Faces of Forestry is an initiative of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) to highlight people doing great work to enhance our forests throughout British Columbia. This month, we feature Alana Clason, Forest Ecologist and Research Scientist with the Bulkley Valley Research Centre (BVRC).
Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Alana moved across the country to pursue her passion for forestry and the outdoors, finding a home in British Columbia.
“I moved when I was 19 and began school in Vancouver, and I’ve never looked back since,” she said. “I was always drawn to the side of forestry that sought to understand the forest and support its management through a deeper understanding of how it works. I enjoyed being involved in the scientific process.”
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Forest Science from the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she found inspiration from professors who were not only engaged in groundbreaking research but were also committed to mentoring and supporting newcomers to the field.
“UBC Forestry was such a great place – it’s a smaller faculty, and you really get to know your professors,” she noted. “I am thankful to those who mentored and supported me. Their encouragement truly made a difference, and they played a key role in my career.”
Alana’s passion for forest ecology took her next to the University of Alberta, where she completed a Master of Science in the Renewable Resource Department. Her research focused on whitebark pine ecology and resilience.
In 2009, while preparing for her graduate studies, Alana first connected with the Bulkley Valley Research Centre (BVRC). That same year, she relocated to Smithers, B.C., where she has worked with the BVRC ever since.
By 2017, Alana had completed her PhD at the University of Northern British Columbia, where she focused on understanding the drivers of the current range and forecasting the future northern range of whitebark pine under a changing climate.
With funding provided by FESBC through the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF), Alana and her team have been pioneering restoration efforts for whitebark pine, an endangered tree species.
“We’ve been working with HCTF since the late 2000s, with support from FESBC. It’s really helped support important forest restoration projects,” she expressed.
In addition to her research, Alana is part of the leadership team for the Silviculture Innovation Program (SIP), which is housed at the BVRC. This collaborative initiative focuses on advancing innovative forestry practices in British Columbia.
“We’ve been trying to grow this program and make meaningful contributions to the space of innovative forestry in B.C. We started talking to FESBC to figure out how we can work together to support our grantees, lift each other up, and help both of our programs shine.”
Alana values the relationship built between BVRC and FESBC and looks forward to continuing collaboration to make an even bigger impact for both organizations.
“It has been great to learn through the Operations Managers sharing their experiences and running a grant program and then also how we can support the work that FESBC does,” she said. “There is so much that happens on the ground, and we’re looking at how we can amplify that information to get the learning out there to the practitioners from FESBC projects.”
Alana’s love for forestry lies in its endless opportunities for discovery and problem-solving.
“What I love about forestry is that it is this never-ending opportunity to learn. I learn something every day, and that, to me, is the greatest joy,” she explained. “These ecosystems are so complex, and there is so much we don’t know, and trying to contribute to the space is very exciting.”
She also wants people to understand the intricacies within the forestry sector, especially in a province as diverse as British Columbia, and the need to tailor solutions to local contexts.
“You are operating in this diverse province, and it’s hard for people to understand the complexities and nuances that foresters are trying to balance in their day-to-day lives. It is hard work and there are so many passionate people that do it. The more we can apply place-based and regional or local solutions to meet the challenges we’re facing, we’ll have more successes,” she added.
When she’s not working, Alana enjoys spending time outdoors and with her family. She feels fortunate to have found a home in Smithers, on the land of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. There, she keeps up with her two active daughters, grows and gathers food, plays as much hockey as possible, and explores the nearby mountains, lakes, and rivers – both close to home and farther away.
Thank you, Alana, for your dedication to innovative forestry and ecological restoration and for being a passionate advocate for healthy, resilient forests in British Columbia.