News from our Partners – Boreal Research Centre

The EMEND Management Committee and Partner Organizations are holding a seminar at the Boreal Research Institute in Peace River to commemorate the first ten years of this world recognized research project.

Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance is a fairly new paradigm in forested land management, launched to develop understanding of ecological function at the stand level and landscape level and to maintain ecosystem function.

The EMEND research project is one of the largest forest sustainability research projects in the world. In terms of size, it is 1000 hectares of boreal landscape northwest ofPeace River, and in terms of longevity, the project will continue for one rotation age, 80 – 100 years.

The seminar will deliver early messages on boreal forest ecosystem response to human activities: what has EMEND contributed to our understanding of baseline boreal forest ecosystems and how is it relevant toAlberta. The seminar welcomes natural resource field practitioners involved in planning or operations for government, forest sector, reclamation, wildlife, oil & gas, contracting, consulting, as well as educators, conservation groups, Aboriginal organizations and students.

The keynote speaker is Dr. John Spence, with guest speaker MLA Frank Oberle, Peace River Constituency.

It is happening November 13, 2009 inPeace River, Alberta.

For more information, contact Kate Wilson at the Boreal Research Institute, at 780-618-2624.