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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
Gergel, Sarah Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Aboriginal forestry, biodiversity, climate change, communities and livelihoods, conservation, ecology, remote sensing, sustainability
Grayston, Susan Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Climate change, microbiology, soil science
Grenz, Jennifer Department of Forest Resources Management Forestry sciences
Hagerman, Shannon Marie Department of Forest Resources Management biodiversity, climate change, communities and livelihoods, conservation, forest policy, social science
Hamelin, Richard Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences
Hinch, Scott Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences salmon migrations, salmon ecology, salmon fisheries, fish conservation, land use impacts (e.g. forestry) on fish and habitat, Salmon, conservation, ecology, fish ecology, fisheries management, stream, and riperian ecology
Innes, John Department of Forest Resources Management Other natural sciences; Forestry; Ecology
Jiang, Feng Department of Wood Science bio-based nanomaterials, carbohydrate chemistry, chemistry, sustainability, wood science
Joshi, Jaya Department of Wood Science Biofoundries; biomass; Carbon; Engineering; Enzyme Design; sustainability; Synthetic biology
Kim, Kwang Ho Department of Wood Science Other engineering and technologies; Forest Bioproduction and the BioeconomyTechnology and Innovation; Biomass conversion engineering
Kozak, Robert Antal Department of Wood Science Forest-dependent communities in transition, international development & poverty alleviation, value-added strategies, forest certification & corporate social responsibility, forest sector sustainability & competitiveness, marketing, management & consumer behaviour
Lam, Frank Department of Wood Science timber engineering; structural use of wood products, Engineered wood systems
Lam, Tzeng Yih Department of Forest Resources Management Quantitiative methods in forestry; Forestry management and environment; Statistical theory and modeling; Survey methodology and analysis; Bayesian Filtering; Forest Inventory; Growth and Yield; Sampling Theory; silviculture; Timber; Tree Measurement
Li, Minghao Department of Wood Science Earthquake engineering; Structural engineering; Building construction engineering; Concrete, cementitious materials and other architectural and construction materials
Loss, Cristiano Department of Wood Science Forestry sciences; Wood; Engineered Wood Solutions; Engineering Wood Design; Hybrid Wood-Based Systems; Industrialised Wood Systems; Seismic Design and Analysis of Timber Structures; Timber Engineering; Wood Building Systems; Wood as Structural Material
LU, JULIET Department of Forest Resources Management, School of Public Policy and Global Affairs Forest ecology; Economic geography; Environmental sociology; conflicts and governance issues around resource extraction and intensive land use; transnational land investments; promotion of monoculture plantations at the expense of more biodiverse systems; private sector sustainable governance initiatives
Mansfield, Shawn Department of Wood Science, Department of Botany plant metabolism, cellulose biosynthesis, lignin biosynthesis, wood formation, wood quality, cell wall biochemistry, tree biotechnology, transgenics, Tree biotechnology
Martin, Tara Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences biodiversity, climate change, climate models, conservation, ecological monitoring, ecology, land-use change, landscape ecology, landscape planning, modelling
Mchale, Melissa Department of Forest Resources Management Trans-disciplinary approaches to studying complex socio-ecological systems, social drivers of ecosystem processes, cities as sustainable ecosystems, carbon dynamics in urban systems, urbanization effects on nutrient cycling, ecosystem services and dis services, consumption culture, urban metabolism, urbanization in the developing world
Meitner, Michael Department of Forest Resources Management forest aesthetics and scenic beauty, outdoor recreation, environmental visualization, geographic information systems, visual perception, agent-based modeling, Public involment in planning, sustainability leadership
Montwe, David Department of Forest Resources Management Forestry sciences; climate change; Drought and climate change; Evaluating silvicultural treatments on timber quality and value; Forest management; Increasing forest resilience to climatic extremes using silvicultural interventions; Long-term resilience; Reducing impacts from forest disturbance agents under climate change; Regeneration; silviculture; Species selection
Moore, Alex Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, Department of Botany Community ecology (except invasive species ecology); Plant-animal interactions; Global change biology; Ecological restoration (except bioremediation); Applied community and ecosystem ecology; impact of predator-prey interactions on the health and functioning of coastal wetland ecosystems; role of cultural values and knowledge in ecosystem restoration conservation; Global change impacts on coastal environments
Myers-Smith, Isla Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Ecology (except applications); Arctic; biodiversity; climate change; Community Building; Ecosystems; Environmental communication; tundra ecosystems
Nelson, Harry William Department of Forest Resources Management analyzing natural and environmental resource policy with an emphasis on forestry and in developing new policy options that can help enhance the long run sustainability of Canadian forests and the communities and businesses that rely upon them
Nesbitt, Lorien Department of Forest Resources Management Land use and environmental planning; Environmental justice; urban forestry; Liveable and equitable urban environments; Socio-ecological interactions in cities; climate change; Ecosystem services; Cities

Pages

Graduate Student Stories

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
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
All Student 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.

 

Exploring the shift to bamboo alternatives: A Case Study on wood and plastic replacement in Ethiopia
Publication: Journal of Cleaner Production
UBC Author(s): Guangyu Wang (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09596526
Volume: 486
Publication Date: 1 January 2025

View Publication
Bioenergy Discourse: A Comparison Across Media and Technologies
Publication: BioProducts Business
UBC Author(s): Hamish van der Ven (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 9
Page Range: 39-52
Publication Date: 26 December 2024

View Publication
Enhancing circularity of wood waste through deconstruction in building sector
Publication: Journal of Cleaner Production
UBC Author(s): Haibo Feng (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09596526
Volume: 485
Publication Date: 25 December 2024

View Publication
Plant diversity value of informal green spaces in tropical coastal urban areas: An empirical study of species, functional, and phylogenetic diversity
Publication: Science of the Total Environment
UBC Author(s): Guangyu Wang (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00489697
Volume: 955
Publication Date: 10 December 2024

View Publication
Decarboxylation of Hydroxybenzoic Acids to Phenol Via Deep Eutectic Solvents
Publication: ChemSusChem
UBC Author(s): Kwang Ho Kim (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 18645631
Volume: 17
Publication Date: 6 December 2024

View Publication
A Comparison of Value-Weight-Elicitation Methods for Accurate and Accessible Participatory Planning
Publication: Journal of Planning Education and Research
UBC Author(s): Lorien Nesbitt (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry), Michael Meitner (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 0739456X
Volume: 44
Page Range: 2098-2109
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
COBRA-LIKE4 modulates cellulose synthase velocity and facilitates cellulose deposition in the secondary cell wall
Publication: Plant Physiology
UBC Author(s): Shawn Mansfield (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00320889
Volume: 196
Page Range: 2531-2548
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
A novel computer vision and point cloud-based approach for accurate structural analysis of a tall irregular timber structure
Publication: Structures
UBC Author(s): Minghao Li (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 70
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Thermal exposure risk in different life stages of Chinook salmon in the Nechako River system, British Columbia
Publication: Climatic Change
UBC Author(s): Scott Hinch (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01650009
Volume: 177
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Effect of pH regulation on the properties of furfuryl alcohol-modified decorative veneer
Publication: European Journal of Wood and Wood Products
UBC Author(s): Stavros Avramidis (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00183768
Volume: 82
Page Range: 2085-2098
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Preliminary validation of automated production analysis of feller buncher operations: integration of onboard computer data with LiDAR inventory
Publication: European Journal of Forest Research
UBC Author(s): Dominik Roeser (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 16124669
Volume: 143
Page Range: 1819-1833
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
A dual resin application system for improved bamboo-wood bonding
Publication: International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives
UBC Author(s): Chunping Dai (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01437496
Volume: 135
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Urbanization and plant diversity in urban fringes: Differential responses across life forms
Publication: Journal of Environmental Management
UBC Author(s): Guangyu Wang (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 03014797
Volume: 371
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Structural and embodied carbon performance optimization for low carbon buildings through BIM-based integrated design
Publication: Journal of Building Engineering
UBC Author(s): Haibo Feng (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 98
Publication Date: 1 December 2024

View Publication
Tree plantations and forest regrowth are linked to poverty reduction in Africa
Publication: Communications Earth and Environment
UBC Author(s): Jeanine Rhemtulla (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 5
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Synthesis of lignin-based elastomers via ARGET ATRP: Exceptional mechanical strength, adhesion, and self-repair properties
Publication: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
UBC Author(s): Feng Jiang (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01418130
Volume: 283
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
What is equitable urban forest governance? A systematic literature review
Publication: Environmental Science and Policy
UBC Author(s): Lorien Nesbitt (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 14629011
Volume: 162
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Application of microscale methods to study the heat-induced delamination in engineered wood products bonded with one-component polyurethane adhesives
Publication: International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives
UBC Author(s): Felix Wiesner (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01437496
Volume: 135
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Characterizing annual leaf area index changes and volume growth using ALS and satellite data in forest plantations
Publication: Science of Remote Sensing
UBC Author(s): Nicholas Charles Coops (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry), Dominik Roeser (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Characterizing forest structural changes in response to non-stand replacing disturbances using bitemporal airborne laser scanning data
Publication: Science of Remote Sensing
UBC Author(s): Nicholas Charles Coops (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry), Sarah Gergel (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry), Dominik Roeser (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
The impact of LPG consumption on cooking energy efficiency: Evidence from rural Indian household panel data
Publication: World Development Perspectives
UBC Author(s): Hisham Zerriffi (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 24680532
Volume: 36
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
How bureaucracies interact with Indigenous Fire Stewardship (IFS): a conceptual framework
Publication: Fire Ecology
UBC Author(s): William Nikolakis (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 20
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Enhancing monolignol ferulate conjugate levels in poplar lignin via OsFMT1
Publication: Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts
UBC Author(s): Shawn Mansfield (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 17
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Disentangling linkages between satellite-derived indicators of forest structure and productivity for ecosystem monitoring
Publication: Scientific Reports
UBC Author(s): Cole Burton (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry), Nicholas Charles Coops (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
High-yield hybrid breeding of Camellia oleifolia based on ISSR molecular markers
Publication: BMC Plant Biology
UBC Author(s): Yousry El-Kassaby (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 24
Publication Date: December 2024

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. Ahmadvand developed a robust optimization model that minimizes the costs and GHGs of forest biomass supply chain for production of syngas to replace natural gas at BC Kraft pulp mills. She also presented an optimal pricing scheme to make the investment in renewable fuels such as syngas more appealing to the pulp and paper industry. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Johnson produced functional particles and biodegradable packaging from a polymer called xylan (pronounced as XY-lan) from grass cell walls. She showed that the structure and composition of xylans influences their performance in bio-based materials. Her work represents a step towards a more sustainable, resource-efficient world. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Van der Merwe investigated the impact of Pinus patula plantation growing environments on wood properties, product recovery and quality. This work will assist forest growers to match forests to specific plywood and lumber production facilities to improve product recovery and quality. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Arora developed mathematical models for scheduling of forest harvesting activities. These models can be used by forest companies. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Degner showed how natural hybrids between spruce species are closely adapted to climate. He also modeled how hybrids might have differed in the past and how they may need to change in the future. This research helps us understand how hybridization influences evolution, and will help land managers better match planted forests to future climates. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Nitoslawski's research explored the role of technology in urban forestry, and tested new ways to collect data on urban ecosystems. This work revealed nuanced relationships between people, nature, and technology, informing both research and practice as we tackle critical environmental issues in this digital age. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Nepal's work provides unique information on overstory spatial patterns of tree vigor and regeneration in reference conditions, and highlights differences in spatial patterns of overstory conditions between reference and contemporary forests. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Curtis examined the history of agriculture in the Alberni-Clayoquot region and provincial legislation related to supporting food production in British Columbia. Her work highlights the importance of farmer-government relations and the consequences of underlying values within our food system. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Super studied soil refugia, experimental warming and nitrogen deposition, and pH and climate effects on ecosystem plant and microbial biodiversity. Tree seedling microbiome predictability changed with refugia, warming increased plant growth, clear-cutting impacted biodiversity predictability, and community diversity increased with higher pH. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Sutherland researched historical changes in the ecosystem services provided by forests of BC. His work advanced theory and methods for studying coupled social-ecological systems and moves forward an understanding of ecosystem services as part of dynamic systems. His work also leaves a legacy of data showing ecosystem services change in BC. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

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Callum McCarthy (Natural Resources Conservation)

This summer I have been working on FortisBC's carbon management and environment team. My main responsibility has been researching how they could use nature-based carbon offsets to reduce their overall emissions, but I also assist in writing grant applications to the B.C. government, and surveying...

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An Unforgettable Summer Internship in Finland

Third-year Forest Resources Management student, Benedict Roeser, shares his summer internship experience from Finland. The post An Unforgettable Summer Internship in Finland appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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Fakheran, Sima

Adjunct Professor DEPARTMENTForest and Conservation Sciences The post Fakheran, Sima appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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Job Posting: Community forest summer student with Lower Thompson Community Forest Society

Please find more details in the document attached below and apply by January 31, 2025. The post Job Posting: Community forest summer student with Lower Thompson Community Forest Society appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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In the Media: January 2025

Here’s a look at UBC Forestry in the media this month. The post In the Media: January 2025 appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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Co-op Presentation Night February 2025

Join us for the Co-op Presentation Night where students from all programs will deliver presentations about their recent co-op work terms. The post Co-op Presentation Night February 2025 appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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