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Feds pump $5M into Great Lakes Forestry Centre

July 15, 2015 — The Government of Canada has announced $5-million in new funding for Natural Resources Canada’s Great Lakes Forestry Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

The funding will be used for energy-efficiency and infrastructure upgrades to the centre, which conducts research on sustainable forest management, biological control of forest pests and diseases, forest productivity and forest fire research. For example, the centre is working to combat the highly destructive emerald ash borer and other harmful pests that threaten the forestry industry.

“Our government is proud to support the re-emergence of our forest sector. In fact, since 2006, our government has invested an unprecedented $1.8 billion toward the ongoing transformation and renewal of the forest industry across Canada,” said Bryan Hayes, MP for Sault Ste. Marie. “Today’s investment in science and infrastructure upgrades is welcome news for the scientists conducting leading-edge research at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.”

The government said the investment will help ensure Canada’s forest industry continues to support and create jobs.

About Great Lakes Forestry Centre
The Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC) is one of five research centres within the Canadian Forest Service. Its research priorities include:

Forest pests – Improving the identification, understanding and management of native and alien insects and diseases, using spatial analysis and current biological methods including genomics. Research is aimed at developing biological control methods and strategies, understanding insect biology, improving sampling techniques, and understanding the pathways by which alien pests spread. GLFC also maintains an insect-rearing and quarantine facility–a one-of-a-kind research facility that employs clean-room technology–to support research into invasive and native insects.

Climate change and forest fire studies – Examining the lasting effects of climate change and forest harvesting on forests and watersheds through long-term studies, such as the one at the Turkey Lakes Watershed. Researchers are using spatial analysis to examine the role of climate in natural systems and the impacts of and adaptations to climate change. Work also includes developing knowledge of fire behaviour to advance the use of fire management tools that can, for example, help minimize the impacts of disaster fires by providing real-time maps of fire hazard conditions.

Forest ecosystem research – Generating knowledge of the impacts of human-induced disturbances on forest ecosystems, and informing the development of ecosystem-based forest management policy to sustain ecological integrity. Work includes examining the ecological impacts and economic analysis of biomass harvesting on site productivity, soil nutrients and biodiversity.

July 15, 2015  By CanadianManufacturing.com