTCs) resembling mini greenhouses placed around seedlings. These OTCs can elevate temperatures by up to three degrees, replicating the impact of a warmer environment. The study is currently in its third year of a planned five-year duration.
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Despite anticipating challenges like rugged terrains and harsh weather conditions in Newfoundland, Brehaut faced an unexpected obstacle during a routine check-in in September 2023.
