Works with industry and communities to support best management practices and reclamation of the boreal forest.
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Centre for Boreal Research works with industry and communities to support best management practices and reclamation of the boreal forest. The team of research scientists and technicians with professional designations in forestry, biology, and agrology, deliver practical solutions for natural resource extraction sectors.
The Centre for Boreal Research (CBR) is built on four foundational pillars:
- Forest reclamation and reforestation: Focused on developing innovative and practical methods to support forest regeneration on disturbed industrial sites.
- Peatland restoration: Aimed at advancing technologies for peatland reclamation and management to reduce ecological impact.
- Plant and seed technologies: Dedicated to improving the collection, treatment, propagation, and deployment of native boreal plants and seeds for use on disturbed landscapes.
- Research extension and education: Committed to capacity building through knowledge transfer, technical training, and mentorship for industry, practitioners, communities, and students.
In addition, the Centre is proud to host the Boreal Forest Plant and Seed Technology Access Centre which provides scientific findings, practical methods, technologies and services to advance the capacity of industry to use native plants to lessen the environmental footprint in the boreal forest. The goal is to address present and emerging knowledge gaps in seed collection, treatment, propagation and deployment on disturbed sites.
- Forest reclamation
- Forest management
- Wetland restoration
- Native plant and seed harvesting, handling, viability, storage, and enhacement
- Greenhouse production of native trees, shrubs and forbs
- Vegetation management solutions in land reclamation and forest harvested sites
- Novel seedling propagation methods and field testing
- Land reclamation and restoration
- Reforestation
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Forestry and forest-based industries
Specialized labs and equipment
Specialized lab | Equipment | Function |
---|---|---|
Research Greenhouse | Research Greenhouse | 2,600 square feet |
Research Greenhouse | Controlled growing spaces (3) | |
Research Greenhouse | Heating and cooling system | |
Research Greenhouse | Irrigation system | |
Research Greenhouse | Fertilizer mixers | |
Soils Laboratory | Soils Laboratory | 1,800 square feet |
Soils Laboratory | Soil mixer | |
Soils Laboratory | Walk-in freezer | |
Soils Laboratory | Walk-in refrigerator | |
Soils Laboratory | Seed counter | |
Soils Laboratory | Seed cleaner | |
Soils Laboratory | Column blower | |
Soils Laboratory | Seed coater and pelletizer | |
Soils Laboratory | Autoclave | |
Soils Laboratory | Sieve shaker | |
Soils Laboratory | Drying ovens | |
Soils Laboratory | Soil grinders and mixers | |
Clean Laboratory | Clean Laboratory | 1,200 square feet |
Clean Laboratory | Stereo microscopes | |
Clean Laboratory | Lab benches | |
Clean Laboratory | Fume hood | |
Clean Laboratory | Fridge and freezer | |
Clean Laboratory | Germination chambers | |
Clean Laboratory | Growth chamber | |
Clean Laboratory | Seed moisture tester | |
Clean Laboratory | Micro weighing balance | |
Clean Laboratory | UV-vis spectrometer | Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy |
Clean Laboratory | pH and EC meter | Water quality tester – acidity/ alkalinity and electrical conductivity |
Clean Laboratory | Leaf porometer | |
Clean Laboratory | Field scout pH meter | |
Clean Laboratory | Sample shaker | |
Clean Laboratory | Water bath | |
Clean Laboratory | SPAD-502 meter | Chlorophyll meter |
Clean Laboratory | Water purification system | |
HQP Training Laboratory (NAIT metro, Edmonton) | Walk-in freezer | |
HQP Training Laboratory (NAIT metro, Edmonton) | Germination chambers | |
HQP Training Laboratory (NAIT metro, Edmonton) | Environmental controllers | |
HQP Training Laboratory (NAIT metro, Edmonton) | Autoclave | |
HQP Training Laboratory (NAIT metro, Edmonton) | Precision balances | |
HQP Training Laboratory (NAIT metro, Edmonton) | Micrologger |
Private and public sector research partners
- Paramount Resources
- Higher Ground Consulting
- Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
- Shell Canada Ltd.
- Obsidian Energy Ltd.
- Woodmere Nurseries Ltd.
- PRT Beaverlodge (Alberta)
- InnoTech Alberta
- Canadian Forest Service’s Northern Forestry Centre (NoFC) (Natural Resources Canada)
- West Fraser Timber Co.
- Weyerhaeuser Canada
- ConocoPhillips Canada