Celebrating Science, Research and the Inventive Spirit
Celebrating Science, Research and the Inventive Spirit
SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT NETWORK
Established in 1995, The Sustainable Forest Management Network is one of Canada's 22 Networks of Centres of Excellence. The SFMN administrative center is hosted at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Network brings together top scientists, forest managers and practitioners, First Nations leaders and governments to address known and emerging challenges to forest sustainability. FOREST RESEARCH COVERS SEVERAL DISCIPLINESThe SFM Network effectively links between 75 to 100 top-level researchers working in the fields of ecology, biology, economics, policy, anthropology and engineering with key sector partners including Aboriginal people, government and industry. Information exchange occurs when the research team, involving the various disciplines as required, meets at the same table with various sector partners on an ongoing basis throughout the whole research project. No one works in isolation. RESEARCH LEADS TO BETTER FOREST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.Management of forests transcends political jurisdictions, particularly with the increasing demand nationally and internationally for certification that forest products are produced in a sustainable manner. Consumers, worldwide, want proof of this certification. Through the SFMN, diverse sectors continue to be drawn into a partnership of funding, planning and implementing research. Scientific results are used to inform policy makers, revise or renew land management strategies and to create a better public understanding of the scientific issues concerning Canada's forests. PARTNERSHIPS SUPPORT SFM RESEARCHFifty-five percent of the SFMN's $7 million budget comes from the Network of Centres of Excellence program. The remaining 45% comes from contributions by Network partners including: four provinces, five First Nations, 11 forestry companies, and the University of Alberta (as host institution). Partners provide "unfettered" funds. PUBLICATIONS DISSEMINATE RESEARCH RESULTSInformation generated by the SFM Network is available through a variety of publications. These included research program guides, annual reports, and the newsletter Tomorrow's Forests which is published twice a year. Website: www.ualberta.ca/sfm
|
