Natural Resources Management Brochure 2023 - Lakehead University

MANAGEMENT RESOURCES

lakeheadu.ca/nrm

WELCOME TO THE FACULTY OF

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

At Lakehead, we believe Natural Resources Management is about people, science, and technology; and applying natural and social sciences to the management of the environment for the benefit of society.

Natural resources management is the stewardship of forested public and private landscapes, with the intention of creating a balanced approach to sustainable ecosystem management with regard to many of the social, economic, and environmental challenges which face us now and into the future.

Stewardship allows for the sustainable extraction and utilization of products such as wood, biofuels, bioproducts, food, and natural medicines. Most forested landscapes in Ontario and Canada are publicly owned, and as such, are also important for recreational pursuits. Lakehead’s programs will prepare you to take an active and responsible role in the stewardship and future sustainability of Canada’s most important resources.

Our Faculty prepares you to take an active role, either as a forester or an environmental manager, in the sustainability of Canada’s most important resources.

Crafted specifically to help guide you with your academic & career goals.

We’re more than trees. A modern approach to the stewardship of the environment –in an unbeatable setting.

EXCEPTIONAL ALUMNI, UNCONVENTIONAL CAREERS

Vince Rutter HBSc (Forestry) ‘00, Renewable Energy Expert, Biothermic Wood Energy Systems

“The depth and breadth of knowledge that was shared at Lakehead gave me exactly what I needed to find success as a forester, arborist, entrepreneur and leader.”

EXPLORE YOUR PATH

IN NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AT LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY

BUILDING CONNECTIONS

As a Natural Resources Management student, you will benefit from the small class size advantage. Many of our classes are no more than 40 students. Often, they will be even smaller, especially when working in the laboratory setting. You will thrive in a personal environment surrounded by others who share common interests. This includes your professors, who will know you by name, and who will be there to support you throughout your four years, both inside and outside the classroom.

If you like the idea of a university that is big enough to offer variety, yet small enough to give you an unforgettable personal experience, Lakehead is the place to call “home.”

INNOVATIVE RESEARCH

The Lakehead University Centre for the Application of Resource Information Systems (CARIS) is a fully-integrated digital database provider focused on natural resources applications.

The Centre serves the needs of both our researchers and external resource managers for accurate, timely and cost-efficient data, analysis/modeling, remote sensing, GIS, and GPS technologies.

External professional and internal academic training and technology transfer are integral parts of CARIS. Recent developments include the use of segmentation techniques for improved classification of high-resolution imagery, as well as the incorporation of high-end spatial modeling and 3D visualization tools.

YOUR DEGREE TIMELINE

A QUICK GUIDE TO HELP PLAN YOUR FUTURE

LEARNING THE FOUNDATIONS

The first two years of your program will be common between both Forestry and Environmental Management students, meaning that the two programs will be integrated into the same courses and field school placements until year three.

Courses will include:

• Canadian Forest Plant Species

• Introductory Chemistry

• Environmental Geography

• Remote Sensing

• Plant Biology

• Forest Genetics

• Soils, Water & Ecology

• GIS

FIELD SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

At the beginning of every year, you participate in a field school placement before you ever step into a classroom. You will explore the region for an introduction to different subject areas and to collect field samples for lab work during the year.

In year’s three and four, international field school opportunities exist, to learn and engage in best practices and policy in an international setting.

YEARS 1 & 2 YEARS 3 & 4

CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALIZATION

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

The final two years of your program will focus exclusively on courses within the Environmental Management field. From here, you have the option to specialize further by choosing one of 3 different streams of study:

1. Wildlife Conservation & Management,

2. Conservation Planning & Management, or

3. Sustainable Land Use

Courses will include:

• Policy & Legislation in Natural Resources

• Fish & Wildlife Fundamentals

• Environmental Assessment

• Habitat Panning

• Hydrology

• Restoration Ecology

FORESTRY

The final two years of your program will focus exclusively on courses within the Forestry field. From here, you have the option to specialize further by choosing one of 3 different streams of study:

1. Forest Management,

2. Forest Health & Protection, or

3. Forest Products & Marketing

Courses will include:

• Forest Pathology

• Wood Science

• Remote Sensing

• Portable Milling

• Forest Economics

• Forest Genetics

• Silviculture

• Entomology

• Urban Forestry

THE WORLD AWAITS

At Lakehead, we believe in getting you outside of the classroom. The opportunity to take your skills and passions across the world is available with the option to participate in at least one international field school excursion, as well as internationally-focused courses. This experience will help you to better comprehend global challenges and opportunities linked to the three pillars of sustainability: environmental health, economic viability, and social well-being and acceptance.

LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL FIELD SCHOOL

During field school, you will not step foot inside a conventional classroom. It’s all about practical experience in the outdoors.

Past field schools have taken students to the Alberta oilsands, New Brunswick, Manitoba and the Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve. International fieldschools have gone to India, Africa, Finland, Sweden, China, Ecuador, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Estonia.

Being able to engage hands-on in these settings has proven invaluable to students who can see the application of what they are learning in the real world by considering real-life scenarios that they may face in their own careers.

CHOOSE YOUR CAREER

• Geomatics Specialist

• Urban Forester

• Wildlife Ecologist

• Fish & Wildlife Officer

• GIS Forester

• Invasive Species Specialist

• Community/Economic Development Officer

• International Conservation Specialist

• Renewable Energy Consultant

• Climate Change Analyst

• Consultants in Forestry

• Environmental Assessment

• Ecosystem Rehabilitation

• Water and Soil Testing

• Forest-based Industries

• Environmental Consulting Firms

• Conservation Authorities

• Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry

• Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Don’t let them be typical. Your university years will define the rest of your life.

HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS

What drew me to Lakehead’s Natural Resources Management faculty was that they offered the yearly field school which has allowed me to gain hands-on experience that has already been beneficial during my summer work experience contracts. The international field school opportunities in 3rd and 4th year allowed me to travel to Ghana, West Africa to visit nature reserves and observing local wildlife.

NO BETTER PLACE TO STUDY

Our location, in the geographic centre of Canada’s boreal forest, makes the study of both public and private forested landscapes accessible right outside your door! Our intention is to reach a balance between ecological sustainability, economic viability, and societal acceptance of prescribed land use.

Caitlin Stewart

3rd year student, HBSc in Forestry, Specialization in Forest Health & Protection (2023)

Lakehead University Thunder Bay Campus