阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 -based forestry research program receives over $2 million in funding
(thunder bay, ontario - june 15, 2006) a major boreal forest research initiative based at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜
has received funding of more than $2 million over five years under the nserc collaborative research and development grant program. this funding was matched by industry partners to bring the total to $5 million over five years.
led by dr. ellie prepas, canada research chair in sustainable water management and the boreal forest in the faculty of forestry and the forest environment at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜
, the project entitled "technology transfer from small watersheds to managed watersheds in the canadian boreal forest: application of watershed disturbance models to an industrial landscape," constitutes phase ii of the forest watershed and riparian disturbance (forward) initiative. the new nserc award will support forward research and student training through 2010.
initiated in 2001, forward uses a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to study and model the land-water interface and the impact of soil disturbance and forest removal on hydrology, surface water quality, and aquatic biota. forward is administered by 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜
, and includes co-investigators and 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛
from the university of alberta (dr. daniel smith) and the university of saskatchewan (drs. gordon putz and james germida). study sites are located in the legacy forest of ontario and the swan hills area of alberta. field studies in western and central canada will provide data and modelling tools to enhance forest management planning across the canadian boreal forest.
phase i of the forward initiative was completed in 2005 and has already yielded impressive results that are finding practical application in the field. for instance, the project's major industry partner, millar western forest products ltd. of edmonton, ab, is now integrating water values in its 2007-2016 detailed forest management plan currently under development.
millar western's chief forester jonathan russell notes that forward will contribute to sustainable economic development, benefiting aboriginal and other rural and northern communities, while helping ensure that canada's forest industry remains internationally respected and globally competitive.
"by working collaboratively on long-term research aimed at protecting forest values, this partnership is promoting better forest management practices and better forest policy across canada, and will provide environmental, social, and economic benefits for future generations," says russell.
dr. prepas also announced at this year's workshop that the northwestern ontario forest industry, represented by bowater canadian forest products ltd. and buchanan forest products ltd, will be joining the funding partner base for phase ii.
"on behalf of the forward team, i would like to welcome our new industry partners, whose involvement will help to broaden the scope of the initiative," says dr. prepas. "this is an exciting initiative, and it's through partnerships like this that we will be able to better enhance the future of our boreal forests."
under the collaborative research and development program, nserc funds are matched by industry partners. forward is composed of 11 industry, 2 government partners, and 2 first nation partners, all with an interest in management of the boreal forest and related resources (e.g., wood, hydrocarbons and minerals) in alberta and northwestern ontario. in addition to millar western, which initiated the research project, industry partners currently include anc timber ltd., bowater canadian forest products inc., buchanan forest products ltd., buchanan lumber (a division of gordon buchanan enterprises ltd.), the forest resource improvement association of alberta (friaa), real resources inc., talisman energy inc., vanderwell contractors (1971) ltd., vaquero energy ltd., and west fraser mills ltd. (represented by blue ridge lumber inc.). the province of alberta, through the alberta forestry research institute, and the province of ontario, through the ontario living legacy research program, round out the funding partner base. first nation partners - the alexis nakota sioux nation and the lac des mille lacs first nation - have traditional lands in the study areas. forward is also supported by the canada foundation for innovation, the ontario innovation trust, the ontario ministry of economic development and trade, and the nserc discovery grant program.