UBC and the City of Mission have entered into a partnership which will allow grad students to study climate change and sustainability in Mission’s municipal forests.
Forestry students earning their masters degrees will be taking field trips to study sustainable forest management.
“By promoting learning in our local forest, Mission gains valuable knowledge while doing our part to help ensure sustainable forestry practices everywhere,” said Mayor Paul Horn.
The partnership will formalize the city’s relationship with UBC’s forestry faculty, said Chris Gruenwald, Mission’s director of forestry, adding it also will provide cutting-edge research to city staff.
“Research has been a big part of the history of the municipal forest,” he said. “This will have tremendous benefits for our community.”
Research projects focusing on climate change will also be available for masters and doctorate students, the press release said.
UBC Forestry has taken a collaborative approach to address climate change adaption and mitigation, and already has two “research forests” – Malcolm Knapp and Alex Fraser – that it conducts studies in, said Dr. Robert Kozak, dean of the department.
“UBC Faculty of Forestry is pleased of the many research and educational opportunities that this new partnership with Mission Municipal Forest will give our faculty, staff and students,” Kozak said.