Climate Adaptation and Resilience Professional Development Program for Forest Professionals in Canada
The Climate Risk Institute (CRI), in collaboration with the Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC) and with contributions from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), have developed a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Professional Development Program for Forest Professionals in Canada. This course is designed to provide forestry professionals and practitioners with new knowledge of climate change, climate impacts and adaptation strategies to complement their existing knowledge base, strengthen climate resilience in forest management, and build capacity across the sector to integrate adaptation measures into daily practice.
Funded in part by Natural Resources Canada through the Climate Change Adaptation Program, this initiative supports Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy by equipping forest professionals with critical climate adaptation skills.
Registration
Complimentary spots* for equity-deserving individuals are available.
Please email media@cif-ifc.org to request more information.
*Please note that spots are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
All complimentary applications are subject to review and approval.
Benefits of Participation
As a course participant you will gain the following benefits:
Strengthen your climate adaptation knowledge and learn practical strategies to apply in your forestry work.
Network with other professionals working at the intersection of forestry and climate resilience.
Receive a certificate of participation, which can be added to your professional development record.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of this Forestry Adaptation Training Program, the participants will be able to:
- Describe how climate change is affecting Canada and explain its relationship to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Demonstrate key climate change vulnerabilities and risks facing forest ecosystems, including disturbances such as drought, wildfire, and pests and diseases.
- Explain the roles forests play in climate policy and examine how sustainable forest management principles support climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives.
- Describe historical and current forestry practices in Canada and examine how forest management needs are evolving in response to climate change.
- Identify climate change risk and vulnerability assessment concepts and apply relevant tools to inform forest ecosystem management.
- Compare forest adaptation concepts and strategies, including physical, policy, and planning-based approaches.
- Implement climate change considerations into forest management planning, using structured frameworks and decision-support tools.
- Discuss key considerations in implementing adaptation measures, including cost-benefit analysis and uncertainty in decision-making, and demonstrate approaches for monitoring and evaluation of adaptation outcomes.
Level of Effort and Time Commitment
The course begins with an introductory module in Week 1, which includes pre-recorded lectures and readings focused on climate change, setting the foundation for the five core modules that follow. Each core module takes approximately 7 hours to complete and includes:
- Pre-recorded lectures and videos: 1-1.5 hours, broken up into several short videos.
- Live session: 1.5 hours
- Readings, discussion forum activity, and quizzes: 3.5-4 hours
During the final week, participants will complete two final assessments, including:
- Final exam – based on quiz questions from each module.
- Summative task – a practical assignment, drawing on insights from discussion forum activities and course content to apply course concepts to a practical real-world scenario.
This flexible format allows participants to balance learning with their existing work commitments while ensuring they gain valuable, applicable knowledge. The total time commitment for participants will be approximately 45 hours over 7 weeks.
Course Dates
January 5 – February 20, 2026
*Registration for first course delivery is closed
February 9 – March 29, 2026
*Registration for second course delivery is closed
Supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program
