Click below to view the Forestry Digest for the week of April 8th, 2024
UBC research helps migrating salmon survive mortality hot-spot
Photo credit: Mossom Creek Hatchery
When Kevin Ryan and the other hardworking volunteers at Mossom Creek Hatchery in Port Moody, B.C. release young coho smolts into the ocean, they’re never quite certain how many will return as adults.
Mossom releases between 5,000 and 10,000 coho smolts each year, and is one of the few hatcheries to release coho directly into the ocean, rather than into a river. Until now, no research had looked at the success of direct ocean releases of coho.
UBC researchers used acoustic telemetry to tag and track coho on their journey. The results were revealing: only around 40 per cent of the fish remained alive three kilometres from release. Fewer than one-quarter reached the Lions Gate Bridge 20 kilometres away.
“While low survival is not surprising during this life stage, we discovered that most mortality occurred close to the release location, likely due to predators,” said Dr. Scott Hinch, a professor in the department of forest and conservation sciences who heads the Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Lab at UBC.
“Our results confirm recent studies that Burrard Inlet is a ‘mortality hot-spot’ for juvenile salmon but also suggests ways to increase the fish’s chances of survival, such as by changing the locations and ways of releasing fish.”
The hatchery will start testing different release locations, including various marine sites, and also directly into Mossom Creek.
“With the guidance of Dr. Hinch’s team, we’ll tag and monitor these fish from their release as smolts through to their return as adults to determine which approaches work best,” said Ryan, the hatchery president.
Like other community hatcheries, Mossom’s primary focus is on public education about natural resources and acting as stewards of local salmon creeks.
“As salmon runs continue to decline,” Dr. Hinch noted, “it is more important than ever to support community and volunteer-led hatcheries to improve ways to help these fish surviving their remarkable journey.”
Originally published in UBC News
University of Idaho Society of American Foresters Student Chapter Collegiate Forestry Summit
The University of Idaho Society of American Foresters Student Chapter invites University of British Columbia students to the first annual Collegiate Forestry Summit October 3-6, 2024. This event will afford participants the opportunity to experience the many facets of operational forestry in Idaho through field-tours and industry presentations all while meeting fellow students from across the Western US.
See the link below for more information and how to get involved.
Job Posting: Field Engineers with West Coast Timber Consultants Ltd
West Coast Timber Consultants Ltd. (WCTC) is a consulting firm specializing in the Management of Natural Resources, based out of Courtenay, BC. The company was established on the basic principle of providing clients with high quality management services within the natural resource sector. We are currently seeking full time field staff to meet our client’s goals.
For more information about this position please see the link below.
Research Publications: April 2024
Discover the cutting-edge research shaping the future of forestry! Our faculty members and graduate students are at the forefront of innovation, addressing critical challenges and exploring sustainable solutions to ensure the health and vitality of our forests.
Here is a look at the research publications from UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship this month.
Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences
Physiological and biochemical response analysis of Styrax tonkinensis seedlings to waterlogging stress
Authors: Hong Chen, Chao Han, Zemao Liu, Robert D. Guy, Fangyuan Yu
Climate change is making floods worse in areas south of the Yangtze River, making it harder to grow Styrax tonkinensis trees there. We studied why these trees struggle with too much water by looking at their chemical makeup during different seasons. We tested them by flooding their pots for 4 or 12 days in summer and winter. We found that in summer, their roots couldn’t absorb water well because of hormonal imbalance and the accumulation of fermentation products. This caused damage to the roots and leaves, making them wilt. But in winter, without leaves, the plants were better at handling floods. This helps us understand how to help these plants survive floods better.
Experimental warming and nitrogen deposition in clear-cuts and forest edges: Assessing impacts on plant communities and tree seedling performance
Authors: Laura Super, Robert D. Guy
At the University of British Columbia’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, a study explored how nitrogen deposition and climate warming impact tree seedlings and plant communities in different environments. They focused on Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock seedlings, planting them in forest edges and clear-cuts. Using warming treatments and nitrogen deposition, they observed changes in seedling height and plant cover. Results showed that in clear-cuts, warming increased seedling height and plant cover. However, nitrogen deposition alone didn’t have a significant effect. Species identity and soil pH were key factors affecting plant growth. These findings suggest moderate warming can benefit tree seedlings and plant cover in clear-cut areas.
Department of Forest Resources Management
Effects of Elevation, Stand Density, and Inter-Tree Competition on Tree Sizes, Vulnerability, and Health of Planted Zelkova
serrata and Quercus glauca in Reforestation
Authors: Yuan-Chi Li, Ting-Yu Chan, Tzeng Yih Lam, Shing-Wang Liu
Taiwan has a history of replanting trees to fix damaged land. But we don’t know much about how different trees grow back on these lands. This research checked the size, strength, and health of two important types of trees, Zelkova serrata and Quercus glauca, planted on old farmlands. They studied thirteen places where trees had been growing for six to seven years, from low to high altitudes. The results showed that when trees are close together, they get smaller and weaker, especially against wind. Z. serrata reacted more to this than Q. glauca. Altitude also affected the trees, mostly Z. serrata. This research warns against planting these trees too far from where they naturally grow.
Urban density and the urban forest: How well are cities balancing them in the context of climate change?
Authors: Zhaohua Cheng, Lorien Nesbitt, Cynthia Girling, Stephen Sheppard, Cecil Konijnendijk, Sophie Nitoslawski
Urban forests are becoming more important for fighting climate change and dealing with city problems. But sometimes, making cities denser (putting more people and buildings in less space) can make it hard for trees to grow well. A study in Metro Vancouver, Canada talked to experts about this. They found that while some plans for the city mentioned good things happening when urban forests and densification work together, in reality, there are often problems. Limited money and not enough attention from politicians can cause conflicts. The study suggests that by planning better and keeping an eye on things, these conflicts can turn into good results. More research is needed to understand how city rules affect urban forests.
Job Posting: Field Planners with Little River Resources Ltd.
Little River is currently hiring to fill Field Planning positions to join our team of Forest Professionals for our Campbell River operation. This location typically operates on a Monday to Friday schedule.
There is the ability for summer positions to become full-time employment. Little River is a private consulting firm that specializes in forest management on Vancouver Island. As a company, we pride ourselves on our work ethic and ability to produce quality work, safely. We work for a variety of clients including large licensees, private landholders, and woodlot owners.
For more information about this job posting please see the link below.
Job Posting: Vegetation Coordinator with BC Hydro
Powered by water… and by people like you
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.
For more information about this job posting please see the link below.
The Carbon Flux of Life
Researchers at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship have identified a previously underestimated carbon flux between trees and soils that has implications for forest operations and long-term ecosystem health.
“There is a continuous replenishment of carbon stocks that retains soil carbon equilibrium,” says UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Prof. Cindy Prescott, who is at the forefront of this potentially revolutionary area of soil carbon research.
Active carbon comes from photosynthate, which is the sugar and other substances generated by plants when exposed to sunlight through photosynthesis.
Dead leaves and branches — including slash from forest operations — were once thought to contribute the vast majority of carbon found in soils, which is the repository of more carbon than that found in the atmosphere and all vegetation on Earth combined. Scientists also believed that most of the carbon from plant matter ended up being released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas.
Cindy’s research forms part of a more nuanced understanding of the carbon cycle, and one that involves a complex carbon feedback loop extending from treetop to root tip and into the soil.
In their 2023 paper on continuous root forestry, Cindy and UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Prof. Sue Grayston reviewed evidence of a carbon exchange between photosynthate exuded from tree roots and from the branching hyphae of mycorrhizal fungi, as well as soil biodiversity, organic matter and carbon stocks.
Their paper explained how some of the carbon photosynthetically fixed by a tree is released through its roots or transferred to mycorrhizal fungi. This carbon is then released into the surrounding soil, feeding belowground biodiversity, which accounts for around one quarter of all biodiversity on the planet.
However, the carbon flux dissipates quickly the further afield it extends from a tree trunk. By the 10-metre mark, it becomes insignificant, Cindy notes.
critters digest cellulose and lignin, eating 10% to 20% of annual forest stand waste, and cycling nutrients back to into the earth through their feces — shown on the far, upper left — and other remains.
Retaining more trees during harvest can protect the integrity of the carbon flux, ensuring soil carbon renewal, and the long-term health of the many organisms it supports, is preserved.
For example, partial, continuous-cover or selective retention harvesting that involves the removal of only a portion of trees from a stand can prevent a cumulative shortfall in photosynthate-derived carbon, Cindy explains.
Larger trees fix more carbon than smaller ones, and broadleaved trees, such as red alder, contribute more carbon and nitrogen than coniferous trees. Other strategies to consider in support of a robust carbon flux that replenishes soil organic matter and carbon stocks include leaving in place larger trees and repopulating harvest zones with more broadleaved trees rather than only conifers, says Cindy.
Likewise, when trees are retained close enough to each other, the carbon flux can extend throughout belowground ecosystems, feeding a multitude of plants, bugs and microorganisms.
“Based on our research, we propose an inter-tree distance of 15 metres be practiced to keep the soil alive and functioning, and to support soil carbon replenishment,” adds Cindy.
Cindy’s research is one example of how innovative work at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship is pushing boundaries to enhance the forestry profession.
“The findings from this research have changed my views on clear-cutting and sustainable forest management. While clear-cut harvest produces a lot of dead organic matter, we now know that living trees are a critical source of active carbon that generates
persistent soil carbon,” says Cindy.
Watch Cindy’s “Carbon Flux of Life Webinar”
This article was originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Branchlines Magazine. View the full issue here.
In the Media: April 2024
Here’s a look at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship in the media this month
Suzanne Simard: The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
Forestry professor Dr. Suzanne Simard has been named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 for her research.
TIME
First Nation’s perspective shared with UBC forestry students
Forestry professor Dr. Gary Bull had the opportunity to delve into the remarkable success story of the Tŝideldel First Nation.
Global News;
Many coho salmon dying near release point in Port Moody: UBC study
Dr. Scott Hinch, head of UBC’s Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Lab, led a study which found that around 60 per cent of young salmon released from a hatchery in Port Moody were likely eaten by predators within three kilometres of the release point.
Postmedia via Vancouver Sun, The Province, Prince George Post, MSN; Tri-Cities Dispatch, UBC News coverage
UBC professor recognized by TIME magazine
Forestry professor Dr. Suzanne Simard has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024 for her research.
Global News; Black Press via Today in BC, Surrey Now-Leader, Kelowna Capital News, Chilliwack Progress, Campbell River Mirror, Mission City Record, Aldergrove Star, Abbotsford News, Victoria News, Haida Gwaii Observer
How to protect your home before — and during — wildfire season
Forestry professor Dr. Felix Wiesner said FireSmart guidelines are meant to help prevent catastrophic damage to homes, but sometimes, it’s not enough.
CBC News via Yahoo
Salmon tracking finds ‘mortality hot-spot’ for juvenile salmon in B.C. fjord
Dr. Scott Hinch, head of UBC’s Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Lab, led a study which found that around 60 per cent of young salmon released from a hatchery in Port Moody were likely eaten by predators within three kilometres of the release point.
City News Vancouver, UBC News coverage
UBC prof Suzanne Simard named in Time’s ‘most influential’ list
Forestry professor Dr. Suzanne Simard has been named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 for her research.
CBC News; Postmedia via Vancouver Sun, The Province, Prince George Post
An Indigenous ecologist on why we need to stop and listen to save the planet
Forestry professor Dr. Jennifer Grenz discussed her new book Medicine Wheel for the Planet: A journey toward personal and ecological healing, and how joining Western science and an Indigenous worldview makes for better science.
CBC Quirks and Quarks
Toronto looks to expand tree canopy with planting on private land
Forestry professor emeritus Dr. Stephen Sheppard said the city of Toronto’s residential street tree planting program is a good way to incentivize more planting in residential areas, but housing needs may pose an obstacle.
CBC News Yahoo The Weather Network
B.C.’s personal water use needs to change, says scientist
Forestry professor Dr. John Richardson commented on the latest B.C. snowpack report and discussed how to mitigate issues that arise when drought is so significant in the province.
CBC On The Coast
The airline industry’s biggest climate challenge: A lack of clean fuel
Forestry postdoctoral researcher Dr. Susan van Dyk said the aviation industry has a long way to go to catch up to its sustainable aviation fuel goals.
Bloomberg (subscription) via BNN Bloomberg, Financial Post, Winnipeg Sun, Economic Times (India), Yahoo
B.C.’s spring snowpack is the lowest on record
UBC forestry researchers Drs. Lori Daniels, Younes Alila and John Richardson commented on the latest B.C. snowpack report, noting that the lack of rain and snow in the fall and winter will impact drought and wildfire risk.
CBC News, CBC Vancouver, Global News, Yahoo, The Weather Network, CTV New, Vancouver Sun, UBC News advisory
Rethinking Stanley Park
Forestry professor Dr. Allan Carroll said warmer and drier conditions in an area that’s typically wetter—like Stanley Park—make trees more prone to disease and damage as cold-blooded insects thrive in the heat.
Montecristo Magazine
Canada’s wildfires blamed for rise in global loss of tree cover outside of tropics
Forestry professor Dr. Peter Wood said Canada should invest more in growing fire-resistant trees.
CBC News, The Weather Network
Wild bee habitat near cropland could increase farm income by $79 million a year: UBC study
Dr. Matthew Mitchell (forestry, land and food systems) co-authored a study which found that increasing wild pollinator habitat could boost crop yields enough to feed nearly 30 million Canadians, while increasing farmer income by about $3 billion.
Postmedia via Vancouver Sun, The Province, Prince George Post, Regina Leader-Post, The StarPhoenix, CKNW, CTV News, Vancouver is Awesome, Burnaby Now, Richmond News, North Shore News, Tri-City News, New Westminster Record, Squamish Chief, Delta Optimist, Times Colonist, Coast Reporter
Animal behavior during Covid-19 lockdowns
UBC researchers led a study which used data from before and during the COVID-19 lockdowns to examine wildlife behaviour amid changing human activity levels. Co-author and former UBC forestry postdoctoral researcher Chris Beirne was interviewed on CBC.
CBC The Early Edition
Therapeutic forest bathing
Forestry professor Dr. Guangyu Wang and his team are studying the impacts of forestry therapy on mental health and well-being.
Radio-Canada (French)
UBC News coverage
Teal Jones files for creditor protection
Teal Jones is responsible for nearly 1,000 jobs in the British Columbia. Gregory Paradis, an assistant professor and researcher in UBC’s department of forest resources management, discusses the impact its filing for creditor protection could have, and what it says about the B.C. industry as a whole.
CBC – On the Coast
How B.C. is mobilizing for ‘challenging’ wildfire season
UBC forestry professor Dr. Lori Daniels said data from the B.C. River Forecast Centre shows a long, dry fire season is coming.
CBC News via Yahoo
Metro Vancouver tree canopy in decline amid push for new housing
Forestry professor Dr. Stephen Sheppard said cities need to incentivize tree planting and require tree canopy protections in all new developments.
CBC News
Exploding demand for wood pellets harms BC forests, report says
Dr. Gregory Paradis comments on the demand for wood pellets and the effect on BC’s forests.
Radio-Canada (FR)
Casa Congo: Bamboo building for a cause
Meet Sol Lewites (Rodriguez), a MASc student at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and co-founder of Casa Congo – a sustainability hub that incubates community enterprises to foster economic development and environmental restoration. Passionate about sustainable construction, Sol’s research focuses on harnessing the power of bamboo to revolutionize the built environment. Join us as we explore Sol’s journey towards creating eco-friendly building materials and delving into the benefits of bamboo construction through his work with Casa Congo.
Can you tell us about your work with Casa Congo and the KuNa project and your role?
During my second year of UBC undergrad I founded Casa Congo together with fellow UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship alumni Luca Marsaglia. Casa Congo is a sustainability hub that incubates community enterprises to foster economic development and environmental restoration. In 2020, I led the delivery of project KuNa which is a bamboo social housing program that introduced bamboo as safe, resilient and sustainable alternative to traditional concrete brick housing in Nicaragua. In 2021 we delivered 20 prefabricated homes for families affected by hurricane Iota and Eta in El Astillero, Nicaragua. Each home comprises of 2 bedrooms, kitchen, living room, rain water collection system and off-grid sewer treatment.
How does Casa Congo work with local communities in Nicaragua to implement the bamboo social housing program?
Casa Congo deploys the funds to provide free training to local community cooperatives that are interested in learning how to build with bamboo. For project KuNa International experts were brought into Nicaragua to educate, teach and supervise the establishment of the bamboo supply chain. Bamboo forest engineers trained local farmers how to intervene and manage primary bamboo forest for efficient quality grade bamboo culm harvesting. Professional bamboo builders came in from Mexico and Colombia to deliver bamboo building workshops to local carpenters and enthusiast from El Astillero. Successful participants from each workshop were then carefully vetted to form part of the KuNa bamboo housing project.
What are some of the key benefits and advantages of using bamboo as a primary material for building these homes?
There are three major advantages of using bamboo over traditional building materials to build social housing in regions that are close to bamboo forest. First, Dynamic lifecylce assessment (DLCA) shows that in comparison to concrete brick housing, bamboo constructions reduce green house gas emissions by 70% (Escamilla – Bridging Housing and Climate Needs: Bamboo Construction in Philippines, 2024). Secondly, homes built from bamboo are very light yet strong which enables the design of earthquake and hurricane proof homes. Thirdly, the majority of the homes cost is distributed within the local community (eg. farmers that procured bamboo) as we minimize the reliance on imported materials such as cement and steel.
How has your education at UBC prepared you for this work?
My supervisor Dr. Chunping Dai, has been incredibly supportive of my work for Casa Congo. We have had undergraduate and graduate students volunteer and conduct research in different aspects of the KuNa project ranging from social demographic studies to understanding bamboo material properties. Most importantly, UBC triggered my interest for sustainable development practices via the mass timber buildings and day to day green operations I see every day at the Vancouver campus.
Looking ahead, what are the future plans and aspirations for the KuNa project, and how do you envision it contributing to sustainable development in Nicaragua?
We are in the process of opening our second KuNa factory in Mexico. Our vision is to scale the model to all global communities affected by the housing crisis and live in proximity to bamboo plantations.