Research Forest graduate internships: A win-win experience By Gregory A Greene and Cathy Koot example, I am working with Ken Day, AFRF Manager, to design skid trail patterns that can slow or stop the spread of fire through tree canopies, while simultaneously achieving wildlife and silviculture objectives.
From the Research Forest (Cathy Koot’s) perspective:
Since 2011, the UBC Alex Fraser and Malcolm Knapp Research Forests have been able to host graduate internships, thanks to generous donor support. The intent of these internships is to foster reciprocal exchange of knowledge and skills. The Research Forests benefit by hiring students with expertise to complete specific projects. Students, in turn, gain valuable work experience in a dynamic and professional environment. Greg Greene, a PhD candidate studying fire ecology, joined the team at the Alex Fraser Research Forest (AFRF) in 2016. Greg is a student with Dr Lori Daniels and a member of UBC’s Tree-Ring Lab. To highlight this unique collaborative exchange, he and Cathy Koot, Research Coordinator at AFRF, elaborate on the benefits derived from the graduate internship from this past year.
From the intern (Greg Greene’s) perspective: The internship at AFRF has provided me with an invaluable learning experience. Coming from the science side of forestry, I had no practical experience with forest management – specifically with forest planning and operations. I applied for the graduate internship position to gain this practical experience, while fulfilling articling require-
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ments as I pursue designation as a Registered Professional Forester. My career aspiration is to work for the BC Ecosystem Restoration program, where I will have the opportunity to integrate and implement the knowledge I have gained at AFRF with my knowledge of disturbance and forest ecology. Since joining the AFRF team, I have had the opportunity to learn how to perform a number of forest planning and operations tasks, including timber cruising, cut block, skid trail, and road layout, tree regeneration surveys, planting quality assessments, Douglas-fir beetle surveys, and tree health assessments. As a graduate researcher and fire ecologist, I have also been able to contribute some of my knowledge to augment processes at AFRF. Specifically, I developed Fuel Hazard Assessment protocols to track changes in the quantity of surface fuels following different harvest methods. I have also used my knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems to help streamline data collection and field operations. Now more than half-way through my 16-month internship, I am beginning to integrate what I have been learning about forest management with my knowledge of wildfire. For
The non-winter field season is a busy time with tree planting supervision, forest health surveys, and harvest and road layout. Despite the newness of these particular activities to Greg, the fact that he had lived and worked under field conditions elsewhere meant that he could adapt quickly. He supervised junior field staff and international volunteers with ease and kept everyone in a good mood to boot. AFRF relies heavily on its GIS for tracking research projects and all aspects of forest management—most staff use it every day. After 2 decades of growth, the system was in need of reorganization. Greg came to AFRF with extensive GIS experience, not only from his research work, but also from prior employment. He rooted out redundancies and designed a vastly improved structure that will persist well into the future.
Moving forward: Plans are afoot for heading back outdoors, once the GIS project is finished and the spring melt reveals harvesting debris requiring post-harvest fuel assessments. Both Greg and AFRF look forward to collaborating further on fuel management plans in the wildland-urban interface near Williams Lake, BC. This successful model of collaborative exchange between Forestry graduate students and the Research Forests is testimony to the value of visionary ideas from Faculty of Forestry supporters and donors.