I am doing my fourth and last co-op term at Tolko Athabasca, an Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) manufacturing facility. During my work-term here I have had the pleasure of working with the Technical team to learn more about the process of making these products, as well as gain a better understanding of the steps required to ensure it reaches the quality requirements for its end use. I have been writing reports regarding different trials performed that looked to improve our process, as well as learning and performing different APA quality assurance tests.
Co-op has been an opportunity for me to try a variety of things, learn from different people and overall expand and diversify my skills and knowledge.
Wildlife Research Assistant – The University of British Columbia
During my second term as a research assistant for UBC’s Tree Ring Lab, I have performed a variety of fire-related research tasks. Mainly, my work this summer included collecting fire history data from published reports and papers to support a fire history reconstruction study led by Dr. Jen Baron. I also organized and completed my own data collection on Galiano Island in collaboration with the Galiano Conservancy Association to support my undergraduate thesis with this lab this fall.
Both experiences have helped me develop data input and organizational skills that will be critical for the completion of my thesis. I have also assisted pre- and post-fire data collection in the Okanagan and the Caribou, collecting forest fuels and tree data, doing vegetation surveys, and estimating burn severity. In June, I was offered the opportunity to prepare and deliver a lesson on tree rings to an elementary class as part of the lab’s outreach activities. I think it’s safe to say that this summer has been full of diverse and exciting roles.
Are you interested in honouring and valuing the knowledge and experiences of Indigenous Peoples? Would you like to learn about Indigenous-led land healing and action-oriented reconciliation? Join us for an online information session where we’ll introduce you to the Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS). Hear from the BILS team and get a chance to ask your questions.
The Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship program trains future land stewards by combining Indigenous knowledge, governance, and sustainability through culturally appropriate, interdisciplinary education led by Indigenous scholars and allies.
Presenters
Nadi’ Denezā Garry Merkel Director, Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship
Garry is a Tahltan from the Stikine River area in northwest British Columbia and is a professional forester with diverse expertise. His work spans community development, treaty negotiations, governance, business, and education. He has contributed significantly to Indigenous education, including being at the core of the establishment of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and the Center of Indigenous Land Stewardship. His core mission is to empower others to shape their futures, particularly Indigenous communities through land stewardship based on their traditional ethics. He believes these ethics are key to restoring humanity’s balance with nature and creating sustainable stewardship systems globally.
Carlos Ormond Director, Indigenous and Intercultural Initiatives
With theoretical backgrounds and field experience in ecology, curriculum development, and community-based work, Carlos has focused his efforts over the last two decades collaborating with Indigenous and local communities, governments, industry, and post-secondary institutions at local, national, and international levels. As the Director of Indigenous and Intercultural Initiatives, he plays a prominent role in UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship and supports Garry Merkel at the Centre for Indigenous Land Stewardship. Carlos is also involved in initiatives aimed at increasing the accessibility of UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship programming to Indigenous, local, and international communities while strengthening relationships with community partners.
Estefanía Milla-Moreno Program Manager
Estefanía, a Mapuche and Chilean visitor to the Musqueam territory, is a transdisciplinary researcher, educator, and environmental advocate. With a decade of experience in climate adaptation, ecological restoration, and inclusive education, she amplifies Indigenous knowledge, empowers students to challenge conventional paradigms, and collaborates with communities and academia to advance climate justice. Her work centers decolonial approaches to land stewardship, including the Indigenous Land Stewardship program, promoting sustainable practices and amplifying underrepresented voices in environmental science.
Russell Myers Ross Online Program and Operations Manager
Russell Myers Ross, a member of the Tsilhqot’in Nation from Yunesit’in, holds a Master’s in Indigenous Governance from UVic. Former Chief of Yunesit’in, he has advanced Indigenous rights through leadership in language revitalization, housing, energy, land stewardship, and nation-level agreements like the Nenqay Deni Accord. His projects include the Dasiqox Nexwagwez7an initiative, Teztan Biny protection, a solar farm, and the Indigenous Fire Stewardship Program.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our admissions team:
The Green Business dual degree program prepares future leaders to drive the global bioeconomy through sustainable, innovation-driven use of natural resources for energy, materials, and products. Join this online information session to learn about course curriculum, program details and how to apply.
Presenters
Jorma Neuvonen
Jorma Neuvonen, Assistant Dean of Professional Education and International Collaboration, oversees UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship professional master’s and certificate programs, as well as the Faculty’s international partnerships and agreements.
Dr. Hamish van der Ven
Dr. Hamish van der Ven, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Business Management of Natural Resources at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, researches how businesses can credibly advance sustainability. Through his Business, Sustainability and Technology Lab, he explores how modern technologies shape the social and environmental impacts of industry.
Lee Yupitun
Lee Yupitun, Admissions & Administrative Coordinator for the Professional Master’s Programs (MGEM, MF), brings over 25 years of experience supporting students, staff, and faculty at UBC. She manages admissions and provides academic support to students throughout their programs, from application to graduation.
UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) Assoc. Prof. Melissa McHale has been awarded a $1-million Wall Fellowship, UBC’s highest-value internal research award, for her project, “Rising heat, roaring flames and waning waters: Building a climate-resilient research hub for British Columbia.” This work — growing from strong partnerships with the City of Kelowna and community collaborators — is designed to help cities facing the intersecting challenges of rising heat, wildfire risk and water scarcity make decisions that recognize trade-offs and feedbacks across complex social and ecological systems.
“This fellowship is about doing science differently, starting with diverse stories and perspectives, and asking how our research questions change when we learn from Indigenous knowledge and community priorities.”
— Melissa McHale
A key focus of the fellowship will be steering the work of the research hub in collaboration with local Indigenous students and emerging scholars, shaping how questions are asked, how data are interpreted and how research can support more resilient futures for both communities and ecosystems. The project also builds the groundwork for a first-of-its-kind-in-Canada, long-term social-ecological research platform built on deep relationships, historical awareness and a commitment to reconciliation.
Seven other FES faculty and students were recognized this year with Wall Research Awards. A Team Faculty Award honoured a joint study led by Asst. Prof. William Nikolakis, Asst. Prof. Tara Atleo and Prof. and UBC Chair in Forest Management Nicholas Coops: “How deep learning can be harnessed by Indigenous fire (qwen) stewardship: A pilot with Yunesit’in.” Graduate Student Awards recognized the work of FES PhD students Jennifer Magel, Michael Stefanuk and Kaitlyn Zinn (BSc(Natural Resources Conservation)’18) and Master of Science in Forestry student Brandon Weigand.
“These eight Peter Wall Legacy Awards are a real testament to the amazing talent and scholarship that we have in our Faculty,” says Prof. and Dean Rob Kozak. “Their award-winning work and collaborations with communities are leading to lasting, meaningful impacts.”
Congratulations to six UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship faculty members who have received the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) awards to advance their innovative research programs.
Haibo Feng (Wood Science) Project: Infrastucture for innovative building materials and systems toward zero carbon buildings
Monika Fischer (Botany/Forest and Conservation Sciences) Project: Fire fungi ecology & genetics lab
Jennifer Grenz (Forest Resources Management) Project: Relational restoration after climate event unit
Jaya Joshi (Wood Science) Project: Enzyme evolution for food, fuel and feedstock
Kwang Ho Kim (Wood Science) Project: Advancing sustainable biorefinery technologies for a circular bioeconomy by unlocking biomass potential
Gregory Paradis (Forest Resources Management) Project: Cumulative effects of Climate Change, Anthropogenic and Natural Disturbances on forest Ecosystem Services (CCCANDiES)
About CFI JELF Awards
The John R. Evans Leaders Fund, administered by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, supports universities in attracting and retaining top researchers by funding state-of-the-art laboratories, equipment, and facilities. These investments strengthen Canada’s research ecosystem and enable groundbreaking discoveries that benefit society.
Each year, CIF-IFC recognizes individuals and groups who have made “unique and outstanding achievements in the field of forestry” and this year the Faculty is well-represented. UBC Research Forests has received the Canadian Forest Management Group Achievement Award and Professor Jeff Sayer has received the International Forestry Achievement Award.
UBC Research Forests – Canadian Forest Management Group Achievement Award
The 2025 CIF-IFC National Award Committee has recognized the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF), near Maple Ridge, and the Alex Fraser Research Forest (AFRF), near Williams Lake, for their pivotal role in advancing forest education, research, and management across British Columbia and beyond.
Established in 1987 (AFRF) and 1949 (MKRF), the forests together span over 15,000 hectares and are managed by Stephanie Ewen (AFRF) and Hélène Marcoux (MKRF), alongside an energetic team that includes Ionut Aron, Associate Director of Education Engagement, who has served as research coordinator for over 20 years.
Both forests are working forests, with annual harvests and diversified revenue streams, including sawmilling, a combined heat and power plant, hospitality accommodations, training programs, and community outreach. This operational model supports a wide range of applied research and demonstration projects in areas such as watershed management, riparian ecosystems, wildfire resilience, silviculture, and biodiversity conservation.
Through the coordination of over 1,400 research projects and the delivery of experiential learning programs to thousands of students and professionals, the Research Forests have significantly shaped forest policy, sustainable management practices, and public understanding of forestry.
Their initiatives have fostered innovation in areas such as ecosystem restoration, carbon storage, wildfire resilience, and Indigenous collaboration. Operating under distinct governance models and financial self-sufficiency, the Research Forests exemplify how long-term, multidisciplinary forest stewardship can address complex environmental and economic challenges while inspiring the next generation of forest professionals.
The award ceremony was attended by Hélène Marcoux; Director of MKRF, Ionut Aron, Associate Director of Education Engagement; and Stephanie Ewen, Director of AFRF.
“This award reflects the dedication of a diverse group of people united by their passion for innovative forestry, education and research.” – Hélène Marcoux, Director of MKRF
Professor Jeff Sayer
Jeff Sayer – International Forestry Achievement Award
The 2025 CIF-IFC National Award Committee has recognized Professor Jeff Sayer for his work as the Director General of Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and a key contributor to global initiatives such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and International Union Conservation of Nature’s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy.
His contributions have shaped international forest policy and practice. His mentorship of graduate students, leadership in academic institutions across Australia, Switzerland, and Canada, and dedication to cross-cultural, interdisciplinary collaboration embody the spirit and intent of this Award.
Flooding in Abbotsford in 2021. Credit: Ministry of Transportation
A new study from UBC shows that even modest increases in river flows can dramatically raise flood frequency, with major implications for infrastructure and community safety. The researchers call for a shift in flood management – from focusing solely on rare, large floods to tracking how often floods occur.
“We’re seeing floods that were once considered ‘once-in-a-century’ events now occurring once or twice every decade,” says Dr. Younes Alila, a professor at UBC’s faculty of forestry. “Our models and management strategies need to evolve to reflect how often floods are happening, not just how big they are.”
The study, led by master’s student Samadhee Kaluarachchi and Dr. Alila, reveals that traditional flood management focused on the “200-year flood” underestimates the growing risk as climate change and land-use pressures intensify.
Flood risks start upstream
Previous research from Dr. Alila’s group showed how forestry practices like clear-cutting amplify both the size and frequency of floods. This new study goes further, highlighting that while many studies emphasize changing flood sizes, the greater threat lies in how frequently floods occur.
By examining factors such as forest cover, urbanization and climate change across international research, the study shows that many watersheds, especially in B.C., can be highly sensitive to disturbance. In some cases, forest harvesting has led to seven- to 10-fold increases in flood frequency.
“Floods in Vancouver often start hundreds of kilometres away in headwater forests. Protecting those areas is key to reducing risk downstream,” said Dr. Alila.
Flooding in Grand Forks in 2018. Credit: Jeff Fero
Working with nature
B.C.’s natural landscape—lakes, wetlands and forests—offers built-in flood protection by storing and gradually releasing stormwater, preventing sudden surges.
The research identifies ways to work with these natural systems. Logging upstream of lakes has less downstream impact than harvesting below them, while cutting at higher elevations can worsen snowmelt floods. Urban planners are also testing “sponge city” designs that let rain soak into the ground rather than rush into storm drains.
“Our study challenges skepticism around nature-based solutions like tree planting and wetland restoration,” said Kaluarachchi. “The literature shows they can significantly reduce flood frequency, even for extreme events. These approaches work with watersheds, not against them.”
Rethinking infrastructure
Many engineering structures fail not during record-breaking floods but from moderate events happening more often, eroding riverbanks, scouring foundations and clogging waterways.
Traditional defences were often designed under assumptions that no longer reflect today’s climate and land use. In B.C., a 2015 assessment found that 69 per cent of dikes in the Lower Mainland were rated poor to fair, with none meeting provincial standards — underscoring the need to rethink flood infrastructure.
With climate change making extreme weather more common, the authors urge governments, planners and engineers to factor flood frequency into risk management and infrastructure design. “Flood-related lawsuits are multiplying at an alarming rate. It’s time for strong science to guide regulations and policies, not courtroom battles,” Dr. Alila said.
The findings were published in Frontiers in Environmental Science, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, making the framework available to flood managers and communities worldwide.
Media contact: Charlotte Fisher Marketing & Media Relations Strategist Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, UBC charlotte.fisher@ubc.ca
Jasmine Eisener, a second-year BSc student pursuing a Forest Operations major, spent her summer in Finland at Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd, interning in various departments from Forestry Management to Customer Logistics to Communications. Jasmine has had nothing short of a holistically enriching summer, detailing her experiences in each department and how Finland manages its forests and public sectors. She shares her internship experience below:
My Summer with Metsähallitus
Have you ever wondered how Finland annually produces more cubic metres of timber than British Columbia, while still being celebrated for its sustainability and efficiency?
This summer I had the incredible opportunity to work in Northern Finland with Metsähallitus ltd. to learn all about how they manage all the public forests in Finland. Over the past 3.5 months, I had the privilege of working side by side with forest specialists, taking part in controlled burnings, restoring streams by creating fish spawning areas, and even participating in a reindeer herding!
I began my internship at Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd. in the Forest Property Management Department, then moved to the Silviculture and Road Construction Department, spent a few weeks in Customer Logistics, and concluded my summer in Communications.
Forest Property Management Department
Within the Forestry Property Management Department, I was taught about different types of thinnings, environmental challenges and also social considerations that the forest planners (aka forest specialists) encounter. It was fascinating to see the good relationship between Reindeer herders and Metsähallitus, as it showed me what working with other large organizations can look like within forest management.
Silviculture and Road Construction Department
The time I spent in Silviculture and road construction was exciting, as I got to see how the plans created by the forest specialists were put into practice. I got to experience road and bridge assessments, as well as how culverts and drainages are planned and created. I got to witness many thinnings, clearcuts with retention, and swamp restoration as well as what those areas look like many years after the operations! One experience that stood out to me was witnessing the processes involved in running a rock quarry, whose products are being used to build and maintain local forest roads. Getting to participate in a 90ha controlled burning was also a very impactful experience!
Customer Logistics Department
My time spent in customer logistics was crucial to seeing how a forestry company like Metsähallitus is able to operate on such a large land area while maintaining smooth, efficient and practical operations. I got to see how the location of logs, who is trucking them and where the logs are being transported was all optimized with private contractors and Mestähallitus staff. I was impressed with the balance of train and truck use – optimizing fuel costs and travel distance while maintaining high levels of organization. I got to visit many railway storage yards, which are used as a middle ground between the harvesting and the processing of timber as well as participate in operator controls, which calibrate the harvest machines to ensure high precision in the amount and size of trees being harvested.
Experiences worth highlighting
Though every day was truly the best day, there were some experiences I want to highlight and thank Metsähallitus for allowing/giving me the opportunity to participate in.
I had the great opportunity to participate in a Reindeer herding, learning and getting an immersive Finnish experience, thanks to the inspiring relationship between the Reindeer herders and Metsähallitus. This experience left me with much respect for Reindeer herders and their lifestyle, thanks to Tapio Vuolo, head of the Palojärvi Cooperatives, who invited us!
Another unforgettable experience was creating a fish habitat as part of stream restoration. Being fully submerged in the stream while creating spawning areas deepened my understanding of how forestry practices impact fish-bearing streams and strengthened my passion for restoration work—seeing firsthand the ways we can bring these ecosystems back to life was incredibly rewarding. Thank you Sihveri Ervasti for your patience and bug net!
Getting to participate in representing Metsähallitus at a children’s concert in Levi was an experience I would have never expected to be part of my summer. The hot Lappish sun and surrounding fells (tunturit) made for an inspiring day as I witnessed how Metsähallitus not only values its relationship with the adult population but also actively engages the younger generation. As someone passionate about shaping public perception and working with youth to promote forest-friendly practices, it was rewarding to see those values in action. Metsähallitus encourages environmentally responsible habits, which is also reflected in their epic and extensive forest science center, located just on the ground floor of the main office building!
Participating in a controlled burning was so impactful in so many ways. Getting to see FRST 320 content being put into practice only led to my further passion for caring for the land through fire. I also got to participate in the final extinguishing of a 30 ha forest fire initiated by lightning, while witnessing drone usage to see further spreading. These experiences are something that I know I will draw on throughout my career as controlled burnings and forest fires become more prevalent!
Though there is so much more I have experienced (swamp restoration, old growth forest inventory, visiting research forests, taking a wildlife census, talking to incredible forestry women and meeting Metsähallitus’ CEO), I only have so much space to write; however, I would be more than happy to talk further with anyone interested or willing to listen! This summer deserves a special thanks to every single person who helped me settle paperwork, who planned my weekly schedule, and who went out of their way to give me an internship that was so much better than what I could have dreamed of!
Kiitos paljon Metsähallitus, for welcoming me and deepening my passion for efficient, sustainable and economic forestry through passionate and wise people! I truly can not express the level of gratitude to the many inspiring people that has made my summer experience one that left me with an extensive set of skills and memories.
