U of T researcher receives $570,000 research award
Dr. Shashi Kant leads international research team to develop a global
competitiveness index for Canada's forest industry taking into account
global economic forces
Toronto, June 20, 2006 – Principal Investigator
Dr. Shashi Kant, Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto,
will receive $570,000 over three years for research leading to the development
of a global competitiveness index specifically for Canadian forest industry.
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.
While the World Economic Forum produces a Growth Competitiveness Index
and a Business Competitiveness Index, neither can be used directly by
the forest industry because both of these indices provide only a general
picture of a particular country as compared to a specific industry. While
there has been some effort at the provincial level to refine the index,
particularly in British Columbia, Dr. Kant's research will seek
to resolve this challenge at the national level. He also intends to create
an index that properly separates the lumber and pulp sectors.
The three main objectives of the research are to:
- Develop an understanding of markets and institutional structures
including government policies related to different forest products such
as lumber, pulp and oriented strand board in Canada (including provincial
variations) and other countries;
- Examine the impact on the economic well-being of Canadians and the
forest industry of market structures and relevant government policies
including trade actions, forest tenures including Aboriginal tenures,
protected area policies and policies related to the mountain pine beetle
infestation;
- Evaluate the global competitiveness with respect to other countries
of different sectors of the Canadian forest industry and selected provinces.
Dr. Kant's proposal went through an extensive scientific peer-review
process. His project received significant support from Environment Canada,
Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Forest Service, the provincial governments
of Alberta, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon as well as forward-thinking
forestry companies including Abitibi-Consolidated Inc., Bowater Inc.,
Canadian Forest Products Ltd., Tembec Inc., and Weyerhaeuser Canada. The
Alberta Forest Products Association, BC Forum on Forest Policy and Economics,
Moose Cree First Nation and the Lake Abitibi Model Forest as well supported
the project.
Dr. Kant will be supported by Dr. Susanna Laaksonen-Craig, University
of Toronto, Dr. Van Lantz, University of New Brunswick and Dr. Cornelis
van Kooten, University of Victoria and a total of five other research
collaborators: one in China, one in Brazil, one in Finland and two in
Canada.
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. Shashi Kant, Professor
Faculty of Forestry
University of Toronto
Tel: (416) 978-6196
E-mail: shashi.kant@utoronto.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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