UBC Library recently hosted students from the Urban Forestry program in its Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC), offering them a hands-on experience with archival materials to support their studies. What began as a conversation between archivist Claire Malek and Dr. Susan Day, an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, has grown into a long-standing collaboration that integrates archival research into urban forestry coursework.
During these sessions, students learn how historical records like flood photos, city planning maps, and old theses, can deepen understanding of topics such as urban ecology, greenspace planning, forest systems, and sustainability. Archivists Malek and Helen L. Brown have worked together to introduce a range of sources that help students explore how historical patterns and decisions continue to impact present-day urban environments.
The class, now taught by Dr. Matthew Mitchell, emphasizes the value of archival data for research and future careers, giving students unique skills for investigating long-term changes in urban ecosystems.
See the original article by Anna Moorhouse, UBC Library welcomes urban forestry students into the archives, UBC Library (January 19, 2026) here.
The Third International Young Scientist Forum for Climate Change – Sustainable Development through Bamboo Resources was successfully held from December 3-5, 2025 in a hybrid format, bringing together more than 400 participants from 66 countries across all continents. Jointly organized by the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship at The University of British Columbia, Zhejiang A&F University, and International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, the Forum provided an international platform for early-career researchers to exchange cutting-edge science, policy insights, and practical experiences related to bamboo-based climate solutions.
The Forum opened with welcoming remarks from Robert Kozak, Dean of UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, who emphasized the urgent need for science-based, collaborative solutions to address climate change and highlighted bamboo’s unique role in carbon sequestration, material substitution, and sustainable livelihoods. He underscored UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s long-standing partnerships with global institutions and its strong commitment to supporting the next generation of climate and sustainability leaders.
A series of keynote presentations framed the Forum’s interdisciplinary discussions. John Innes, Dean Emeritus at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, delivered a keynote address titled Sustainable Management of Bamboo Resources, and played a central role throughout the event by moderating the opening ceremony, as well as chairing sessions under Theme II: Carbon Sequestration and Climate Mitigation and Theme IV: Livelihoods, Community Development, and the Global Bioeconomy. Chunping Dai, professor from UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, also attended in person and delivered a keynote presentation on Developing Engineered Bamboo for Sustainable Building Construction, highlighting advances in bamboo-based materials for low-carbon construction. Chunping also served as the judging panel of the session under Theme III: Technological Advancements and Innovations.
Dr. John Innes, former Dean of UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, chairing session IV during the forum
A special highlight of this year’s Forum was the online keynote delivered byCarlos Ruiz-Garvia, Team Lead at the UN Climate Change Secretariat, who shared perspectives on the role of nature-based solutions, including bamboo, within international climate governance and policy frameworks. His participation further strengthened the Forum’s linkages between frontier research and global climate policy.
A defining feature of the Forum was its strong emphasis on student and early-career researcher excellence. UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship students were prominently recognized through multiple Best Presenter and Best Poster Awards, reflecting the Faculty’s leadership in bamboo-related climate research:
Best Presenter Award – First Place
Amsalu Alamerew — Bamboo-Based Enterprises Development Trends in Ethiopia: Implications for Livelihood Enhancement and Plastic Replacements
Best Presenter Award – Second Place
Chunyu Pan — Integrating Bamboo Forests into the Carbon Markets
Lucy Binfield — Climate Change Communication and Lifelong Learning through Professional Training Using Native Fiber Species: A Case Study of the Manabi Bamboo Workshop School in Ecuador
Yeling Xia — Bamboo Scrimber Hot-Pressing: Heat and Mass Transfer
Best Presenter Award – Third Place
Majid Shirazi — Multiscale Modeling of the Elastic Properties of Bamboo Culm
Best Poster Award
Danting Wang — Analysis of Temporal and Spatial Changes and Driving Forces of the Bamboo Industry in China
These achievements underscore UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s strong culture of mentorship, interdisciplinary research, and global engagement, as well as the growing impact of its students in advancing bamboo science for climate mitigation and sustainable development.
In recognition of its scientific quality and international impact, the Forum was also selected as one (rank 4th) of the Top 10 Bamboo and Rattan Events in China for the year—an important milestone that reflects its influence within the global bamboo and rattan research community.
Overall, the Third International Young Scientist Forum for Climate Change reaffirmed bamboo’s potential as a multifunctional nature-based solution and highlighted UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s leading role in fostering international collaboration, policy-relevant research, and student excellence in addressing the climate crisis.
UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship would like to thank PhD candidate, Chunyu Pan, for providing the meeting report, website post and photos from the event.
Eric Mensah Kumeh is an Assistant Professor in Forest Resources Management and the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. An interdisciplinary scholar, he studies critical agroforestry and land-use and supply chain governance, including cocoa and coffee. Using decoloniality, equity, and transformation frameworks, he examines how power shapes and is shaped by policies and investments addressing land degradation, biodiversity loss, and historical inequities at the forest farm nexus. His work spans actors and scales, with a focus on the Global South, including Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya.
Dr. Morgan Piczak is an Assistant Professor, previously a Liber Ero Fellow, who has a focus on movement ecology, conservation science, and knowledge-coproduction.
When: Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 12 – 1 pm Where: Forest Sciences Centre 4001 (boardroom)
This event is open to all and will be held in person only.
Seminar Abstract
In this research seminar, William will share the legal and policy context for bringing good fire – or low intensity fire – back to landscapes in British Columbia. Low intensity fires that are deliberately lit in cooler months, can reduce fuels on landscapes in the summer months – potentially mitigating the intensity and severity of summer wildfires. The focus of this seminar will be on Indigenous fire stewardship (IFS), a form of good fire, which is being revitalized in places across the province. The goal of this seminar is to bring insight to how the legal and policy context interacts with IFS – and to illustrate the consequences from different arrangements.
Speaker
Dr. Nikolakis is an assistant professor of Indigenous Land and Natural Resources Governance. He practices law in British Columbia, and practiced in Australia. His focus is on the intersection between Aboriginal rights and natural resources law. He has been working with Aboriginal organizations, governments and corporations in Australia and Canada to help achieve their objectives, including gaining greater control over their economies and natural resources, and designing governance mechanisms to support these objectives.
Join us for a rare Haida Gwaii Institute (HGI) info session on UBC’s Vancouver campus. Learn how HGI delivers immersive, place-based education that connects students to community and environment.
Enjoy a pizza lunch while you hear from the Director of HGI and program alumni, who will share first-hand stories about this unique learning experience. Bring your questions, meet future classmates, and start building connections.
About Haida Gwaii Semesters
These semesters are intensive, 13 week programs designed for senior level undergraduate students from a wide range of universities and disciplines. Each semester provides a full course load, including four courses that run in successive blocks over three weeks, and a fifth weekly seminar that runs throughout the entire program. In addition to in-class lectures and course work, students will also explore the incredible natural environments of Haida Gwaii, meet with local experts and knowledge holders, and become immersed in the Haida Gwaii community.
Questions? Contact Us
If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to the HGI team:
Join this info session to learn more about UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s online Forest Carbon Management (FCM) and Forest Carbon Modeling (FCMo) micro-certificate programs. These programs equip professionals with the skills to assess and apply forest carbon accounting, understand project design and markets, and develop practical forest carbon modeling expertise for applications such as GHG inventories, offset projects, and sustainable forest management.
Hear from the program instructors and program director and ask your questions.
About Online Micro-Certificates
Designed for working professionals, UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s wide array of micro-certificate programs offers an accessible way to build your skills, engage with industry leaders, and advance your career. Delivered fully online, these micro-certificates provide high-quality, industry-aligned forestry education accessible across Canada.
All of our micro-certificate programs qualify for the StrongerBC future skills grant, which provides up to $3,500 for eligible short-term training.
With extensive experience in large-scale climate vulnerability assessments across different sectors and organizations, Dr. Andrews-Key brings her expertise in the development and implementation of adaptation, specifically as applied to business cases for adaptation across all sectors. She is passionate about exploring how we can bridge science, theory and action to provide students with the comprehensive and applied knowledge necessary to excel in their careers.
Trevor Gareth Jones, FCM Lead Instructor / FCMo Program Advisor trevor.jones@ubc.ca
Dr. Trevor Gareth Jones is the lead developer and instructor of the Forest Carbon Management program and Program Advisor for the Forest Carbon Modeling program. He brings extensive global experience in forest carbon projects and a strong background in education and training, and currently serves as Blue Forests & Geospatial Adviser at Blue Ventures and Forest Carbon Science Lead at Tayo Climate Partners.
Kyle Melnick, FCMo Lead Instructor / FCM Assistant Instructor kyle.melnick@ubc.ca
Kyle Melnick is the lead developer and instructor of the Forest Carbon Modeling program and an assistant instructor for the Forest Carbon Management program. He specializes in remote sensing and forest carbon modeling, with extensive experience applying carbon data and modeling tools to nature-based climate solutions, forest carbon projects, and sustainable forest management in Canada.
Associate Dean, Students and Professor Scott Hinch, Dean Rob Kozak and Associate Professor Janette Bulkan. Credit: UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship.
VANCOUVER, B.C. — The University of British Columbia is renaming its Faculty of Forestry to the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, marking a significant step in the evolution of one of Canada’s leading centres for environmental research, education and innovation.
The change recognizes a shift underway across Canada and around the world: managing forests alone is no longer enough to solve today’s environmental challenges. Climate change, intensifying wildfires and floods, clean water scarcity, food insecurity, and accelerating biodiversity loss all threaten ecosystems and livelihoods alike. Responding to these crises requires ethical, responsible and sustainable management systems grounded in conservation, respect and education – this is environmental stewardship.
Leading innovation in climate and biodiversity action
Environmental stewardship reflects the faculty’s expanded role in climate adaptation, wildfire resilience, flood prevention, water and watershed protection, urban greening, food security, biodiversity conservation and management, greenspace management, environmental equity and the fast-growing low-carbon bioeconomy.
“Over the past 30 years, student numbers have doubled and so have our faculty members,” says Dean Rob Kozak. “Many of whom are world leaders in solution-based research and education – from conservation science and landscape ecology to genetics, fire sciences, forestry, fisheries, bio-products, mass-timber construction and Indigenous resource governance.”
This shift mirrors a broader trend across Canada’s postsecondary sector, where universities are rethinking how they train environmental leaders. Graduates now enter a rapidly evolving workforce that requires transdisciplinary skills across conservation, ecology, chemistry, genetics, sociology, engineering, economics, and technology.
“There was a time when traditional university programs in forestry produced professionals who were skilled in managing our forests and wild spaces, but today’s solutions demand additional kinds of expertise and new kinds of environmental programs,” says Associate Dean, Students and Professor Scott Hinch. “The faculty has been rapidly transforming its teaching programs to train the specialists and leaders society needs to meet the environmental challenges of our time.”
Older programs have been re-envisioned, while new programs have been launched to deliver cutting-edge, experiential and transdisciplinary education. The new BSc degree in Natural Resources integrates science, engineering, technology and business with students majoring in conservation, bioeconomy, wood products, forest sciences or forestry. The programs train students to deal with real-world complexities where every environmental challenge is now a social and economic one.
Indigenous-led stewardship
The transition underscores the faculty’s commitment to Indigenous environmental governance. Through its newest program, the Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship and its research initiatives, the faculty embraces Indigenous knowledge systems with modern stewardship practices.
“Indigenous Peoples have stewarded these lands since time immemorial,” says Dean Kozak. “Climate action and environmental stewardship in Canada must involve Indigenous governance, resource co-management, and land -and water-use planning. The faculty’s new name acknowledges those responsibilities.”
A strategic step for Canada’s environmental future
The faculty’s evolution signals its commitment to advancing solutions that strengthen climate resilience, support Indigenous sovereignty, grow the low-carbon economy and conserve and manage ecosystems that sustain communities – the faculty’s work directly supports the environmental goals emerging across B.C. and Canada.
“This change reflects what we have already become,” said Dean Kozak. “Our work is rooted in forestry, but it extends across the entire environmental spectrum. Our Faculty has been a global leader in conservation science, environmental education, research and action and the new name reflects that commitment.”
Dr. Scott Hinch is available for interview.
Media contact: Charlotte Fisher Marketing & Media Relations Strategist Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship University of British Columbia charlotte.fisher@ubc.ca
The goal of this course is to familiarize students with the fundamentals of forest ecosystems, starting with forest disturbance and succession, progressing through soils, biodiversity, carbon and biogeochemical cycling, while touching on forestry and restoration practices.
What is FRST 304 all about?
This course introduces the fundamentals of forest ecosystems — what forests are, how they’re structured, and how they function. Students learn what makes up a forest and how forests play a critical role in the global climate and carbon cycles. We also explore what we can do in forests to help mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Why is this course especially important right now?
It’s a very timely course. As a society, we’re at a turning point where we have to decide whether to exploit forests or manage them for long-term health and productivity. Forest stewardship is a natural climate solution, but we need to understand how to do it properly. If we choose that path, forests can play a powerful role in mitigating climate change and giving us time to adapt to the changes ahead.
What skills and knowledge do students gain from doing the course?
First, students gain a solid understanding of how forests work. When they walk through a forest, they’ll actually understand what they’re seeing. They’ll learn to identify tree species common to the Pacific coast, recognize different plants, and understand soils and the forest floor.
Beyond that, they’ll be able to explain the major ecological cycles happening in forests — like carbon and nutrient cycling — and connect forest structure to function. These are skills they can use to communicate with others and apply in many different fields.
Is this course only for forestry students?
Not at all. Anyone can take this course. You don’t need any special background — just curiosity about forests and climate change. Students from any year and any faculty are welcome, whether they’re in law, humanities, science, or another discipline. The course is designed to build understanding as you go, so the material is very accessible.
Can you tell us about the course format?
FRST 304 is a fully asynchronous online course. That means students can watch lectures at times that work for them, which is helpful if they have scheduling conflicts with other courses. There are some labs and written assignments, but the course offers a lot of flexibility. You can really fit it into your life — and that’s one of its biggest strengths.
What would you say to a student who’s considering taking FRST 304?
I’d say, please come take this course. You’ll learn things you won’t get in other classes, and you’ll be exposed to ideas that might be outside your main discipline but that you can integrate into your own field. Most importantly, it offers a hopeful perspective — it shows that there are real solutions and that we can take meaningful action on climate change.
When: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 5:00–8:00 pm Where: Atrium, Forest Sciences Centre, UBC Vancouver
You are cordially invited to the 2026 UBC Urban Forestry Networking Event, hosted by the UBC Urban Forestry programs. Join us for an engaging evening of connection, conversation, and community at the Forest Sciences Centre.
This annual event brings together urban forestry students, alumni, faculty, and industry partners for a relaxed networking evening focused on careers and professional pathways in urban forestry.
What to expect
Poster presentations by fourth-year Urban Forestry Capstone students, showcasing their projects, skills, and applied knowledge
Opportunities to connect with students, alumni, faculty, and urban forestry professionals
Food and drinks provided — with double the amount of food this year
Whether you’re a long-time supporter of the program or new to the UBC Urban Forestry community, we look forward to welcoming you.
RSVP
Please RSVP via Eventbrite if you are able to attend (though you are still welcome to join us even if you do not RSVP).
We hope to see you there for a lively evening celebrating urban forestry and the next generation of professionals.
