April 3, 1998

Forestry programs look lush with Weyerhaeuser's million dollar donation

U of A forestry programs have new support for their research activities. The Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation and Weyerhaeuser Canada have combined to donate more than $1 million to the University of Alberta.

The Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation has donated $450,000 to establish a professorship in Enhanced Forest Management in the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics. Enhanced forest management teaches students how to grow more wood sustainably from the same land base while maintaining the biodiversity of the forest. This donation, coupled with a $500,000 commitment last year from Weldwood of Canada, will launch the Institute of Enhanced Forest Management and Research at the U of A, says Dr. Jim Beck, chair of the Department of Renewable Resources.

In addition, Weyerhaeuser Canada has extended its commitment to the Network of Centres of Excellence in Sustainable Forest Management by providing $600,000 towards research initiatives. The centre is studying ways to manage boreal forests sustainably.

The combined gift to the University of Alberta is $1.05 million.

George Weyerhaeuser Jr., president and CEO of Weyerhaeuser Canada, made the announcement when he was guest lecturer at the university's forest industry lecture series.

"We are very excited to expand our involvement with the U of A in its role as a key forestry research centre," said Weyerhaeuser. "This research has provided and will continue to provide excellent information on the forest resource and is invaluable not only to the people of Alberta but also to our operations in Alberta and Saskatchewan."

"It would be impossible for us to offer the world class research and technical forestry training that we do without support from Weyerhaeuser Canada and others in the industry. It goes without saying that we are delighted with this partnership," says Dr. Paul Woodard, forestry professor and associate dean of research in the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics.

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