The 42nd International Forestry Students’ Symposium (IFSS 2014) took place from August 6 – 21, 2014 throughout the province of British Columbia; a forest journey spanning thousands of kilometers and showcasing the province’s forested landscapes, varied ecosystems, and forest management practices and innovations. The theme of the symposium was “Our Roots, Our Future”, which highlighted the intrinsic and undeniable relationship British Columbia has with its forests; the livelihoods that depend on these unique ecosystem, and the connections forests have with the province’s past, present, and future.
This year’s IFSS was hosted for the first time in 42 years in Western North America, and was collaboratively organized by students from The International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) Local Committees at the University of British Columbia, Thompson Rivers University, and the University of Northern British Columbia. Over 120 international students and volunteers from 34 different countries attended the event and participated in two weeks of lectures, field trips and workshops.
IFSS kicked off in Vancouver, where delegates visited Stanley Park, the Museum of Anthropology, attended the UBC Networking Night and the IFSA International Evening, where students presented their research through oral and poster presentations. The symposium continued on Vancouver Island where students toured the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations’ tree breeding facilities at Cowichan Lake, experienced the wonders of 800 year old cedars at Cathedral Grove and learned about the history of logging in BC at the McLean Mill National Historic Site. Upon returning to the mainland, delegates spent a day at the UBC Alex Fraser Research Forest in Williams Lake, witnessing the various silviculture practices in the province.
IFSS 2014 then traveled north to the UNBC campus in Prince George; highlights included a day at the John Prince Research Forest in Fort St. James learning about wildlife management and First Nations traditional forest uses, a visit to the northernmost inland rainforest of the Ancient Forest, and a tour of the new Conifex Power Bioenergy Plant in Mackenzie. The symposium culminated in the southern interior of the province, with the last days spent at the TRU Wells Grey Research Centre learning about aquatic ecosystems, ethnobotany, and fire management practices in the dry grasslands of the interior. Throughout the fifteen days, delegates experienced British Columbia’s biodiversity and wildlife (particularly bears) when visiting 9 out of 14 biogeoclimatic zones. The entire route can be explored through the Seri interactive story map http://www.forestrygis.com/ifss/
Finally to end the symposium, the IFSA’s 25th General Assembly was held, during which four UBC students were appointed to IFSA Official positions, including May Anne Then as IFSA President. Next year’s symposium will take place in the Philippines from July 28 – August 10, 2015.
Special thanks to the following platinum, gold and silver event sponsors:
Conifex Timber Inc.
ESRI
Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd.
Husqvarna Group
Truck Loggers Association Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd.
TimberWest Forest Corp.
Sauder School of Business
Thank you to all IFSS 2014 sponsors and partners who helped make this symposium such a success. To see a full list of all sponsors please visit www.ifss2014.ca.