Biocoal is made from wood charcoal and a binder. Biocoal made by BC Biocarbon is made to replace coal in high temperature combustion uses. As biocoal is similar to coal, it is thought to be used to store carbon in the ground. This project hopes to demonstrate the carbon storage ability of biocoal, plastic-sealed wood, […]

This research focuses on creating and implementing a sampling methodology to collect information on vegetation communities and soils along the Lulu Island foreshore in Steveston, BC. This information will be used to examine how the plant communities of natural marsh areas in this area change based on certain environmental parameters (e.g. elevation, salinity, tidal inundation) […]

The general objective of the proposed activity is to increase the future productivity of Burrard Inlet and the contribution of seafood to the diet of Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) members in support of the TWN Cumulative Effects Monitoring Initiative. Specifically we propose to (1) quantify the ecological variables driving contemporary clam density, biomass and diversity; (2) […]

Agricultural wastewater and public effluents often contain elevated levels of phosphorous and nitrogen that limit its ability to be directly repurposed as crop fertilizer or irrigation spray. Removal of soluble nutrients from wastewater is difficult. Current treatment options have high investment costs and are often not well suited for smaller farm sizes common in Canada. […]

Estuaries are important ecosystems which provide us with many benefits, some of which include storing carbon, dampening the impacts of rising sea levels, and are areas of high biodiversity. The Fraser River estuary in the lower mainland of British Columbia is seeing alteration from human presence, including the introduction of invasive species. One invasive species […]

The goal of this project is to understand how habitat enhancements, such as semi-natural or natural native managed hedgerows, grass margins, and grassland set-asides impact both pollination and pest control in berry fields in the Delta, BC region. Our hypothesis is that the inclusion of these natural habitats will promote beneficial insect diversity. Beneficial insects […]

This study aims to identify the elements of Indigenous organizations’ engagement and consultation protocols, and compare with government and industry developed engagement and consultation protocols to analyze commonalities, differences and important considerations, and alignment with the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and the Truth and […]

Current agricultural production practices place enormous burdens on the earth’s ecosystems and are creating challenges to meet future food security goals given growing populations and mounting pressure to limit resource use and environmental impacts. In Canada especially, the short growing season and cold climate limit vegetable production and create reliance on indoor food production or […]

The COVID-19 crisis has caused severe disruption in the supply chain, reduced demand for goods and services, prompted a dramatic decline in GDP, caused high levels of unemployment, and undermined consumer confidence. The calamity has exposed vulnerabilities in the current paradigm of management thinking and business operational structures. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are among […]

Social media has substantially changed the information landscape for winter backcountry recreation (e.g., backcountry skiers and snowboarders, mountain snowmobile riders and snowshoers), which has created both opportunities and challenges for avalanche safety. The Avalanche Research Program at Simon Fraser University and Avalanche Canada are conducting a study to examine how recreationists seek, share and introduce […]

Scientists have been interested in the effects that microorganisms have on their host plants for over a century, however, recently researchers have been able to better tackle these questions with the advent of new technology. In particular, beneficial microorganisms associated with roots can increase crop resiliency against disease, pests and extreme weather events, making this […]

The project will develop a conceptual framework to quantify the value of nature based recreation. The tool will focus on improvements in physical health, improvements in mental health and health benefits associated with improved ecosystem protection. The tool will provide provincial, municipal and community organizations a mechanism to support informed program, policy and planning decisions […]