RESEARCH MASTER’S IN FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF CONTINUOUS-COVER FORESTRY IN MIXED BOREAL FORESTS BY PROMOTING UNDERSTORY TREE REGENERATION
Project summary:
Forest management in the boreal zone still relies primarily on clearcutting. These practices rejuvenate and homogenize forest stands, leading to the loss of habitats associated with old-growth forests that once dominated pre-industrial landscapes. An alternative approach to reconcile timber harvesting with the maintenance of old-growth attributes is the use of silvicultural treatments that permanently retain a significant forest cover within harvested stands—commonly referred to as continuous-cover forestry.
The success of such treatments, however, depends on establishing a tree regeneration layer with sufficient density and vigor to sustain regular harvests without depleting the forest.
This research project aims to identify the most effective silvicultural practices to promote the establishment and growth of conifer regeneration in a continuous-cover forestry context within mixed boreal forests. The study will be conducted at the Lake Duparquet Teaching and Research Forest (FERLD), within an irregular shelterwood cutting experiment. In the harvested strips, three regeneration treatments were applied—planting, seeding, and natural regeneration (control)—and each treatment was subdivided into plots that were either vegetation-released (competing vegetation removed) or not released.
The selected student will be tasked with identifying which combinations of treatments yield the highest regeneration quality in terms of density and growth. The results will provide essential guidelines for improving continuous-cover forestry practices in mixed boreal forests, contributing to their broader implementation.
Project start date:
Winter 2026 semester (January–April) or Fall 2026 semester (September–December)
Candidate profile:
We are seeking a motivated student passionate about forest ecology and management issues. A Bachelor’s degree in biology, forestry, ecology, or a related field is required. In addition to academic performance, we will place strong emphasis on personal qualities such as curiosity, creativity, autonomy, and teamwork skills. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Funding:
A research scholarship of CAD $21,000 per year for two years will be awarded to the selected candidate.
Location and supervision:
The student will be based at the Forest Research Institute (IRF), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda campus.
Supervision will be provided by Maxence Martin (IRF-UQAT) and Miguel Montoro-Girona (IRF-UQAT), specialists in ecosystem-based management of boreal forests.
Documents requested:
To express your interest, please send a CV and a letter of interest, along with copies of your academic transcripts (unofficial copies accepted) and the contact information of two references to:
Maxence Martin – maxence.martin2@uqat.caMiguel Montoro-Girona – miguel.montoro@uqat.ca
Maxence Martin – Professeur en écologie forestière appliquée/Professor in applied forest ecology
Institut de recherche sur les forêts (IRF) | Forest Research Institute
Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Tel. Office 819 762-0971 poste 2053 – Cell. 581-882-8651 | Bureau F-203 |uqat.ca