In the Media: June 2024

In the Media: June 2024

June 6, 2024 | Author: UBC Forestry

Here’s a look at UBC Forestry in the media this month

The lake that keeps trying to come back
UBC forestry scientists, members of the Sumas First Nation and other partners co-authored a study which recommended allowing B.C.’s Sumas Prairie to revert to a lake.
CBC What On Earth, City News Now You Know (1:23:30 mark)
UBC News coverage

We went forest bathing in Whistler and here’s everything you need to know
Media mentioned a study led by forestry professor Dr. Guangyu Wang which found that forest bathing has therapeutic benefits.
Daily Hive

Geese love the grassy Vancouver waterfront in June. Here’s a solution to all the poop
Forestry master’s student Dominic Janus said although geese droppings can be off-putting, there is no scientific consensus as to whether the droppings are hazardous to humans.
Postmedia via Vancouver Sun, The Province, Prince George Post

Research finds log booms harmful to B.C. salmon and fish habitats
Forestry professor Dr. Scott Hinch led a study in collaboration with the Musqueam Nation which found that log booms in the Fraser River, a floating structure where logs are tethered together, have a significant effect on nearby habitat.
CBC News

The Vancouver park board is endangered. Should it be saved?
An op-ed mentioned a study by forestry professor Dr. Tahia Devisscher which found that Vancouver ranks among the least equitable of Canada’s major cities when it comes to green space access.
The Narwhal

B.C. politicians debate reflooding Sumas Prairie
UBC forestry scientists, members of the Sumas First Nation and other partners co-authored a study which recommended allowing B.C.’s Sumas Prairie to revert to a lake.
CBC News via Yahoo, Radio-Canada, City News, Weather Network, Fraser Valley Current

As Vancouver and New Westminster plan to plant more trees, what is the best strategy?
Forestry professor emeritus Dr. Stephen Sheppard commented on municipal discussions around planting more trees in Vancouver and New Westminster.
CBC On The Coast

B.C.’s drought: Low snowpacks remain a concern for salmon experts
Forestry professor Dr. Scott Hinch and zoology professor Dr. Eric Taylor commented on how drought can impact salmon populations.
Glacier Media via Vancouver is Awesome, Burnaby Now, Richmond News, Tri-City News, New Westminster Record, North Shore News, Squamish Chief, Delta Optimist, Coast Reporter, Castanet

Combatting the destructive expansion of wildfires
Experts discussed solutions to combat wildfires and climate change at the Wildfire Coexistence Symposium hosted by UBC Okanagan June 3 to 5.
Black Press via Kelowna Capital News, West Kelowna News, The Morning Star, Penticton Western News, Lake Country Calendar, Summerland Review, Revelstoke Times Review, Keremeos Review, Eagle Valley News, Salmon Arm Observer

Masked bandits are taking over the world, one trash can at a time
Professors Drs. Daniel Heath Justice (Indigenous studies) and Sarah Benson-Amram (forestry, zoology) were quoted in an opinion piece about raccoons expanding beyond their original territory. 
The Globe and Mail

Life’s work for Suzanne Simard is researching how trees in forests communicate with each other
Forestry professor Dr. Suzanne Simard is receiving an honorary doctorate from Royal Roads University.  
Glacier Media via Times Colonist, Vancouver is Awesome, Pique Newsmagazine, Prince George Citizen, Richmond News, Squamish Chief, North Shore News, New Westminster Record, Bowen Island Undercurrent, Delta Optimist

Should we allow B.C.’s Sumas Prairie to revert to a lake?
UBC Forestry scientists, members of the Sumas First Nation and other partners co-authored a study which recommended allowing B.C.’s Sumas Prairie to revert to a lake. 
CBC News, CBC The Early Edition; Global News, Global News Hour at 6 BC; Postmedia via Vancouver Sun, The Province, Prince George Post; Glacier Media via Business in Vancouver, Vancouver is Awesome, Burnaby Now, Richmond News, North Shore News, Tri-City News, New Westminster Record, Squamish Chief, Delta Optimist, Times Colonist, The Narwhal

Encounters with crows
Forestry professor Dr. Kathy Martin discussed the behaviour of crows during nesting season. 
CBC BC Today (23:55 mark)

Forest management practices need to change to stem tide of wildfires
Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais (UBCO Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences) and Dr. Lori Daniels (Forestry) were part of a panel discussion on wildfire management practices at the Wildfire Coexistence Symposium taking place at UBC Okanagan.
Glacier Media via Business in Vancouver, Vancouver is Awesome, Burnaby Now, Richmond News, North Shore News, Tri-City News, New Westminster Record, Squamish Chief, Prince George Citizen, Times Colonist

Stanley Park falls victim to climate change
Forestry professor Dr. Danielle Ignace emphasized the importance of consultation with multiple communities and perspectives when it comes to handling tree infestations and replanting trees.
National Observer

B.C.’s wildfires are ‘different beasts’ than those seen in past decades
Forestry professor Dr. Lori Daniels said wildfires are exceeding the capacity of B.C.’s existing infrastructure during a panel discussion at the Wildfire Coexistence Symposium in UBC Okanagan.
Castanet

What are the top Indigenous novels and authors in Canada?
Forestry professor Dr. Jennifer Grenz (Nlaka’pamux Nation) of mixed ancestry and a restoration ecologist, integrates sacred stories, field observations, and personal experiences to present teachings from the four directions of the medicine wheel.
CKNW Mornings with Simi via Spotify Podcasts

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Wildfire Coexistence in BC: Solutions Symposium

June 5, 2024 | Author: UBC Forestry

When: June 3-5, 2024
Where: UBC Okanagan, Kelowna campus

We invite the public to join us June 3-5, 2024, in Kelowna and learn about the stark realities of the societal, health, cultural, environmental, and economic costs of wildfires across British Columbia and the actions needed now.

This Symposium will bring together British Columbia’s leading wildfire experts and practitioners to highlight the urgent need to develop a transformative vision and implementation strategy for wildfires before it is too late. We will shed light on the profound impacts of wildfires and tremendous costs to the BC population, emphasizing that the 2017‒2023 fire seasons were not an anomaly but a new and escalating reality fueled by climate change.

Learn More and Register

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Terry Sunderland Receives Funding from the New Frontiers Research Fund (NFRF)

June 4, 2024 | Author: UBC Forestry

Congratulations to Professor Terry Sunderland for receiving $1,500,000 in research funding from the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) through the 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Competition.

About Terry‘s Research

Terry Sunderland

As a Professor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Terry’s work is focused on applied research, biodiversity conservation sustainable resource management and linkages to levering policy influence.

Through the Co-developing Decision Support System for Coastal Mangrovebased Socio-ecological Systems in Eastern and Western Africa (CoastMan) project, Terry explores the essential ecosystem services and climate change protection that Coastal Mangroves provide to communities in Eastern and Western Africa. The main objective is co-production and uptake of a Multi-Criteria Decision Support System (DSS) that provides vulnerable coastal mangrove-dependent communities and decision-makers a knowledge-based decision-making capacity for the restoration and conservation of socio-ecological systems. 

About the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)

The New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) supports world-leading interdisciplinary, international, high-risk/high-reward, transformative and rapid-response Canadian-led research. Within the program, the International stream enhances opportunities for Canadian researchers to partner on international projects.

The 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Competition is a collaborative funding opportunity designed to support international research projects addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation.

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Xiangming Bao (Urban Forestry)

June 3, 2024 | Author: Matthew

Field Team Member; Surrey’s Natural Areas Partnership (SNAP)

Xiangming on a tree during her co-op term at SNAP

I have been working in the Surrey’s Natural Areas Partnership (SNAP) program as a member of the Fall Field Team. The work content at SNAP varied every day, ranging from removing invasive species, preparing for community planting events, and planting trees and seedlings in Surrey parks. Other activities included bird watching, snail hunting and building beaver fences in collaboration with other organizations.

Working at SNAP with the support from co-op program is my first job experience, the starting page of my career related to Urban forestry, so I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity.

I improved my professional knowledge and skills, physical endurance in an outdoor working environment, and social networking and team cooperation through every day work.

Even though the job means getting up early every day and a long commute, at the end of the work term, I still found it enjoyable to be out in the field facing sun or rain with the lovely team. Joining co-op with lots of valuable job opportunities like SNAP that encourages thinking, hard work, and growth is beneficial for all students throughout our lives.

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Overcoming barriers to Indigenous science and data sovereignty

June 3, 2024 | Author: UBC Forestry

UBC Forestry Asst. Prof. Warren Cardinal-McTeague

The scars of colonialism and the erasure of Indigenous scientific knowledges continue to be seen and felt in academic and public spaces. Reframing research from Indigenous perspectives, closing the technology gap and reorienting where research occurs are some of the investigations being led by UBC Forestry Asst. Prof. Warren Cardinal-McTeague.

Warren, who is Métis and Cree from the communities of Lac La Biche and Fort McMurray, has an academic background in botany and plant biology. His current research focuses on plant genomics and biodiversity, as well as Indigenous environmental management and the practice of decolonizing science and education.

Many Indigenous communities feel alienated from academic institutions, Warren notes. However, initiatives such as the Summer internship for INdigenous peoples in Genomics (SING Canada) are making accessible the technology needed for certain types of scientific inquiry. A free, hands-on, week-long intensive workshop for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral and community fellows, SING Canada builds Indigenous capacity and scientific literacy through basic training in the areas of genomics, bioinformatics and Indigenous and decolonial bioethics in the classroom, lab and field. A program that Warren has been involved in for several years, SING Canada shares perspectives that include ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social implications.

This portable genomics equipment supports place-based training and research among Indigenous community members who can use the technology to quantify soil or water microbial diversity.

This past summer, Warren co-presented a mobile genomics lab that brought equipment and research opportunities to Indigenous community partners. SING Canada participants learned how to sequence soil microbiomes using this mobile technology, while at the same time affirming the research interests of their community partners.

“Indigenous peoples have always been scientists and analyzed questions and information from the world around them, but colonialism largely disrupted these practices,” states Warren. “We are at a point of reclaiming sovereignty over our research interests, and an important part of that is having access to the tools and technology necessary for modern scientific inquiry. From here, Indigenous peoples will be better able to ask questions that relate and provide benefit to their communities.”

Another project Warren has undertaken would reframe the relationship of the collection and storage of Indigenous Knowledge in the form of biological and ecological data from one of exclusion to one of collaboration. For example, museum collections often house samples with data from Indigenous communities without the consent of Indigenous community members. “Indigenous peoples have often been treated as objects of research by settler scientists,” Warren notes.

The Indigenous data sovereignty approach Warren proposes would return governance over Indigenous data to their respective communities.

“Institutions today should work directly with Indigenous communities to rectify past and ongoing harms, as well as affirm principles of Indigenous data sovereignty over the physical samples and digitized data that relate to Indigenous peoples,” says Warren. “True reconciliation means moving away from colonial patterns and towards the return of Indigenous history and identity to its rightful owners.”

This article was originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Branchlines Magazine. View the full issue here.

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UBC Forestry Launches Wildfire Research Centre

May 30, 2024 | Author: UBC Forestry

Lori and her team collect partial or full cross-sectional disks (pictured here) from trees, tracing the scars of environmental disturbances, such as insect infestations and wildfires.

The Centre for Wildfire Coexistence will address the dual priorities of community and ecosystem resilience

Lori Daniels

Over the past seven years, British Columbia and Canada have set unprecedented records for area burned by wildfires, with Canada’s most devastating wildfire season taking place in 2023. Communities and habitats have been turned upside down by out-of-control blazes that have resulted in the tragic loss of life, mass evacuations and tens of millions of hectares of scorched earth.

In response, UBC Forestry has launched a research centre devoted to the discovery of novel approaches to address the escalating risk of severe wildfire. Led by Prof. Lori Daniels — the inaugural Koerner Chair in Wildfire Coexistence at UBC — the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence will advance proactive forest management and eco-cultural restoration research, collaboration and innovation.

“The success of the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence hinges on collaboration and engagement with partners at all levels,” says Lori. “By actively involving the public, communities, Indigenous leaders, all levels of government and non-governmental organizations in our research and initiatives, we can co-create effective strategies for wildfire coexistence and build more resilient landscapes.”

In the context of wildfires, ‘coexistence’ refers to the proactive mitigation of catastrophic risks through the transformation of forest and fire management. Landscape resilience and human safety are balanced with protecting the role of good fire in sustaining ecosystem health.

“Historically, low-severity fires sustained diverse forests across BC’s interior, ignited by lightning and Indigenous fire stewardship,” notes Lori. “These fires thinned forests, curbing intense blazes and nurturing renewed plant growth, along with rejuvenating wildlife habitats.”

Lori and her team’s field work and collaborations with community members will lead to science-based discoveries that support communities in safely coexisting with wildfire.

Transformative support for a more resilient future

The launch of the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence is a significant step forward in advancing proactive wildfire management practices and fostering coexistence between people and the environment. Made possible thanks to a visionary $5 million donation from the Koerner family, the Centre will undertake cutting-edge research to assess the efficacy of proactive wildfire management strategies and co-develop solutions for communities at risk.

“The Koerner family is proud to catalyze the establishment of the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence at UBC Forestry,” says Michelle Koerner, Trustee of the Koerner Foundation. “We recognize the urgent need for proactive management and restoration of our forests to mitigate wildfire impacts, safeguard communities and foster a safer, sustainable future for the benefit of all Canadians.”

The Koerner’s gift is a highly impactful contribution that takes place during FORWARD, the campaign for UBC with the promise and potential to advance healthy lives, a healthy planet and healthy societies.

“This generous donation from the Koerner family is an investment towards a healthier future for our planet,” says Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President and Vice-Chancellor of UBC. “The Centre will be at the forefront of understanding and managing the complex relationship between wildfires and ecosystem health, bringing together Indigenous peoples, researchers and government agencies to co-develop strategies for protecting natural landscapes and the communities that depend on them.”

The Centre’s holistic and inclusive approach is positioned to redefine the wildfire management landscape, paving the way for a more balanced approach that includes identifying proactive solutions in collaboration with communities towards a safer and more resilient future.

To find out how to support the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence, please contact emma.tully@ubc.ca

Learn more: forestry.ubc.ca/centre-for-wildfire-coexistence

This article was originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Branchlines Magazine. View the full issue here.

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Elaheh Ghasemi awarded André Hoffmann Fellowship

May 28, 2024 | Author: UBC Forestry

UBC Forestry would like to congratulate Dr. Elaheh Ghasemi on being awarded the André Hoffman Fellowship for the Fourth Industrial Revolution!

Dr. Elaheh Ghasemi’s project aims to explore nature-based decarbonization opportunities for the mining and forest sectors in Canada. This interdisciplinary research will develop an open modeling framework to assess carbon capture in forests near mining sector industrial assets, potentially reducing emissions and fostering sustainable land use. The project also seeks to engage First Nations communities, offering economic and cultural benefits while supporting global carbon reduction commitments. By bridging gaps between forest management and mining operations, this initiative will contribute to innovative, sustainable solutions for the bioeconomy.

About the André Hoffmann Fellowship

The André Hoffmann Fellowship for the Fourth Industrial Revolution offers early-career academics the opportunity to work at the intersection of society, science and technology through a joint appointment between the World Economic Forum and leading academic institutions.

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In the Spotlight: Toktam Sajedi

May 27, 2024 | Author: UBC Forestry

Toktam Sajedi joins UBC Forestry as a Lecturer and Senior Researcher in the Department of Forest Resources Management.

Tell us about yourself and your background.

I am a forest ecologist. My research interests involve soil-vegetation-water dynamics, ecosystem carbon cycling and sequestration, sustainable forest management, and climate change impact and adaptations. I obtained my PhD from the Faculty of Forestry at UBC and have taught at UBC, the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and several international institutions.

What drew you to your work?

My curiosity to understand complexities, relationships, and biological thresholds in forest ecosystems. This understanding is essential to improve the way we are managing our forests and helps to improve people’s lives, especially those who rely on those ecosystems. That’s what drives me.

What do you hope to achieve through your work here at UBC?

In my view, a shift is needed in the field of forestry. The university is where the vision for that change forms. Being part of the Faculty of Forestry’s global educational network, I hope I can better understand, envision, and facilitate that change. Also, I would like to create a broader international network for education and research for the faculty of forestry at UBC.

What attracted you to UBC and UBC Forestry?

The University of British Columbia is beautiful and has a resourceful, safe, and fun environment to study and work. The UBC’s Faculty of Forestry is a globally leading institution. With many exceptional scientists and faculty members to work with, there is plenty of room to grow. In addition, our faculty has a multicultural, professional, respectful, and warm environment which makes working pleasant.

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Andrea Lyall awarded UBC Dissertation Prize and CAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards Competition nomination

May 24, 2024 | Author: UBC Forestry

UBC Forestry is excited to announce that Dr. Andrea Lyall has been awarded the UBC Dissertation Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities! As winner of the UBC Dissertation Prize, Andrea has also been nominated for the CAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards Competition. Only two UBC candidates are nominated for this national level competition.

Dr. Andrea Lyall’s doctoral dissertation is entitled “Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw People – Forests Relationships: The Forests are Our Cupboards, The Ocean is our Refrigerator”

This research explores the integral relationship between forests and the Ḵwiḵwa̱sut’inux̱w Ha̱xwa’mis community in present-day British Columbia, Canada, focusing on how forests are central to their identity, culture, and livelihoods. Utilizing Indigenous methodologies and participatory action research, Andrea’s research highlights the significance of forests in maintaining cultural identity, traditional practices, and access to essential resources such as traditional foods and western red cedar, while addressing concerns about cultural erosion and limited forest preservation policies within the community.

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Aditya Mohandas (Bioeconomy Sciences & Technology)

May 23, 2024 | Author: Matthew

Lab Research Assistant; University of British Columbia; Department of Wood Science

Aditya Mohandas presenting research findings from Co-op term

I have been working with my supervisors on developing a sustainable, environmentally friendly, bio-based insulation foam, through various rounds of trial, error, and analysis.

Throughout my co-op work term, I have learned to work with different biomaterials, using different lab equipment, and to interpret different kinds of data. I have also gained experience in the processes of researching scholarly articles, viewing academic presentations, and even of producing and presenting an academic poster at the Bioproducts Institute’s Research Day.

I have learned a lot about the worlds of research, academia, and bioproducts development from my supervisors, group members, and other scientists that I have had the chance to talk and work with.

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