Branchlines: Mastering Sustainable Forestry Management

Branchlines: Mastering Sustainable Forestry Management

July 13, 2026 | Author: UBC FES

The evolution of the forestry profession, and the increasing complexity of forest ecosystem management, is attracting a new generation of professionals from diverse backgrounds — including many mid-career learners — to programs like UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s (FES’s) Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM). 

“This program is designed for students coming from various professional backgrounds,” says Anna Tobiasz (RPF, MSc (Forestry)’25), the Coordinator for the MSFM program as well as a Planning Forester at FES’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF).

“Our graduates are well-prepared to secure management roles to lead in this shift in forestry towards managing for sustainable and healthy ecosystems and communities.” — Anna Tobiasz 

Anna’s prior experience in landscape-level planning and forest operations in BC includes explorations of complex forest ecosystem dynamics and management approaches. As part of the MSFM team, she joins UBC Forestry faculty members and industry experts to support student learning, preparing students with the knowledge and skills to lead innovative forest projects and steer the future direction of the profession in the province.  

“Many MSFM students aspire to become Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs), which the accredited MSFM program prepares them to do following graduation; however, there is a huge range of practice areas that students can pursue,” Anna notes. “The program exposes them to the breadth of the highly dynamic modern forestry profession — from meeting with Indigenous land stewards tolearning about community forest operations, developing a landscape plan for community partners and lots of hands-on learning and field trips.” 

Brooke Lerman came to the program following a degree in neuropsychology and about 10 years working in industry at an energy company, with another five years spent as a consultant and the lead of an innovation lab for forestry, energy and mining. Moving from Houston, Texas to study at UBC Forestry, Brooke was drawn to the opportunity to explore a new field under the guidance of world-class experts.  

“When I was still working as a consultant, the more I talked with timber company foresters about their day-to-day work, the more I became excited about silviculture and harvesting operations,” recalls Brooke, who is also a long-distance hiker and nature enthusiast. “Following a little bit more research, I decided that I wanted to enroll in the MSFM program to become an accredited RPF.” 

Brooke was also drawn to MSFM’s emphasis on traditional knowledge. “I’m an avid reader, and books by FES Prof. Suzanne Simard (BSF’83, RPF) and Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass inspired me to seek a program that would expose me to both leading science and traditional practices like Indigenous cultural burns.” 

Many students view the MSFM as a gateway to pivoting and/or advancing in their careers. Joe Stewart was attracted to the nine-month MSFM program as a time-efficient stepping stone to an RPF. Joe came to the program after completing a Bachelor of Kinesiology at UBC and a Forest and Natural Area Management diploma from BCIT, as well as gaining experience as a Park Worker with Metro Vancouver and, most recently, as a Forestry Technician with Coastal Natural Resource Management Ltd.  

“My interest in the MSFM program came from a place of wondering about the decisions being made in managing the land base and wanting to identify approaches that preserve forests over the long-term while also supporting economies and communities,” says Joe.  

The MSFM curriculum walks students through the bureaucratic complexities of forest management in BC, which stands in stark contrast to what some of Joe’s classmates have shared with him aboutforestry practiced in parts of Africa and China. “The cohort-style approach to the program is something that I really enjoy because it has given me opportunities to learn from a lot of smart people from various places,” Joe shares.  

Hands-on experience is another MSFM selling point for both Joe and Brooke, who will complete a group site-plan project for a 16-hectare area at MKRF that will later be harvested under the direction of MKRF staff. “We can see the results of the areas cut based on the 2024-25 MSFM class’s site plans recommendations, which brings the process that we’re undertaking full-circle,” notes Brooke.   

“This program is a huge accelerator,” Brooke adds. “I feel so well-equipped to pursue a variety of career opportunities. It has also given me lasting connections. I fully expect that I will be able to pick up the phone and call any one of my classmates after we graduate and even 10 years down the line.” 

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Branchlines: Shyam K. Paudel

July 13, 2026 | Author: UBC FES

A 30-year journey from Nepal to New York

Now the Interregional Adviser on Ecosystem Restoration for the United Nations in New York City, UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) alumnus Dr. Shyam K. Paudel’s (PhD(Forestry)’14) professional journey began 30 years ago in Nepal. As a newly recruited community forestry facilitator with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Shyam was assigned to implement the country’s new community forestry policy, designed to empower Nepalese communities to conserve, manage and sustainably utilize forest resources.  

“When I started my position with the FAO, I was tasked with trekking through the Terai lowland region of southern Nepal, carrying only a backpack and some clothes,” Shyam recalls. 

“I cycled or walked from one village to another, talking with local community members, trying to convince them of the logic of a decentralized community forestry policy.”

The forest initiative aimed to address growing questions surrounding the impacts of global climate change, tropical deforestation, land degradation, biodiversity loss and the role of forests as sources and sinks of carbon. As someone who cared deeply about the environment, Shyam saw his role as an opportunity to help move his homeland toward sustainable solutions, restoring and revitalizing local forests and forestry operations. 

“From a young age, I wanted to protect the forest,” Shyam recalls. Growing up in a small valley in central Nepal called Pokhara, Shyam’s family worked their farmland to earn a living. “The Pokhara area is one of the most beautiful places on Earth,” extols Shyam. “It has big mountains and valleys like Vancouver, BC. However, after high school, I travelled to neighbouring villages and Nepal’s lowlands where I witnessed rampant deforestation from illegal logging.”  

Throughout most of its history, Nepal was governed under an absolute monarchy. However, in 1990, public protests and demonstrations culminated in the then reigning King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev setting into motion the reinstatement of a national constitution and multiparty political system. It was during this time of political upheaval and rise of pluralism that the FAO launched its community forestry initiative.  

“The initial phase of the community forestry program had considerable challenges, as local communities were skeptical of our intentions, having experienced frequent policy changes and instability in the past,” recalls Shyam. “Convincing them that we were genuinely committed to decentralizing forest conservation and management, granting full rights to the communities, proved to be an uphill task.” 

In his first six months on the job with the FAO, Shyam worked tirelessly to establish six community forestry groups in the Makawanpur district of Bagmati Province, Nepal, east of Pokhara and south of Kathmandu. He painstakingly drafted six community forestry operation plans, establishing a reproducible model that contributed to the program’s expansion nationwide.  

“To date, more than 22,000 community forest user groups have been formed in Nepal, managing over 2.3 million hectares of forest, with a reported increase in national forest cover from 26% to over 40% within the past 25 years.”

“The community forestry program gave community members more ownership over the land,” Shyam says. “They took charge of forest management with community-directed regulatory and enforcement frameworks, putting an end to illegal logging and sidestepping bureaucratic roadblocks that could stymie progress.”  

After several years working in Nepal, Shyam went on to lead forest policy development work in countries around the globe, including Vietnam, Ethiopia, Timor-Leste, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and parts of Latin America, to name a few. He worked on the development of non-timber forest products, such as bamboo, managing a global program to promote bamboo for sustainable housing and value chain development with the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan. He also completed a PhD from FES under the direction of Dean Emeritus John Innes, focusing on ecosystem responses to a changing climate and environment in the southwest of Canada’s Yukon Territory. 

In his current role in New York, Shyam continues to affect change, supporting forest programs throughout the world with the forestry arm of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations. As a global advisor for forest management, Shyam assists communities with ecosystem restoration, forest financing and forest policy formation. 

“Forestry is not only about jobs, it’s about the big picture,” shares Shyam. “I feel immense satisfaction because my job has taken me to different places and different communities where I feel that I have been able to contribute to something for the betterment of all.” 

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Erin Chanyan (Urban Forestry)

July 10, 2026 | Author: zhuli06

Richmond Camps Student Assistant – UBC Geering Up Engineering Outreach

For my third co-op term with UBC Geering Up this summer, I have moved into the position of Student Assistant. My role includes supervising a team of instructors who deliver weekly STEM-focused summer camps to kids in elementary school. As an engineering outreach program, UBC Geering Up places great importance on accessibility and EDI for STEM topics, and as a Student Assistant, I have been entrusted to uphold these values and promote them within my team. To start the term off, I created training sessions on the aforementioned topics and delivered them alongside others sharing my position, as well as formulated a potential curriculum to be run during camps. From then on, my main tasks have been to communicate with parents, oversee a team of instructors and volunteers, and provide support wherever needed.

Co-op has been very valuable to me, allowing me to grow within an organization and see myself learn and improve in different positions. I may not have pursued a career position such as this had it not been for co-op, and I would have missed out on such rewarding opportunities. Through the program, doors I had not even known existed were opened to me, and I was able to discover more of my own passions and possibilities for my future.

Posted in: Student Stories, Urban Forestry
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Andy Chen (Wood Products Processing)

July 10, 2026 | Author: zhuli06

Quality Control Assistant – Gilbert Smith Forest Products

During my work term at Gilbert Smith Forest Products, I have been involved in several projects focused on process optimization, automation, and technology development within a cedar lumber manufacturing environment. One of my primary responsibilities has been developing mill flow models and conducting both theoretical and statistical analyses to support a capital expenditure proposal for a twin-band resaw upgrade. Through this project, I have gained valuable experience in data analysis, process modelling, and evaluating equipment investments. I have also been working alongside electricians on the implementation of an AI-assisted debarking system, which is particularly exciting because it represents an emerging technology within the forest products industry.

In addition, I have been actively involved in Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) projects, including documenting and reporting on trials aimed at enabling automated species identification when western red cedar and white pine are processed together on the same production line. This work focuses on validating scanner performance and improving grading system accuracy so that multiple species can be processed without requiring operator intervention. The long-term objective of the project is to further expand the system’s capabilities and validate the successful integration of Douglas-fir into the process in the future. Through these projects, I have gained a deeper understanding of lumber manufacturing, automation technologies, and the challenges associated with implementing innovative solutions in an industrial setting.

This co-op experience has allowed me to apply classroom knowledge to real-world engineering and manufacturing challenges while developing valuable technical and professional skills. I would encourage other students to participate in co-op because it provides meaningful hands-on experience, exposure to industry-leading technologies, and opportunities to contribute to projects that have a direct impact on business operations and innovation.

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Beau Hinch (Forest Bioeconomy Sciences & Technology)

July 10, 2026 | Author: zhuli06

Research Assistant – Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, UBC

I have been working as a research assistant for a UBC PhD student in their research on fish within flood pumps, as well as conducting an independent study within the same lab.

My responsibilities in this position consist mostly of assisting the PhD student with field data collection and organization. This required me to understand the purpose of their study and methods, then use that knowledge when conducting my own research. To collect data on flood pumps, small cylindrical sensors called sensor fish are run through the pump and record acceleration, rotation, and pressure. These sensors are used to mimic what a fish would be experiencing within a flood pump. It is my job to either prepare the sensors for deployment, collect them from the outlet, and/or extract the data from the sensors.

The independent study I am apart of is analyzing impact statistics of sensor fish at different velocities and against different materials. I am responsible for building an apparatus that can achieve certain water velocities and direct the sensor towards what I need it to strike. I have been designing trials to run the sensors through at differing speeds, distances, and into different materials, then, with help from the PhD student, meticulously downloading and organizing the data into legible figures.

This Co-op position has encompassed all the major points of experience desired of a co-op job: conservation field work, engineering, critical thinking, data collection, and data organization. And it’s a lot of fun.

Posted in: Bioeconomy Sciences & Technology, Student Stories
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Hannah Kho (Forest Bioeconomy Sciences & Technology)

July 10, 2026 | Author: zhuli06

Intern Student – GCash

I have been supporting the B2B digital insurance section of GCash, the largest digital wallet in the Philippines. I am working on a new project development in coordination with the market research department and another branch of new business servicing micro enterprises. I also run data analytics and projections for existing projects.

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Branchlines: Jennifer Gunter Makes the Case for More Community Forestry in BC 

July 10, 2026 | Author: UBC FES

Community forests in British Columbia may well be an answer to some of the challenges afflicting BC’s forest sector. By supporting local jobs and economies, community forestry can stimulate rural, Indigenous and remote communities, in particular, during these trying times. We sat down with Jennifer Gunter, co-founder and Executive Director of the BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA), to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the expansion of community forestry in the province and the BCCFA’s vision for the future. 

Why are you passionate about community forestry?

 I was drawn to identifying solutions to complex problems, and I believe that empowering local communities through approaches like community forestry is one of the most effective ways to simultaneously achieve multiple objectives.  

What are some of the pillars of community forestry in BC? 

Community forests are helping us advance reconciliation with First Nations — half of BC’s community forests are owned by First Nations — create more climate-resilient landscapes and coexist with wildfire, to name a few, all while supporting local economies. They are managed for multiple values on the land, such as recreation opportunities, biodiversity, cultural practices and community education, along with job creation and economic stimulation, among others. Around one-third of community forests in BC are also conserved for sensitive or special purposes. This is forestry that goes beyond timber production and towards a vision of forestry that creates a safer, more hopeful and sustainable future for communities. 

What series of events led up to you co-founding the BCCFA in 2002? 

It all started in the 1990s during a time when there were growing calls for forestry reform. The province added the Community Forest Agreement to the Forest Act in 1998 as a pilot program. Two years later, I started working with the Kaslo and District Community Forest Society (KDCFS), right after completing my master’s of resource and environmental management thesis on community forestry in BC. By 2002, KDCFS was among several pilot and aspiring community forests in the province, 10 of which came together to form the BCCFA. Our goal was to establish a network of community forest practitioners to learn from one another and navigate this completely new model of forest management in BC at the time. Coming together also gave us a stronger voice to advocate for forest policy reform. 

What are a few of the BCCFA’s top priorities right now?

We prioritize working with the provincial government and Ministry of Forests to develop policies that work for community forests, including expanding the community forestry program. Other priorities include our partnerships with BC Wildfire Service and UBC’s Centre for Wildfire Coexistence (CWC) in support of proactive approaches to build wildfire resilience and coexist with wildfire. UBC Forestry Prof. Lori Daniels (MSc’94), who heads the CWC, and her students are supporting this work through field work and collaborations with community forest holders.  

What are some of the biggest challenges facing community forests at the moment?

Community forests have been and remain challenged by forest policy that is largely designed for major licensees. The over 60 community forests in the province comprise a small fraction of the totalprovincial timber harvest. We need policies that reflect the unique structure and objectives of community forests, which are designed to be owned and managed by community members for the long-term benefit of the community. These tenures often put sustainability at the forefront because of the higher value they derive from a land base that is consistently healthy and viable. Impacted by globalclimate change, we need more community forests and community forest-oriented thinking that enshrines long-term sustainability into daily operations and profitability.    

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Branchlines: Dedication that shaped the Faculty

July 10, 2026 | Author: UBC FES

The Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) celebrates three retiring colleagues whose enduring contributions have been an essential part of our evolution and academic mission over the past few decades. Each will be sorely missed, and we thank them for their time and dedication to the Faculty.

John Innes

John Innes. Credit: UBC FES

For starters, we have the benefit of sharing with you closing remarks from Dean Emeritus John Innes. John devoted 26 years to the Faculty, serving as Dean from 2010 to 2021. Under his leadership, John expanded the Faculty’s interdisciplinary research, as well as its international scope. He was instrumental in tripling enrolment, creating new and innovative educational programs, building up the Faculty’s research forests and helping to establish the Faculty’s Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship program. Among his many awards, John is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his joint work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an International Forestry Achievement Award from the Canadian Institute of Forestry and a Scientific Achievement Award from the International Union of Forest Research Organizations.

“Throughout his career with the Faculty, John remained a prolific scholar of sustainable forest management, a mentor to dozens of graduate students and an extremely dedicated teacher,” shares Dean Rob Kozak (BSc’(Forestry)88, PhD(Forestry)’96). “John has left an indelible mark on our community, our academic mission and our discipline.”

“It seems difficult to believe that after 26 years at UBC, I have now retired! I arrived in the summer of 1999 and, ignoring the rain, quickly set about exploring British Columbia, trying to get a feel for the land that would help me in developing the new courses that I was to teach. That initial exploration was very revealing, but I was shocked by much of what I saw.”-John Innes

The province was in a period of change. I was appointed as the Forest Renewal BC Chair of Forest Management but, within a few years, the government had closed down Forest Renewal BC and moved away from the prescriptive approach of the Forest Practices Code. I still however appreciated the guidance received from Al Gorley and Dr. Bill Bourgeois. My travels throughout the province had triggered a particular interest in First Nations communities, and my first major research project was looking at the cumulative effects of development on First Nations communities in the Treaty 8 region of BC (in the northeast region of the province).

I was quick to learn about the difficulties an academic would experience working with government, industry and communities. However, I was very fortunate to have incredibly sound advice from the Faculty’s then First Nations Co-ordinator, Gordon Prest. I subsequently benefited from the deep wisdom of many other individuals, with Garry Merkel (PhD’21, Honourary), Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) Director of the Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship, standing out.

In 2010, I was fortunate to be appointed Dean of the Faculty of Forestry. The Faculty had some issues at that time, but was financially stable thanks to the efforts of my predecessor, Prof. Emeritus Jack Saddler. This, combined with changes in the way UBC administered its finances, provided the opportunity to move the Faculty forward. We introduced undergraduate programs in urban forestry and the bioeconomy (Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology) and several master’s programs. We also established the incredible Haida Gwaii Institute. Too many individuals to mention contributed to the development of these, but the enormous roles of Prof. Emeritus Peter Marshall (PhD(Forestry)’84) and Dean Rob Kozak (BSc(Forestry)’88, PhD(Forestry)’96) in ‘making them happen’ needs to be acknowledged.

The project that really sparked my imagination has now emerged as the Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS). This was a long time in the making, but the incredible efforts of individuals such as Gordon, Garry and Lecturer Chris Derrickson must be recognized. The BILS program is now up and running, and the arrival this year of a full cohort of first-year students is a satisfying moment at the conclusion of my career.

Chris Gaston

Chris Gaston. Credit: UBC FES

With a background in forest products marketing and economics, Assoc. Prof. Emeritus Chris Gaston (BSc’79, PhD’96) spent most of his career developing and managing the Markets and Economics Group at FPInnovations (formally Forintek Canada Corp). Chris then came to the Faculty in 2012 in the Department of Wood Science. Combined, Chris’s forestry career spanned 34 years, with a dedicated focus on advancing the sector’s innovative and competitive position on a world stage. In addition to working with primary wood industries, Chris has worked extensively with value-added manufactures in new product and market development. This has included work with BC Indigenous communities and wood carvers, leading to the acclaimed Opening Doors project that is showcased at the second-floor entrance to the Dean’s office. Chris was the inaugural Chairperson (2001) for the team of specialists for Forest Products Marketing for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and remains an active member. In 2024, he was awarded the Canadian Forestry Achievement Award from the Canadian Institute of Forestry.

Sue Grayston

Sue Grayston. Credit: UBC FES

Born in Yorkshire, England, Prof. Emeritus Sue Grayston’s career path began as a microbiology undergraduate student at the University of Sheffield. A fascination with the billions of microorganisms found within soils became a life-long passion that continues today. Among her accomplishments, Sue spent a decade as a principal scientist with the Scottish Government’s Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen, initiating the first 10-year UK soil biodiversity research program, before joining the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) and Faculty of Land and Food Systems in 2003 as a Canada Research Chair in Soil Microbial Ecology. Serving for a time as the Director of the Applied Biology Program, and 20 years on UBC Senate, Sue also developed and taught courses on applied ecology and terrestrial ecosystems for over 10 years at FES’s Haida Gwaii Institute. Sue’s research discoveries led to novel applications in molecular and stable isotope probing techniques. These techniques involved characterizing soil microbial diversity and function, along with their relationship to plant communities, which has supported work in sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation and land reclamation. Her published works have been cited widely, leaving a lasting impact on the field. Ever passionate about shepherding the next generation of scholars, Sue oversaw nearly 30 graduate students, many of whom went on to pursue notable careers in academia, industry and government.

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Branchlines: Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship

July 10, 2026 | Author: UBC FES

Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s new Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship

In September 2024, the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) launched the new Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) degree program, marking a pivotal moment in the Faculty’s ongoing efforts to collaborate with the First Peoples of Canada and other parts of the world. The interdisciplinary BILS program draws from the profound wisdom of Indigenous knowledge and culture, teaching students how to become leaders in the reclamation and revitalization of Indigenous lands.  

Program visionaries from FES include Dr. Garry Merkel (nadi’ denezā) (PhD(Hon.)’21), Director of the Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship; Carlos Ormond, Director of Indigenous and Intercultural Initiatives and BILS Program Director; and William Nikolakis, Asst. Prof. of Indigenous Land and Natural Resources Governance. 

“BILS is the only program of its kind,” states William, who has worked with Indigenous communities for over 24 years. “It offers a multi-access approach integrating online and in-person learning that connects FES directly to Indigenous students. Our goal is to support as many Indigenous learners as we can through the BILS program.”  

“A great deal of work went into listening to and collaborating with Indigenous communities to ensure that BILS is truly moving the dial on reconciliation.” — William Nikolakis

Program curricula were co-developed with Indigenous experts and community members, William shares. “The program reflects the goals and actions set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the BC Government’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. These documents have all created new avenues for Indigenous peoples to play a greater role in stewarding their territories.”  

BILS students learn about legal and governance considerations related to Indigenous rights outlined in international, national and local laws and directives, as well as community development initiatives, business management, economics, ecology, communications and community capacity building. Another key element of the program is hands-on and experiential learning in each of its four years.  

“BILS students learn the skills to effectively run a business and support economic activity in Indigenous communities in a way that adheres to community cultural values,” says UBC Forestry Asst. Prof. Tara Atleo (hahuuła) from the Ahousaht First Nation, house of ƛaqišpiił. Tara joined UBC Forestry in 2024 following years of leading projects with Indigenous communities, including through her community’s economic development corporation. The BILS professor now teaches concepts surrounding business and economic development through an Indigenous lens — from accounting and finance to marketing, management and human resources. 

“I want students to feel empowered and hopefully excited about pursuing careers in Indigenous communities after graduation,” says Tara. “There are incredible opportunities for professionals in all facets of business and from administration to leadership roles.” 

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Branchlines: Trees of Campus

July 10, 2026 | Author: UBC FES

Malcolm Knapp Research Forest. Credit: UBC FES

The staff at our Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF) in Maple Ridge, BC, has hijacked Trees of Campus feature! MKRF is an extension of our Vancouver campus and one of the UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s (FES’s) two research-focused forests — the other being Alex Fraser Research Forest near Williams Lake. MKRF hosts annual field schools and research projects led by our faculty members and other research partners, expanding learning opportunities for FES and the broader community.  

In this issue of Branchlines, MKRF has taken the reins of Trees of Campus to showcase the John E. Bier Arboretum.  

The Arboretum was recently renewed and now includes new trees, signage and trails, with potential further expansion on the horizon. 

“The Arboretum renewal is a story of collaboration at its best,” says Hélène Marcoux (MSc’13), Director of MKRF and Co-director of FES’s Master of Sustainable Forest Management. “MKRF staff, FES Urban Forestry faculty members and both graduate and undergraduate students came together to help realize this project, revitalizing the Arboretum into a living teaching tool.” 

Established in 1959, the John E. Bier Arboretum at MKRF was named in memory of former FES Prof. of Forest Pathology John E. Bier. The three-hectare Arboretum — a botanical garden dedicated to trees — is located near the front entrance of MKRF and showcases more than 80 different tree species and 14 different families of tree from around the world, spanning from various parts of North America to Europe and Asia. It is also a popular gathering place for FES’s annual field schools and community outreach events, as well as for our Wild & Immersive outdoor education programs.  

“It’s a peaceful and beautiful space that helps introduce all ages to some of the many tree species from around the world,” says Hélène. “In the springtime, when the trees are in full bloom, I particularly enjoy visiting the Arboretum’s dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), a deciduous conifer native to China. At that time, its needles are so tender and succulent; it’s a very special tree in this collection.” 

Take advantage of a unique opportunity to name a tree in the MKRF Arboretum or one of the picnic tables at the research forest in support of the MKRF Renewal Project! Naming opportunities can honour a special person, business, cause, group or graduating class, with funds raised helping to realize enhanced research and education facilities at our cherished forest.  

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