Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - REM 471 D100

Forest Ecosystems and Management (4)

Class Number: 3143

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    One of REM 100, or GEOG 100 or 111, or EVSC 100 or BISC 102; and 45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Forests are critical components of the earth system and provide diverse ecological, economic, social, and cultural services. They are also a source of conflict regarding their conservation and use. Students will begin by examining the ecological characteristics of forest ecosystems and disturbances pertinent to North America. This knowledge will then be applied to evaluate tools of forest management for a variety of goals and objectives. The final section of the course will examine challenges and opportunities in the management of British Columbia’s forested ecosystems, including Indigenous Protected Conservation Areas, carbon accounting, and wildfire management. This course will involve lectures, group work, assignments, and possible field trips.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:


The education goals for this course include:

  • Developing an understanding of the structure and dynamics of forest ecosystems
  • Applying ecological knowledge to determine constraints and opportunities in forest management
  • Understanding the role of disturbance in forest ecosystem management
  • Critically evaluating socio-ecological impacts and the future of forest management in BC

Grading

  • Assignments 50%
  • Quizzes 50%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Students may benefit from using a laptop in classes and tutorials. The SFU library has free, 4-hr loans of laptops: https://www.lib.sfu.ca/borrow/borrowmaterials/laptops-equipment/borrow-laptop

The campus-wide demand for library laptops is high and the library often runs out quickly. If you need to use the library laptops, you should show-up early at the library check-out desk.

REQUIRED READING:

Forest Management:

  • Price, K., Holt, R. F., & Daust, D. (2021). Conflicting portrayals of remaining old growth: the British Columbia case. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 51(5), 742-752.
  • Beese, W. J., Dunsworth, B. G., Zielke, K., & Bancroft, B. (2003). Maintaining attributes of old-growth forests in coastal BC through variable retention. The forestry chronicle, 79(3), 570-578.

Ecosystem Disturbance:

  • Parisien, M. A., Barber, Q. E., Bourbonnais, M. L., Daniels, L. D., Flannigan, M. D., Gray, R. W., & Whitman, E. (2023). Abrupt, climate-induced increase in wildfires in British Columbia since the mid-2000s. Communications Earth & Environment, 4(1), 309.
  • Copes‐Gerbitz, K., Daniels, L. D., & Hagerman, S. M. (2023). The contribution of Indigenous stewardship to an historical mixed‐severity fire regime in British Columbia, Canada. Ecological Applications, 33(1), e2736.
  • Burton, P. J., & Boulanger, Y. (2018). Characterizing combined fire and insect outbreak disturbance regimes in British Columbia, Canada. Landscape Ecology, 33, 1997-2011.

Forest Policy and Governance:
  • Sutherland, I. J., Copes-Gerbitz, K., Parrott, L., & Rhemtulla, J. M. (2023). Dynamics in the landscape ecology of institutions: Lags, legacies, and feedbacks drive path-dependency of forest landscapes in British Columbia, Canada 1858–2020. Landscape Ecology, 38(12), 4325-4341.
  • Dickson-Hoyle, S., Copes-Gerbitz, K., Hagerman, S. M., & Daniels, L. D. (2023). Community Forests advance local wildfire governance and proactive management in British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 54(3), 290-304.
  • Devisscher, T., Spies, J., & Griess, V. C. (2021). Time for change: Learning from community forests to enhance the resilience of multi-value forestry in British Columbia, Canada. Land use policy, 103, 105317.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.