With a research background in remote sensing, wildlife management, and spatial data modeling, I now focus on education and pedagogy in geomatics. As a lecturer, I specialize in universal design for learning, accessibility, and inclusive teaching practices. My goal is to provide students with a holistic understanding of the intersections between geospatial data, conservation, and climate change. I am passionate about teaching and committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment.
UBC Forestry wishes to congratulate Dr.Lori Daniels and Marina Melanidis on being awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal!
The Medal, administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall, commemorates individuals who have “made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada”.
As the inaugural Koerner Chair in Wildfire Coexistence, and with her award-winning teaching, leading-edge research, and dedication to knowledge mobilization, Lori has worked tirelessly to keep our forests healthy and our communities safe.
Marina Melanidis
Marina (BSc ’18, MSc ’22) is an exceptional young scholar and advocate who has launched two very successful youth-led NGOs (Youth4Nature and Climate Guides) focusing on nature-based solutions and climate action, given youth a voice on the international stage at several high-level conferences and conventions, and is currently enrolled in a PhD program at Cambridge.
Dr. Coupland’s role within the MGEM community is multifaceted. She is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day activities of the program and providing dedicated support to both students and the MGEM teaching team. She has been connected to UBC Forestry’s professional master’s programs since 2014 when she was a student in the Master of Sustainable Forest Management program, a sister program to MGEM.
Her research focuses on the application and development of novel classification schemes for forests, with an emphasis on quantifying non-timber forest values. Specifically, she has worked on quantifying the educational values in urban forests for forestry education, using UBC as a case study. This research utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods and included a LiDAR canopy analysis of every tree on the UBC campus.
Selected Publications
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Polinko, A. D., & Coupland, K. (2021). Paradigm shifts in forestry and forest research: a bibliometric analysis.Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 51(2), 154-162.
Coupland, K., Magalhães, J., & Griess, V. C. (2022). Connecting Forestry Learning Objectives to Urban Forest Types.Journal of Forestry, 120(3), 256-270.
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 recipients of the UBC Faculty of Forestry Indigenous and Community Engagement Research Fund (ICERF) for their outstanding contributions in the Collaborative Research with Indigenous Communities stream.
Taz Gharajehdaghpour | PhD, FRM – Supervisor: Cole Burton Josefina Cortés | PhD, FRM – Supervisor: Lorien Nesbitt Morris Prosser | MSc, FRM – Supervisor: William Nikolakis Gabriel Schepens | PhD, FRM – Supervisor: William Nikolakis Sarah Sra – MSc, FCS – Supervisor: Terry Sunderland
About ICERF
ICERF provides funding for graduate students to build new partnerships with Indigenous communities and community organizations, and fulfill responsibilities relating to community-defined outcomes for existing partnerships and projects.
Dillon Consulting Limited is looking for qualified post-secondary students to assist in the delivery of the 2025 City of Surrey Salmon Habitat Restoration Program (SHaRP). Please find attached job postings for the three available Team Leader positions including:
· Watershed Enhancement Team Leader (six positions);
· Community Education Team Leader (one position); and
· Media and Public Relations Team Leader (one position).
We have 4-month (May to August) and 7-month (May to November) interim positions available for our 2025 season.
Experienced and interested individuals are invited to submit a cover letter and resume as one file to sharpapplications@gmail.com by Monday February 10, 2025 at 11:59pm PST. Applicants for the Media and Public Relations Team Leader position are encouraged to attach examples of relevant media creations.
Environment and Carbon Management Co-op Student; Fortis BC
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 gas plants for leaks. I have gained extensive knowledge into FortisBC’s role in the clean-energy transition and how the global carbon offset market operates. It has been interesting for me to see how the B.C. government and big corporations use purchased carbon credits to reach their goals of being carbon neutral, and how different projects have been more successful in generating carbon offsets than others. This is my third co-op term and I will be returning to FortisBC for my fourth. Being in co-op has been a highly valuable experience for me as I have been able to gain experience in a variety of industries where my degree could be applicable. I would highly recommend that any forestry student join co-op, but specifically those who are unsure about what they could do with their degree post grad, as the program exposes you to so many potential opportunities.
This summer, I had the privilege of interning with Metsähallitus in Finland, which offered an amazing opportunity to gain experience in forestry and reconnect with the country after 12 years away.
Returning to Finland was both a personal and professional highlight. This experience allowed me to reconnect with the culture, learn about forestry in Finland and experience the warmth of the sauna.
Picture of a typical Finnish landscape taken in Kuhmo, Finland. Credit: Benedict Roser
One of the most insightful aspects of the internship was learning about the differences in forestry practices between Finland and British Columbia. The level of efficiency and precision in Finnish forestry was impressive, especially in their approaches to silviculture. Observing how Finland implements sustainable practices in a way that balances ecological integrity with productivity has given me a new perspective on the possibilities within forest management.
Igniting the fires with a fire starter in a 20 hectare block near Suomussalmi, Finland. Credit: Eero Väänänen
Unique Experiences
A standout experience from the summer was participating in a prescribed burn, which was an invaluable introduction to fire ecology. Seeing firsthand the positive effects that controlled burns have on soil health and biodiversity helped me realize the positive effects fire can have in forest management. Additionally, there was a fun sense of camaraderie during the burn. Cooking makkara and drinking coffee with the entire crew will be a memory I will never forget.
A picture taken during the prescribed burn near Suomussalmi, Finland. Credit: Benedict RoserRoasting a makkara with the Metsähallitus crew by the fire. Credit: Eero Väänänen
Operating a single-grip harvester was another unforgettable experience. It was impressive to see its efficiency and how it minimizes soil impact. Observing the thought process behind its use and how it can be effectively paired with a forwarder was amazing to see. Watching it in action was both insightful and incredibly fun.
Sitting in a Ponsse Single Grip Harvester in Rovaniemi, Finland. I had the chance to operate and cut down a few trees, which was amazing! Credit: Juho Hiltunen
Silviculture in Finland
Another key aspect of the internship was gaining practical experience with Finnish silvicultural methods. I spent time in the field planning and observing various stages of forest management—from thinning and clear-cuts to the specialized soil treatments used to support forest regeneration. This hands-on experience allowed me to better understand how forestry strategies are applied to address both productivity and sustainability.
Throughout the internship, I had the chance to meet with numerous forestry specialists, each offering valuable perspectives on forest management. Everyone I encountered was incredibly kind and eager to help me learn.
Taking DBH and height measurements using a vertex and electronic DBH caliber with Viivi for research on continuous cover forestry. Credit: Laura Kammonen
A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Metsähallitus for making this internship possible and for creating such a memorable summer. Your support and dedication have left a lasting impact, both personally and professionally.
Dr. Sima Fakheran is Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences at Isfahan University of Technology, Iran and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada.
Dr. Fakheran is President of IALE–Iran (International Association for Landscape Ecology-Iranian Chapter) and Member of Academy of Sciences of Iran (IAS).
She did her Ph.D. at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and Previously, held the position of Head of the Swiss desk (Leading House for Iran–Switzerland Science and Technology Collaboration) & Director of International Affairs of Isfahan University of Technology, Iran.
She also held the position of Vice President of International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) as the first women selected as VP from the Middle East. .
Big trees crucial to migrate B.C. forests under climate change, finds study
A UBC study co-authored by Dr. Suzanne Simard, professor in the faculty of forestry, found ways forest ecosystems can be better prepared for climate change, with a focus on the Douglas fir tree.
AI is bad for the environment, and the problem is bigger than energy consumption
Sustainable business management of natural resources professor Dr. Hamish van der Ven wrote about the broader environmental impacts of artificial intelligence technologies.
Tree migration could help B.C. forests better prepare for climate change, says UBC study A UBC study co-authored by Dr. Suzanne Simard, professor in the faculty of forestry, found ways forest ecosystems can be better prepared for climate change, with a focus on the Douglas fir tree. CTV
UBC students team up with Lil’wat for Sea to Sky forestry research Twenty-one students with the Master of Sustainable Forest Management program learned from Lil’wat Forestry Ventures, the Líl̓wat Nation council and community members, about economic and traditional elements of forestry, organized by lecturer Dr. Ken Byrne.
Should Canada follow Oregon’s lead on mandatory wildfire protection rules? Dr. Felix Wiesner, a forestry professor and expert in fire safety engineering, explained building regulations in relation to wildfires. National Observer
January 20, 2025
New study predicts dire future for B.C. wildfires without major changes Dr. Jen Baron and Dr. Lori Daniels, professors at the faculty of forestry, spoke about their research into the need for changes to wildfire management in B.C. Global News
B.C. must learn to ‘co-exist’ with wildfires as study outlines possible dire future Dr. Lori Daniels, a professor of forest and conservation sciences, explained her research into changes B.C. must make in order to coexist with wildfires. Global News
January 14, 2025
Fire-proofing B.C. homes; expert weighs in as Los Angeles blazes rage on Dr. Felix Wiesner, a professor in the faculty of forestry, commented on the wildfires in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles. CityNews
The future of water Dr. Younes Alila, a professor in the faculty of forestry, commented on the impact and causes of flooding in B.C. British Columbia Magazine
January 13, 2025
Building fire safe communities Dr. Felix Wiesner, a professor at the faculty of forestry, was interviewed about fire safety engineering. Global News
Would abundant water sources have helped mitigate the California wildfires? Dr. Kira Hoffman, a postdoctoral fellow at the faculty of forestry, explained that water resources would have done little to alleviate the wildfires. CBC via Yahoo Canada
Calls to improve B.C. building codes as fires rage in California Dr. Felix Wiesner, a professor in the forestry department, commented on the need to improve B.C. building codes to make structures more resistant to wildfire. CTV News
January 9, 2025
B.C. researchers aim to make the perfect T-shirt—from lumber Dr. Feng Jiang, a professor at the faculty of forestry, is part of a team working on making T-shirts from softwood lumber. Business in Vancouver
January 7, 2025
‘Fire weather’ is hitting the north the hardest, study says Research led by Weiwei Wang, a PhD student in the faculty of forestry, found that Canada’s northern regions suffer longer wildfire seasons. The Tyee
January 6, 2025
New study warns of increasing fire risk in Canada without preventive measures Research led by faculty of forestry professor Dr. Guangyu Wang highlights the increasing severity of Canada’s wildfires. Global News, Vancouver Sun, Canadian Press via CBC, APTN, CTV News, Delta Optimist, MSN, PANow, SaskNow
January 2, 2025
‘Ambitious climate action is more urgent than ever’: 3 climate records broken in 2024 Dr. Lori Daniels, a wildfire expert in the faculty of forestry, was quoted in relation to the impact of wildfires on the climate. Space via Yahoo
