Humanity has been relying on forests for thousands of years. But forest are now under pressure worldwide.
The climate is warming up, while our appetite for wood and for land is ever growing.
Many studies worry this will lead many forests of the world to degrade, or even disappear; even in Canada, where forests are numerous.
That’s where the DIVERSE Project comes about.
We’re exploring how humanity can help Canadian forests adapt to these challenges. For that, we use cutting-edge tools, models, and ecological theories.
Forests have been helping us since the dawn of time; now, it’s time we return the favor.
The DIVERSE project does research in 22 sites across Canada, from east to west. Discover them now with our interactive map !
Forests can be hurt by many things; but they can also recover. Yet measuring the hurt and the recovery can be tricky. How do we do it ?
With climate change, the trees that thrive today may not thrive tomorrow. How can we predict what trees will help to maintain healthy forests ?
Trees grow and live in different ways, and have different functions. These functions can move when trees disperse with their seeds, or when we plant them. How do we help such functions to move in the forests where they need to be?
Forests grow and change slowly; but modern computers allow us to anticipate their evolution with simulation models. But how to model forests properly ? And what do models predict ?
Forests are ecosystems, but they interact strongly with human societies. When forest changes, how do societies react? And how can we help human societies to help forests ?
Sometimes, you have to get your boots, go in the mud, and see how nature behaves first-hand. How are trees reacting to the many pressures forests are facing ? Do some react differently than others ? And can we measure if certain actions help forests on the field ?
Do you have questions about what we do? Or are you a journalist looking to explore our results or our aims? Or a reseacher looking for collaboration or data?
