a unique perspective a vision for canada's forests - Canadian ...

A Unique Perspective onA Vision for Canada’s Forests: 2008 and BeyondInitiatives‖ in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. Perhaps mostnotable has been his contribution to the development of outstanding Aboriginal leaders inthe fields of forestry, conservation and environmental management.The National Electronic Lecture Series is presented in partnership with various governmentand non-government organizations and has covered a diversity of topics ranging fromwildlife and forest management to ―Green Building‖ and bioenergy. Provincial forestryprofessional and technical organizations have evaluated the lecture series for their continuingeducation programs. Highly successful series have focused on value chain optimization, theforest industrial revolution, climate change impact on forests and forestry, and forest carbonsequestration. Typically, e-lectures now garner over 100 participant sites across Canada, withstatistical analysis showing an average of between four and five individuals per site.Audiences typically include government, industry, academia, ENGOs, and interested localcitizens and citizen committees.Recent low enrolments in post-secondary forestry programs and the aging demographic ofmany working in the forest sector have created a high demand for both technical andprofessional graduates in forestry. The CIF/IFC works with the National Forest ProgramRecruitment Committee (NFPRC) to tackle this problem by promoting forestry as aninteresting, diverse, green and thoroughly modern and high-tech career path. The Institute’sThink Forests! national recruitment program (Appendix I) has been recognized by postsecondaryinstitutions and forestry professional associations as a helpful and effectivecommunications package that promotes forestry-related careers and informs students,teachers, and parents. Members are often called upon to speak to schools and youth groupsabout careers in forestry, and are successfully using the Think Forests! products.In many ways, the strength of the CIF/IFC lies in its Sections. Local events and activitiesoften reach out to communities outside the traditional forest sector. For example, the annualChristmas Forestry Seminar co-hosted by the Ottawa Valley Section and the EasternOntario Model Forest attracts speakers and participants from a wide variety of backgrounds- 10 -