Boreal Research Institute
About Us
The Boreal Research Institute is an innovative applied research facility in Peace River, 500 kilometers northwest of Edmonton, staffed with a team of research scientists and technicians with professional designations in forestry, biology and agrology.
The facility is 9,000 square feet, includes two laboratories, office space for 15 people, an outdoor growing space and a three-bay greenhouse that features computer-controlled humidity, temperature and lighting. The Boreal Research Institute is an Approved Seed Testing Facility. The facility was funded by NAIT, Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, with industry funding from Shell Canada and Penn West Petroleum.
Our mission is to promote the informed use of boreal resources through applied science, education, and partnerships with industry, government agencies, practitioners and academic partners.
What We Do
The Boreal Research Institute develops scientifically based best practices and applied technologies to address present and emerging knowledge gaps in the management and reclamation of disturbed landscapes. We are committed to enhancing the innovation capacity and competitiveness of our industry partners, and small and medium-sized enterprises, through the timely publication of technical information and ready access to our research expertise and technology. With joint funding from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada and industry partners, the institute has established two Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges to advance research in boreal reclamation, reforestation and peatland restoration.
Work With Us
The Boreal Research Institute is instrumental in providing novel, scientifically proven, and cost-effective reclamation methods, products, and education for industry in four key programs:
- Forest Reclamation – innovates boreal reforestation methods for industry to improve reclamation success while reducing management risks and costs.
- Peatland Restoration – advances technologies in peatland reclamation and management to reduce the ecological footprint on boreal peatlands.
- Plant & Seed Technologies – developing practical methods and techniques for the collection, treatment, and delivery of native boreal shrub, forb, and graminoid species for reclamation in north-western Alberta.
- Research Extension & Education – promotes the timely publication of relevant applied research to enable industry to meet ecological reclamation and reforestation standards on forest and peatland sites throughout Alberta.