Applied Research and Innovation Strategy for the Research Forest

Research and Innovation Objectives

Through the operation of the CNC Research Forest, a primary purpose of the CNC Research Forest Society is to support continued applied research.

Applied research is to include opportunities for natural resource and forestry students to undertake or participate in research projects and opportunities to pursue research projects important to First Nations.

Opportunities are to be achieved through funding and support provided by Research Forest revenues and from research grants and support obtained from government research funding as well as industrial contributions.

Current Research and Innovation Projects

The CNC Research Forest supports three full-time employees with forestry and biology expertise, along with temporary student assistants, to support regular research and innovation projects.  Active and emerging projects are listed below.  For more information on any project, click on the name to open a brief summary document.

• Amphibian Studies (Western Toad)
• Bat Habitat Enhancement
• Post-Harvest Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitat Assessment
• Wildlife Activity among Coarse Wood Debris Corridors
• Plant Ecology and Seedling Survival and Growth within a Wildfire
• Impacts of Planting Quality on Conifer Seedling Survival and Growth
• Post-Harvest Riparian Assessments on Small Streams
• Soil Water Relations during Climate-Induced Drought
• Effects of Harvest on Small Stream Temperature
• Spruce Beetle Monitoring: Daily Air Temperature and Spruce Beetle Flight
• Shelf Life Indicators of Timber Impacted by the Spruce Beetle
• Experimental Spruce Beetle Trapping: Light Intensity and Beetle Lures

Previous Research and Innovation Projects: With the support of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) grants, the Research Forest, and various partners in research, CNC was able to pursue a wide variety of applied research projects in forestry and natural resources over the previous 6 years.  For a listing of those projects, click the link below:

• Previous Forestry and Natural Resources Projects

If you would like further information regarding any project, then contact the CNC Research Forest Manager. 

Future Research and Innovation Direction

Research and innovation involving the Research Forest or supported by Research Forest funds is guided, and if needed, specifically directed by the CNC Research Forest Society.

The Society, through CNC staff, is seeking to closely collaborate with government agencies, regional industries, natural resource consultants, First Nations, community groups, and academia to pursue applied research consistent with the needs of regional natural resource stakeholders.

At this time, the Research Forest projects are focussed towards unmanned aerial vehicle photo detection technologies, forest health, intensive silviculture, young conifer growth and yield (conifer tree improvement), tree species migration with climate change, riparian management, and fish and wildlife habitat management.

Do You Have a New Applied Research or Innovation Idea?

You may contact the CNC Research Forest Manager or CNC Director of Applied Research and Innovation at any time if you have questions or would like to propose a new natural resources research or innovation project.