Research Overview
The Bulkley Valley Research Centre provides leadership and expertise in research related to sustainable resource management.
The Centre conducts research that advances scientific understanding of natural and cultural resources, their use and management. Our research builds understanding of ecosystem processes and identifies ways to use ecosystems sustainably, thereby reducing the impact of human activities on the functioning of healthy ecosystems.
Focus of our Research
With an interdisciplinary emphasis, projects draw from and combine expertise in:
- life sciences (biology, ecology, silviculture, wildlife ecology, entomology, pathology),
- earth sciences (hydrology, geology, geomorphology, soils), and
- social sciences (economics, political science, first nations studies, archaeology, anthropology).
The Centre provides a stable platform to support the viability of longer-term projects, which are essential for understanding the sustainability of ecosystems.
Areas of our Research
Our scientists primarily conduct research of an applied nature. Operational problems addressed by the Centre address a wide range of resource uses such as:
- forestry,
- fisheries,
- agriculture,
- mining, and
- backcountry tourism.
This includes the testing of techniques for improving the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of resource use and demonstrating new operational procedures.
Applications of our Research
The Centre provides a rich environment for the exchange of knowledge. It facilitates linkages between academics, local community members and and operational problems. Graduate and undergraduate students and researchers from universities located throughout western Canada, across North America and even overseas have benefited from the opportunity to study operational problems and to work on established research plots within a rich variety of forest, grassland, alpine, riparian and aquatic ecosystems. By interacting with academics, managers and resource users can gain a better appreciation of the workings and benefits of science. The interdisciplinary nature of projects exposes all involved to diverse experiences and ideas, and augments professional development.
Since 2002, the Centre’s research program has enhanced the ability of academics, graduate students, resource industries, First Nations, government agencies, and public interest groups to address pressing issues that require scientific inquiry. Through its priority-setting process, the Centre is focussing research on applied problems to ensure that the research it sponsors is widely relevant.
While most of our research is applied to the ecosystems and resource activities of northwestern British Columbia, the theoretical underpinnings that this research explores and develops are broadly applicable and enhance scientific understanding of sustainability issues globally. Individual projects can be regional, provincial, national, or global in scope. Many Centre members are already engaged in national and international work.
The Centre itself does not advocate any particular view on resource management issues—except that sustainability is desirable—and conducts its research independent of any special interest. Scientific rigour is ensured through external peer reviews of research projects, publication of results in refereed scientific journals, and other third-party mechanisms. Through independent projects performed to high scientific standards, the Centre’s research results constitute credible contributions to science and to resource management.
A fundamental component of the Centre’s functioning is to create efficiencies wherever possible. Through the pooling of resources, all those involved in the Centre’s research will see their investment enhanced. This is critical to addressing the complexities of natural resources research in today’s economy.