Maple Ridge's research forest receives national accolades
Maple Ridge's research forest receives national accolades
Maple Ridge’s greenery is being recognized and awarded on a national scale.
Malcolm Knapp Research Forest is one of two forests operated by the University of B.C. (UBC) that was recently acknowledged with a Canadian Forest Management Group Achievement Award.
Located on Silver Valley Road in Maple Ridge, Malcolm Knapp's was established in 1949 and spans more than 5,000 km (almost 13,000 acres).
The award recognizes outstanding achievements by teams of managers in the field of natural resource management in Canada, and the local forest was praised for its "pivotal role" in advancing forest education, research, and management across B.C. and beyond, explained Helene Marcoux, local research forest director who was on hand for the recent awards presentation.
“This award reflects the dedication of a diverse group of people united by their passion for innovative forestry, education and research,” Marcoux elaborated.
The Alex Fraser Research Forest near Williams Lake, also operated by UBC, was the other recipient of the 2025 award from the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF).
Both forests are working forests, with annual harvests and diversified revenue streams, including sawmilling, a combined heat and power plant, hospitality accommodations, training programs, and community outreach. This operational model supports a wide range of applied research and demonstration projects in areas such as watershed management, riparian ecosystems, wildfire resilience, silviculture, and biodiversity conservation.
Through the coordination of more than 1,400 research projects and the delivery of experiential learning programs to thousands of students and professionals, the research forests have significantly shaped forest policy, sustainable management practices, and public understanding of forestry, said presenters of the national awards.
Initiatives in both of the research forests have fostered innovation in areas such as ecosystem restoration, carbon storage, wildfire resilience, and Indigenous collaboration.
Operating under distinct governance models and financial self-sufficiency, the research forests exemplify how long-term, multidisciplinary forest stewardship can address complex environmental and economic challenges while inspiring the next generation of forest professionals.
During the same awards ceremony, professor Jeff Sawyer won the International Forestry Achievement Award for his contributions to international forest policy and practice, and for his mentorship of students in Australia, Switzerland, and Canada.
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