Student Plot Project

In 1999 a five-year project was undertaken between the Lake Abitibi Model Forest, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada, and Iroquois Falls Secondary School. The purpose of the project was to teach OAC geography students important research skills, and to give them some appreciation for the complex issues involved in forest management by allowing them to perform research and data collection relating to forests.

Abitibi-Consolidated set aside an area of their forest for data collection, while the OMNR provided the expertise to instruct and work with the students. Growth and Yield specialists from OMNR Northeast Science and Technology Unit guided the students through the process of gathering detailed and standardized data within the 6,400 square metre research plot. The project allowed the students to set up permanent sample plots. This included gathering information on the quantity of snags (standing dead trees) and down-woody debris (fallen dead trees), identifying tree species, tagging trees over a specific diameter, taking height and age measurements, evaluating the health of vegetation, taking inventory of shrubs and herbs, and collecting soil samples.

Once the data was completely collected, it was sent to the OMNR for use in verifying related previously collected information. The student-collected data was ultimately integrated into OMNR’s Forest Growth and Yield Plot Network Database. It was also reported-on and plotted it in different ways so that a connection between lessons learned in the classroom and the real world application of these lessons could be established.

The project contributed to community involvement and the fostering of an increased capacity for students to become involved in forestry through education, and potentially encouraging the pursuit of forestry as a career. Upon completion, all partners felt that it was a valuable educational experience, and an important opportunity for community participation in sustainable forest management. The students learned a great deal and there was significant publicity surrounding the event. It is also noteworthy that four of the students who participated in the project have gone on to take forestry, parks, and natural resources related post-secondary education programs at different colleges and universities, with a fifth student considering a forestry related university program upon completion of high-school in 2004.

There is a tremendous opportunity to expand and build on these projects in Phase III. Students could return to their plots every three to five years for re-measurement. In addition, related educational and research projects that focus on birds, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates could be conducted in future years, helping to determine changes in biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics to growth and yield. There will also be an opportunity to survey past high school students in future years about their involvement in these projects in relation to the personal educational and societal decisions they have made. Partners in this project included the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Abitibi Consolidated Company of Canada, and the District School Board Ontario Northeast (Iroquois Falls Secondary School).