We’re proud to announce Siya Forestry LP, a newly formed joint venture between the Osoyoos Indian Band and Infinity-Pacific Stewardship Group Ltd. created to manage all resource values within OIB’s traditional territory. This collaboration between the two groups is the next step in realizing OIB’s goal to internally manage their traditional lands in a meaningful, more hands-on approach. Building on a trusted eight year working relationship with the Infinity-Pacific team, the Siya Forestry partnership is seeking talented individuals to join our group of professionals to assist with opportunities such as but not limited to; Land Management for OIB’s existing tenures (NRFL’s, FNWL, BCTS Partnership, Woodlot), and current operational agreements with local governments, licensees, and small tenure holders (Woodlots/Community Forest).
For more information about this job position and how to apply, please see the link below:
This article forms part of a Black History Month initiative led by Samuel Adeyanju, a UBC Forestry PhD student, with support from the Faculty of Forestry Alumni Engagement Office and the Communications team. Please reach out to Sam samuel.adeyanju@ubc.ca to connect or learn more.
By Sarah Ripplinger, Faculty of Forestry Dean’s Office writer
Meet Shalom Addo-Danso. A leader in research advancement, Shalom’s work is informing national forest policy and shepherding the next generation of ecologists, especially those in Africa.
Shalom Addo-Danso
Dr. Shalom D. Addo-Danso (PhD(Forestry)’17) is aSenior Research Scientist at the CSIR – Forestry Research Institute of Ghana. He holds a BSc in Natural Resource Management, Silviculture and Forest Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; an MSc in Forest Ecology and Management from Albert-Ludwigs University; and a PhD in Forestry from UBC Forestry. His research interests range from forest ecology to ecological restoration, agroecology, climate change, biodiversity conservation, land use changes, functional ecology and plant-soil interactions. Shalom also works as a consultant and youth development advocate and mentor. He currently resides in Ghana with his wife and their four daughters.
What drew you to the study of forestry?
Forestry is an important part of Ghana’s national economy. A lot of individuals and communities depend on the services and products that the forest provides. The study of forestry gave me an avenue to generate knowledge and data to help manage forests sustainably and address some of the key environmental issues that we are facing in the world, such as climate change. It is also a platform through which to support improvements in and for local communities.
Why did you decide to complete your PhD at UBC Forestry?
Mainly, I selected UBC Forestry because of its reputation as a top forestry school for research and academics. I had the privilege of having two wonderful supervisors, UBC Forestry Profs. Cindy Prescott and Rob Guy, to support my PhD work. Vancouver, and British Columbia in general, is also a beautiful place to live and study.
What was the focus of your PhD?
My research focused on how biomass and carbon dynamics recover and return to normal functioning following logging or other land use changes within the complex dynamic of tropical forest ecosystems. This research has policy implications in that protecting logged forest spaces can potentially promote the return of essential ecosystem services in support of communities and individuals. In Ghana, only around 10% of forested areas are primary forest. The rest has been logged. Yet, logged forest areas can provide climate change mitigation and water source protection services. My research found that an almost complete recovery of tropical forest ecosystem service functioning — similar to what is found in old growth tropical forests — can occur within 54 years after being logged.
Why did you pursue forestry research science as a career?
The simplest answer is that I love science, research and transferring ideas and knowledge to others. I see science as a pathway to improve people’s lives and make our world a better place within which to live.
What are your greatest career accomplishments so far?
One example would be a first-of-its-kind project in Africa that I’m working on right now in collaboration with a colleague in the United Kingdom. Our goal is to track forest response to climate change in Ghana using a weather station and thermal imaging cameras. This work is helping us understand the forest, and shaping a long-term view of how it is responding to climate change. The project is likewise establishing infrastructure to facilitate further research advancement and data collection in Ghana.
Another source of pride is my consultation work on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Restoration Barometer, which tracks the progress countries are making to meet forest restoration goals set out in the Bonn Challenge [“a global goal to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes into restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030”]. I synthesized data on Ghana from 2010 to 2021 to provide information on the state of the country’s efforts towards meeting its commitment to the Bonn Challenge.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming forestry students?
Be committed to what you do. People favour persistent and consistent people who strive for excellence. No matter what you do and no matter where you may be in the world, you have to pursue excellence. Another piece of advice is to have mentors whom you look up to. Throughout my academic and professional career, I have had the privilege of learning from exceptional mentors who have helped me get to where I am today. Also, network with others to build relationships. These can take you far.
I understand that you run a youth mentoring organisation. Can you tell me about it and what it does?
In 2022, I founded the Level Up non-profit annual event in Ghana. The event gives youth a space and platform to interact with industry professionals to help them enter the workforce or grow in their careers, as well as to help people generate ideas and collaborate.
What do you do to unwind?
I love listening to music. I also enjoy reading, and am currently making my way through the book Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends and Colleagues by David Bradford and Carole Robin. I was drawn to this book because I believe in the importance of honing communication and leadership skills to be better equipped to engage in networking opportunities and share information with others.
Tyhee Forestry Consultants Ltd. is in beautiful Smithers, BC. For 30 years we have provided technical and management services to the resource industry. Our Mission: To provide value to our clients and employees while practicing sound resource stewardship. Our Values:
Supporting out client’s stewardship goals by delivering outstanding quality
Encouraging a safe and positive team atmosphere
Approaching every task with professionalism and efficiency
Supporting our employee’s goals through mentorship and technical skill development
Smithers sits between the Babine Mountains and Hudson Bay Mountain, on the world famous Bulkley River. This picturesque community is a great year-round base for outdoor activities. It’s well-known for fishing, hunting, golfing, white water, skiing, and snowmobiling. Smithers features great restaurants, shops, galleries, museum, and friendly people. There’s something here for everyone.
See the link for more information about the position and how to apply.
Meristem Insights is a company focused on providing intelligent decision and management support across the natural resources sector. A meristem is undifferentiated plant tissue that can produce new parts of the plant. It can become any type of plant tissue: leaf, stem, flower, petal, etc. Like a meristem, we are ready to grow and adapt to the circumstances presented to us. We pledge to help our clients grow and provide them what they need to adapt to their ever-evolving circumstances.
See the link below for more information about this job posting and how to apply.
Conduct post-harvest field assessments and data collection to support growth and development of young stands.
Assist in office functions, including: statistical compilation of field data, generating silviculture reports, making maps, migrating data between database management systems, etc.
For more information about this job posting visit the link below.
UBC Forestry’s new “Notes from the Field” series highlights the work of different community forests in collaboration with the British Columbia Community Forests Association.
If your community forest wishes to be featured in this publication series, please contact Deborah DeLong at deborah.delong@ubc.ca
This article forms part of a Black History Month initiative led by Samuel Adeyanju, a UBC Forestry PhD student, with support from the Faculty of Forestry Alumni Engagement Office and the Communications team. Please reach out to Sam samuel.adeyanju@ubc.ca to connect or learn more.
By Sarah Ripplinger, Faculty of Forestry Dean’s Office writer
Meet Yemi Adeyeye. The City Forester/Manager of Forestry and Natural Areas with the City of Windsor, Yemi has extensive experience in many facets of forestry and across different institutional settings.
The multifaceted nature of Dr. Yemi Adeyeye’s (PhD(Forestry)’20) academic and career pursuits have helped him secure opportunities ranging from research and faculty roles in Nigeria to program coordination, management and directorial roles with the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. For his current role as the City Forester and Manager of Forestry and Natural Areas with the City of Windsor, Yemi has led the development of the city’s first urban forest management plan — within one year of being hired. On top of travelling around the world to study and work, Yemi has given back through extensive volunteerism in support of youth/young professionals and other often marginalized or underrepresented communities.
Yemi holds a National Diploma in Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology from the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan; a B.Tech in Agricultural Technology from the Federal University of Technology Akure; an MSc in Environmental Forestry from Bangor University; an MSc in Agricultural Development, Forests and Livelihoods from the University of Copenhagen; and a PhD in International Forestry with a focus on global spaces, communities and natural resources from UBC. Yemi’s PhD dissertation examined intersections of power, people and spaces in resource governance, part of which includes issues within the development of an Indigenous-driven environmental intervention in Bolivia and knowledge politics in global environmental forums.
What drew you to the study of forestry?
I first learned about the opportunity from my dad, who met with one of his friends and discussed educational options for high school graduates. He returned home and showed me a piece of paper on which he/his friend had written “wood and paper technology” along with “forestry technology.” He asked me which interested me the most. I chose the one that looked the strangest to me, which was wood and paper technology. Ultimately, it was a sense of curiosity that initiated me into the forestry profession.
Yemi at a global forum.
What attracted you to travelling internationally for school and work?
One of the main reasons is that I love to travel. I am someone who seeks adventure and new challenges. There was a period of time when I was going between Europe, North America, Africa and Asia for different reasons, and other times when I had multiple residences in different countries. It was exciting, but also meant that I had to leave a lot of things behind me as I moved from place to place.
Tell me about your current role as the Manager of Forestry and Natural Areas with the City of Windsor, Ontario.
I lead strategic and operational activities for urban forestry management within the Department of Forestry and Natural Areas, which includes the Ojibway Prairie Complex, Peche Island and Spring Garden ANSI. While I’m accountable to fulfilling the city’s mandate, I need to listen closely to community needs and incorporate the sometimes competing interests of community members. It is crucial to engage in conversations and consensus-building to balance the need for green space with other city infrastructure, such as utilities and sidewalks.
How do you stay motivated to volunteer your limited time with various organizations in support of marginalized communities?
Fieldwork in Boliva with his research team.
I have been heavily involved in community-level, equity-focused forestry throughout my academic and professional career. My volunteer work is an opportunity to advocate for or translate complicated policy, practices and processes to community members, working alongside them to further forest management, utilization and protection. The communities that I work with are First Nations; young people/professionals; people who are limited by resources, access and/or power; students; young women in agricultural sciences or forestry; among others. I often see a bit of myself in them. And I recognize that access is required to negotiate power.
Can you elaborate more on the importance of giving people access to power?
For example, almost everything I’ve been able to achieve academically and professionally was made possible because a gatekeeper chose to open the gate to me. Even with the right qualifications for a role, you still need someone to let you through the gate. For example, Dr. Shannon Hagerman with UBC Forestry gave me access to a PhD program at UBC by agreeing to be my supervisor. Now I try to be that person for others whenever I find myself in the position of a gatekeeper. For example, I support, advocate for and provide information to students from Nigeria who are seeking admission to UBC.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Fieldwork in Bolivia.
Black History Month encapsulates some of the fundamentals of what we have discussed. It is a time in which people from the Black races are recognized for what they’ve achieved, as well as the limitations and oppressions they have faced. It celebrates Black people who have succeeded and those who are seeking success. It is also a month in which to focus on how people in power have the ability to shape the existence of others.
What would you say is your biggest career accomplishment so far?
The fluidity with which I have transitioned from different roles and the range of disciplines I have covered throughout my career are sources of pride. I started teaching forestry at a young age and have conducted forestry research. I’ve held managerial roles in the agricultural sector and worked with international organizations, as well as with governments and organizations at all levels and across continents. I’m always open for new challenges, and often take on roles that involve making sense out of what might seem like chaos.
Production Coordinator Co-op; Builders Door and Window Supply Ltd
Working for Builder Door & Window is a valuable experience. As a production coordinator, I must be at the forefront of processing and distributing orders to the production staff. Meanwhile, I was the person who maintained and updated the production software system and design library. I found myself coordinating various complicated tasks to achieve a smoothie manufacturing process. Although never perfect, solving every problem in the production lines, manufacturing implementing systems and design libraries, assisted by my supervisors, gave me a better understanding of the big picture of manufacturing systems, which can be a real booster of my career.
Additionally, I found that almost every course with “WOOD” has been applied to this coop term. I used knowledge from WOOD 245 (Programming for Wood Products Manufacturing Applications) to write and check the VBA codes of the product calculator, I used the design skills from WOOD 485(Furniture Construction) to generate the shop drawings of products and the industrial engineering knowledge learnt from WOOD 330 (Industrial Engineering) gives me a big picture of process improvement and manufacturing systems. Therefore, this valuable co-op term wasn’t just about acquiring technical skills-it was a holistic learning experience that blurred the lines between theory and practice. I really enjoyed it!
Providing clean electricity to 4 million customers takes a diverse workforce and that’s where you come in. We need your talent to help us build major projects to meet growing demand. To help our customers find clean energy solutions for their homes and businesses and to be ready to respond during storms and outages to keep our system reliable.
Working for BC Hydro is meaningful. And now, the stakes have been raised as we work towards a solution to climate change while safely providing clean, affordable electricity to our customers.
We offer a healthy work life balance, training opportunities and career progression. We’re proud to be ranked as one of B.C.’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. Join us as we build an even cleaner B.C.
Please see the link below for more information about the position and how to apply.
