Rivers and streams are critical corridors linking forests and fish. This theme investigates flow regimes, temperature, habitat quality, fish movement and survival (e.g., salmon), and the ecological effects of dams and hydropower - informing environmental flows, passage design, and river restoration.

Researchers

• Tommi Linnansaari: Atlantic salmon ecology, Biotelemetry; Stream and river ecology, Ecological effects of hydropower; Environmental flows, Climate change impacts on salmon.
• Michelle Gray: Indicators of ecosystem health; Environmental monitoring study design; Long-term monitoring data analysis.

Associated HRAs and Adjuncts

• Derek Hogan (Adjunct) - Population ecology, fish biology, movement ecology, freshwater ecology, salmon biology, evolutionary biology, diadromous fishes ecology, coral reef ecology
• Marc Skinner (Adjunct) - Fisheries and Ocean Canada
• Mark Trudel (Adjunct) - DFO

This theme builds the quantitative backbone of modern forestry. It spans forest inventory, LiDAR and satellite analytics, GIS, UAVs, growth-and-yield and ecological models, and emerging data-science/ML tools to map, monitor, and forecast forest structure, productivity, and disturbance at stand to provincial scales.

Researchers

• Paul Arp: Forest Soils, Watersheds, and Productivity; Hydrology, Hydro-Topographic Modeling and Mapping; Forest Planning Applications: Trafficability Forecasting, Road and Trail Routing; Digital Soil Mapping.
  
  
• Charles Bourque: Hydrological processes in landscapes; Vegetation and land interaction with the atmosphere; Biospheric fluxes in deserts, shrub land, and forests.
  
  
• John Kershaw: Forest Mensuration, Sample Design and Analysis; Large-Scale Forest Inventory, Long-term Forest Monitoring; Forest Dynamics following Partial Harvesting; Forest History, Climate change impacts and adaptation of forests.
  
  
• Fan-rui Meng: Application of Drones in Forestry and Environmental Protection; Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation; Carbon Cycling and Carbon Accounting for Forest System.
  
  
• Jae Ogilvie: LiDAR Based Forest Modeling; Wet Areas Mapping; GIS Analysis.
  
  
• Anthony Taylor: Forest ecosystem dynamics; Plant community assembly and succession; Climate change impacts on forest plant community structure and function.
  
  
• Christopher Wong: Remote sensing; Plant ecophysiology; Climate change; Carbon cycle dynamics; Forestry; Agriculture.

Associated HRAs and Adjuncts

• Aaron Weiskittel (HRA) - Forest mensuration, Forest biometrics, Forest modeling
• Adam Dick (HRA) - Forest Inventory, Digitalization, Forest Management
• John Pedlar (HRA) - climate modeling; tree distributions; assisted migration
• Patrick Withey (Adjunct) - Environmental Economics; impact analysis; climate policy; CGE modeling; forest carbon modeling
• Raphael Chavardes (Adjunct)- fire ecology, dendrochronology, fire weather, fire-climate associations, fire-growth modeling, fire risk, forest ecology, climate-growth associations
• Robert Buchkowski (Adjunct) - ecological modeling, climate change, soil ecology, aboveground-belowground interactions
• Shane Furze (Adjunct) – J.D Irving
• Peter Neily (HRA) - NRC Nova Scotia
• Mary Jane Rodger (HRA) - Medway Community Forest Coop
• Olivier van Lier (HRA) – remote sensing specialist

Forestry decisions are social as much as technical. This theme covers community and stakeholder engagement, governance and policy analysis, environmental impact assessment, Indigenous knowledge interfaces, and applied project management - ensuring evidence-based, equitable, and workable solutions on the ground.

Researchers

• Tom Beckley: Social problems and issues in forest dependent communities; Public participation in resource management and policy; Sociology of energy, energy literacy, and climate change.
  
  
• Janet Blackadar: Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Project Management, Environmental Policy.

Associated HRAs and Adjuncts

• Bianca Langille (HRA) - Environmental contaminants, partnerships with Indigenous communities, emergency management, climate change.
• Jessica Leahy (HRA) - human dimensions of natural resources, environmental education, and family forest / small scale forestry.
• Solange Nadeau (HRA) - human dimension of forestry, public participation, forest owners, environmental sociology.
• Stephen Wyatt (Adjunct)
• Cecilia Brooks (HRA) - Indigenous knowledge, Wabanaki peace and friendship treaties, Wabanaki worldview.
• Kim Reeder (HRA) - Community Development Consultant

How water moves through forested landscapes - from rainfall to streams to groundwater - shapes ecosystem health and risk. This theme covers watershed processes, water quality and temperature, erosion/sedimentation, and climate/weather interactions that drive floods, droughts, and habitat change, supporting decisions from culvert sizing to source-water protection.

Researchers

• Paul Arp: Forest Soils, Watersheds, and Productivity; Hydrology, Hydro-Topographic Modelling and Mapping; Forest Planning Applications: Trafficability Forecasting, Road and Trail Routing; Digital Soil Mapping.
  
  
• Charles Bourque: Hydrological processes in landscapes; Vegetation and land interaction with the atmosphere; Biospheric fluxes in deserts, shrub land, and forests.
  
  
• Michelle Gray: Indicators of ecosystem health; Environmental monitoring study design; Long-term monitoring data analysis.
  
  
• Fan-rui Meng: Application of Drones in Forestry and Environmental Protection; Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation; Carbon Cycling and Carbon Accounting for Forest System.
  
  
• Wendy Monk: Spatial and temporal integration of hydrology, aquatic ecology and geospatial analyses within freshwater ecosystems; Climate change impacts on aquatic wildlife.

Associated HRAs and Adjuncts

• Sheng Li (Adjunct) - Hydrology, Watersheds & Hydro‑meteorology
• André St-Hilaire (Adjunct) - Hydrology, modelling, freshwater ecology
• Xin Jia (Adjunct) - School of Soils and Water Conservation, Beiging Forestry University
• Junyu Qi (Adjunct) - Earth System Science Interdis Center

Focused on how we grow, tend, and harvest forests while sustaining ecological function. Work ranges from stand dynamics, regeneration, and treatments for resilience, to operational planning (roads, trafficability), integrating soils and nutrients with management objectives for fibre, biodiversity, and climate adaptation.

Researchers

• Paul Arp: Forest Soils, Watersheds, and Productivity; Hydrology, Hydro-Topographic Modelling and Mapping; Forest Planning Applications: Trafficability Forecasting, Road and Trail Routing; Digital Soil Mapping.
  
  
• Jasen Golding: Shade tolerant hardwood management; Alternate or non-traditional harvest techniques; Forest Operations Planning.
  
  
• John Kershaw: Forest Mensuration, Sample Design and Analysis; Large-Scale Forest Inventory, Long-term Forest Monitoring; Forest Dynamics following Partial Harvesting; Forest History, Climate change impacts and adaptation of forests.
  
  
• Rafaella Mayrinck: Silviculture, Forest management, Forest Ecology
  
  
• Fan-rui Meng: Application of Drones in Forestry and Environmental Protection; Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation; Carbon Cycling and Carbon Accounting for Forest System.
  
  
• Anthony Taylor: Forest ecosystem dynamics; Plant community assembly and succession; Climate change impacts on forest plant community structure and function.

Associated HRA’s and Adjuncts

• Robert Buchkowski (Adjunct) - ecological modelling, climate change, soil ecology, aboveground-belowground interactions
• Daniel Kneeshaw (Adjunct) - forest dynamics, forest resilience to disturbances (harvesting, drought, insects). restoration ecology, old-growth forests
• Darren Sleep (HRA) - Forest Management, rare and threatened species, conservation, forest ecology
• Dirk Jaeger (Adjunct) - Forest Management, rare and threatened species, conservation, forest ecology
• Grant Virgin (HRA) - Forest Management. Forest Inventory. Optimization. Linear Programming. Mixed Integer Linear Programming. Silviculture. Plantation Forestry/Intensive Forest Management. Remote Sensing/LiDAR. GIS & Spatial Analyses. Forest Operations.
• Ian Thompson (Adjunct) - Biodiversity, Terrestrial ecology, Tropical forestry
• Joanne MacDonald (HRA) - reforestation physiology
• John E. Major (HRA) - Ecological Restoration, Genetics, Ecophysiology, Climate Change
• Joshua Sherrill (HRA) - Forest Productivity, Forest Genetics, Seedlings
• Loïc D'Orangeville (Adjunct) - applied forest ecology, tree growth, climate change
• Nelson Thiffault (Adjunct) - silviculture, reforestation, regeneration, vegetation management, adaptive silviculture to climate change
• Patricia Raymond (Adjunct) - Ecological forestry, mixed wood management, climate-smart silviculture, forest assisted migration, rehabilitation silviculture
• Stewart Cameron (Adjunct) - applied plant physiology, carbon sequestration in commercial Christmas tree operations
• Yves Bergeron (Adjunct) - Forest ecology and management
• Trevor Jones (Adjunct)
• David Babineau (HRA)
• Zisheng Xing (HRA) - Forestry, Agriculture, Micrometeorology, Environment

Where species, habitats, and people intersect. Research addresses biodiversity assessment, species-at-risk recovery, habitat modelling, landscape connectivity, and protected-area or multi-use planning - translating ecological evidence into practical conservation actions with agencies, industry, and communities.

Researchers

• Graham Forbes: Wildlife ecology and management; Biodiversity and Conservation planning
  
  
• Joe Nocera: Endangered Species; Forest Wildlife Ecology, and Ornithology
  
  
• Anthony Taylor: Forest ecosystem dynamics; Plant community assembly and succession; Climate change impacts on forest plant community structure and function.

Associated HRAs and Adjuncts

• Alana Westwood (Adjunct) - wetlands, waterfowl management, avian ecology, environmental policy
• Alan Hanson (Adjunct) - wetlands, waterfowl management, avian ecology, environmental policy
• Emma Despland (Adjunct) - Entomology, plant-insect interactions, insect outbreaks, biodiversity, animal behavior
• Laura McFarlane Tranquilla (Adjunct) - birds, seabirds, marine ecology, wildlife tracking
• Yong Zhang (HRA)
• Holly Abbandonato (HRA) - Canadian Wildlife Federation
• Sean Basquill (HRA) - Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources - Wildlife Div
• Amanda Loder (HRA) - Climate, Environment, Wetland, Earth Science, Geography

From cell wall to city skyline. Research spans wood quality and mechanics, modification and composites, mass-timber systems (e.g., CLT), durability, and life-cycle assessment, advancing low-carbon materials and design for safer, greener buildings and bio-economy growth.

Researchers

• Meng Gong: Wood Mechanics, Engineered Wood Products; 3D Printing Technology, Tiny Wood Houses; Wood Quality and Modification and Climate change impacts on buildings.

Associated HRAs and Adjuncts

• Ling Li (HRA) - Cross-laminated timber, biochar, wood fiber insulation
• Brad Jianhe Wang (Adjunct) - Engineered wood products, Bamboo-wood composites, Mass timber construction, Hybrid energy-efficient building
• Changtong Mei (HRA - Wood physics, Wood Composites, Nano Cellulose
• Hongmei Gu (Adjunct) - Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Cost Analysis, Biogenic Carbon Accounting, Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment, Mass Timber structure.
• Karen Harper (Adjunct) - forest edges, spatial pattern, vegetation structure, plant community ecology
• Mohammad Mohammad (HRA) - Mass Timber, Timber Connections, Tall Wood Buildings
• Ronald Smith (Adjunct)
• Cameron Stewart (Adjunct)
• Alireza Kaboorani (Adjunct)
• Brad Wang (Adjunct)
• Chantong Mei (HRA)
• Yuan Sun (HRA)
• Zhiqiang Wang (HRA)
• Yong Zhang (HRA)

Director: Jennifer Lento, PhD.

The Canadian Rivers Institute’s vision: to make every river a healthy river.

Defining exactly what characteristics constitute “healthy” however remains to be a significant scientific challenge. For this reason, the CRI continues to work in collaboration with partner institutions, governments, and non-governmental organizations to develop a broad science-based framework for assessing the health of Canadian river ecosystems.

Our approach to assessing river health is carried out through the development of core metrics broadly derived from measures of water quality, water flow, and biota. By improving our ability to measure these features of river systems, we move closer to an understanding of what conditions or thresholds must be met for a river to be classified as healthy.

The CRI as an entity is hosted at the University of New Brunswick, reporting to the VP-Research, and CRI Operations is physically located in the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management.

Our research focuses on the development and application of analytical models and tools to support forest management planning and decision support making.

Particular emphasis is on the study and promotion of 'Ecological' and 'Climate-Focused' Forest Management strategies aimed at conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of climate change (e.g., forest carbon management).

Paul Arp, PhD is the lead of the Forest Watershed Lab which uses scientific methods to address biophysical issues that arise from forest management operations, using watersheds as primary research and management units.

The centre is a partnership of industry, university and government dedicated to the development, application, and communication of watershed research (water, nutrients, air, energy, vegetation and soils) to promote sustainable and integrated forest management policies and practices.

PI: Joe Nocera, PhD.

Research in the Forest Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour Lab (FEWB) takes an integrative approach to cross-disciplinary questions in population ecology by modeling wildlife-habitat relationships from a management perspective.

We work largely in forested systems, particularly the Acadian forest, although we address conservation issues using data from a wide range of habitat types.

The FEWB Lab is located at UNB Fredericton Campus, and housed under the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management.

The Watershed and Aquatics Research and Monitoring Lab (WARM Lab) focus is on research of biota and water quality to study anthropogenic influences on freshwater systems to understand and inform future management or mitigation.

PI: Michelle A. Gray, PhD Associate Professor, Environment & Ecosystem Management, and Science Fellow, Canadian Research Institute.

The WARM Lab is located at UNB Fredericton Campus, and housed under the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management.

The Wood Science Technology Centre (WSTC) specializes in wood engineering and wood product manufacturing and offers services to clients in the areas of:

• Research and development
• Product testing/quality assurance
• Technology transfer

The Centre is housed at the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre in Fredericton. The WSTC is also home to the Canadian BioEnergy Centre (CBEC) through its active involvement in development and testing of solid biofuels.