The Urban Forestry HUB Research Fair
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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
Graduate Degree Programs
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.
Recent Thesis Submissions
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Synthesis of reactive vinyl-functionalized lignin (FRST - PHD)
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Me7 tsertsrép re nekéct : me tsecéntem re tmicw-kt (FRST - MSC)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dr. Vidal studied how the processes of diffusion, adoption, and implementation of corporate responsibility practices occur in forest companies in Canada, Brazil, and the United States. Her research provides a framework for such processes and recommends how companies can better manage their portfolio of responsible activities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Tekleyohannes developed artificial neural networks and four physical models that use chemical and structural attributes for the prediction of water vapour uptake, loss and retention by wood. His models contribute to the creation of a decision support system that allows predicting wood properties and processing characteristics based on chemical and structural attributes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2010 | Dr. Sackey studied the strength properties of contemporary particleboard panels used for ready-to-assemble furniture components. He subsequently developed a novel particle mixture that increased the core bonding strength while reducing panel density to create a lighter, stronger panel. His results have the potential of reducing production cost for the particleboard industry. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2009 | Dr. Zhao developed a high-level integration indicator of forest soil compaction and related it to height growth of lodgepole pine, spruce, and Douglas-fir in BC forests. Findings from his thesis have applications in predicting soil and tree growth responsesto timber harvesting and site rehabilitation. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2009 | Dr. Wang examined aspects of watershed sustainability by using remote sensing technology integrated with social science and systematic model. This holistic watershed assessment approach opened a new door for watershed managers to assess human activities in a watershed, especially the interrelationships of stakeholders competing for the use of watershed resources. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2009 | Dr. Dimitriu studied how microbes respond to the restoration of surface-mined boreal forest soil. His research highlighted that, in drastically-disturbed land, key biological components may take decades until they resemble those of natural forests. Information on microbial attributes in degraded soil will be useful for guiding future restoration strategies. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2009 | Dr. Robinson studied the relationships between wood-forming metabolism and genetic and phenotypic traits in hardwood and softwood tree species. Variation in industrially relevant wood traits correlated strongly with that in metabolic trait subsets. The results support development of metabolism-based selection technology for tree breeding programs. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2009 | Dr. Amoroso studied the stand dynamics of cypress forests experiencing growth decline and tree mortality in Northern Patagonia, Argentina. His research examined mortality patterns and their consequences for establishment of new trees, growth of the surviving trees, and future development of these forests. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2009 | Dr. Strimbu developed an analytical framework for cumulative environmental impact studies that considers the long-term activities occurring in an area. He applied his method to the effects of forest harvesting and petroleum drilling on moose and American marten and found that the two activities induce patterns of effects that require significant decisions to be made at predictable times in the future. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |
| 2009 | Dr. Dordel investigated the influence of larger trees on underplanted T. ciliata by examining different environmental factors, and employed a computer model to explore the relationship between T. ciliata growth and soil water availability. Her research gives Argentinean locals valuable insights into successful growing of this highly valuable species and is an important step towards more diverse plantations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) |