Government of Canada Invests in New Research Partnership to Benefit Forestry Sector

FREDERICTON, New Brunswick, April 6, 2010 — Canadians working in the forest industry will soon benefit from a new research partnership at the University of New Brunswick. This new project will bring together university researchers, the forest industry, community organizations and governments to implement innovative solutions for sustainable forest management in the region, address immediate environmental challenges and develop skills within New Brunswick to handle complex environmental challenges in the future.

Details of the federal investment in the project were announced by the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, while speaking at the university on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology).

“Our government is investing in research, innovation and training that benefits Canadians by supporting partnerships between community organizations,” said Minister Ashfield. “This new research partnership will help New Brunswickers working in the forestry sector by helping to make the industry more economically and environmentally sustainable.”

This Collaborative Research Partnership for Sustainable Forest Management is one of 20 large-scale research projects that have received an investment of approximately $1 million over six years through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's (SSHRC) Community–University Research Alliances (CURA) program grants. The funding will bring communities and universities together in partnerships to build knowledge in areas affecting Canadians.

The new collaborative research project will be led by Dr. Donald Floyd, Professor of Forest Policy and Chair of the Canadian Institute for Forest Policy and Communication at the University of New Brunswick. The project includes partners from across the university sector and numerous non-governmental organizations (NGO), including the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre; Bird Studies Canada; the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society; Fundy Model Forest; J.D. Irving, Limited; the Nature Conservancy of Canada; the Nature Trust of New Brunswick; and RESOLVE, a non-profit organization located in Washington, D.C. that is dedicated to advancing the effective use of consensus building in public decision making.

“This grant highlights the excellence of our country's talented researchers and recognizes the importance of fostering collaboration to keep Canada at the leading edge of research, development and innovation in the 21^st century,” said Dr. Chad Gaffield, SSHRC President.

“Collaborative projects among industry, environmental organizations, government and universities are initiatives that will ignite positive change in our forest sector,” said Dr. Greg Kealey, Provost and Vice-President (Research) at the University of New Brunswick. “We're grateful that the federal government has committed to invest in this important partnership. SSHRC's Community-University Research Alliance Program is one of the most innovative programs offered by the federal research councils.”

To help meet global challenges, the forest community, universities and governments must work ever-more-closely together to develop strategies for conserving important habitats and forest communities, as well as broader knowledge within the forest sector to create vibrant communities, profitable resource-based industries and resilient ecosystems. This collaborative research project will support NGOs, the forest industry, governments and universities in New Brunswick in discussing, collaborating and putting into practice innovative solutions for sustainable forest management.

CURA program grants support joint research projects between researchers based at post‑secondary institutions and community-based organizations. The projects focus on a wide range of issues of importance to Canadians, such as community food security, employment innovations and the effect of co-operatives.

Each project enhances the education and employability of the students involved by providing them with opportunities to build their knowledge, expertise and work skills through hands-on research and related experience.

For the full list of successful CURA programs, see the SSHRC website.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613-943-7599

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502

Trevor Lynn
Manager, Communications
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
613-992-7302
613-302-9879 (cell)
Trevor.Lynn@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca