Time: Tue. April 23, 2024, 7-8 pm PST (Vancouver)
Speaker: Dr. Cristián Bonacić
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Dr. Cristián Bonacić
Professor Cristian Bonacic holds the University Chair of Biodiversity and Sustainability (funded by CMPC Forestry company). With 35 years of research and teaching experience in forestry, his expertise encompasses ecology, biodiversity conservation and protected areas, climate change, and biodiversity. His research has pioneered the understanding of how business and biodiversity should be combined in a globalized world. Professor Bonacic’s work in innovating forestry curricula includes at least three significant academic processes over the last 25 years. As a leader in curricula innovation, he has contributed to the inclusion of conservation and ecology in forestry students’ curricula. The forestry program at Catholic University currently includes skills and theoretical content oriented toward achieving the sustainability triad and following sustainable development goals. Professor Bonacic serves as a Steering Committee member of the Asia Pacific Forestry Education Coordination Mechanism since 2023 and was a guest speaker at the Annual Chinese National Forestry Deans meeting in 2018. His current ecological work focuses on invasive alien species and forest fires globally on benchmarking sustainability and biodiversity strategies of the world’s largest forestry industries.
Abstract
The APEC economies boast a significant portion of the world’s remaining forest area, with countries like Canada, China, and Chile actively engaged in tree-planting initiatives for various purposes, including habitat restoration and innovative utilization of plant-derived fibers. In this dynamic context, the global industry and forestry education mechanism face multifaceted challenges and opportunities, requiring continuous innovation across various domains. This talk aims to highlight four new educational dimensions to strengthen forestry curricula for the emerging challenges of the forestry industry within the APEC economies. Particularly focusing on skills for the global carbon market and climate change challenges, the human dimensions of forestry production and ecosystem services in urban environments, and the need for new skills to understand the current fast-paced technological challenges of the forest industry in a globalized world. The final aim of this talk is to demonstrate that forestry production and environmental conservation are not only possible but also essential in the 21st century.