Dr. Matthew Betts is a proud New Brunswicker and a professor at Oregon State University. His research focuses on measuring forest degradation that can occur as a result of forest management practices. In the webinar he will provide a summary of his recent work on forest biodiversity and carbon, as well as forest management options for the future in our province.
Dr. Tom Beckley will discuss what New Brunswick’s forests were, what New Brunswick’s forests are, what New Brunswick’s forests could be, and finally, what New Brunswick’s forests should be. The first three questions are answerable through science, and they will set the scene. The last question is a matter of values. In light of past borealization of the region’s forests, climate change, the social context, and biophysical constraints, Dr. Beckley will discuss a multitude of possible futures for New Brunswick’s forests, and he will share how he is planning for the future on his own 120 acres of woodland.
Dr. Cindy Prescott is professor emerita in the faculty of forestry at the University of British Columbia. She argues that resilient forests at their foundation require resilient soils, which require a diverse and fully functional below-ground ecosystem. Dr. Prescott will discuss how changes in forestry practices could promote soil biodiversity and offer guidance for establishing more resilient forests.
Marieka Chaplin is the Conservation Council’s director of freshwater and forest conservation. Marieka is an ecologist, teacher and wetland professional in New Brunswick with over 20 years of experience in botany, environmental consulting and floodplain restoration. She is an experienced field botanist who specializes in wetlands, botany, carbon stock assessments and species at risk. She is trained in Indigenous and protected conservation areas, is a CABIN program manager, is bilingual and is experienced in sustainable tourism. Marieka is highly skilled in wetland delineation and functional assessments (WESP-ACs), regulatory policy and writing/reviewing technical reports.
This story was brought to Nouzie by RSS. The original post can be found on https://www.conservationcouncil.ca/conservation-council-of-new-brunswick-lunch-and-learn-webinar-series/
