Research at UBC’s Biodiversity Centre integrates community ecology, environmental change, policy studies, and social-ecological interactions. Conservation policies protecting British Columbia’s flora and fauna are also supported by research into the value of indicator species, identification of critical habitat, and assessments of extinction risk and management plans, as they relate to the Species at Risk Act of Canada. The Centre also provides industry internships via the Biodiversity Research: Integrative Training and Education program.
Focuses on modelling and evaluation in support of policy goals that reconcile the preservation of sustainable and responsible fisheries. By developing integrative research tools for historically-based restoration and ecosystem-based management, the group devises and evaluates sustainable fisheries policies. The group also explores the human dimensions of fisheries by examining social-economic factors, cultural values, institutions, ethics and governance.
The unit strives for interdisciplinary solutions to global, national, and local marine and freshwater management issues. We focus on economic and policy analysis and mobilize researchers, students, and practitioners to advance resource management for the benefit of current and future generations, while maintaining ‘healthy’ ecosystems. Partners include the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.
Provides an integrated analysis of the impacts of fisheries on marine ecosystems, and devises policies that can mitigate and reverse harmful trends while ensuring the social and economic benefits of sustainable fisheries. The project does this through visualizations (at the scale of countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones, Large Marine Ecosystems and the High Seas, as well as global maps and summaries) and peer-reviewed research. The researchers emphasize catch time series starting in 1950, and related series —- catch value and catch by fishing gear or flag state), and fisheries-related information on every maritime country.
Researchers with UBC Statistics have been active in this area for many years—including consulting for the US EPA and various Canadian agencies. Ongoing research ranges from analysis of pollution data collected over a geographical area and time to studies involving global climate models.
IRES researchers are dedicated to serving the wider community through their membership on boards and councils of many national and international panels, including the US National Academy of Sciences, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Ministerial Advisory Panel on Sustainability for Public Works and Government Services Canada, Westcoast Environmental Law, and the David Suzuki Foundation. The unit has developed strong relations with local institutions and organizations, resulting in meaningful, practical, cross-cultural partnerships.
- Agar Technologies Inc. (note: acquired by Marine BioProducts)
- Anandia Labs
- Aurora Biomed
- Nanozen Environmental Inc.
