Prince George, B.C.-  The College of New Caledonia has entered a partnership with  the forest industry in  the north central region  which will see a  research chair in forest health established at the college.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) has announced a one million dollar grant for CNC, to fund the position for five years. The one million dollars will be supported with $100,000 in funding from the CNC Research Forest Society, $160,000 in funding from industry partners, and an additional $2,000,000 of in-kind funding from numerous partners.

The position will be filled by Richard Reich, CNC’s Natural Resources and Environmental Technology (NRET) instructor Richard Reich will  hold the position..

“I am really looking forward to serving as the industrial research chair. This is a great opportunity to develop the partnership between our industrial and educational sectors. CNC students will receive practical benefits by learning about industry specific issues and by helping create solutions to these challenges. Our industry partners will, in exchange, benefit from the practical applications that this research will create.

Reich will work closely with forest companies and collaborating scientists, from government and the post-secondary sector, to develop innovative tools that will help mitigate the impacts of forest diseases on managed  forests in B.C.

To start, Reich will  focus  research  elated to  stem rust diseases on lodgepole pine and armillaria root disease.  Both  diseases are  increasing in some areas of the province.    There will also be work done  with  companies

The  work will  involved a cross section of the College’s resources, including faculty, staff and students from the College’s  NRET program as well  as those enrolled in the Biology  program.