Promote and Incorporate Applied Research and Technology

An enhanced, better coordinated, and better focused research and development effort is essential if we are to achieve sustainability. Further research is needed in a number of broad subject areas: forest ecosystems and biological diversity; resource evaluation and inventory; the ecological and environmental impact of forest distubance and management regimes; forest protection covering disease, pest, and fire; silvicultural techniques; forest productivity; and other non-wood aspects of forests such as wildfire management, recreation, and cultural and heritage values. The Natural Resources Management Department will incorporate research and technology into our planning processes and operations by:

• Maintaining a forest management information system that incorporates geographical information to manage data related to forest inventory, forest cover, soils, water, transportation, and management activities.
• Using information from the forest management information system to develop site-level project plans, and short-term and long-term forest management plans.
• Assessing existing technology for possible incorporation into our operations.
• Keeping current with technology trends by:
  • Attending seminars, conferences, and training sessions.
  • Maintaining subscriptions to trade and research publications.
• Identifying and evaluating research opportunities that will contribute to information to help us improve our management practices.
• Supporting research in the following areas:
  • Forest health, productivity, and silvicultural techiques in the management of the forest.
  • Geography, wildlife, water/air and the biophysical environment.