102 resources found

This webinar explores silvicultural options for managing for mature and old-growth forest conditions across a range of forest and ownership types in the US. The consistency of these strategies with other objectives and programs tied to biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation, and forest adaptation are discussed.

This document synthesizes findings from over 25 Canadian research watersheds to examine the highly variable impacts of forest management on water resources. It emphasizes that factors like topography, subsurface geology, climate, and forest type significantly influence these effects, making direct knowledge transfer between regions challenging. The document highlights the importance of conservation measures like riparian buffers, which, while generally effective, require tailoring to local conditions. It emphasizes the need for future research to identify critical processes that mediate forestry's effects on water, integrating both large-scale watershed-level studies and detailed stand-level investigations to improve the transferability of findings for sustainable forestry practices.

This document assesses the advantages of commercial thinning operations on lodgepole pine stands for both the forest stand and the communities of Houston and Burns Lake, British Columbia. The document details the thinning process, which includes juvenile spacing and shortwood harvester selection, and highlights benefits such as reduced fire hazard, a decrease in tree mortality, and an increase in total stand volume over time. Furthermore, the analysis emphasizes the significant socio-economic prosperity generated through increased employment, stable contracts, and a rise in the Allowable Annual Cut (AAC), concluding that commercial thinning is a valuable practice that aligns with the broader goals of the Forest Renewal Plan.

This document offers a detailed summary of monitoring strategies and indicators to achieve sustainable ecosystem management in the Clayoquot Sound region. The document covers key areas like watershed and coastal integrity, different levels of biological diversity (including genetic, terrestrial, and aquatic), and human activities and values such as those important to First Nations, tourism, and regional production. These recommendations stress the need for adaptive management through long-term monitoring programs, suggesting specific monitoring levels from site-specific up to large areas, with defined time frames and objectives to ensure the health and integrity of Clayoquot Sound's natural and cultural resources.

The Foundations of Advanced Silviculture micro-certificate is designed to provide a comprehensive education in modern forest management. It consists of four two-week courses covering topics such as silviculture fundamentals, forest ecology with Indigenous perspectives, current practices in stand development, and monitoring systems for continuous improvement. Upon successful completion, learners receive both individual course certificates and a final micro-certificate.

This documentinvestigates the growth dynamics of mixed broadleaf-conifer stands and a push for improved forest management that better reflects multiple objectives, as outlined in the Forest and Range Practices Act. The report achieves this by reviewing existing literature on the silvicultural traits and competitive interactions of both planted conifers and naturally regenerating broadleaf species in the northern interior, alongside the ecological and silvicultural benefits of retaining broadleaves. The study proposes alternative free-to-grow criteria specifically designed to encourage the retention of broadleaf species in the Prince George, Robson Valley, and Mackenzie Timber Supply Areas, aiming for implementation within BCTS Prince George's Forest Stewardship Plan.

The SFU Climate Action certificate is an online program comprising of 3 required and 3 elective courses, designed to help learners gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to lead and implement equitable climate action plans. The program focuses on areas such as applying principles of climate justice and Indigenous knowledge, developing environmental solutions, and building community resilience.

The Sociocultural Dynamics of Wildfire program equips students with critical knowledge of the impact of land use from colonial to contemporary times, Indigenous methodologies pertaining to land use and wildfires, and the impact of wildfires on sociocultural relationships.

Developed in partnership with BCWS, this innovative Wildfire Communications and Media program blends crisis communication theories with practical training in media relations, professional communication and community engagement. Students will develop strategies to communicate across diverse audiences, analyze media depictions of wildfires and address ethical challenges in real-time.

The UBC Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation micro-certificate is an 8 week online program designed for natural resources professionals. It provides training on climate science, vulnerability assessments, and adaptation development, focusing on applying these concepts to management and business case adaptation within a forestry context.

The wildfire science program welcomes learners from varied backgrounds who are passionate about wildfire and environmental systems. It serves students aiming for purposeful careers, professionals seeking to expand their skills, and community leaders working to strengthen local resilience. Centered on equipping people to create meaningful change, the Wildfire Science Certificate prepares graduates to contribute effectively to wildfire management and post-fire recovery.

The UBC Climate Action and Community Engagement micro-Certificate is an 8 week online program designed to help learners gain the skills and understanding required to train on local climate change, community engagement techniques, and developing Climate Action Plans.

The micro-certificate in Fire Ecology for Environmental Restoration will equip learners with practical skills and knowledge to understand and treat the effects of fire on natural ecosystems, prepare communities to respond to wildfire threats, and create ecosystem resilience. This program will prepare graduates to help mitigate the effects of both prescribed burns and wildfire damage upon the environment. A broad range of conditions and habitat restoration will be studied through intensive in-class and on-site learning, partnered with practical online applications. Participants will learn about natural fires and their attributes; fires as an ecosystem process; fire management, regimes and techniques; fire and climate change; prescribed burns; First Nations fire management; restoring burnt sites

The Forest Carbon Management micro-certificate is designed for professionals in natural resource sectors. It provides foundational knowledge in forest carbon accounting, data analysis, project development, and market navigation. Through real-world case studies and applied learning, participants will gain practical skills to assess and manage forest carbon initiatives in both domestic and international contexts. The program is ideal for those seeking to diversify their expertise and contribute to climate action through sustainable forest practices.

This presentation outlines the critical issue of ecological drought in British Columbia, distinguishing it from lack of precipitation by emphasizing the role of water deficit relative to average conditions and evapotranspiration. The core concern highlighted is how increasing temperatures due to climate change will intensify drought frequency and severity, despite potential precipitation increases, by reducing snowpacks and increasing water loss from the environment. The presentation explores recent drought occurrences, linking them to climate change and natural climate variability, and introduces a Forest Drought Risk Assessment Tool designed to evaluate and predict drought impacts on forests. The purpose of this presentation is to emphasize the urgent need to integrate climate change considerations into forestry practices to mitigate future ecological impacts.

This webinar presents an overview of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage options, including geological storage and biochar application. It highlights Western Canada’s favorable geology for long-term CO2 storage and discusses biochar as a stable form of carbon that can enhance soil health while sequestering carbon for centuries. The webinar emphasizes both technical feasibility and ecological benefits of carbon management strategies in industrial contexts. Presented by Malcolm Wilson

The toolkit shares practices and related resources on Indigenous-led fire practices and settler and state-led fire management for Indigenous Peoples and wildlife in the Saskatchewan River Delta in northern Saskatchewan. Many aspects of this toolkit are applicable across Canada.

This presentation focuses on the establishment and growth of aspen stands within the Sub-Boreal Spruce zone of British Columbia. It draws upon existing research to discuss key factors influencing aspen regeneration, including the importance of removing apical dominance through disturbances like logging or fire to promote suckering. The presentation also details harvest considerations, such as the benefits of winter harvesting and the negative impacts of excessive canopy retention and soil compaction. The presentation explores the effects of various silvicultural practices and the interactions between aspen and coniferous species like spruce and pine, providing guidance on site selection and stockingregeneration surveys for successful aspen management.