Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing forest management. Uncertainties are large and we risk making problems worse by waiting for certainty. Ecological theory indicates that species diversity may be a way to increase productivity and buffer disturbances. Therefore, we have undertaken a series of studies to assess the ability of forest management practices to affect tree species diversity, and the effectiveness of diversification at buffering natural disturbances and negative climate change effects on productivity. These model simulations allow us to monitor a variety of indicators including harvest volume, growing stock, forest carbon dynamics, net present value, and age class distribution. Our conclusions are that diversification can lead to both climate change mitigation and adaptation, however, landscape-specific analyses are required to determine the management strategy required to achieve success.

The Natural Resources & Environmental Studies Institute (NRESi) at UNBC hosts a weekly lecture series at the Prince George campus. Anyone from the university or wider community with interest in the topic area is welcome to attend. This presentation will be done remotely and is only available online through the Blue Jeans feed. Go to http://www.unbc.ca/nres-institute/colloquium-webcasts to view the presentation remotely, or click on the following link https://bluejeans.com/443540641?src=join_info

Past NRESi colloquium presentations and special lectures can be viewed on our video archive, available here.