Alberta Forest Extension Network

Current Events

Projects

Weberville Community Forest Project

The purpose of the Weberville Community Forest Project is to design ad pilot a process for the creation of a landscape-level woodlot management plan for the community. This innovative, community-based approach to private forest land management is the first of its kind in Canada. Rather than focusing on individual woodlot owners, the project encompasses the goals of multiple woodlot owners. In doing so, the project offers a “bigger picture” view of landscape-level forest management which offers greater opportunities by virtue of its greater total land area.
agroforestry tour 2008

Some of these opportunities include:

increased awareness of economic, social and environmental implications of agricultural area forest management;
creation of a private forest land inventory;
diverse market opportunities for timber and non-timber products; and
increased awareness of other resource-related programs (Environmental Farm Plan, Ducks Unlimited, Prairie Farm Shelterbelt program).

The Weberville area is located near Peace River, Alberta and is defined by geographical boundaries which encompass approximately 130 square miles (333 square km) of crown and private land. Phase I of the project started in April 2008 and saw 11 landowners (representing 17 quarter sections) having inventories conducted of their land. Phase II of the project began in April 2009 and plans are underway to develop a community board, conduct more private-land inventories and explore other opportunities such as trail development, tree planting and coordinated harvesting.

AFEX has proudly sponsored a grant to the Weberville Community Forest Project for its continued efforts in woodlot management.

For more information on this project please contact the project co-leads:

Doug Macaulay, Woodlot Extension Program
Juri Agapow, FPInnovations-Feric Division

Phase I Final Report & Template - April 2009

Weberville Community Forest Project Newsletters alt

November 2009
August 2009
June 2009
February 2009
November 2008
July 2008
May 2008

EMEND (Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance)

The EMEND Project, located in the boreal mixedwood forest near Peace River, Alberta, Canada, is a large-scale variable retention harvest experiment designed to test effects of residual forest structure on ecosystem integrity and forest regeneration at the forest stand-level.

EMEND is a long-term project that began in 1998 and is forecast to run for one stand rotation, or approximately 80-100 years. The project, centered at the University of Alberta, is a collaboration between numerous research agencies, provincial and federal governments, and the forest companies.

AFEX is a supporter of EMEND through the development of a promotional DVD, which is planned for release in fall 2010.

Click here to visit the EMEND website.