For my second continuous term of co-op, I have continued working as a student viticulturist for Arterra Wines Canada. While my first term was focused on field work in the vineyards, my second term has consisted of more logistical support as harvest approached and is continuing. One of my primary tasks before and continuously throughout harvest has been maturity sampling. I go to various blocks of grape varieties, sample around thirty bunches, press the grapes into juice, and then test the juice to find their percent sugar content (also known as brix). By identifying the brix values of the grapes, the winemakers can then determine the ideal time to harvest the grapes.
Alongside maturity sampling, I have been working in what is known here as the “harvest shack” to help coordinate company truck drivers who are going out to pick up grapes and then bring them in. The harvest operation is all hands on deck at the company, as we are harvesting around 5,500 metric tonnes of grapes to process into wine. This co-op term has allowed me to improve my communication skills, my ability to organize and manage complex spreadsheets, and learn about all of the effort that goes into a successful large-scale agricultural operation.
This work term, I have been working with the Canadian National Forestry Inventory. I am a part of the MAGPlot team, which aims to compile and standardize forestry data from across the country. Their database includes thousands of ground plots and millions of recorded trees.
I have learned a lot about programs such as Excel, R Studio, and GitHub, and also a lot about sampling design. I would not have been able to get this opportunity without the co-op program. I am so glad to be gaining relevant experience in my field and making important connections.
Land One participants register in a selection of first-year courses together as a cohort of 50 – 60 students, allowing for a more personalized connection with instructors. Students have access to a designated classroom and study space, and learn through group work, field trips and various hands-on activities, all of which create a stronger social and learning community.
If you’re looking for an immersive first-year experience and the opportunity to be part of a smaller cohort, join the Land One team on either April 16, 2026, at 4 PM (PST) or May 6, 2026, at 4 PM (PST) for online information sessions. Learn more about the program, hear from current Land One students, and get a chance to ask questions.
Dr. Jennifer Grenz and PhD student Virginia Oeggerli. Credit: Jennifer Grenz
A UBC FES study with St’át’imc Nation communities finds invasive grasses are the sleeper threat on B.C.’s post-fire landscape—and the window to stop them is narrow
After a wildfire, the flames may fade, but the danger does not. A new study by UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship researchers reveals that burned landscapes remain vulnerable for years, with large areas still bare and at risk of invasion by fast-growing, fire-prone grasses.
The research, one of the largest vegetation trajectory studies in the world, monitored landscapes two years after major wildfires in interior B.C. While some native plants returned, recovery was slower and more fragile than expected.
One of the most pressing concerns is invasive grasses, which germinate early in spring, dry out during the hottest months, and act as dry runways that spread flames at highway speed—a dynamic that contributed to the 2023 Lahaina fire in Maui and is increasingly likely in B.C.’s Interior.
“Areas that looked like post-apocalyptic ground right after the fire are now blanketed in cheatgrass. Once you can see the invasion, the opportunity for rapid response may already be gone,” said Dr. Jennifer Grenz, senior author and assistant professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management and a member of Lytton First Nation.
Published in Fire Ecology, the study examined vegetation recovery two years after the 46,000-hectare McKay Creek wildfire near Lillooet, conducted in partnership with six Northern St’át’imc communities on whose territory the fire burned. It was made possible by years of pre-fire invasive plant monitoring collected by the Lillooet Regional Invasive Species Society in collaboration with the BC Provincial Invasive Plant Program and local Indigenous communities—rare baseline data that allowed the team to test long-held assumptions about post-fire invasion.
Flames erupting during McKay Creek wildfire. Credit: Jennifer Grenz.
Elevation plays a critical role in recovery
The analysis showed a clear elevation trend in post-fire plant recovery. At lower elevations, where conditions are hotter, drier and more accessible to human activity, drought-tolerant invasive species quickly gain a foothold. Heavy traffic from hikers, ATVs, hunters and road maintenance equipment continually introduces new seeds, giving invaders like cheatgrass little competition in the valley bottoms.
Moving upslope, cooler temperatures and lingering moisture create less favourable conditions for invasive species. Here, native shrubs are beginning to regenerate, slowing the advance of non-native plants. Recovery is still slow, but native vegetation is re‑emerging where roots survived the fire.
“In a new era of mega-fires, understanding where and how vegetation recovers could determine the intensity of the next wildfire,” said Dr. Grenz.
Moonscape one year after McKay Creek wildfire. Credit: Jennifer Grenz.
Controlling invasive plants
With post-fire restoration resources limited, the researchers highlight three actions that could substantially reduce risk: vehicle and boot washing stations at fire access points to slow seed spread; targeted seeding or planting of native species along roads and high-risk corridors; and early herbicide treatment of small infestations before they expand.
The team plans to continue tracking recovery trends to help communities and land managers make informed decisions.
“A landscape left to invasive grasses after one fire becomes more likely to burn again,” said Virginia Oeggerli, a PhD student in Dr. Grenz’s lab who led the study. “Recovery is part of prevention.”
Join author and UBC Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship Professor Suzanne Simard for the launch of her highly anticipated new book, When the Forest Breathes, the follow-up to her bestselling Finding the Mother Tree. This immersive evening combines performance and conversation to explore a pressing question: how can we reimagine our relationship with forests, and with one another, in a time of ecological urgency?
The program opens with T. Patrick Carrabré’s Mother Tree, presented in collaboration with Early Music Vancouver. Performed by the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and soprano Mireille Asselin, the work brings Simard’s groundbreaking ideas about forest networks to life through music.
Next, experience Fungi Kingdom Dance, created by Rande Cook, Kwakwaka’wakw artist and hereditary chief of the Ma’amtagila people, who will also participate in the onstage conversation later in the evening.
The evening concludes with a live panel moderated by CBC’s What on Earth host Laura Lynch, featuring Suzanne Simard; Cree author and Governor General’s Literary Award winner Michelle Good (joining virtually), author of Five Little Indians; Christopher Rusnak, KC, legal scholar and Rights of Nature advocate; and Dr. Teresa Ryan, UBC Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship scholar. Together, they will explore the future of forests and our shared responsibility to the living world.
The Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship congratulates Dr. Kira Hoffman, a 2026 National Geographic 33 Honoree, for her groundbreaking work as a fire ecologist studying wildfire behavior, Indigenous-led fire stewardship, and resilience in northwest British Columbia.
About the National Geographic 33
National Geographic 33 is a program inspired by the 33 founders of the National Geographic Society in 1888. It recognizes 33 individuals from around the world who are driving positive change through science, conservation, innovation, and storytelling, highlighting modern-day trailblazers whose work inspires solutions to global challenges.
About Dr. Kira Hoffman
Dr. Kira Hoffman is a fire ecologist studying wildfire behavior and Indigenous-led fire stewardship. Through her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia and the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence, she examines historic fire activity and wildfire resilience in northwest British Columbia. Her research on the ecological legacies of cultural burning helps inform contemporary forest management by bringing together Indigenous knowledge and western science.
“Fire has this way of bringing us together. Sometimes that’s when it’s a disaster— but it can also be a healthy thing, and that brings us together too.” – Dr. Kira Hoffman
Master of International Forestry students in Costa Rica hosted by CATIE. Credit: CATIE
The Master of International Forestry (MIF) program recently travelled to Costa Rica for its annual field visit, giving students the opportunity to bring classroom concepts to life through hands-on learning in the field. The trip, hosted by the Center for Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education (CATIE), immerses students in real-world forestry and land management challenges, allowing them to observe how environmental, social and economic factors intersect on the ground.
Costa Rica offers an ideal setting for this specialized experiential learning. Known globally for its leadership in conservation, forest restoration and sustainable land management, the country reflects many of the complex issues explored in the MIF program.
During the visit, students examined how land ownership and tenure systems influence the ways forests and agricultural landscapes are managed, and how these dynamics shape both conservation outcomes and local livelihoods.
“We can see how land tenure and land ownership play out, and how that impacts land use, particularly in relation to agroforestry and forestry systems,” said MIF Professor Terry Sunderland. “The National Park network here is also extremely advanced. Over 30% of Costa Rica’s land surface is in well managed protected areas.”
Throughout the trip, students explored a range of ecosystems and working landscapes, from mountain forests to protected national parks. They also visited cacao farms practicing agroforestry—an approach that integrates trees with crops to support both biodiversity and sustainable production. Agroforestry is a key topic within the MIF curriculum, and the field visits allowed students to see firsthand how these systems operate in practice.Later in the trip, they travelled to the Nicoya peninsular on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast to visit those living in the blue zone, to ask the questions we all want to know the answer – what’s the secret to living for so long.
“We went through the mountain forest, and it was fascinating to see the diversity of species,” said MIF student Oyinkansola Happiness Akinade. “I love forestry, learning about communities and how different landscapes connect, it’s exactly what I want to build my career around.”
“What’s most interesting to me is seeing the landscape in action,” said MIF student Amie Jobe. “In class, we’ve studied how different actors interact with the same landscape, and being here in Costa Rica to witness it firsthand has been incredibly valuable for my learning and my career.”
Cacao has long been an important source of income for communities around the world. In Costa Rica, cacao production continues to play an important role in supporting local livelihoods while contributing to diversified, tree-based farming systems.
“Every lecture has been wonderful, from learning the history of CATIE to understanding how it all began,” said MIF student Anwulika Emmanuella Mordi. “It shows that there’s no perfect start. You have to start somewhere to make a difference. From there, we saw how sustainable practices are applied on the ground and thought about how these lessons could inform similar work in other countries, with the goal of making a global impact.”
Watch the video of MIF’s visit to Costa Rica here.
About the Master of International Forestry
The Master of International Forestry is an intensive, 12-month program based on a mix of experiential learning and coursework that prepares students to explore, negotiate, and implement solutions to the complex challenges facing the world’s forests, and the people that depend upon them.
Graduates of the MIF program are equipped for careers in a rapidly expanding field addressing global challenges like climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development. With forests at the heart of international concerns, the program provides students with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to tackle complex issues through a transdisciplinary and globally coordinated approach.
MIF instructors bring decades of global experience into the classroom. Their expertise, passion, and international networks enrich learning through research-driven teaching and guest lectures. The program also connects students to the International Forestry Students Association, fostering global engagement and travel opportunities.
Congratulations to Matthew Mitchell and Jörg Bohlmann for being two of the eight UBC projects honored with the 2025 Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) Award.
About the Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) Fund
The Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) Fund supports innovative sustainability projects that use UBC’s campus as a real-world testbed for research and collaboration. Launched in 2020, the initiative brings together faculty, staff, students, and partners to develop and test solutions to pressing environmental challenges. The 2025 competition awarded $500,000 to eight projects from across more than 28 departments and operational units at UBC Vancouver.
About Matthew’s Project
Title: Cooling and Conservation: Managing Campus Green Spaces for Biodiversity and Climate Change
Faculty lead: Matthew Mitchell, Assistant Professor, Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Staff lead: Emma Luker, Engagement and Sustainability Planner, Campus + Community Planning Co-lead: Claire McPhee, Climate Resilience & Biodiversity Applied Research Coordinator, SEEDS Sustainability Program, Campus + Community Planning
This project will collect microclimate data and acoustic wildlife data from birds and bats in green spaces to better understand how heat influences wildlife use of these areas. The findings will help inform the design of resilient UBC landscapes that support both human and non-human residents. The project will also emphasize student learning, community science, and knowledge sharing within and beyond UBC.
About Jörg’s Project:
Title: Chemical Atlas of Native BC Plant Species (CAN-BC): An Innovations Resource for Sustainability Research, Learning, and Knowledge Sharing
Faculty lead: Jörg Bohlmann, Professor, Michael Smith Laboratories, Faculty of Science / Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Staff lead: Dee Ann Benard, Garden Director, UBC Botanical Garden Co-lead: Adriana Lopez Villalobos, Research Technician, GIS, UBC Botanical Garden Co-lead: Armando Alcazar Magaña, Analytical Project Manager & Senior Research Scientist, Life Sciences Institute Co-lead: Tara Moreau, Associate Director of Sustainability and Community Programs, UBC Botanical Garden
The CAN-BC Project will uncover the untapped chemical and biological diversity of native British Columbia plant species at the UBC Botanical Garden. Findings will be compiled into an online tool, providing the UBC community and broader audiences with resources to support learning, research, and applications spanning ecology, biotechnology, and bioproduct development.
