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.
When Hannah Smith first arrived in Canada from the UK, it was meant to be temporary. After completing her Bachelor of Science in Zoology in 2017, she planned to spend just one ski season exploring the mountains. Eight years later, that brief adventure has evolved into a career centred on forestry, wildfire management, and a commitment to protecting forested landscapes.
Hannah spent five years working as a Ski Patroller, a role that strengthened her connection to the outdoors and emergency response. That experience led her to the Alberta government, where she joined the wildfire sector as a Wildland Firefighter. Now, she is pursuing a Master of Sustainable Forest Management to achieve her Registered Professional Forester (RPF) designation.
Building experience in wildfire planning and technology
After relocating to Kelowna, Hannah transitioned into a Wildfire Planning Technician role with a consulting firm, where she was introduced to landscape- and site-level planning for wildfire risk reduction projects.
During this time, she expanded her technical skill set, earning her drone pilot license and conducting UAV surveys across the forestry sector. She also became a Forester-in-Training (FIT) with Forest Professionals British Columbia (FPBC), a key step toward her long-term goal of becoming a Registered Professional Forester (RPF).
Choosing the MSFM program at UBC
To build the academic foundation required for a professional designation, Hannah chose to pursue the Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM) program in the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship.
“I wanted a program that would strengthen my understanding of forestry operations and forest policy, while also giving me opportunities to explore different applications and connect with people in the sector,” she says.
Learning from a diverse cohort
One of the standout aspects of the MSFM program for Hannah has been the diversity of experience within her cohort. Students come from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds, creating a collaborative learning environment where peers learn as much from one another as they do from the coursework.
Applying theory through hands-on learning
“This semester, we designed a Site-Level Plan for a block at the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest,” Hannah explains. “It was an incredibly useful, hands-on experience, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the results next spring.”
Looking ahead: returning to the wildfire field
After graduation, Hannah plans to return to the wildfire field with a renewed and expanded skill set. She is particularly excited to apply her training in geospatial analysis and planning to help address pressing wildfire challenges in British Columbia, while completing the remaining requirements for her RPF designation.
Advice for future MSFM students
For prospective students considering the MSFM program, Hannah offers practical advice: “If you want to become a forester but need the academic pathway, the MSFM program is an excellent choice. Ask questions early, talk to program staff and industry mentors, and make sure the program aligns with your career goals.”
What began as a single ski season has become a purposeful journey—one that continues to evolve at the intersection of forestry, wildfire resilience, and professional stewardship of Canada’s forests.
Quebec’s Lake Rouge vanished – but was it a freak natural event or caused by human actions? Younes Alila The Guardian
A path to greener fashion: UBC and KPU collaborate on sustainable rayon production Feng Jiang, Huayu Liu The Runner
January 12, 2026
Community outraged by before-and-after photos of concerning project: ‘It’s actually worse than this’ Cecil Konijnendijk The Cool Down, Yahoo News
Mystery of Vanishing Lake in Northern Quebec Raises Alarms Over Environmental Change Younes Alila National Times
January 13, 2026
What is at stake for B.C.’s forestry sector as Prime Minister Mark Carney heads to China? Juliet Lu CBC: The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn and other CBC Radio Outlets
Does China still matter to B.C.’s forestry industry? Juliet Lu The Jas Johal Show
Increased flooding risks, roads, land management practices. What’s the link? Younes Alila Midcoast Morning: CHLY 101.7FM
January 14, 2026
Tree cutting in Vancouver’s Stanley Park resumes after looper moth infestation Gregory Paradis CBC: Radio Canada
UBC Faculty of Forestry announces new name reflecting expanding environmental leadership Rob Kozak, Scott Hinch, Janette Bulkan Education News Canada
On Dec 15, the Province of British Columbia announced new investments through the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) to support research infrastructure and innovation across the province. Among the 71 UBC-led projects receiving funding are nine initiatives led by researchers from UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, spanning forest and conservation sciences, wood science, and forest resources management. These projects address critical challenges such as Indigenous land relationships, ecosystem and climate resilience, wildfire science, sustainable building materials, and zero-carbon construction. The funding strengthens UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s research capacity and highlights the faculty’s leadership in advancing solutions for climate change, sustainable natural resource management, and resilient communities in British Columbia and beyond. Congratulations to our researchers on this significant achievement and recognition of their impactful work.
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.
Join this information session to hear from the program director and ask your questions. Dr. Amy Wotherspoon will also join the session to discuss one of our newest programs, Foundations of Advanced Silviculture.
All of our current 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.
Amy Wotherspoon, Program Lead – Foundations of Advanced Silviculture
Dr. Amy Wotherspoon is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Silva21 project, researching how future climate conditions will affect Canada’s managed forests and inform adaptive silviculture. She holds a PhD in Forest Ecology and has expertise in climate–forest interactions and silvicultural treatments. Passionate about teaching, she also works in higher education pedagogy and teaches internationally through UBC programs.
When Ellen Kang BSc (Wd Prod Proc) 2025, heard about the Wood Products program in China, she was intrigued to learn more. Ellen was a transfer student into the program.
“I heard program offers both technical knowledge and practical experience. I wanted to gain more hands-on experience and also learn wood products manufacturing on a industrial level. “
A Common Misconception About Studying Wood
“Some people may think studying wood is just about planting trees or chopping down trees, but it’s not true.” The curriculum of the program is highly diverse.
“I’ve learned furniture design using high technology, it’s like CNC (Computer Numerical Control) to make furniture. Also like different kinds of engineered wood products manufacturing processes, and you can also do minor in Commerce and learn Excel programming.”
The Future Role of Wood for Sustainability
Contrary to common belief, wood can be a highly sustainable material. “It’s not just a beautiful and strong material, it has great potential in areas like sustainable construction and even carbon storage.”
“By studying wood products, we can learn how to make the production process more sustainable. For example, I did research using life cycle assessment to evaluate the potential environmental impact of producing glulam (glue-laminated timber) in British Columbia, and identified improved solutions to reduce the carbon emissions.”
“Compared to other materials, like concrete or steel, wood products, requires less energy to produce and emit less greenhouse gasses. So when we use more wood products in construction or furniture, we actually help reduce carbon emissions.”
Gaining Experience Through the Co-Op Program
Ellen’s most memorable Co-Op experience was at West Fraser plywood mill in Williams Lake where she worked as a Quality Control Assistant. She conducted an experiment to improve machine settings, leading to reduced material waste and increased recovery which was able to economically benefit the mills.
“It was the moment that I truly realized how useful and valuable what I’ve learned in this program is.”
Her classes provided her with the necessary skills to thrive in her Co-Op job. For example in WOOD 335, Ellen learned quality improvement and statistic precise control. The class “taught me how to analyze data and figure out the cause of the problem in the production line”. Also, “I learned different kinds of engineered wood products manufacturing processes. So no matter which mill I go to, I will always know what the production process is and the key technologies.”
Co-Op provided Ellen with the opportunity to experience different kinds of jobs while studying and build connections with companies. It was a “big chance for me to get a return offer after graduation and actually got a return offer, so it’s really great opportunity.”
Advice for Future Students
While Ellen was at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, she met many nice professors and made great friends. “During the study and Co-Op, I kind of realized my own value by applying the knowledge I’ve learned in this program.”
“My advice is maybe spend more time volunteering in different labs in wood products programs and figure out what you really like.”
UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship accelerated Professional Master’s degrees offer the opportunity to deepen your technical skills, hone your leadership abilities and expand your professional networks.
Led by world-renowned faculty members and experienced industry professionals, our programs are developed to give students the core foundation in rapidly developing fields – such as climate adaptation, forest carbon management and geomatics – to advance in their careers.
Join us on January 15, and learn directly from program directors, coordinators and advising staff in our exclusive panel discussion, and find out which program is right for you.
The following programs will be discussed:
Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management
Over 9-months, the Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM) provides essential training in the use and application of geospatial tools used to plan, develop, manage, and evaluate programs to protect and regulate natural habitats and renewable natural resources.
Dr. Nicholas Coops Director, Masters for Geomatics for Environmental Management Co-director, Master of Sustainable Forest Management
Dr. Coops is one of the MGEM faculty mentors and teaches introductory and advanced remote sensing courses. His focus is the use of remote sensing technology to assess forest resources, both for conservation and production applications. He is specifically interested in advanced forest inventory techniques using high spatial resolution optical remote sensing imagery and LIDAR, use of remote sensing for the ecosystem and carbon accumulation modelling for biodiversity, production and greenhouse calculations, and detection of damaging agents in forests using spectral forest condition mapping.
Dr. Coupland plays a key role in the MGEM community, coordinating the program’s daily activities and supporting students and faculty. Connected to UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship since 2014 as a graduate of the Master of Sustainable Forest Management program, her research focuses on developing novel forest classification schemes, emphasizing non-timber values. Notably, she has quantified educational values in urban forests at UBC through innovative methods, including a LiDAR canopy analysis of every tree on campus.
Master of International Forestry
The Master of International Forestry (MIF) 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.
Dr. Sunderland is a professor in the department of Forest and Conservation Sciences focusing on the biological and human dimensions of the sustainable management and utilization of tropical forests. He was previously a Senior/Principal Scientist at the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Indonesia, where he coordinated CIFOR’s work on forests and food security, biodiversity conservation, and integrated landscape management.
Master of Sustainable Forest Management
The Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM) is a a comprehensive 9-month program designed to prepare students for careers in professional forest land management. The program is suited for individuals who are naturally curious, enjoy outdoor work, and have a strong passion for environmental stewardship. It’s designed for those interested in pursuing careers as professional forest land managers in North America and beyond.
Hélène Marcoux Director, Malcolm Knapp Research Forest & Co-director, Master of Sustainable Forest Management
Hélène is a dedicated lifelong learner with over 20 years of experience as an ecologist, Registered Professional Forester (RPF), and post-secondary instructor. Originally from Manitoba, she began her forestry career as a tree planter in BC, later earning a Master’s in Forest Sciences from UBC. Before joining the UBC Research Forest, she taught for 7 years at BCIT. Hélène is passionate about silviculture, forest health, plant identification, and community-based forestry, and loves getting people outdoors to explore nature.
Anna Tobiasz Program Coordinator, Master of Sustainable Forest Management
Anna is a Registered Professional Forester with experience in landscape-level planning and forest operations across British Columbia. She holds a BSc from the University of Northern British Columbia and an MSc from UBC, and works with the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest on strategic planning while contributing to teaching and program coordination within the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship.
Master of Urban Forestry Leadership
The Master of Urban Forestry Leadership (MUFL) is a unique, intensive 13-month, in-person program for those ready to shape the cities of tomorrow. As the only program of its kind, MUFL offers a truly interdisciplinary education—blending expertise from arboriculture, forestry, urban planning, landscape architecture, and urban forestry.
Dr. Sara Barron Director, Master of Urban Forestry Leadership
Dr. Barron brings an expansive background in working with interdisciplinary teams to explore the various aspects of urban green space contributions to climate adaptation and human well-being. She is a member of the Green Infrastructure Research Group at the University of Melbourne and the Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning at UBC.
Elisa Kwun Program Coordinator, Master of Urban Forestry Leadership
Elisa Kwun is an urban forestry professional specializing in community engagement, climate education, and place-based solutions. As Program Coordinator for the Master of Urban Forestry Leadership program, she supports students, events, and academic planning, drawing on experience from climate action projects such as the Oak Bay Coolkit. With a background in teaching and research, she aims to make climate solutions practical and accessible while completing a Master of Education in Adult Learning.
Researchers found that residents without cars face greater barriers to accessing nature, highlighting the need for regional coordination and more inclusive mobility options.
A study from UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship has found Metro Vancouver residents who rely on public transit, cycling, car share or bike share face significantly greater barriers to accessing parks and natural spaces compared to drivers.
The study, recently published in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, used a first-of-its-kind multimodal accessibility framework to assess how residents reach high-quality parks using five modes: driving, public transit, cycling, car share and bike share.
Underserved suburbs face greatest barriers
The project examined not only how accessible parks are across Metro Vancouver, but also whether access is equitable across neighbourhoods with different income levels, demographics and transportation options.
“Driving access is fairly consistent across Metro Vancouver, but the moment you remove the car from the equation, equity gaps widen dramatically,” says lead author and doctoral student Yiyang Wang. “Many residents – seniors, youth, newcomers, people with disabilities, low-income households – don’t have easy access to a vehicle. For them, getting to the region’s best parks is often far more difficult than people realize.”
Researchers identified five suburban municipalities where residents face the largest disparity between high need, social vulnerability and low access to parks via non-driving modes. Those areas include Richmond, Surrey, Langley, White Rock and Maple Ridge.
“These are municipalities with growing populations, higher numbers of older adults, renters and lower-income households,” says co-author Dr. Keun Park, assistant professor at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship. “You have high demand for nature access, yet non-driving options like transit, bike share, or car share are limited or nonexistent. Without a car, for many families the door to nature is essentially closed.”
Result map indicating areas of opportunity to improve access to parks in Metro Vancouver. Credit: Yiyang Wang.
Critical for health and well-being
Spending time in nature is closely linked to better mental and physical health, especially in dense urban areas.
“Many of the people who benefit most from time in nature – those facing financial stress, health challenges, or limited mobility – are the same people who face the steepest barriers to getting there,” says Yiyang Wang.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Credit: UBC
Regional collaboration
While shared mobility services like car share and bike share are often promoted as affordable alternatives to owning a car, the study finds that their current distribution in Metro Vancouver actually worsens inequities, as most services are concentrated in high-density, high-profit areas.
“Shared mobility has enormous potential,” says Dr. Park. “But right now, services expand where profits are high, not necessarily where access is needed most.”
This patchwork approach is no longer sustainable. A coordinated regional strategy that brings Translink, Metro Vancouver and municipal governments to the table with private providers, is essential to ensure communities outside of Vancouver’s core are not left behind.
“If access to nature is part of our regional vision,” says Dr. Park, “then it has to be measured, funded and coordinated in the same way as access to work, school or health care.”
The authors urge regional agencies to treat green spaces as essential destinations, not just optional amenities, and to use the study’s framework to inform future transit investments, shared mobility expansion and the buildout of Metro Vancouver’s greenways and active-transportation corridors.
Result map indicating multi-modal accessibility to parks by minimum distance in Metro Vancouver. Credit: Yiyang Wang.
Media contact: Charlotte Fisher Marketing & Media Relations Strategist UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship charlotte.fisher@ubc.ca
UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s “Notes from the Field” series highlights the work of different community forests in collaboration with the British Columbia Community Forests Association.
In this issue, we share insights from UBC student contributors who joined the 2025 SISCO fall field tour to explore adaptive silviculture in BC’s dry-belt Douglas-fir ecosystems, highlighting innovative fuel treatments, collaborative learning, and the importance of flexible, forward-thinking forest management in a changing climate.
