Lesson 5: Post-Secondary Institutions

Universities and other post-secondary institutions in Canada also make a major contribution to forestry research. The research conducted at these institutions of higher learning is unique in that it is relatively unhindered by political pressures. In other words, scientists have a great deal of freedom to pursue a wide range of research interests. In addition, scientists are exposed to many interdisciplinary research opportunities through interactions with graduate students, colleagues, funding agencies, and academic peers.

Universities and other post-secondary institutions are often recipients of provincial and federal funding programs. Federally-sponsored, the Sustainable Forest Management Network (SFM) was one such program. Hosted by the University of Alberta, its mandate ran from 1995 to 2009. Its role was to connect university-based researchers with private and public sector partners in the area of forestry. It brought Canadian universities together with the knowledge, expertise, and research needs of forestry companies, provincial/federal government departments, First Nations groups, and non-governmental organizations.

Although it was not the only forest research organization in Canada, the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) was unique in that it integrated ecological, social, and economic dimensions of the country's forestry sector. The network encouraged the formation of research groups that cut across disciplines and sectors so that necessary research talents could be focused on perplexing research issues. In Alberta, the Sustainable Forest Management network greatly advanced understanding of how natural disturbances, such as fire, insect infestation, and disease affect the forest. This research knowledge resulted in improved methods of forest management.