September 2006 Newsletter

The Future of the McGregor Model Forest Association

McGregor acts as a host organization for the northern Integrated Resource Management Business Group (IRMBG), which has just submitted an expression of interest to the Canadian Forest Service’s Forest Communities Program. This new program replaces the Canadian Model Forest Program, which is wrapping up on March 31, 2007 after 15 years. The goal of the proposed work by McGregor and IRMBG is to create or improve coordination a) between the different resource sectors (e.g. forestry, mining, tourism, oil & gas), and b) between these sectors and the communities they influence. Over the next month we will be consulting with communities and organizations to determine the issues that need to be included in the proposal, due Oct. 31st. If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact us.

Adapting to Climate Change - What can a Community Do?

On May 17, 2006 the McGregor Model Forest Association, in partnership with FORREX, the Canadian Model Forest Network, the University of Northern BC, and Natural Resources Canada hosted the workshop "Communities and Climate Change: Planning for Impacts and Adapations" in the Prince George Civic Centre. The workshop provided communities with information about how to prepare for the potential impacts caused by climate change, recognize areas of vulnerability, and move towards making adaptations to reduce our risks. Media articles, proceedings, the presentations delivered at the workshop, and details of the subsequent development of a Northern Climate Change Network are available for viewing on McGregor’s Climate Change Initiatives webpage. In September, Cinema CNC showed the movie An Inconvenient Truth, featuring Al Gore in his quest to provide facts and dispel the myths about global warming and motivate people to take action. McGregor hosted a special matinee showing of the film, followed by a group discussion of the issues. This movie is scheduled to be released on DVD by November 18th, 2006. The official website for the movie is www.climatecrisis.net.

Model Forest AchiEvements

In the spring the Canadian Model Forest Network released their "Achievements" report. Hard copies of the report were sent out to all McGregor partners. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact Kathi Zimmerman at 250-612-5849.

Who Stands on our Board of Directors?

In our March 2006 Newsletter we announced the new Board of Directors webpage under "About Us", which provides a brief biography and photograph of all our directors. In the last issue we profiled two new members, and in this issue we’ll describe two "veterans": Jo Graber and Dan Lousier.

Jo Graber is one of seven founding Directors of the McGregor Model Forest. He has an extensive background in project management in architecture & engineering, urban planning, as well as post secondary and industry-specific education projects. As past Chair of Technology at the College of New Caledonia (CNC), he directed the Forest Resource Technology program and was instrumental in bringing the post-diploma Geographic Information Systems program to CNC. Jo is a voting member of the Tree Farm License 30 as well as Prince George Timber Supply Area Public Advisory Groups participating in the Canadian Standards Association certification process for Sustainable Forest Management. He is Chair of the Community Heritage Commission, Treasurer of the Huble Homestead, past Chair of the BC SPCA Community Council for North Cariboo, and he co-chaired the Healthy Community Committee of the City of Prince George.

Dan Lousier has been a Director for 6 years and has been actively involved in strategic planning and conducting projects for McGregor. He currently is the Chair of our Strategic Forestry Program. Dan has 30 years of experience in forestry and environmental studies, particularly in the areas of project and program management; research planning; development of strategic plans for research and extension; development of business, implementation and operating plans for research and extension programs; and proposal writing and review. His research and management interests have included: forest ecology; biology of forest soils; forest nutrition; soil climate, degradation, and conservation; broadleaf management; mixedwood management; integrated forest health management; and wildlife tree management. Dan is also a Director of FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership. While being ‘exiled’ to Vancouver Island, Dan is currently enjoying his home country, the best of BC’s Heartland, working here in our Prince George office until the Agroforestry Conference in October.

Russia Hosts Boreal Forests Conference

The McGregor Model Forest Association recently participated in a workshop titled “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Boreal Forests: A Canadian-Russian Perspective”. This workshop was held in St Petersburg, Russia and saw approximately 50 scientists, government representatives as well as representatives of the Canadian and Russian Model Forest Network meet for 4 days in late May.

The 4 day workshop had lectures and roundtable discussions focused on the two largest boreal forest nations in the world. Linkages between both scientists and Model Forest representatives were forged or reestablished. With the support and guidance provided by the International Model Forest Network, the workshop also saw the signing of a document to establish a Russian Model Forest Network with 5 model forests participating in the initial network.

For McGregor, the conference also presented the opportunity to reestablish relations with the Gassinski Model Forest in far eastern Russia. This Model Forest was initially established in the 1990’s with assistance from McGregor. Discussions were held to explore the future potential of additional sharing between the two model forests.

McGregor’s participation in this event was supported by a grant from the International Development Research Centre, on behalf of the International Model Forest Network Secretariat, Ottawa, Canada.

Conference: Agroforestry Potential for the Peace Region

Date:    October 17-18, 2006
Location:    Taylor Community Hall, Taylor, BC

This one day workshop, followed by a second day field tour, will highlight alley cropping and other agroforestry opportunities in the Peace Region.   The workshop session will feature invited speakers covering a general introduction of agroforestry systems; presentations on setting up and managing a poplar/aspen intercropping operation; how carbon sequestration and credits integrate into business planning; wildlife damage potential (rodents and ungulates); alternate crops for intercropping and other agroforestry production systems; and presentation and discussion of the Doig River First Nation demonstration project. Click here for preliminary agenda and registration.

The field tour will be to Murdoch Lake Agroforestry Demonstration near Manning, Alberta. The bus will leave Fort St. John at 7:00 a.m. and return at 6:00 p.m.

Early bird registration until September 30, 2006 - registration form

National Forestry Week

This week is National Forestry Week, a time to celebrate Canadian’s connection to the forest! "Our forests are worth celebrating — for their natural beauty, for the products developed from them and for the jobs they provide" Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. McGregor and the Council of Forest Industries Education Program put together a series of radio advertisements promoting careers in forestry, which will be aired throughout the region all week on local radio stations. To listen to the ads, click on the following links: Possibilities ( mp3 file, 486KB); Testimonial (mp3, 499KB); and Forest for the Trees (486KB). Details of events happening across the country can be found at the Canadian Forestry Association’s website. A few suggestions for what you can do to celebrate this week include:
- arrange a tree planting: www.treecanada.ca
- take a walk in woods nearby and get to know your forest
- care for a newly planted or neglected tree, and study its species
- identify all the things at home or school that are made of wood
- learn about organizations that demonstrate sustainable forest management
- tour a forest sector industry or processing site
- learn about the prevention of forest fires
- contact a provincial forestry association for teaching materials