Field Trips

For interested participants, field trips are being organized to showcase current biogeoscience research that is being conducted in the region of Kananaskis and its surroundings. These field trips will occur on Friday October 30th and Thursday November 5th.

Natural Disturbances and forest dynamics: connecting physical and ecological processes

Description:
In the last decade or so there has been a change in forest management and silviculture in North America from a focus on wood fiber to include other products and services of the forest. This has required a rethinking of forest management. One of the several goals of this rethinking has been to incorporate an understanding of natural disturbance. In this field trip we will visit places in the Kananaskis valley where we will look at what we have learned of how tree population dynamics can be related to natural disturbances particularly wildfire. This tour will begin at the Barrier Lake Field Station (about 15 minutes north of the Kananaskis Village) with an introduction to the research at BGS, followed by a tour of a number of research sites in the Kananaskis Valley (traveling up to Kananaskis Lakes area), and ending by returning to sites around the Kananaskis Village.

Tour Lead: Dr. Edward Johnson (Department of Biological Sciences and the Biogeoscience Institute, University of Calgary)

Tour dates and lengths:

• Friday, October 30 at 9:30 AM for one half-day
• Thursday, November 5 at 9:30 AM for a full day

Transportation and bag/box lunch: Provided

Tour Registration: To participate in the field trip, please sign-up at the registration desk.

Exploring the Ecology of Banff National Park

Description: Explore the ecology of Banff National Park, with a focus on fire and vegetation management as well as wildlife corridors. Topics to be discussed include:

• Forest ecology in Banff National Park
• Prescribed fire
• Burn severity mapping
• Implications of fire for mountain pine beetle management
• Restoration of wildlife movement and corridors. The tour will include stops around Lake Minnewanka drive just north of Banff townsite.

**Please dress warmly and wear boots or shoes appropriate for walking on hiking trails**

Tour Leads:

• Kathy Burden - Fire Communications Officer, Banff Field Unit (Oct 30 only)
• Omar McDadi - Fire Communications Officer, Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay Field Unit
• Ali Buckingham - Ecosystem Data Specialist - Banff Field Unit

Tour dates and lengths:

• Friday, October 30 at 9:30 AM for a full day
• Thursday, November 5 at 9:30 AM for a full day

Transportation and bag/box lunch: Provided

Tour Registration: To participate in the field trip, please sign up at the registration desk.