Forests go far beyond British Columbia; they cover 1/3 of the Earth’s land surface. Forestry graduate students learn from a dynamic and diverse group of researchers who educate and communicate how forests and forest products contribute to the well-being of all living things. The health and sustainability of forests and the people who depend on them underlies everything we do.

The Faculty of Forestry is one of the top institutions globally in forest-related education and research. The unique breadth of expertise we possess allows us to integrate new knowledge across many disciplines. Offering both master’s and doctoral programs, our graduate students learn from a dynamic and diverse group of researchers from around the world.

 

Research Facilities

The Forest Sciences Centre is a showcase for construction using Canadian forest products, and was architecturally designed to mimic the landscape of British Columbia: towering trees, mountains, and blue-green waters. The 17,505-square-metre Forest Sciences complex has 11 classrooms, 2 lecture theatres, teaching laboratories, office space, computer labs, study areas, and a cafeteria, and houses the Faculty’s three departments.

Built alongside the Forest Sciences Centre is the 3,730-square-metre Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. It is Canada’s national centre of excellence for education and research related to wood products processing and advanced wood products manufacturing, and works to advance knowledge that fosters job creation, stabilizes forest-dependent communities, encourages increased value recovery, and ensures the sustainable management of Canada’s forests. This building includes two 25-seat classrooms, a machine lab, a simulator lab and a computer lab.

Within the Faculty of Forestry, there are also several research groups. Visit the website of each project to find out more.

Off-campus facilities include two Research Forests: the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest in Maple Ridge and the Alex Fraser Research Forest near Williams Lake. These are working forests located throughout the province where students and faculty can study in an outdoor setting. Fish and wildlife, silviculture, forest harvesting, forest ecology, forest management, and resources management figure prominently in these field studies.

Research Highlights

UBC Forestry is turning out a new generation of foresters, and faculty are committed to meeting future challenges in forestry through in-depth, cutting edge research. In fact, UBC Forestry receives the highest level of forestry research funding of any forestry faculty in Canada.

In the 2017/2018 fiscal year, members of the Faculty Forestry were awarded a total of over $12 million in research funding. 

Our wide breadth of research includes topics such as tree rings, integrated remote sensing, bioenergy, forest conservation genetics, landscape visualizations, African forest conservation and development, alpine studies, climate change, and advanced wood processing.

Schools / Departments

Department

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

or browse the list of faculty members in various academic units. You may click each unit to view faculty members appointed in that unit. View the full faculty member directory for more search and filter options.
Name Academic Unit(s) Research Interests
Aitken, Sally Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences forest genetics, climate change, Climate change, conservation, ecology, genetics, genomics
Alila, Younes Department of Forest Resources Management Hydrology, Flood, Water Resources, Water Structures, Forest Hydrology, Forest management, hydrological engineering
Arcese, Peter Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Global change biology; Ecology; Conservation Biology; Evolutionary Biology; conservation finance
Avramidis, Stavros Department of Wood Science Other natural sciences, n.e.c.; Wood-water relations and sorption thermodynamics.; Fluid flow, heat transfer, and molecular diffusion; Modeling steady-state and dynamic non-isothermal diffusion in wood.; Application of fractals and machine learning to modeling wood physical properties.; Molecular modeling of the wood nano-pore network in the cell wall.; Industrial wood kiln drying optimization and development of new drying strategies.; Radio frequency vacuum (RFV) heating and drying of wood and wood products.; Dielectric wood phytosanitation.; Wood thermal modification.
Barbeito Sanchez, Ignacio Department of Forest Resources Management refining novel silvicultural practices; establishment and management of forests under global change
Benson-Amram, Sarah Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, Department of Zoology
Boedhihartono, Agni Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Forestry sciences; biodiversity; Communities and Livelihoods; conservation; Forest management; Land-use Change; social science; sustainability; Tropical Landscapes and Livelihoods
Booker, Thomas Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences population and quantitative genetics
Bulkan, Janette Department of Forest Resources Management aboriginal forestry, biodiversity, climate change, communities and livelihoods, conservation, corporate responsibility, forest management, forest policy, international trade, social impact, social science
Bull, Gary Department of Forest Resources Management international forest policy, environmental services markets, carbon markets, Government and economic systems
Burton, Cole Department of Forest Resources Management Forestry sciences; Ecology and Quality of the Environment; Ecological Trends; Animal; Biodiversity and Biocomplexity; Landscape and Restoration; Environment Management and Protection; Biodiversity conservation; Ecological Monitoring; Landscape ecology; Mammal Ecology; Population and Community Ecology; Wildlife Management
Cardinal-McTeague, Warren Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Earth and related environmental sciences; Forestry sciences; plant biodiversity; Indigenous environmental management and food systems; monitoring of ecosystem health and function
Carroll, Allan Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences climate change, mountain pine beetle, bark beetles, forest disturbance, integrated pest management, insect ecology, population dynamics, insect-plant interactions, Climate change, conservation, ecology, ecosystems, forest biology, forest management
Chanway, Christopher Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Soil microbiology
Cool, Julie Department of Wood Science modelling, wood products, wood science, wood
Coops, Nicholas Charles Department of Forest Resources Management Forestry sciences; Telemetry (Remote Sensing, Radar); Space Techniques; Forestry Technology and Equipment; Plants and Forests
Cranston, Emily Department of Wood Science, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Nanoparticle synthesis, properties and applications; Bio-based materials and nanocellulose; Atomic force microscopy (forces, adhesion, friction, imaging); Colloid and interface science; Polymer chemistry; Cellulose nanocrystals; Bioproducts; Foams, emulsions, aerogels
Dai, Chunping Department of Wood Science Forestry sciences; Bamboo; Bio-products; Wood Products; Wood Science; Wood Technology
Daniels, Lori Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences forest plants and trees; forest history; forest management; environmental protection and natural resource use, Climate change, ecology, fire regimes
Day, Susan Department of Forest Resources Management Forestry sciences; urban soils; urban forestry; Landscape and Restoration; urban ecology; Plants and Forests; Ecology and Quality of the Environment; Environment Management and Protection
Devisscher, Tahia Department of Forest Resources Management Forestry sciences; adaptation; climate change; Human Health; Human Well-being; Nature Recovery; Social-Ecological Resilience
El-Kassaby, Yousry Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Forestry sciences; Applied Genetics; conservation; genomics; Seed orchards’ genetics; Tree breeding; Tree domestication
Eskelson, Bianca Department of Forest Resources Management Natural resource management; Forest Biometrics; Forest Modelling; Disturbance Effects; Management Effects
Evans, Philip David Department of Wood Science Wood anatomy, wood durability, wood products, wood technology
Feng, Haibo Department of Wood Science Forestry sciences; BIM; Construction; LCA; sustainability; Wood Products; Zero energy / caron building

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Open Research Positions

This list of possible research projects is non-exhaustive. It only shows positions that are specifically advertised in the G+PS website.

Graduate Student Stories

Mike Stefanuk

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Fire regimes from past to future in dry interior forests of the Cariboo region, British Columbia

Miah Godek

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Wildfire resilience and Indigenous cultural burning in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Tara L. Brown

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Comparing guided and self-guided forest bathing in metro Vancouver parks: a seasonal longitudinal RCT examining health impacts and environmental factors

Dane Pedersen

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Seeing the forest through the trees: collaborative climate-informed forest governance in Quesnel, British Columbia

Gracie Crafts

Master of Science in Forestry (MSc)

Cultural fire impact on culturally-significant plants and increasing biodiversity at Vaseux Lake, BC

Shiva Zargar

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Developing an integrated analytical platform for evaluating the role of forest biorefineries in achieving a sustainable bioeconomy

Winy Vasquez

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Food security in the Amazon: an investigation of the food security and nutrition of the Asháninka peoples living inside the Protected Forest San Matias-San Carlos
Kaitlin Zinn's image

Kaitlyn Zinn

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Cumulative effects of recreational catch-and-release, temperature, and infectious agents on Chinook salmon: from marine environments to spawning grounds
All Student Stories

Alumni on Success

Jane Yuexian Wang

Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM) [2018]

Job Title
Programmer / Analyst

Employer
University of British Columbia

Dan Macmaster

Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM) [2013]

Job Title
Fibre Manager and Head of Forestry

Employer
Vaagen Fibre Canada

Kristina Cockle

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) [2010]

Job Title
Research Scientist

Employer
CONICET

Jill Hamilton

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Assistant Professor

Employer
North Dakota State University

Michael Donaldson

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Content Development Manager

Employer
Canadian Science Publishing

Patrice Meteunou

Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM)

Job Title
Parks and Recreation

Employer
City of Port Coquitlam

Ella Furness

Master of Science in Forestry (MSc) [2012]

Job Title
Doctoral Candidate

Employer
Cardiff University
All Alumni Stories

Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Forestry.

 

Corrigendum to “Experimental testing of post-tensioned steel-timber hybrid frames equipped with energy-dissipating braces” [Eng. Struct. 296 (2023) 116960] (Engineering Structures (2023) 296, (S0141029623013755), (10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116960))
Publication: Engineering Structures
UBC Author(s): Minghao Li (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01410296
Volume: 298
Publication Date: 1 January 2024

View Publication
Genome-wide identification of the Pinus tabuliformis CONSTANS-like gene family and their potential roles in reproductive cone development
Publication: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
UBC Author(s): Yousry El-Kassaby (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01418130
Volume: 254
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
Optimization and validation of universal response functions for interior spruce (Picea glauca, Picea engelmannii, and their hybrids)
Publication: Forest Ecology and Management
UBC Author(s): Tongli Wang (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 03781127
Volume: 550
Publication Date: 15 December 2023

View Publication
Ultralight, elastic, magnetic and superhydrophobic cellulose nanofibril based aerogel with layer-support structure designed for both excellent oil-water separation and efficient PM2.5 removal
Publication: Separation and Purification Technology
UBC Author(s): Chunping Dai (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 13835866
Volume: 327
Publication Date: 15 December 2023

View Publication
Hydrothermal carbonization of mixture waste Gingko leaf and wheat straw for solid biofuel production
Publication: Industrial Crops and Products
UBC Author(s): Yousry El-Kassaby (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09266690
Volume: 206
Publication Date: 15 December 2023

View Publication
Electrically conductive bamboo charcoal@cellulose nanofibrils based composite membranes designed for electromagnetic interference shielding and flame retardant
Publication: Industrial Crops and Products
UBC Author(s): Chunping Dai (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09266690
Volume: 206
Publication Date: 15 December 2023

View Publication
Mechanical properties of glulam components with half-lap joints for large-span gridshell structures
Publication: Construction and Building Materials
UBC Author(s): Minghao Li (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09500618
Volume: 408
Publication Date: 8 December 2023

View Publication
Genomic virulence features of Beauveria bassiana as a biocontrol agent for the mountain pine beetle population
Publication: BMC Genomics
UBC Author(s): Allan Carroll (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 24
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Developing structural sandwich panels for energy-efficient wall applications using laminated oil palm wood and rubberwood-based plywood/oriented strand board
Publication: Journal of Wood Science
UBC Author(s): Minghao Li (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 14350211
Volume: 69
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Role of soil nutrient elements transport on Camellia oleifera yield under different soil types
Publication: BMC Plant Biology
UBC Author(s): Yousry El-Kassaby (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 23
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Candidate genes under selection in song sparrows co-vary with climate and body mass in support of Bergmann’s Rule
Publication: Nature Communications
UBC Author(s): Peter Arcese (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Evolutionary divergence and adaptive capacity in morphologically distinct song sparrow subspecies
Publication: Conservation Genetics
UBC Author(s): Peter Arcese (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 15660621
Volume: 24
Page Range: 921-932
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Experimental testing of post-tensioned steel-timber hybrid frames equipped with energy-dissipating braces
Publication: Engineering Structures
UBC Author(s): Minghao Li (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01410296
Volume: 296
Publication Date: 1 December 2023

View Publication
Abrupt, climate-induced increase in wildfires in British Columbia since the mid-2000s
Publication: Communications Earth and Environment
UBC Author(s): Lori Daniels (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 4
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Plant traits poorly predict winner and loser shrub species in a warming tundra biome
Publication: Nature Communications
UBC Author(s): Isla Myers-Smith (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Insights into phylogenetic relationships in Pinus inferred from a comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genomes
Publication: BMC Genomics
UBC Author(s): Yousry El-Kassaby (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 24
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Haplotype-resolved genome assembly of Coriaria nepalensis a non-legume nitrogen-fixing shrub
Publication: Scientific Data
UBC Author(s): Yousry El-Kassaby (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
The spatial distribution of infectious agents in wild Pacific salmon along the British Columbia coast
Publication: Scientific Reports
UBC Author(s): Scott Hinch (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 13
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
A novel post-fire method to estimate individual tree crown scorch height and volume using simple RPAS-derived data
Publication: Fire Ecology
UBC Author(s): Nicholas Charles Coops (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry), Lori Daniels (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 19
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Multistakeholder platforms for integrated landscape governance: The case of Kalomo District, Zambia
Publication: Land Use Policy
UBC Author(s): Terence Sunderland (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 02648377
Volume: 135
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
A global outlook on increasing wildfire risk: Current policy situation and future pathways
Publication: Trees, Forests and People
UBC Author(s): William Nikolakis (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Experimental study on the factors affecting smouldering behaviour of CCA-treated wood
Publication: Fire Safety Journal
UBC Author(s): Felix Wiesner (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 03797112
Volume: 141
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Use, value, and desire: ecosystem services under agricultural intensification in a changing landscape in West Kalimantan (Indonesia)
Publication: Regional Environmental Change
UBC Author(s): Terence Sunderland (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 14363798
Volume: 23
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Characterization of pollen tube development in distant hybridization of Chinese cork oak (Quercus variabilis L.)
Publication: Planta
UBC Author(s): Yousry El-Kassaby (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00320935
Volume: 258
Publication Date: December 2023

View Publication
Vibration Properties and Serviceability Performance of a Modular Cross-Laminated Timber-Steel Composite Floor System
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering (United States)
UBC Author(s): Cristiano Loss (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 07339445
Volume: 149
Publication Date: 1 December 2023

View Publication

Pages

Recent Thesis Submissions

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
Year Citation Program
2023 Dr. Dickson-Hoyle examined how Secwépemc Nation communities and territories are recovering from recent megafires in British Columbia. She identifies key lessons from joint recovery efforts and describes Secwépemc Elder Ron Ignace's concept of walking on two legs to guide collaborative research and restoration in Indigenous territories. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Chen examined where and how human activities affect mammals by using an extensive camera trap dataset comprising data from 8600 remote cameras. He found that mammal diversity is associated more with protected area coverage than with negative human influences globally, which provide insights into future biodiversity conservation. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 The ancestral territories of the Mapuche Nation were violently reduced to individual properties that today are in the hands of non-Mapuche people, including settlers and commercial companies. Dr. Arias-Bustamante's study showed how Mapuche communities navigate the system in their quest to land restitution in a constantly changing context. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Reich used novel molecular methods to identify airborne fungi that cause diseases in agricultural crops. He found that the air contains many pathogenic and mutualistic fungi for plant health and showed that this information could help predict plant epidemics. His research will help farmers manage field diseases while reducing fungicide use. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Todd studied Canadian municipal parks and their contribution to the urban forest canopy. She provides recommendations on how parks can continue to meet recreational and cultural demands while balancing those with urban forestry objectives for a more resilient city. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Ye designed a series of nanocellulose-based gel conductors for a variety of sophisticated applications. His study would advance the creation of biodegradable electronics, relieving the environmental pollution caused by discarded electronics. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Cheng examined the interactions between urban forest policies and climate change (and related urban planning) policies in Canadian cities. Her research revealed key conflicts and synergies among municipal policies and explored solutions to better integrate urban forests into building a compact, livable, and climate-resilient city Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Queinnec examined the ability of novel airborne and spaceborne remote sensing technologies to characterize three-dimensional vegetation structure in boreal forests of Canada. His work provides enhanced knowledge about forest resources in both managed and unmanaged forested ecosystems. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Du Toit used Airborne Laser Scanning to model genetically improved Douglas-fir trees. Descriptors were used to assess tree performance, and predict genetic parameters. He found that ALS is capable of describing trees at multiple scales, and should be used in breeding programs due the cost savings and insights the technology provides. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Milla-Moreno examined the potential use of native trees to restore ecosystems damaged by copper mines in Chile. After assessing several tree species, the evergreen tree quillay was found suitable for this purpose because it keeps copper in the roots, as shown by mass spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence imaging. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

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Built for Success

A new undergraduate bursary helps wood science students realize their dreams. The post Built for Success appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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Graduate Teaching Assistant in Forest Level Measurements and Productivity (Deadline: December 7, 2023)

Job Post: UBC Forestry is seeking a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Forest Level Measurements and Productivity. Apply by December 7, 2023. The post Graduate Teaching Assistant in Forest Level Measurements and Productivity (Deadline: December 7, 2023) appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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UBC Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE) Program

The UBC Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE) is a one-year professional course-based program that focuses on economic solutions for climate, food and the environment. We offer a strong combination of academic courses, paired with a 4-month work experience project, and a full year of...

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Summer Job Positions with Ntityix Resources LP

Ntityix Resources LP and Westbank First Nation’s philosophy around forest stewardship includes caring for everything in, on, and around the land – living or not. Everything is connected to each other in a functioning ecosystem; so, it is important to care for everything on the land we manage. We...

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Come On Out Japan: 2024 Teaching Internship and Travel Opportunity

Global English Camp: The purpose of Global English Camp is to bring English to life for Japanese high school students and build their confidence in speaking it through engaging conversations with native speakers. Whilst students in Japan begin learning English from the third grade, they rarely have...

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Maja Krzic receives Fellow of Soil Science Society of America Award

UBC Forestry would like to congratulate Dr. Maja Krzic for receiving the Fellow of Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Award! The post Maja Krzic receives Fellow of Soil Science Society of America Award appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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