March 31, 2008

The University of Northern British Columbia is taking the lead indeveloping a new approach to forest management education that will bemore responsive to students, industry, environmental change, and theneeds of forest-dependent communities.
 
The new curriculum is being accompanied by a name change – from“Forestry” to “Forest Ecology and Management” – and a substantialincrease in the range of course options available to students. Newspecializations include natural resources planning and operations,earth science, biology and conservation, forest recreation, business,global environmental change, and the social dimensions of naturalresource management. The increased flexibility in the degree programhas accompanied a reduction in the number of courses required byforestry’s national accreditation body.
 
“Over the past decade at least, the forestry profession had had toadapt to new realities,” says Kathy Lewis, a former BC Forester of theYear and Chair of Ecosystem Science and Management at UNBC. “Forexample, much more is being asked of working forest professionals, yetfewer students are entering the field. At UNBC alone, our enrolments inForestry are currently only a quarter of what they were just five yearsago. This is just not acceptable in a region that depends onsustainable forest ecosystems for maintaining cultures and economies.It is our location and our existing expertise at UNBC that has helpedto shape our new curriculum.”
 
North-central BC is one of Canada’s most productive forest regions andforest exports continue to account for the greatest share of BC’sexport wealth. The industry will remain a major economic driver, as newopportunities arise in areas such as bioenergy.
 
“Northern BC’s forests are a tremendous national treasure and we needto be leaders in teaching and research that recognize the role of FirstNations and the effects of technology and climate change,” saysprofessor Scott Green, a specialist on the effects of climate change ontree growth. “UNBC is the first university in western Canada to makesuch sweeping changes to its forestry curriculum.”
 
The new degree program officially takes effect in the fall.

Contact:
Dr. Kathy Lewis, Chair of Ecosystem Science and Management, UNBC – 250.960.6659
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622