Minister, researchers celebrate 20 years of LU facility

Area forestry activity doesn’t seem to be having a negative impact on area migratory birds, said a university professor who has collected a decade’s worth of research on the subject.

Rob Rempel, a senior research scientist with the Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, started work at the facility when it first opened on the Lakehead University campus 20 years ago. His current research looks at forestry activity and its impact on migratory songbirds populations in Northern Ontario.

The birds he focuses on migrate to Mexico and South America for the winter months and return to Ontario to breed. After 10 years of research, so far the birds haven’t been negatively affected, he said.

The boreal forest goes through a process where older trees are replaced through a disturbance cycle caused by fires. The forest becomes young again and as it grows older, it goes through different stages that have its own unique community of songbirds. Because of that cycle, the birds occupy a variety of habitats and aren’t impacted by forestry activities, he said.

"They’re very small and very beautiful and they’re an important part to the biodiversity of North America," Rempel said.

"It’s our responsibility up here to maintain the breeding habitat for this species. My work is ensuring that the forestry activities don’t compromise the breeding habitat. Also, help in the development and testing of new policies to do a better job of conserving those habitats."

Rempel joined Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey and others to celebrate the two decades of research at the Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research on Thursday.

Jeffrey said the centre offered a unique viewpoint because its history with the forestry sectors.

"I don’t think people realize how unusual that is," Jeffrey said. "The forestry industry is a very specialized sector and that provides a great deal of advice with forest management plans. It’s like a surgeon, someone with that kind of expertise in the field and we have it here in Ontario and we have it in this facility.

“We have some extraordinary individuals that I don’t think you could find anywhere else in the world."

Much of the information that comes from the centre helps shape Jeffrey’s decisions, she said. The work the centre does with Lakehead University and private partners is groundbreaking, she added.

"I’m very proud of the work we do here," Jeffrey said. "I get briefed every day on a variety of subjects and if I don’t have the right information to make that decision, I might not make the right decisions.

“I rely on the science experts at this facility and across all of my districts to help give me the best information to make some of those tougher decisions or prevent me from making decisions that will have long term impacts."

With forestry industry at an all-time low, Jeffrey said they need to stay nimble to the changes and look to the future on what kind of products the public will need. With many Northern Ontario residents reliant on the forestry sector, she said she wants to ensure that the industry stays healthy and vital.

Ed Iwachewski, manager for the Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, said the facility has had many successes over the years. One research project studied the impacts forestry harvesting has had on moose. Another project looked at woodland caribou.

Research conducted at the facility is supposed to help eliminate uncertainties, he said.

"Research takes us from a situation where we are speculating to a situation where we are understanding what is going on and better manage our resources," Iwachewski said.