February 21, 2006 |

BV Research Centre Names Recipients for the Jim Pojar Research Excellence Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21st, 2006


SMITHERS – The Bulkley Valley Centre for Natural Resources Research & Management announced today co-recipients for the Jim Pojar Award. This award recognizes outstanding publications, within the previous five years, that improve scientific understanding or public appreciation of natural resource use and sustainability in northwest B.C.

Six publications were nominated:


The panel that was responsible for selecting a “winner” was challenged in making a final decision. All six nominated publications deserved serious consideration. BV Research Centre Vice President Kevin Kriese, who chaired the selection panel, says, “The diversity and quality of publications is impressive; all of these publications make an important contribution in their field, and the authors deserve recognition for their excellent work”.

The panel has selected two winners of the Jim Pojar award for 2006.


Richard Daly’s book “Our Box Was Full” was published in 2005. It documents the economic, social, and legal systems of the Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en, and explores the centrality of ‘the land’ in the determination of Aboriginal rights. Daly’s research was prepared to support the landmark Delgamuukw case that occupied the Canadian courts from 1987 to 1997.

Daly is an anthropologist who was responsible for helping the Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en to prove their traditional lifeways, and to make the case for Aboriginal self-governance. After several years of living among the Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en, his conclusions were that these nations continue to live out their rich and complex heritage today albeit under very different conditions from those of either the pre-contact or fur trade eras.

“Our Box Was Full” provides fascinating insight into the Delgamuukw case and sheds much-needed light on the role of anthropology in Aboriginal rights litigation. This book was selected partly for its forceful writing, the depth of the research, and the impact that the research has had and will continue to have. The resolution of aboriginal rights and title has been one of the most pressing issues of natural resource management, and this publication contributes to a better understanding of that issue.

This landmark work will find an audience for future generations, particularly among scholars and students of anthropology, Native studies, law, history and resource management.

Alex Woods, K. David Coates and Andreas Hamann collaborated on a publication entitled “Is an Unprecedented Dothistroma Needle Blight Epidemic Related to Climate Change” for the September 2005 issue of Bioscience. This study finds evidence for an indirect climate effect on lodgepole pine. It shows that an increase in local summer precipitation over the past 10 years has likely resulted in an increased life cycle of the fungus Dothistroma septosporum, a precursor for the Dothistroma needle blight. This work will undoubtedly have an immediate short-term impact within the scientific and resource management communities, and will influence and inspire further research, locally and internationally, as it demonstrates the adverse effects of climate change on the environment and on communities.

This publication was chosen because it is one of the first scientific studies to demonstrate a linkage between local ecological changes and climate change. Although such linkages have been suggested, applying the science to prove or disprove such effects is difficult. This work is an excellent example of the benefits of collaborative research, as the team was comprised of researchers from three different disciplines.

The BV Research Centre would sincerely like to thank all applicants for their outstanding contributions to knowledge about natural resource sustainability. It is our hope that such recognition will encourage further research excellence and high standards established by the co-recipients of the Jim Pojar Award.

MEDIA CONTACT

Kevin Kriese 847-7789
Dave Wilford 847-6300


BACKGROUND

Jim Pojar (PhD), founding member and past president of the BV Research Centre. Jim is a professional biologist, professional forester, and certified senior ecologist. He has made definitive contributions toward ecosystem classification in B.C., conservation of B.C.'s biota, managing for biological diversity; and education. In 1996, Jim received a career achievement award, “Excellence in Biology”, from the Association of Professional Biologists of B.C. His most recognized works include Ecosystems of British Columbia, Plants of Northern British Columbia, Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Plants of the Western Boreal Forest and Illustrated Flora of British Columbia. Jim recently moved from the Bulkley Valley to Whitehorse, Yukon to serve as Executive Director, Yukon Region for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.