SFM Network Accomplishments in Brief

Since its inception in 1995, the SFM Network has had a number of successes. The snapshots below, highlight some of our recent successes:

Impact on Research Policy and Practice

Network research has influenced policy in several provinces.
Network research has informed and directed the planning and practice of forest companies in several regions of the country,

A Strengthened Forest Research Partnership

Starting the foundation of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program, we have built a Canada-wide network that has active collaboration with a range of partners and affiliates:

10 governments or government agencies;
12 forestry companies;
7 Aboriginal groups;
1 non-governmental organization (NGO);
the University of Alberta (as host institution);

Increasing Canada's Capacity for SFM Research and Management

Because SFM Network research is university-based, a critical benefit of our approach to research is in the training of students, or Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP).

26 former students, have accepted academic positions at universities across Canada, with now acting as Principal Investigators on projects funded by the Network for 2005/2006.
6 former HQP are working as university researchers with expertise on topics involving Aboriginal communities, representing a significant component of Canada's research capacity in this vital area.
Over 75 former HQP are working for provincial, territorial, and federal government departments, and more than 50 are employed with industry and consulting companies.

Building a Forum for First Nations' Forestry Issues

The SFM Network represents ones of the few forums to bring Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal forest resource managers and policy makers around one table to promote dialogue and the development of a common understanding in a non-confrontational environment.
Issues of concern to Aboriginal peoples have grown as a component of Network research over the past few years and are widely discussed during priority setting and research development.
For further infromation see the SFM Network's Sustainable Aboriginal Communities program

Communications and Knowledge Exchange

Expanding efforts to make Network research results more accessible to our partners through our Knowledge Exchange and Technology Extension (KETE) program, and to the broader public through external communications:

A 1,039-page book based on Network research that was published by the NRC Research Press (2003) .
An ongoing series of Synthesis Reports drawing on Network research and researchers and outlining implementation options.
An ongoing series of short easy-to-read Research Notes .
Press releases and stories in print across the country, including advertorials in the Globe and Mail, Maclean's and L'Actualité in cooperation with the NCE program.
Over 60 audio interviews availabe via the internet, 11 two-minute English television "infomercials" with three in French that aired 740 times over two years across Canada, and an hour-long documentary entitled, Harder Than Rocket Science? Sustaining Canada's Forests, that aired a total of 12 times over two years (2005/2006) across the country.