Forest Conservation and Forest Biomaterials Science


Faculty List

Professors
Sandy Smith, MSc, PhD
Sean Thomas, BA, PhD

Associate Professors
John Caspersen, BA, PhD
Patrick James, BSc, PhD

Assistant Professors
Sally Krigstin, MScF, PhD
Ben Kuttner, MScF, PhD, RPF
Amory Ngan, BA, MFC, RPF
Danijela Puric-Mladenovic, MScF, PhD
Katherine Siegel, BS, MS, PhD
Rasoul Yousefpour, BSc, MSc, PhD

Professors Emeriti
David Balsillie
Roarke Bryan
Terry Carleton
Paul Cooper
Martin Hubbes
Andy Kenney
Jay Malcolm
David Martell
Vic Timmer

Introduction

In the past, Forestry programs have traditionally focused on the management of forests as sources of timber and revenue. However, with the increasing recognition of their immense cultural, social, and environmental role, the focus of forest management has shifted to include biodiversity maintenance, ecological sustainability, and the protection of wildlife and their habitats. Our Forest Conservation programs prepare students for this critically important role by combining traditional ecological and physical sciences with social sciences. Graduates can pursue a wide range of new career opportunities developing in private, government, and non-government environmental organizations where forest conservationists increasingly work as members of multidisciplinary teams of environmental and resource managers focusing on complex, emerging social and community issues, such as Aboriginal rights and land tenure, protection of wilderness parklands, preservation of urban green space, and the use of forests for carbon sequestration.

The Undergraduate Forestry program at the University of Toronto is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the biological, social, and operational fundamentals of forestry and its relationship to our ecosystems. The program offers courses in forest conservation, tree biology and identification, arboriculture, wood science and forest products, wildlife and insect ecology, agroforestry, urban forestry, bioenergy, and forest fire behaviour and management.

Students may take a specialist degree leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Forest Conservation or a Bachelor of Science in Forest Conservation Science. The arts program focuses on communal forest management, development of forest policies, forest economics and forest product trade, with electives in social sciences, while the science program concentrates on forest biology and ecology with electives in life and physical sciences.

The major programs in Forest Conservation are intended to build on a student’s interest in forestry and related issues. Students should consider combining these programs with a major in another related discipline such as environment, geography, biology, chemistry, or urban studies. A minor in Forest Conservation Science (Science program) and a minor in Forest Conservation (Arts program) are also available.

Foresters play a critical role in managing our natural resources, and as a forestry student you will learn how to take care of our forests while addressing some of the biggest challenges facing our forest landscapes, ecosystems, and communities.

If you are passionate about the sustainability of natural resources, value experiential learning in the outdoors and classroom, and want to gain an understanding of the natural and social sciences needed to tackle the challenges of resource management in the face of future climates, then one of our forestry programs may be perfect for you.

Note: Enrolment in the Forest Biomaterials Science Major and Minor has been administratively suspended as of 1 October 2020 and no new students are being admitted. Students presently enrolled in the Major or Minor will be able to complete the respective program requirements as described below.

The Forestry Program Administrator may be contacted at laura.lapchinski@daniels.utoronto.ca or programs@daniels.utoronto.ca