UNB researcher receives $522,000 research award
Dr. Paul Arp leads national research team to improve timing and cost effectiveness
of logging operations
Fredericton, June 20, 2006 – Principal Investigator
Dr. Paul Arp, Professor, Forestry and Environmental Management, University
of New Brunswick, will receive $522,000 over three years to lead a national
research team that will carry out leading-edge forestry research aimed
at saving costs and improving the timing and productivity of logging operations
in hydrologically sensitive areas across Canada. This award is part of
a $3.3 million investment over three years made by the Government
of Canada through a Network of Centres of Excellence, the Sustainable
Forest Management Network (SFMN), in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario,
and New Brunswick.
The investment coincides with the opening of the SFM Network's
fourth scientific conference, being held at the Shaw Conference Centre
in Edmonton. More than 300 participants, representing the forest industry,
provincial governments, First Nations, and non-government organizations,
as well as forest practitioners and researchers from Canada and abroad,
will discuss the latest developments in integrated land management, evolution
of sustainable forest-dependent communities, water-management strategies,
public participation in planning processes, natural disturbance management
and emulation, climate change adaptation, and tenure reform.
Dr. Paul Arp's work will be done at selected research sites in
Alberta and Ontario. “Knowing how ground conditions vary across
landscapes, seasons and years has been rather elusive to date,”
says Arp. “Just assuming ground conditions are suitable for tree
planting or forest harvesting can yield some nasty surprises for forest
managers.”
Ground conditions may be either too wet, too dry, too hard or too cold,
or even frozen for tree planting as well as too soft or still unfrozen
to warrant ready machine access across a particular terrain or particular
tree planting site. In addition, in sensitive areas subject to flooding,
river and stream flows can change unexpectedly, or roads and access trails
can get washed out or become impassable. If the ground is too soft in
other areas, deep rutting caused by machinery can occur. If the ground
is too cold, dry or wet, a whole cutblock might need to be re-planted.
All of these examples can create expensive delays for forest operations
and create various other environmental challenges.
Dr. Arp's proposal went through an extensive scientific peer-review
process. His project received significant support from the Governments
of Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario as
well as forward-thinking forest industries including Abitibi-Consolidated
Inc., Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc., Bowater Inc., Daishowa-Marubeni
International Ltd., J.D. Irving Limited, Tembec Inc. as well as Ducks
Unlimited Canada, Kamploops Indian Band, Little Red River Cree First Nation
and Moose Cree First Nation.
Dr. Arp will be supported by Dr. Jim Buttle, Trent University;
Dr. Irena Creed, University of Western Ontario; Dr. Kevin DeVito,
University of Alberta; Dr. Markus Weiler and Dr. Ronald Tropser
at the University of British Columbia; Dr. Paul Sibley, University
of Guelph.
About The Sustainable Forest Management Network
The Sustainable Forest Management Network facilitates collaborative, applied
research partnerships among 32 industry, government, Aboriginal, and non-government
partners in supporting the work of more than 190 researchers. Their research
efforts are accomplished thanks to 300 highly qualified personnel working
at 35 participating institutions across Canada. The SFM Network represents
one of the few forums to bring Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal forest resource
managers and policy makers around one table to promote dialogue and the
development of a common understanding in a non-confrontational environment.
About the Networks of Centres of Excellence
Networks of Centres of Excellence create unique partnerships among all
stakeholders, governments, businesses, workers and communities, and are
an initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council,
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council, and Industry Canada.
For more project information, contact:
Dr. Paul Arp, Professor
Forestry and Environmental Management
University of New Brunswick
Tel: (506) 453-4931
E-mail: arp2@unb.ca
More information about SFM Network:
Marvin Abugov
Communications Manager
SFM Network
Tel: (780) 492-2492
E-mail: mabugov@ualberta.ca
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