The Faculty of Forestry is committed to promoting Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) for all, with a particular focus on the people and communities who have been systemically and historically excluded from academia and the fields of forestry, conservation and resource management.
This commitment extends to the lands and places on which our Faculty has the privilege to work and grow upon, and will require the lived experiences and perspectives of all peoples we aim to serve, work, educate and collaborate with. In making this commitment we recognize that the professions and disciplines taught and promoted within the Faculty have historically and in some cases, continue to this day, to be involved in discriminatory actions and practices.
As we move towards a more just and equitable future, meaningful long-term change must come from within ourselves, as well as within our Faculty. Our activities designed to meet our JEDI goals centre around three key actions – fostering systemic change, facilitating difficult conversations and providing opportunities to learn and remove barriers.
We acknowledge that past attempts have been made to address these issues, however much work is still left to be done. As such, we are committed to truly fostering diversity and a culture of inclusion by prioritizing both justice and equity within our Faculty. This work will be ongoing and will serve to create a culture of belonging and respect amongst Faculty, staff, students and the greater community. As our efforts span a range of initiatives, please consider joining us in this journey to share your perspectives and make a difference.
Hisham Zerriffi
Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
EDI Council
A team of faculty, staff and students who examine systemic and structural issues facing UBC Forestry and how they can be best understood, assessed, improved and dismantled.
Diversity Crew
An autonomous and enthusiastic team of Faculty, staff and students volunteers who host a range of events designed to educate and support our community, as well as celebrate diversity, interculturality and LGBTQ2S+ people and initiatives.
JEDI Team
Taking a justice based approach to equity, diversity and inclusion, this team works alongside Dr. Hisham Zerriffi to advance EDI initiatives in UBC Forestry.
JEDI Initiatives:
Forest(Reads) Initiative
A canvas course, coordinated by JEDI team member Jaylen Bastos, aiming to provide students, faculty and staff an opportunity to engage in shared learning regarding complex and difficult issues facing the fields of forestry and conservation. Register using your UBC CWL account.
Tuning into the Forest
A podcast initiative to share new voices and promote the profiles of diverse scholars within UBC Forestry. Join JEDI Team member Estefanía Milla-Moreno, Latina scholar and PhD candidate, to explore stories of JEDI in nature.
Virtual Lunch in the Forest
A series of online webinars, hosted by JEDI Team member Estefania Milla-Moreno that discuss forestry topics through the lens of EDI and anti-racism, featuring guests from a range of backgrounds and experiences.