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
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
El-Kassaby, Yousry Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Forestry sciences; Applied Genetics; conservation; genomics; Seed orchards’ genetics; Tree breeding; Tree domestication
Ellis, Simon Department of Wood Science Wood processing and manufacturing, Wood quality, anatomy, wood products processing program
Eskelson, Bianca Department of Forest Resources Management Natural resource management; Forest Biometrics; Forest Modelling; Disturbance 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
Gaston, Christopher Department of Wood Science Forestry sciences; markets and economics for Canadian wood products

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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

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
Baron Jen's image

Jen Baron

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

A century of transformation: Fire regime transitions, drivers, and consequences in southeastern British Columbia

Christina Howard

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Climate sensitive growth and suitability modeling of Québec tree species

Debbie Pierce

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

The impact of land rights and deforestation on women in the Colombian Amazon

Leah Rettenbacher

Master of Science in Forestry (MSc)

Heteroecism and autoecism in pine rusts

Erika Dort

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Forest pathology in the genomics era: Combining large-scale genome analyses with CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to improve biosurveillance of filamentous plant pathogens
All Student Stories

Alumni on Success

Samuel Adeyanju

Master of Science in Forestry (MSc) [2020]

Job Title
Outreach Assistant (Intern)

Employer
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

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.

 

Photovoltaic panel waste assessment and embodied material flows in China, 2000–2050
Publication: Journal of Environmental Management
UBC Author(s): Haibo Feng (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 03014797
Volume: 338
Publication Date: 15 July 2023

View Publication
Mapping absorbency in cellulosic fibres with iron tracers
Publication: Carbohydrate Polymers
UBC Author(s): Emily Cranston (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01448617
Volume: 311
Publication Date: 1 July 2023

View Publication
Variation across space, species and methods in models of spring phenology
Publication: Climate Change Ecology
UBC Author(s): Elizabeth Wolkovich (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 5
Publication Date: July 2023

View Publication
Cyclic behaviour of CLT shear wall hold-down connections using mixed angle self-tapping screws
Publication: Engineering Structures
UBC Author(s): Minghao Li (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01410296
Volume: 286
Publication Date: 1 July 2023

View Publication
Where to focus? Developing a LCA impact category selection tool for manufacturers of building materials
Publication: Journal of Cleaner Production
UBC Author(s): Haibo Feng (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09596526
Volume: 405
Publication Date: 15 June 2023

View Publication
Assessment of the impact of climate change on endangered conifer tree species by considering climate and soil dual suitability and interspecific competition
Publication: Science of the Total Environment
UBC Author(s): Tongli Wang (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00489697
Volume: 877
Publication Date: 15 June 2023

View Publication
Internal microstructure of spray dried particles affects viral vector activity in dry vaccines
Publication: International Journal of Pharmaceutics
UBC Author(s): Emily Cranston (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 03785173
Volume: 640
Publication Date: 10 June 2023

View Publication
The attractiveness of syngas production from forest-based biomass for pulp mills considering carbon pricing and government regulations
Publication: Renewable Energy Focus
UBC Author(s): Taraneh Sowlati (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 17550084
Volume: 45
Page Range: 287-306
Publication Date: June 2023

View Publication
Chromosome-scale genome assembly and insights into the metabolome and gene regulation of leaf color transition in an important oak species, Quercus dentata
Publication: New Phytologist
UBC Author(s): Yousry El-Kassaby (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 0028646X
Volume: 238
Page Range: 2016-2032
Publication Date: June 2023

View Publication
Connected Conservation: Rethinking conservation for a telecoupled world
Publication: Biological Conservation
UBC Author(s): Terence Sunderland (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00063207
Volume: 282
Publication Date: June 2023

View Publication
Experimental campaign on the mechanical properties of Canadian small clear spruce-pine-fir wood: Experimental procedures, data curation, and data description
Publication: Data in Brief
UBC Author(s): Cristiano Loss (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 48
Publication Date: June 2023

View Publication
Enhancing construction safety: Machine learning-based classification of injury types
Publication: Safety Science
UBC Author(s): Haibo Feng (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09257535
Volume: 162
Publication Date: June 2023

View Publication
High-performance grout-reinforced shear connectors for hybrid steel-cross-laminated timber building systems: Experimental study
Publication: Journal of Building Engineering
UBC Author(s): Cristiano Loss (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 67
Publication Date: 15 May 2023

View Publication
Enhanced luminescence sensing performance and increased intrachain order in blended films of P3HT and cellulose nanocrystals
Publication: Nanotechnology
UBC Author(s): Emily Cranston (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09574484
Volume: 34
Publication Date: 14 May 2023

View Publication
Rapid Biocatalytic Synthesis of Aromatic Acid CoA Thioesters by Using Microbial Aromatic Acid CoA Ligases
Publication: ChemBioChem
UBC Author(s): Shawn Mansfield (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 14394227
Volume: 24
Publication Date: 2 May 2023

View Publication
Fractal dimension of wood cell wall pores from pore size distribution: insights from nitrogen gas adsorption analyzer
Publication: Wood Science and Technology
UBC Author(s): Stavros Avramidis (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00437719
Volume: 57
Page Range: 651-669
Publication Date: May 2023

View Publication
Distinct functions of FASCILIN-LIKE ARABINOGALACTAN PROTEINS relate to domain structure
Publication: Plant Physiology
UBC Author(s): Shawn Mansfield (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00320889
Volume: 192
Page Range: 119-132
Publication Date: May 2023

View Publication
Beauveria bassiana exhibits strong virulence against Dendroctonus ponderosae in greenhouse and field experiments
Publication: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
UBC Author(s): Allan Carroll (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01757598
Volume: 107
Page Range: 3341-3352
Publication Date: May 2023

View Publication
Beyond the genomes of Fulvia fulva (syn. Cladosporium fulvum) and Dothistroma septosporum: New insights into how these fungal pathogens interact with their host plants
Publication: Molecular Plant Pathology
UBC Author(s): Richard Hamelin (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 14646722
Volume: 24
Page Range: 474-494
Publication Date: May 2023

View Publication
Assessing forest recreational potential from social media data and remote sensing technologies data
Publication: Ecological Indicators
UBC Author(s): Nicholas Charles Coops (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 1470160X
Volume: 149
Publication Date: May 2023

View Publication
Beyond the boom-bust cycle: An interdisciplinary framework for analysing crop booms
Publication: Global Environmental Change
UBC Author(s): JULIET LU (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09593780
Volume: 80
Publication Date: May 2023

View Publication
Spatial patterns of vigor by stand density across species groups and its drivers in a pre-harvest ponderosa pine-dominated landscape in northern California
Publication: Forest Ecology and Management
UBC Author(s): Bianca Eskelson (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry), Sarah Gergel (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 03781127
Volume: 534
Publication Date: 15 April 2023

View Publication
Pedestrians and the Built Environment during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Changing Relationships by the Pandemic Phases in Salt Lake County, Utah, U.S.A.
Publication: Transportation Research Record
UBC Author(s): Keunhyun Park (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 03611981
Volume: 2677
Page Range: 448-462
Publication Date: April 2023

View Publication
Spatial Tools for Inclusive Landscape Governance: Negotiating Land Use, Land-Cover Change, and Future Landscape Scenarios in Two Multistakeholder Platforms in Zambia
Publication: Land
UBC Author(s): Terence Sunderland (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 12
Publication Date: April 2023

View Publication
Flowering phenology influences butterfly nectar foraging on non-native plants in an oak savanna
Publication: Ecology
UBC Author(s): Elizabeth Wolkovich (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00129658
Volume: 104
Publication Date: April 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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Interesting Links

https://forestry.ubc.ca/about/our-history/
https://forestry.ubc.ca/research/
 

Urban Forestry Webinar – Managing Complex Ecosystems

#content .btn-primary {margin-top: 10px} When: June 15, 2023, from 12 – 1 PMWhere: Online via Zoom Register here Cities are complex, interconnected systems that support habitats and livelihoods. Their outwards and upwards growth has transformed the landscape at an...

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Dr. Ingrid Jarvis receives UBC Distinguished Dissertation Prize and nominated to CAGS/ProQuest DDA

UBC Forestry is delighted to congratulate Dr. Ingrid Jarvis for receiving the UBC Distinguished Dissertation Prize and nomination to CAGS/ProQuest DDA. Ingrid’s research focuses on the connection between urban natural environments and human health and wellbeing. Her work has also looked...

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Spring 2023 Branchlines

Greenery can be a common source of refuge and recreation in the urban environment, but have you ever stopped to wonder who maintains the lush plant life found in parks and other public spaces? In this issue, we explore the relatively new role of the urban forester, and find out what it takes to...

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Bryanna-Karina Russell (Natural Resources Conservation)

Intern at Eco Field Trips in Singapore During my Co-op work term, I interned at Eco Field Trips in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. I taught school groups aged 11-18 on Biology, Conservation, and Outdoor Education topics. I learned various techniques and tactics to engage students of...

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Canada Files Season 4 Ep. 10: Suzanne Simard

The post Canada Files Season 4 Ep. 10: Suzanne Simard appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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How trees talk to each other

The post How trees talk to each other appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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