Forests go far beyond British Columbia; they cover 1/3 of the Earth’s land surface. Forestry graduate students learn from a dynamic and diverse group of researchers who educate and communicate how forests and forest products contribute to the well-being of all living things. The health and sustainability of forests and the people who depend on them underlies everything we do.

The Faculty of Forestry is one of the top institutions globally in forest-related education and research. The unique breadth of expertise we possess allows us to integrate new knowledge across many disciplines. Offering both master’s and doctoral programs, our graduate students learn from a dynamic and diverse group of researchers from around the world.

 

Research Facilities

The Forest Sciences Centre is a showcase for construction using Canadian forest products, and was architecturally designed to mimic the landscape of British Columbia: towering trees, mountains, and blue-green waters. The 17,505-square-metre Forest Sciences complex has 11 classrooms, 2 lecture theatres, teaching laboratories, office space, computer labs, study areas, and a cafeteria, and houses the Faculty’s three departments.

Built alongside the Forest Sciences Centre is the 3,730-square-metre Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. It is Canada’s national centre of excellence for education and research related to wood products processing and advanced wood products manufacturing, and works to advance knowledge that fosters job creation, stabilizes forest-dependent communities, encourages increased value recovery, and ensures the sustainable management of Canada’s forests. This building includes two 25-seat classrooms, a machine lab, a simulator lab and a computer lab.

Within the Faculty of Forestry, there are also several research groups. Visit the website of each project to find out more.

Off-campus facilities include two Research Forests: the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest in Maple Ridge and the Alex Fraser Research Forest near Williams Lake. These are working forests located throughout the province where students and faculty can study in an outdoor setting. Fish and wildlife, silviculture, forest harvesting, forest ecology, forest management, and resources management figure prominently in these field studies.

Research Highlights

UBC Forestry is turning out a new generation of foresters, and faculty are committed to meeting future challenges in forestry through in-depth, cutting edge research. In fact, UBC Forestry receives the highest level of forestry research funding of any forestry faculty in Canada.

In the 2017/2018 fiscal year, members of the Faculty Forestry were awarded a total of over $12 million in research funding. 

Our wide breadth of research includes topics such as tree rings, integrated remote sensing, bioenergy, forest conservation genetics, landscape visualizations, African forest conservation and development, alpine studies, climate change, and advanced wood processing.

Schools / Departments

Department

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

or browse the list of faculty members in various academic units. You may click each unit to view faculty members appointed in that unit. View the full faculty member directory for more search and filter options.
Name Academic Unit(s) Research Interests
Aitken, Sally Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences forest genetics, climate change, Climate change, conservation, ecology, genetics, genomics
Alila, Younes Department of Forest Resources Management Hydrology, Flood, Water Resources, Water Structures, Forest Hydrology, Forest management, hydrological engineering
Arcese, Peter Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Global change biology; Ecology; Conservation Biology; Evolutionary Biology; conservation finance
Atleo, Tara Department of Forest Resources Management sustainable forest management; Communities and Indigenous Knowledge
Avramidis, Stavros Department of Wood Science Other natural sciences, n.e.c.; Wood-water relations and sorption thermodynamics.; Fluid flow, heat transfer, and molecular diffusion; Modeling steady-state and dynamic non-isothermal diffusion in wood.; Application of fractals and machine learning to modeling wood physical properties.; Molecular modeling of the wood nano-pore network in the cell wall.; Industrial wood kiln drying optimization and development of new drying strategies.; Radio frequency vacuum (RFV) heating and drying of wood and wood products.; Dielectric wood phytosanitation.; Wood thermal modification.
Barbeito Sanchez, Ignacio Department of Forest Resources Management refining novel silvicultural practices; establishment and management of forests under global change
Benson-Amram, Sarah Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, Department of Zoology
Boedhihartono, Agni Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Forestry sciences; biodiversity; Communities and Livelihoods; conservation; Forest management; Land-use Change; social science; sustainability; Tropical Landscapes and Livelihoods
Booker, Thomas Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences population and quantitative genetics
Bulkan, Janette Department of Forest Resources Management aboriginal forestry, biodiversity, climate change, communities and livelihoods, conservation, corporate responsibility, forest management, forest policy, international trade, social impact, social science
Bull, Gary Department of Forest Resources Management international forest policy, environmental services markets, carbon markets, Government and economic systems
Burton, Cole Department of Forest Resources Management Forestry sciences; Ecology and Quality of the Environment; Ecological Trends; Animal; Biodiversity and Biocomplexity; Landscape and Restoration; Environment Management and Protection; Biodiversity conservation; Ecological Monitoring; Landscape ecology; Mammal Ecology; Population and Community Ecology; Wildlife Management
Cardinal-McTeague, Warren Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Earth and related environmental sciences; Forestry sciences; plant biodiversity; Indigenous environmental management and food systems; monitoring of ecosystem health and function
Carroll, Allan Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences climate change, mountain pine beetle, bark beetles, forest disturbance, integrated pest management, insect ecology, population dynamics, insect-plant interactions, Climate change, conservation, ecology, ecosystems, forest biology, forest management
Chanway, Christopher Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Soil microbiology
Cool, Julie Department of Wood Science modelling, wood products, wood science, wood
Coops, Nicholas Charles Department of Forest Resources Management Forestry sciences; Telemetry (Remote Sensing, Radar); Space Techniques; Forestry Technology and Equipment; Plants and Forests
Cranston, Emily Department of Wood Science, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Nanoparticle synthesis, properties and applications; Bio-based materials and nanocellulose; Atomic force microscopy (forces, adhesion, friction, imaging); Colloid and interface science; Polymer chemistry; Cellulose nanocrystals; Bioproducts; Foams, emulsions, aerogels
Dai, Chunping Department of Wood Science Forestry sciences; Bamboo; Bio-products; Wood Products; Wood Science; Wood Technology
Daniels, Lori Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences forest plants and trees; forest history; forest management; environmental protection and natural resource use, Climate change, ecology, fire regimes
Devisscher, Tahia Department of Forest Resources Management Forestry sciences; adaptation; climate change; Human Health; Human Well-being; Nature Recovery; Social-Ecological Resilience
El-Kassaby, Yousry Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences Forestry sciences; Applied Genetics; conservation; genomics; Seed orchards’ genetics; Tree breeding; Tree domestication
Eskelson, Bianca Department of Forest Resources Management Natural resource management; Forest Biometrics; Forest Modelling; Disturbance Effects; Management Effects; Climate Effects
Evans, Philip David Department of Wood Science Wood anatomy, wood durability, wood products, wood technology
Feng, Haibo Department of Wood Science Forestry sciences; BIM; Construction; LCA; sustainability; Wood Products; Zero energy / caron building

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Open Research Positions

This list of possible research projects is non-exhaustive. It only shows positions that are specifically advertised in the G+PS website.

Graduate Student Stories

Miah Godek

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Wildfire resilience and Indigenous cultural burning in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Mike Stefanuk

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Fire regimes from past to future in dry interior forests of the Cariboo region, British Columbia

Tara L. Brown

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Comparing guided and self-guided forest bathing in metro Vancouver parks: a seasonal longitudinal RCT examining health impacts and environmental factors

Dane Pedersen

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Seeing the forest through the trees: collaborative climate-informed forest governance in Quesnel, British Columbia

Gracie Crafts

Master of Science in Forestry (MSc)

Cultural fire impact on culturally-significant plants and increasing biodiversity at Vaseux Lake, BC

Shiva Zargar

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Developing an integrated analytical platform for evaluating the role of forest biorefineries in achieving a sustainable bioeconomy

Winy Vasquez

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Food security in the Amazon: an investigation of the food security and nutrition of the Asháninka peoples living inside the Protected Forest San Matias-San Carlos
Baron Jen's image

Jen Baron

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

A century of transformation: Fire regime transitions, drivers, and consequences in southeastern British Columbia
All Student Stories

Alumni on Success

Jane Yuexian Wang

Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM) [2018]

Job Title
Programmer / Analyst

Employer
University of British Columbia

Dan Macmaster

Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM) [2013]

Job Title
Fibre Manager and Head of Forestry

Employer
Vaagen Fibre Canada

Kristina Cockle

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) [2010]

Job Title
Research Scientist

Employer
CONICET

Jill Hamilton

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Assistant Professor

Employer
North Dakota State University

Michael Donaldson

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Content Development Manager

Employer
Canadian Science Publishing

Patrice Meteunou

Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM)

Job Title
Parks and Recreation

Employer
City of Port Coquitlam

Ella Furness

Master of Science in Forestry (MSc) [2012]

Job Title
Doctoral Candidate

Employer
Cardiff University
All Alumni Stories

Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Forestry.

 

Survive, revive, and thrive: The impact of COVID-19 on global park visitation
Publication: Science of the Total Environment
UBC Author(s): John Innes (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry), Guangyu Wang (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00489697
Volume: 946
Publication Date: 10 October 2024

View Publication
A taxonomy of concurrent upward flame spread models and sources of uncertainty
Publication: International Journal of Thermal Sciences
UBC Author(s): Felix Wiesner (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 12900729
Volume: 204
Publication Date: October 2024

View Publication
Periodate oxidation-mediated nanocelluloses: Preparation, functionalization, structural design, and applications
Publication: Carbohydrate Polymers
UBC Author(s): Feng Jiang (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01448617
Volume: 341
Publication Date: 1 October 2024

View Publication
Understanding the role of people's preferences and perceptions in the analysis of residential energy transition: A meta-analysis
Publication: Energy for Sustainable Development
UBC Author(s): Hisham Zerriffi (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09730826
Volume: 82
Publication Date: October 2024

View Publication
Coronary circulation enhances the aerobic performance of wild Pacific salmon
Publication: Journal of Experimental Biology
UBC Author(s): Scott Hinch (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00220949
Volume: 227
Publication Date: October 2024

View Publication
Gel biopolymer electrolyte for high-voltage, durable, and flexible Zn/K dual-ion pouch cells
Publication: Chemical Engineering Journal
UBC Author(s): Feng Jiang (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 13858947
Volume: 496
Publication Date: 15 September 2024

View Publication
Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense or Bacillus spp. improves root growth and nutritional quality of araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia) seedlings
Publication: Forest Ecology and Management
UBC Author(s): Christopher Chanway (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 03781127
Volume: 568
Publication Date: 15 September 2024

View Publication
Ginkgo biloba wood transcriptome reveals critical genes for secondary cell wall formation and transcription factors involved in lignin biosynthesis
Publication: Industrial Crops and Products
UBC Author(s): Yousry El-Kassaby (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09266690
Volume: 216
Publication Date: 15 September 2024

View Publication
Characteristic properties of thermally compressed oil palm wood and its potential for glued laminated timber products
Publication: Industrial Crops and Products
UBC Author(s): Minghao Li (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09266690
Volume: 216
Publication Date: 15 September 2024

View Publication
Environmental, energy, and economic assessment of Jatropha curcas L. biodiesel production in China
Publication: Journal of Cleaner Production
UBC Author(s): Guangyu Wang (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09596526
Volume: 470
Publication Date: 10 September 2024

View Publication
Linking microphytobenthos distribution and mudflat geomorphology under varying sedimentary regimes using unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV)-acquired multispectral reflectance and photogrammetry
Publication: Science of the Total Environment
UBC Author(s): Nicholas Charles Coops (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry), Tara Martin (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00489697
Volume: 942
Publication Date: 10 September 2024

View Publication
Corrigendum to “Characterizing satellite-derived freeze/thaw regimes through spatial and temporal clustering for the identification of growing season constraints on vegetation productivity” [Remote Sensing of Environment Volume 309 (2024) 114210] ...
Publication: Remote Sensing of Environment
UBC Author(s): Nicholas Charles Coops (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00344257
Volume: 311
Publication Date: 1 September 2024

View Publication
Carbon fibers from bitumen-derived asphaltenes: Strategies for optimizing melt spinnability and improving mechanical properties
Publication: Carbon
UBC Author(s): Scott Renneckar (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00086223
Volume: 228
Publication Date: September 2024

View Publication
Genome-wide identification and transcription factor regulation of monolignol biosynthetic genes in Ginkgo biloba L.
Publication: Industrial Crops and Products
UBC Author(s): Tongli Wang (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09266690
Volume: 215
Publication Date: 1 September 2024

View Publication
Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon and water footprints during processing of Lei bamboo shoots
Publication: Journal of Cleaner Production
UBC Author(s): Guangyu Wang (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 09596526
Volume: 469
Publication Date: 1 September 2024

View Publication
Fully biobased thermal insulating aerogels with superior fire-retardant and mechanical properties
Publication: Chemical Engineering Journal
UBC Author(s): Feng Jiang (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 13858947
Volume: 495
Publication Date: 1 September 2024

View Publication
Resilience and vulnerability: perspectives of key informants on the uncertain future of Pacific salmon in British Columbia
Publication: Regional Environmental Change
UBC Author(s): Scott Hinch (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 14363798
Volume: 24
Publication Date: September 2024

View Publication
Intercomparison of global foliar trait maps reveals fundamental differences and limitations of upscaling approaches
Publication: Remote Sensing of Environment
UBC Author(s): Isla Myers-Smith (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00344257
Volume: 311
Publication Date: 1 September 2024

View Publication
Five decades of ecological and meteorological data enhance the mechanistic understanding of global change impacts on the treeline ecotone in the European Alps
Publication: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
UBC Author(s): Ignacio Barbeito Sanchez (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01681923
Volume: 355
Publication Date: 15 August 2024

View Publication
Recreational fisheries-related injuries and body size affect travel rate and post-release mortality in marine migrating coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Publication: Fisheries Research
UBC Author(s): Scott Hinch (Forest & Conservation Sciences / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 01657836
Volume: 276
Publication Date: August 2024

View Publication
Characterizing satellite-derived freeze/thaw regimes through spatial and temporal clustering for the identification of growing season constraints on vegetation productivity
Publication: Remote Sensing of Environment
UBC Author(s): Nicholas Charles Coops (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 00344257
Volume: 309
Publication Date: 1 August 2024

View Publication
Different names for the same thing? A systematic review of green, environmental, eco-, ecological, climate, carbon, and resilience gentrification
Publication: Cities
UBC Author(s): Lorien Nesbitt (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 02642751
Volume: 151
Publication Date: August 2024

View Publication
Enhancing Building Energy Efficiency: Leaf Transpiration Inspired Construction of Lignin-Based Wood Plastic Composites for Building Energy Conservation
Publication: Applied Energy
UBC Author(s): Feng Jiang (Department of Wood Science / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 03062619
Volume: 367
Publication Date: 1 August 2024

View Publication
Forest products circular economy in an export-focused jurisdiction: Can it fill the emission reduction gap?
Publication: Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy
UBC Author(s): Dominik Roeser (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
Volume: 8
Publication Date: August 2024

View Publication
Global expansion of Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link over 200 years
Publication: Plant Biology
UBC Author(s): Nicholas Charles Coops (Forest Resources Management / Faculty of Forestry)
ISSN: 14358603
Volume: 26
Page Range: 675-678
Publication Date: August 2024

View Publication

Pages

Recent Thesis Submissions

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
Year Citation Program
2024 Dr. Dort studied the genetics and genomics of plant pathogens. She used comparative genomics to discover patterns of plant pathogenicity in fungi and established CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in an oomycete forest pathogen. Her research provides a foundation for future studies of forest pathogens and the improvement of disease surveillance strategies. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2024 Coexisting with flood-adapted forests can be a challenge for communities that are built within historical floodplains. Dr. Moran's research revealed conditions under which cottonwood forests might thrive in the presence of flood control infrastructure, and suggested workable restoration strategies for highly developed riverscapes. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2024 Dr. Wertman discovered a unique, putative mutualism between the alder bark beetle and a newly described species of fungus. Her research expands upon known bark beetle-fungus symbioses to include a hardwood tree-killing system and has implications for the future health of nitrogen-fixing red alder throughout the Pacific Coast of North America. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2024 Dr. Chadwick developed methods for deriving critical assessment data for regenerating post-harvest stands in Alberta, Canada from drone imagery. His methods provide a basis to increase the efficiency with which monitoring can occur and offer a level of wall-to-wall detail that cannot be practically obtained with traditional methods. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2024 Dr. Lane studied changes in tidal marsh vegetation and seed germination potential in coastal conservation areas of BC. She found evidence for loss and limited germination of native species, and high risk of invasion by non-native species. This research highlights a need for active management and restoration in coastal ecosystems in BC and beyond. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2024 Dr. Loughnan studied climate change impacts on the timing of life history events, including the start of spring in forests. She found important relationships with environmental cues, like temperature, and evolution in how native woody species are responding. Her work has applications in conservations and management of forests across North America. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2024 Dr. Zhao developed ecological models to predict forest tree species' fundamental climate niche and productivity. Her innovative studies offer essential insights into forest adaptation strategies such as conservation or assisted migration in response to climate change. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2024 Dr. Wang estimated the pattern and changes in wildland fires and their ecological effects in Canadian forests. Her research contributes to a better understanding of how climate and vegetation interact with fires, thereby enhancing our capabilities for future coexistence with wildfires. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2024 There is a need for spatially explicit and accurate information regarding fish habitat in forested watersheds. Dr. Dakin Kuiper's doctoral studies examined the ability of airborne laser scanning to characterize stream habitat features important to salmon. His research will help forest and fisheries managers to better conserve these keystone species. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
2023 Dr. Lyall studied peoples' relationships with the forests with the Kwakwaka'wakw of the West Coast of Canada. The research approach was collaborative and inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge. The research explained the cultural and heritage significance of the forests, from ancient stories, traditional foods, forest practices, and western red cedar. Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

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Haida Gwaii Institute | Community Resilience Semester Info Session

Join this online info session to learn about the Haida Gwaii Semester in Community Resilience, including firsthand experiences from an instructor and an alum. The post Haida Gwaii Institute | Community Resilience Semester Info Session appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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Mary Englezos (Forest Sciences)

Community Education Team Leader; Salmon Habitat Restoration Program (SHaRP) For my first co-op work term this summer I have had the opportunity to be a part of the SHaRP (Salmon Habitat Restoration Program) team as a Community Education Team Leader. Throughout the summer, I have planned community...

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Graduate Awards Coordinator (Deadline: September 2, 2024)

The Graduate Awards Coordinator manages complex merit-based awards for all of the faculty's graduate programs, postdoctoral fellows and graduate certificates. Apply now. The post Graduate Awards Coordinator (Deadline: September 2, 2024) appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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WildCo Research Assistant (Deadline: August 26, 2024)

Job Post: The Wildlife Conservation Lab at UBC is hiring a Research Assistant to assist in performing wildlife-related research. Apply now. The post WildCo Research Assistant (Deadline: August 26, 2024) appeared first on UBC Faculty of Forestry.

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#UBCForestry Goodbye Summer Photo Contest

Contest Details As summer comes to an end, we’re excited to welcome new and returning students back to UBC Forestry. To celebrate a new school year, we want to see how you spent your summer! Whether you’ve been working in a lab, out in the field, exploring beautiful BC, or anything in...

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Graduate Teaching Assistant in Community Engagement (Deadline: August 29, 2024)

Job Post: The Department of Forest Resources Management at UBC is hiring a Teaching Assistant to help deliver the course ILS 102 - Community Engagement: Principles, Practices and Protocols. Apply now. The post Graduate Teaching Assistant in Community Engagement (Deadline: August 29, 2024) appeared...

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