Coast Forest Region Research Section - Research Disciplines


Services

Effective response to the challenges of sustainable resource stewardship requires access to the best scientific knowledge available. The Research team forms a significant link in the knowledge-supply-chain that is available to district and regional staff. Accessing the right expertise at the right time will lead to higher quality resource stewardship. Want to stay up to date with the current findings on various aspects of forest resource stewardship? Do you require the services of a research scientist to help you with an operational problem ? Click here for a quicklink to the right expert for your specific need.

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Staff

The research and extension work conducted by the research staff directly supports long term Goal 1 of the Ministry, namely,

  • Conserve and restore biodiversity of forests and grassland ecosystems
  • Ensure forest and range management maintains water quality and quantity, and
  • Ensure forest and range management maintains soil quality and quantity.

It also supports the validation of the Forest Practices Code (FPC) and helps provide the knowledge to ensure the use of appropriate forest management practices for long-term sustainable forest management. Section expertise is provided on an "as required" consultative basis to assist with FPC implementation and enforcement issues. A number of hardwood, hydrology and silviculture systems projects relate directly to fiber supply availability. Team members are directly involved in implementing externally funded research projects. The research program is an essential component of the region’s strategy to prepare for future challenges. The main disciplines of the Research program staff are outlined in the following table:

Ecology

Andy MacKinnon, RPF Research Ecologist Tel:(250) 387-3976
Andy.MacKinnon@gov.bc.ca
Andy's areas of responsibility include research in forest ecology and ecosystem-based management (EBM). Responsible for biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification (BEC) and mapping. Provides consultation and training in EBM and BEC. Serves on provincial and national research committees. Current research interests include natural disturbance, old-growth forests, non-timber forest products, and native plants, fungi and lichens.
Dr. Sari Saunders, M.R.M, R.P.Bio Research Ecologist Tel:Tel:(250) 751-7165
Sari.Saunders@gov.bc.ca
Research and consultation biogeoclimatic classification, and forest and landscape ecology. Currently working with the regional Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) database to evaluate sampling needs and strategize field activities to support applications. Interests include disturbance dynamics, ecology of edges and spatial patterns of landscapes, carbon dynamics, and monitoring within human modified and nonhuman disturbed landscapes.

Geomorphology & Hydrology

David Campbell, M.Sc., GIT Research Geomorphologist/ Hydrologist Tel:(250) 751-7262
David.Campbell@gov.bc.ca
Research and consulting on various aspects of geomorphology and hydrology. Provides consulting, QA/QC, and training services to BCTS for terrain stability assessments (TSAs), watershed assessments (CWAPs), hydrologic assessments, landslide investigations, and other operational issues.
Dr. Denis Collins, P.Geo Research Manager Tel:(250) 751-7121
Denis.Collins@gov.bc.ca
Management and coordination of the Coast Region Research Team. Development of extension activities to provide solutions to forest resource management issues. Research and consultation on watershed management and effectiveness monitoring, Tools and Applications (remote sensing, and geoscience).
Tom Millard, M.Sc., P.Geo Research Geomorphologist Tel:(250) 751-7115
Tom.Millard@gov.bc.ca
Research in various areas of geomorphology. Current research focus is on gully management, sediment budgets and terrain stability. Consultation and training for operational issues.

Hydrology

Dr. Rob Hudson, P.Geo Research Hydrologist Tel:(604) 341-0135
Rob.Hudson@gov.bc.ca
Research and consultation in various areas of hydrology. Assists with implementation and Q/A for CWAP’s. Current research focus includes effects of forest harvesting on streamflow, water quality and snow accumulation and melt. Serves on provincial and regional hydrology committees.
Paul Marquis, M.Sc., RFP Research Hydrologist Tel:(250) 751-7051
Paul.Marquis@gov.bc.ca
Research and consultation in forest hydrology. Areas of interest include the assessment and effectiveness evaluations for restoration of disrupted drainage systems, isotope hydrology, the quantification of extreme events and channel assessments.

Pedology (Soils)

Paul Courtin, M.F., RPF Research Pedologist Tel:(250) 751-7120
Paul.Courtin@gov.bc.ca
Research in soil conservation and hardwood management. Provides consultation and training in the areas of soils and BEC. Serves on provincial soil conservation working group and hardwood research cooperative.

Research Support

Heather West Research Technician Tel:(250) 751-7114
Heather.A.West@gov.bc.ca
Areas of Responsibility: Provide technical support and scheduling for all disciplines in the Forest Sciences section. Field data collection for alder management, permanent sample plots, regeneration performance, ecosystem classification, and vegetation and other site properties. Laboratory management and maintenance. Data management and technical writing.

Silviculture

Dr. Rod Negrave, P.Ag., RPF Research Silviculturist Tel:(250) 751-7160
Roderick.Negrave@gov.bc.ca
Rod's areas of responsibility include research in forest fire ecology, alternative and conventional silvicultural systems; and the provision of consulting and training services to districts. Current interests include variable retention applications; the ecology and silviculture of redcedar and yellow cedar; implications of single-tree and small-opening logging and the influence of management systems on coastal ecosystems.
Brian D’Anjou, B.Sc., RPF Research Silviculturist Tel:(250) 751-7353
Brian.Danjou@gov.bc.ca
Research, consultation and training in silvicultural systems, stand tending and vegetation management. Serves on the provincial silvicultural systems working group. Development of specific stand-level prescriptions to enhance development of spotted owl habitat in a range of forest types and ages.

Wildlife

Melissa Todd, M.Sc., R.P.Bio Research Wildlife Habitat Ecologist Tel:(250) 751-3132
Melissa.Todd@gov.bc.ca
Research and consultation on wildlife habitat ecology issues. Areas of interest include wildlife functional responses to forest practices, riparian wildlife community and ecosystem integrity, species and communities at risk, habitat inventory and supply modelling, and monitoring the effectiveness of biological conservation strategies. Coast Region team leader for FRPA Resource Effectiveness Evaluation Program (FREP) Wildlife and Biodiversity resource values.
Louise Waterhouse, M.Sc., RPF Research Wildlife Habitat Ecologist Tel:(250) 751-7123
Louise.Waterhouse@gov.bc.ca
Conducts research on wildlife ecology issues. Provides consultative advice on wildlife habitat and ecology issues. MOF representative on Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team, the Spotted Owl Recovery Team and the Pacific Water Shrew Recovery Team. Current focus is on indicator species of ecosystem health, wildlife use of riparian ecosystems, species at risk (eg. Marbled Murrelet, Spotted Owl and Queen Charlotte Ermine).
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