Cole’s research focuses on mammal communities in human-impacted ecosystems, with an emphasis on carnivore ecology, human–wildlife coexistence, wildlife population estimation, habitat modelling, and biodiversity monitoring using camera trapping.
About the UBC Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship
Every year, six UBC Killam Accelerator Research Fellowships are provided from the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies established through a bequest from the late Dorothy J. Killam. These annual fellowships are intended to support exceptional early career researchers (within 15 years of PhD) across all disciplines who have the potential for significant impact in their field of scholarship and are ready to launch the next stage of their career.
Lorien is an interdisciplinary researcher whose work focuses on urban forestry, environmental justice, and climate resilience. Her research examines equitable urban greening, civic stewardship, and access to urban nature, with growing emphasis on climate justice and the role and limits of nature-based solutions in urban adaptation. Through participatory research and partnerships with communities and governments, she advances more inclusive approaches to urban sustainability.
About the UBC Killam Faculty Research Fellowship
Every year, ten UBC Killam Faculty Research Fellowships are provided from the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies, established through a bequest from the late Dorothy J. Killam. These fellowships support promising faculty members undertaking research projects of broad significance during a recognized study leave, recognizing scholars with a strong and growing record of scholarly achievement.
They raid compost bins, outsmart latches and sometimes look gleeful doing it. A new study by UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship in Animal Behavioursuggests raccoons may not just be opportunistic—they may be genuinely curious.
UBC researchers Hannah Griebling and Dr. Sarah Benson-Amram from the Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences found raccoons continued solving puzzles long after retrieving the only food reward available. This behaviour reflects intrinsic motivation rather than hunger and is described as “information foraging,” because no additional food was given for continuing.
Nine ways in—and they kept going
A raccoon works to open the three hard difficulty solutions on the multi-solution puzzle box. Credit: Hannah Griebling.
Researchers used a custom multi-access puzzle box with mechanisms such as latches, sliding doors or knobs. The box had nine entry points, grouped as easy, medium and hard. In Each 20-minute trial the puzzle box contained a single marshmallow, yet raccoons often continued opening new mechanisms after eating it, a clear sign of information-seeking.
“We weren’t expecting them to open all three solutions in a single trial,” said Griebling. “They kept problem solving even when there was no marshmallow at the end.”
When risk rises, raccoons play it safe
When solutions were easy, raccoons explored broadly, trying multiple openings and varying their order. As task difficulty increased, they favoured a dependable solution—but still explored multiple solutions even at the hardest level, showing flexible problem-solving.
Griebling said the pattern reflects a classic tradeoff between curiosity and effort or potential risk. Raccoons adjusted strategy based on perceived cost and risk, mirroring decision-making frameworks in other animals and humans.
“It’s a pattern familiar to anyone ordering at a restaurant,” she said. “Do you order your favourite dish or try something new? If the risk is high—an expensive meal you might not like—you choose the safe option. Raccoons explore when the cost is low and quickly decide to play it safe when the stakes are higher.”
A raccoon solving the three easy difficulty solutions on the multi-solution puzzle box. Credit: Hannah Giebling.
Built for urban life
The findings help explain why raccoons thrive in urban centres like Vancouver. Their success could be attributed to the cognitive and physical traits that suit urban life.
Their forepaws, rich with sensory nerves for foraging in streams, are well suited to manipulating latches and handles—often the same kinds used by humans. Solving problems for information, not just food, may give them an advantage in complex environments, helping them access garbage bins or other food sources. Vancouver’s greenspaces, waterways and generally tolerant public provide near-ideal habitat.
“Understanding the cognitive traits that help raccoons thrive can guide management of species that struggle, and inform strategies for other species, like bears, that use problem-solving to access human-made resources,” said Griebling.
Although the experiment involved captive animals at a research facility in Colorado, previous research suggests wild raccoons show similar problem-solving abilities, though researchers caution the behaviours may not be identical.
“Raccoon intelligence has long featured in folklore, yet scientific research on their cognition remains limited. Studies like this provide empirical evidence to support that reputation,” said Dr. Benson-Amram.
Webinar date: March 24, 2026 | 12-1 PM (PST) Location: Online via Zoom
Invasive species are an unintended consequence of globalization and one that is wreaking havoc on forest ecosystems. From the blister rust fungus that decimated BC’s white pines to more recent invasions of Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer beetle, invasive pests and pathogens are a real and present danger that are reshaping forest and urban ecosystems in lasting ways. Join Dr. Richard Hamelin, a forest pathologist specializing in forest health and the application of genomics to disease management, for a timely and engaging look at the scope of the problem and the scientific tools being used to respond, including the application of genomics and tree breeding. Increasingly, citizen scientists play a critical role in detecting emerging threats, helping enable early intervention and improved forest protection.
Moderator: Dr. Allan Carroll Professor, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences Director, Forest Sciences Undergraduate Program
Presenter: Dr. Richard Hamelin Professor and Forest Conservation Sciences Department Head UBC Chair in Forest Conservation
Forest ecologist Dr. Nalini Nadkarni will share insights from decades of canopy research on how forest ecosystems function as interconnected networks, alongside UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Lecturer Dr. Teresa Ryan (Sm’hayetsk), a Tsimshian scientist whose work bridges Indigenous knowledge and Western science in forest and watershed stewardship.
Together they’ll explore how trees share information and resources – and what these living networks can teach us about resilient ecosystems and communities.
Santiago serves as Assistant Professor, David Brand Professorship in Sustainable Forestry and Conservation Finance at the Department of Forest Resources Management.
He is an interdisciplinary economist from Mexico and studied an undergraduate degree in economics at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México. Early in Santiago’s career he worked in forest conservation projects at non-for-profit Natura y Ecosistemas Mexicanos in Selva Lacandona (Mexico’s Southeast state of Chiapas). This experience sparked a now long-lasting interest in conservation and working among interdisciplinary teams.
Santiago’s impressive academic record includes MPhil and DPhil (PhD) degrees in International Development at the University of Oxford. Since then, his work has been rooted in economics but constantly draws on a wide range of theories and approaches from the social and natural sciences. Prior to joining UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, Santiago held positions as Postdoctoral Fellow at Université du Québec en Outaouais and Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, and later as an Associate Researcher at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México’s Institute for Economic Research.
Santiago is currently co-holder of a UNESCO Chair in Socio-Economic Evaluation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems, an honorary appointment with the aim of developing innovative economic frameworks and tools for sustainable environmental governance.
As we welcome Santiago to the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, he spoke to us about his work and what he hopes to achieve at UBC.
What led you to UBC FES?
UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, and in particular the Department of Forest Resources Management, were especially intriguing for three main reasons. Firstly, the strong alignment between my research and teaching interests and the Faculty’s established accomplishments in forestry and sustainability, as well as its expanding vision as reflected in its new name ‘Forestry and Environmental Stewardship’.
Secondly, the vibrant, supportive, and interdisciplinary academic environment, including world-class colleagues, outstanding students, and strong support for research, teaching, and professional development. Finally, the opportunity to live and work in British Columbia, with its exceptional nature.
What are your areas of research and top findings so far?
I am interested in the emergence, effects, and debates surrounding the implementation of so-called market-based or economic approaches to forest governance, such as Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes and carbon offsets, particularly in Latin America. These approaches, which rely on economic theories and use financial and economic incentives to promote conservation have become increasingly prominent in policy and practice over the last two decades. Yet they also remain highly contested and debated in academic and policy settings.
A central part of my work has been to develop a long-term ‘PES Observatory’ in Selva Lacandona (Chiapas, Mexico) to track the evolution and local-level impacts of Mexico’s national PES, one of the largest, longest-lasting, and most studied PES schemes worldwide.
Findings from this work, and from related research across Mexico and Latin America, have shown that cash-for-conservation schemes can be highly effective and socially legitimate under certain conditions. However, their real-world implementation often differs significantly from theoretical models and can produces a range of unexpected outcomes and processes. This research highlights the importance of recognizing and supporting Indigenous and local knowledge, diverse value systems, territorial rights, and forest stewardship as foundations for effective and socially legitimate conservation.
How can conservation finance help address the challenges facing sustainable forest management?
Conservation finance can help address some of the challenges faced by communities in managing forests by mobilizing new resources (from private or public stakeholders) or redirecting existing funds (from environmentally harmful public subsidies) towards supporting forest management practices, enhancing forest resilience, and incentivizing sustainable land use. However, simply increasing conservation finance is insufficient: without careful design, it can be ineffective, inequitable, or crowd out other critical resources.
What excites you most about being the holder of the David Brand Professorship in Sustainable Forestry and Conservation Finance?
I am particularly excited about the opportunity to build synergies between my existing research and networks in Mexico and Latin America, and the wide range of opportunities and resources available at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and across Canada. The David Brand Professorship provides a unique platform to significantly advance my research, teaching, and engagement activities on conservation finance in an interdisciplinary, policy-relevant, and community-engaged way. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Brand for his vision.
What do you hope to achieve at UBC FES?
I aim to build a research programme centred on establishing a ‘Conservation Incentives Lab’, focusing on advancing the evaluation, design, and implementation of incentives for forest conservation and sustainable management. This includes expanding my existing long-term research in Latin America while developing new projects in Canada and other geographic regions. This research lab will bring together students, researchers, and other community and practitioner partners to co-develop applied, policy-relevant research.
In teaching, I am excited about the opportunities at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship to develop interdisciplinary and critical understanding of economic approaches to sustainability.
Canada’s drinking water can remain at risk long after wildfires burn out, according to a global review by UBC Faculties of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and Applied Science. It found water-quality impacts often emerge months or years later—not just immediately after a fire.
Researchers analyzed 23 studies across 28 watersheds worldwide, comparing pre- and post-fire levels of sediment, nutrients, metals, organic carbon, ions and wildfire-fighting chemicals. Across climates, contamination often intensified over time, particularly when storms or snowmelt washed stored ash and debris into rivers.
The findings carry particular weight for Canada, where wildfire activity has intensified. In 2023, over 15 million hectares burned, more than twice the previous national record.
Alberta studies show long-lasting impacts
The review focused on studies tracking water quality for at least six months to determine whether impacts fade or grow.
“The same delayed contamination pattern kept appearing,” said Raúl de León Rábago, study author and master’s student in civil engineering.
After the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, rivers showed elevated sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus and lead even where less than one-quarter of the watershed had burned. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo increased annual treatment chemical spending by roughly $500,000 to manage wildfire-related changes in raw water.
In Alberta’s southern Rockies following the 2003 Lost Creek wildfire, phosphorus and nitrogen remained high for years. Floods in 2013 washed stored ash and soil back into rivers, causing phosphorus levels to jump to seven to nine times higher, with some increases persisting more than 14 years downstream. Similar long-term effects have been documented internationally.
“Imagine emptying a bucket of ash into a bathtub,” said Dr. Qingshi Tu, assistant professor in the Department of Wood Science. “When the water is stirred, the ash resurfaces. That’s what can happen in watersheds after large fires.”
Smoke and firefighting chemicals add to risk
Across the reviewed studies, wildfire activity increased sediment, nutrients, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—chemicals formed when vegetation and other materials burn. Smoke can also carry contaminants into unburned watersheds.
Canada relies heavily on long-term fire retardants such as Phos-Chek in B.C. and Alberta. These products contain nutrients and trace metals that can fuel algal blooms and raise treatment costs. After the Fort McMurray wildfire, higher chemical dosing was required to treat wildfire-affected water.
Protecting communities through long-term monitoring
Researchers note that water utilities’ ability to respond depends on fire intensity, duration, size, what burned, weather conditions and treatment system design. Not all systems have equal capacity to adapt, and smaller communities with limited budgets face greater risk from prolonged post-fire impacts.
The team is developing a model linking wildfire behaviour, smoke and river systems to help Canadian utilities anticipate multiyear risks. They say fire-prone provinces such as B.C. and Alberta need coordinated long-term water monitoring and preparedness planning, especially when fires burn near drinking water sources.
“Canada is entering a new era of wildfire risk,” said Dr. Loretta Li, senior author and UBC civil engineering professor. “If we want to protect drinking water, we have to treat wildfire impacts as long-term, not short-term.”
Interview language: English, Mandarin (Tu), English, Spanish (de Leon Rabago)
Join a panel of experts from the Allard School of Law, Vancouver School of Economics, Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, and Political Science to explore the evolving Canada–U.S. economic relationship and what it means for Canada’s future.
As the 2026 joint review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) approaches, Canada faces significant shifts in its most important trading relationship. From tariffs on steel to ongoing tensions in British Columbia’s forestry sector, long-standing trade dynamics are being tested and the era of predictable trade and stable multilateral rules may be coming to an end.
This discussion will move beyond the headlines to examine emerging geopolitical realities and their implications for Canada and for Canadians’ daily lives. Panelists will:
Clarify the current moment: unpack the political and economic shifts shaping Canada–U.S. relations and the key issues surrounding the upcoming CUSMA review.
Examine Canada’s role as a middle power: explore how Canada can maintain strategic independence in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Highlight BC forestry as a case study: consider how international trade pressures are affecting local industries, workers, and communities.
This session is designed for policymakers, industry leaders, and members of the public interested in understanding the structural changes shaping Canada’s economic future.
Featured Speakers:
Ljiljana Biuković (Allard Law)
Harry Nelson (UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship)
Join the UBC Forestry Summer Institute for an online information session about the 2026 program – a three-week immersive academic experience in Vancouver.
Learn about the program structure, courses, field-based learning opportunities, application process, fees, and student life. The 2026 Institute features three innovative courses:
Advancing Sustainable Development: Smart Forestry and Carbon Neutrality Management
AI in Green Space and Public Health Management
Bio-based Renewable Materials
The session will conclude with a live Q&A covering admissions, academics, housing, visas, and life at UBC.
When: Tuesday, March 17, 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 joint research seminar, two visiting faculty members from the University of Helsinki will discuss their research at the intersection of digital technologies and natural resources education. Dr. Petri Parvinen will present ‘Cloning a Professor.’ The talk will showcase a digital AI-driven clone of a professor and explain the possibilities and problems related to digitally cloning real human experts. The talk is of interest for scholars in the fields of information systems, university education, computer science, artificial intelligence or related commercial endeavors. Dr. Mika Rekola will present ‘What myself and my students know about forests: A case of the open online textbook FORESTS.’ The talk asks: do we know what CAI, MAI, phenological shifts or stomatal conductance are? Generally speaking, what is the core curriculum of forest sciences that all professionals should master? The concept of curriculum knowledge is also discussed from teachers’ perspective. The role of Open Education (OE) and Open Educational Resources (OER) are introduced and reflected in the light of forest education in general and core curriculum in particular. All these terms are merged together though the concrete case under preparation: an open online textbook FORESTS.
Speakers
Petri Parvinen
Dr. Petri Parvinen works as Full Professor of Strategic Marketing and Management at the University of Helsinki, the leading university in Finland, and as part-time Visiting Distinguished Professor at the Aalto University School of Business. His interdisciplinary research has been published in a variety of journals spanning the disciplines of marketing, sales, management, service science, innovation, natural resources management, information systems and computer science, and he has authored several best-selling books. He has worked with hundreds of businesses, reinforcing modern business thinking particularly in engineering and science-driven contexts and does most of his research collecting data at the front-line of sales and marketing organizations.
Mika Rekola
Dr. Mika Rekola serves as a university lecturer in forest economics and the leader of the MSc dual degree program Green Business at the University of Helsinki (UH). He is also a member of Teachers’ Academy at UH. His research interests encompass economic valuation of ecosystem services, education, and human resources (HR). Rekola has been coordinating IUFRO Research Group “Forest Education” during 2016-2024. He was the PI in the large international forest education study consortium by FAO, IUFRO, and ITTO. Rekola is currently acting as Silva Network vice-president and an editor-in-chief for an open online textbook FORESTS.
