Join Mac Squires and Gerry Racey as they share their experience and insight into forest renewal and sustainability. They share their enthusiasm for the boreal forest by, through vastly different experiences, telling a common story. Gerry will lead us through an overview of fire ecology and some of the processes that sustain our forest plant communities in the presence or absence of fire. Mac will explain from the perspective of an industrial forester case examples where he expended considerable effort and determination to renew conifer forest conditions in old and recent cutovers.  Mac’s talk will explain his objectives, attempts at innovation and insight gained over decades of following the outcome of his efforts. Together these provide a thought-provoking contrast within which to consider the concept of forest sustainability in a managed landscape where we care as much about forest plant communities and wildlife habitat as wood supply. A discussion period at the end will give membership a chance to provide perspectives, challenge the presenters or seek clarification.  

Mac Squires, a former divisional forester in Thunder Bay with Abitibi-Price Inc., and forestry experience in Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, is a naturalist and author who taps into his 49 years of working in, and an additional 23 years privately observing the forest. He has a passion for the boreal forest and its inhabitants.

Gerry Racey is an ecologist with over 45 years of experience in forest ecology and wildlife habitat management and has extensive experience in forest science and woodland caribou ecology. He has a passion for the boreal forest and its inhabitants.