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UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship🌲

@ubcforestry

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Global leader in forestry & conservation education 🌿
Research for a sustainable future 🌎
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Thinking about studying forestry, sustainability or environmental stewardship at UBC? 🌲🎓

Join us for one of our upcoming online Undergraduate Information Sessions and explore our programs, career opportunities, student experience, financial support and more. You’ll also have the chance to connect with our student services team and get your questions answered.

💻 Online via Zoom
🕓 4–5 p.m. PT
📅 October 8
📅 November 12
📅 December 17, featuring a student panel

Whether you’re exploring your university options or considering a new career path, come discover where a degree from UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship could take you.

Register at the link in our bio. by @ubcforestry

Learn more about UBC’s Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) at one of our upcoming online information sessions. 🌱

The BILS program prepares future land stewards through an interdisciplinary education that brings together Indigenous knowledge, governance and sustainability. Hear directly from the BILS team about the program, Indigenous-led land healing and action-oriented reconciliation, and bring your questions for the team.

💻 Online via Zoom
🕓 4–5 p.m. PT
📅 October 29
📅 November 19
📅 January 28
📅 February 23

Register to join us at the link in our bio. by @ubcforestry

70 years ago, a group of forestry students in Sopron, Hungary, made a difficult journey that would shape our Faculty forever. 🌲

After the 1956 revolution, hundreds of Sopron students and faculty left Hungary. Many from the forestry community found a new home at UBC, where the Sopron Division carried on their education. That story is part of who we are, and the connection with Sopron remains a living legacy.

This week, Dean Rob Kozak joined the Universities of Sopron and Miskolc to mark the 70th anniversary of the events of 1956. During the ceremonies, the University of Sopron’s Senate awarded Dean Kozak a Doctors Honoris Causa, recognizing the enduring bond between our two institutions.

"The story of Sopron foresters is a defining moment in the history of the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship at the University of British Columbia, and I am abundantly aware that I would not be where I am had it not been for the bravery of the generation of Hungarians that came before me. The partnership between the University of British Columbia and the University of Sopron continues to flourish and is stronger than ever. As a link that binds our two institutions, our two traditions, the two homes of the Sopron foresters, I promise to keep this story alive. Let us all do the same." – Rob Kozak.

Thank you to the University of Sopron and the University of Miskolc for the warm welcome and for honouring this shared history. We’re proud to carry it forward. 🇨🇦🇭🇺

Read Dean Kozak's full speech at the link in our bio!🔗 by @ubcforestry

What happens to a forest after a wildfire? 🔥🍄

While wildfires can have devastating impacts, new research is revealing how some species thrive in their aftermath, helping forests recover and regenerate.

UBC FES Assistant Professor Dr. Monika Fischer spoke with Mongabay about her research on fire-loving fungi (pictured), which can break down charcoal, improve soil structure and help restore nutrient cycling in burned ecosystems.

“One of the fungi that I study, we know [now] they’re totally able to eat charcoal as a carbon source, which was really surprising to us,” Fischer explains.

The article also highlights research from UBC entomologist Aaron Bell on fire-adapted beetles and UBC Okanagan Professor Karen Hodges on wildlife recovery, exploring how fungi, insects, birds and mammals respond to changing forest landscapes.

Read the full story at the link in our bio. by @ubcforestry

Why do we need Urban Forestry?🏡

Meet Dr. Sara Barron, assistant professor of Urban Forestry at UBC FES! Dr. Barron’s work bridges landscape architecture and urban forestry while examining how sustainable planning can create more climate-resilient communities. 👩‍🏫

As our cities grow, we’re increasingly recognizing the role of nature in urban environments. The demand for green spaces and the people with the skills to manage them has never been greater. Dr. Barron highlights the growing demand for interdisciplinary professionals who understand the unique physiology of trees and how to design urban spaces that can help them thrive. 🌱

And urban trees are just the start!🌆🌳

Learn more about North America’s only undergraduate degree specializing in urban nature and planning at the link in our bio!🔗 by @ubcforestry

"Fire behaviour is really increasing"🔥

In this October's episode of The Root of It, we are joined by fire ecologist, #UBCFES researcher and former wildfire fighter, Dr. @kiramhoffman!

She shares insights into this past wildfire season and how researchers and communities braced for a challenging year due to low snowpack.❄️ by @ubcforestry

Never too late for a #UBCFES inspired Halloween costume👻 by @ubcforestry

BOO! 🤡🐾

Happy Halloween from one of our favourite #UBCFES dogs, Ollie!

Stay safe this Halloweekend🎃👻 by @ubcforestry

From Portland to Vancouver! 🌲🇺🇸🇨🇦 Meet Robin Sack, a third-year Urban Forestry student at UBC FES who traded Oregon for B.C. to explore the connections between plants, people and the environment.

Drawn to FES's unique blend of natural and social sciences, Robin has embraced opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, from the Land One program and Co-op to hands-on research studying bird and bat populations across Metro Vancouver. 🦇

“Moving to a different country can be scary, but also the best adventure you could ask for!” Robin shares.

Now, Robin hopes to pursue a future in environmental research, exploring how urban trees and plants can help address climate change and support healthier communities.

Thinking about making the move from the U.S. to UBC? Read Robin's story, experiences and advice for future students at the link in our bio! by @ubcforestry

A day at MKRF with BILS🌲

Last week, our Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship program came together for their ILS 100 and 200 field school at the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, exploring forest ecology, Indigenous stewardship practices, and building community outdoors.

You could be here next year! Register for tomorrow's info session and learn more about BILS at the link in our bio!

@elevindigenous by @ubcforestry

The impacts of gold mining extend far beyond the landscape, reaching into the everyday lives of communities that depend on it. Meet Sylvia Mensah, a UBC FES master’s student and Mastercard Foundation Scholar whose research explores how gold mining-related deforestation in Ghana affects households' access to cooking fuel.

“We know that environmental degradation does not happen in isolation. The effects can extend into people’s everyday lives,” Sylvia explains.

While mining can significantly impact forests and ecosystems, Sylvia's research highlights a less visible consequence: how changes to the landscape can make it harder for communities to access firewood, potentially contributing to energy poverty.

Through fieldwork in Ghana, Sylvia is connecting environmental research with the everyday experiences of local communities, hoping to inform more sustainable approaches to forest management, mining governance and household energy access.

Read more about Sylvia's research, her journey to UBC and her hopes for the future at the link in our bio. by @ubcforestry

Take your learning beyond the classroom with the Haida Gwaii Institute! 🌊🌲

Join us for a virtual information session to explore the Haida Gwaii Institute's unique, place-based learning opportunities, including the upcoming Semester in Marine Conservation. Hear directly from the Haida Gwaii Institute team and get your questions answered!

Discover how these immersive 13-week programs combine hands-on learning, community engagement and insights from local experts and knowledge holders. Learn more about the Semester in Marine Conservation, where students can earn 15 UBC credits while exploring marine ecosystems, Indigenous governance and responsible ocean stewardship.

📅 Thursday, November 12, 2026
🕙 10–11 a.m. Pacific Time
💻 Online via Zoom

Register at the link in our bio. by @ubcforestry