Overview
Delivery Mode: BLENDED
- This program will be delivered during COVID-19 as a combination of online and on-campus learning.
- Faculty will notify students of when their attendance on campus will be required.
- We are putting measures in place for your safety and well-being, ensuring that all safety protocols are addressed. Please see BCIT COVID-19 Return to Operations for details on the mandatory procedures that have been implemented.
- Your education is our priority and we will continue to deliver the applied instruction, collaborative experience, and industry connections that you expect from BCIT.
Become a part of Canada’s premier environmental and restoration related programs. BCIT invites you to join one of the most unique educational models in Canada. In the time it takes to do a typical university degree, you can get two academic credentials; a Diploma in Fish, Wildlife and Recreation (FWR) or Forest and Natural Areas Management (FNAM) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Ecological Restoration.
Completion of either of these two-year diploma programs (or similar programs elsewhere) will provide you with the strong foundation needed to apply for entry into BCIT’s Degree in Ecological Restoration. This degree, the first of its kind in Canada, provides world-class applied training on restoring the numerous damaged aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that exist across British Columbia, Canada, and around the world.
Ecological Restoration (ER) is a scientific discipline that has recently emerged due to the increasing need to restore damaged ecosystems. Restoration scientists and practitioners are ‘ecosystem physicians’ …. Doctors apply knowledge of physiology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, and parasitology to address human health issues. ER practitioners apply knowledge of: ecology, hydrology, geochemistry, geomorphology, and engineering to address ecological health issues1. Natural habitats across the province have been severely impacted due to habitat destruction, urban sprawl, invasive species expansions, and direct damage due to industrial contamination of soils and aquatic resources. These factors combined with the resulting increase in number of threatened and endangered species have resulted in the strong need for ecosystem restoration work across the province and around the world.
The Bachelor Degree in Ecological Restoration provides graduates with a strong foundation in the methods available to restore a broad range of ecosystems that have been impacted by human influences in British Columbia, across Canada and in other parts of the world. Ecological Restoration graduates will not only bring skills and expertise to current employers but will also be leaders and innovators in this rapidly-developing industry.
These programs, in partnership with the newly established BCIT Rivers Institute, are widely renowned locally and internationally for their “field oriented” learning and applied research. The Rivers Institute plays a leadership role in the protection and restoration of rivers and provides support and mentoring to the next generation of river stewards. Working with our many diverse partners on a wide range of applied restoration projects, students gain extensive experience tackling some of the many environmental challenges facing local, regional, provincial and international communities.
NOTE: 1 This analogy was originally described by Hood and Simenstad in Roman, C.T. and D.M. Burdick’s (2012) book titled: Tidal Marsh Restoration: A Synthesis of Science and Management. Island Press, Washington, DC.
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Entrance Requirements
COVID-19 Notice to Applicants
Application processing
Full-time: this program is open to applications beginning October 1st (or next business day).
Part-time: applications are accepted throughout the year.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first qualified basis as long as space remains.
- English: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the following:
- English Studies 12 (67%) or
- English First Peoples 12 (67%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
- 3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (67%) from a recognized institution
What if I don’t meet these English requirements? - Post-secondary: one of the following:
- BCIT diploma:
- Fish, Wildlife and Recreation (FWR) diploma program* or
- Forest and Natural Areas Management diploma program*
*Currently enrolled full-time BCIT diploma students applying to the full-time degree may be conditionally accepted based on successful completion of their diploma.
- Alternate entry**:
- A two-year diploma in a relevant discipline (e.g., natural resource management) from a recognized post-secondary institution or
- Successful completion of at least the first two years of a university program in a relevant discipline (e.g., natural resource management, ecology, environmental science, forestry). This must consist of a minimum of 60.0 university credits comprised of 30.0 credits at the 100 level and 30.0 credits at the 200 level and above (1 credit is equivalent to 15 hours course work). Credits must be university-transferable. Departmental review is required.
**Alternate entry applicants must meet with the program area prior to applying for an assessment of their academic background. The assessment will evaluate the applicant’s academic background and identify whether bridging courses must be completed prior to applying into the program. When all necessary entry requirements have been completed, the applicant can apply by uploading their completed assessment document along with their latest transcript showing the completion of required bridging courses, if needed.
- BCIT diploma:
- Completion of a post-secondary level course in introductory statistics (equivalent to BCIT's MATH 2453) prior to admission to the program. Applicants' academic qualifications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Note: **For the alternate entry path these are the minimum requirements for admission to the Ecological Restoration degree program. Due to the diverse background of applicants the Ecological Restoration program reserves the right to require additional course upgrades prior to entry.
Applicants who have completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Credential evaluation reports from other Canadian services may be considered. These reports must include course-by-course evaluations and GPA calculations.
Read more about how to meet BCIT’s entrance requirements
Applicants currently enrolled in the last term of their degree/diploma must be on track to complete by May. To apply submit both of the following documents from your post-secondary institution:
- Transcript of completed courses
- Confirmation of enrolment letter verifying your current course enrolment and registration in the final term of your degree/diploma
International applicants
Part-time Studies (course-by-course) programs are only available to international students who have a valid status in Canada. If you are currently outside of Canada, please apply to a full-time program or ISEP.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
Part-time: January and September.
Full-time: September each year.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
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- Next up Costs & Supplies
Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Please see the Full-Time Studies Tuition & Fees page for full-time tuition fees.
Books & supplies
Approximately $1,500.00 (general estimated cost, and subject to change)
A laptop will be required for some courses; approximate cost is $1000.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
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- Next up Courses
Courses
As a student in the Ecological Restoration, Bachelor of Science program, you’ll receive a solid foundation of the skills, knowledge, and experiences required to meet today’s many natural resource management and ecosystem restoration challenges.
Your learning experiences will be unique with much of the learning done through hands-on field applications involving actual ecological restoration initiatives. You will also be involved in group and individual projects, case studies, class presentations, guest lectures by active restoration specialists, laboratory sessions, field labs and an applied research project.
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Level 5 (Fall - 15 weeks) | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
LIBS 7001 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3.0 | |
RENR 7000 | Foundations of Chemistry | 3.0 | |
RENR 7004 | Fish & Wildlife Ecology & Management | 4.0 | |
RENR 7006 | Field Skills for Ecological Restoration | 4.0 | |
RENR 7007 | Planning for Ecological Restoration | 4.0 | |
RENR 7008 | Indigenous Perspectives in Natural Resources Management | 3.0 | |
Level 6 (Winter - 15 weeks) | Credits | ||
MATH 7100 | Biostatistics for Natural Resource Managers | 4.0 | |
RENR 7001 | Foundations of Biology | 3.0 | |
RENR 7002 | Environmental Assessment | 3.0 | |
RENR 7100 | Principles of Ecological Restoration | 3.0 | |
RENR 8001 | Population and Community Ecology | 3.0 | |
RENR 8201 | Terrain and Stream Channel Assessment for Ecological Restoration | 3.0 | |
Level 7 (Fall - 15 weeks) | Credits | ||
RENR 8101 | Terrestrial Ecosystem Restoration | 4.0 | |
RENR 8102 | Restoration of Freshwater Aquatic Ecosystems | 4.0 | |
RENR 8300 | Applied Research Project 1* | 4.0 | |
RENR 8301 | Research Design & Implementation | 3.0 | |
**And complete one course from the list of Ecological Restoration specific elective courses. Electives will vary depending on needs of the program and industry. Elective course offerings will be determined by the department. | |||
Level 8 (Winter - 15 weeks) | Credits | ||
LIBS 7002 | Applied Ethics | 3.0 | |
RENR 8103 | Conservation Biology | 4.0 | |
RENR 8104 | Applications of Fire in Ecosystem Restoration | 4.0 | |
RENR 8400 | Applied Research Project 2* | 5.0 | |
**And complete one course from the list of Ecological Restoration specific elective courses. Electives will vary depending on needs of the program and industry. Elective course offerings will be determined by the department. *Note: For Part-time Studies, Program Head approval is required prior to registration for RENR 8300 Applied Research Project and RENR 8400 Applied Research Project 2 |
|||
General Education Component | Credits | ||
LIBS 7001, LIBS 7002, RENR 7008, and RENR 8301, are accepted as General Education electives. Courses are completed in Levels 5-8. **Ecological Restoration Specific Electives Complete one course in Level 7 and one course in Level 8: |
|||
RENR 8106 | Wetland and Estuary Restoration | 4.0 | |
RENR 8107 | Restoring Wildlife Populations | 4.0 | |
RENR 8108 | Applied Stream Channel Morphology | 4.0 | |
RENR 8109 | Restoration of Old Fields & Grasslands | 4.0 | |
RENR 8110 | Lake Restoration & Applied Limnology | 4.0 | |
Note: ASER 329 Mining Reclamation (UVIC course) is also acceptable. Not all courses are offered every term. Check with Program Head. | |||
Total Credits: | 79.0 |
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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Program Details
The delivery methods for the Bachelor of Science in Ecological Restoration are a combination of classroom-based delivery, hands-on field applications and distributed learning modes. Instruction methods include group and individual projects, group activities, case studies, class presentations, guest lectures by active restoration specialists, laboratory sessions, field labs and exercises, and an applied research project.
A key component of the Ecological Restoration undergraduate degree are the field visits to active restoration projects in the Lower Mainland and other parts of the province. Students in the program go on several multi-day field trips to locations like Squamish, Lillooet, Merritt, Logan Lake, Kamloops, Vancouver Island and throughout the Lower Mainland. Real-world ecological restoration scenarios will be presented through assignments and team-based projects within courses, with a capstone Applied Research Project being the culmination of applied learning in the program.
Program length
Approximately 24 months for the full-time program.
Part-time students may proceed at a pace of their choice, but must complete the program within seven years.
Grading
Students must obtain a mark of 50% or better based on assignments, exercises, quizzes, exams and projects, as indicated in the individual course outlines.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
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Graduating & Jobs
Job Opportunities
There is currently a shortage of qualified restoration biologists and practitioners trained in the techniques needed to restore terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in British Columbia and other jurisdictions in Canada and abroad. This program will provide a solid foundation for students wishing to embark upon a career involving the conservation, maintenance and restoration of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Graduates will be qualified for employment with organizations whose mandates involve the restoration of natural ecosystems, particularly fish and wildlife habitats. Upon graduation, students will have the skills and knowledge to qualify for existing positions and develop rewarding careers with municipal, regional, provincial and federal government agencies, private industry, stewardship groups and other NGOs as restoration biologists in training, resource management technicians, and habitat restoration specialists.
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2018-2020 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2017-2019 graduates and for Degree 2015-2017 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Professional associations
Graduates from BCIT’s Degree program in Ecological Restoration, who have completed the first two years in BCIT’s Fish, Wildlife and Recreation program will meet the academic requirements for application into the College of Applied Biology.
Graduates from the ER program who have completed their previous education at another institution should complete the Academic Self-Assessment Tool for R.P.Bio. to determine whether their prior education meets the entry requirements of the College of Applied Biology.
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- Next up Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Program Head
Eric M. Anderson, PhD

Contact Information
Faculty and Program Head, Ecological Restoration (BSc)
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
T: 604.456.1085 | Eric_anderson@bcit.ca
Education
- Post-doctoral research at: Simon Fraser University (Centre for Wildlife Ecology), Environment and Climate Change Canada (Pacific Wildlife Research Centre), and University of British Columbia
- MSc and PhD in Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming
- Graduate Program in Environmental Education, Teton Science School/Utah State University
- BSc in Mathematics, University of Puget Sound
Work Experience
Dr. Eric M. Anderson is Program Head of the Ecological Restoration BSc Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He and his BCIT students have conducted applied ecological research with a range of partners, such as Metro Vancouver, Ducks Unlimited Canada, City of Vancouver, Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust, and Squamish River Watershed Society. Eric is also a Research Fellow of the Pacific WildLife Foundation, a Science Advisor for SeaDoc Society (UC Davis), a Research Scientist at Friday Harbor Labs (U. of Washington), and an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University (SFU). He completed his MSc and PhD in Zoology and Physiology at the U. of Wyoming, and conducted postdoctoral research at SFU (Centre for Wildlife Ecology), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, and the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Eric’s research focuses especially on the ecology and conservation of nearshore ecosystems along the
Pacific Coast. Some recent research projects include:
- Causes of mortality in a Harbor Seal population at carrying capacity (with SeaDoc Society, The Whale Museum, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Animal Health Center)
- Effects of proposed off-shore wind power development in Haida Gwaii on marine birds (with SFU, ECCC)
- Functional dependencies of sea ducks on seagrass beds and herring spawn (with SFU, ECCC)
- Effects of trace elements on sea duck nutritional status (with Southern Illinois University, with SFU, ECCC)
Selected Publications
(*Denotes undergraduate or MSc student authors):
Brooks, M.L., J.R. Lovvorn, *J. Hallman Behnke, E.M. Anderson. 2021. Detecting silent stressors: trace element effects on nutritional status of declining scoter ducks of Puget Sound, USA. Science of the Total Environment. In press.
*Dickson, R.D., D. Esler, J. Hupp, E.M. Anderson, J.R. Evenson, and J. Barrett. 2021. Dynamics of body mass and foraging effort of Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) and White-winged Scoters (M. fusca) during remigial moult. Ibis. In review.
Anderson, E.M., *R.D. Dickson, *E.K. Lok, *E.C. Palm, J.-P.L. Savard, D. Bordage, and A. Reed. 2020. Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), The Birds of the World Online (P.G.Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
*Ashley, E.A., J.K. Olson, *T.E. Adler, S. Raverty, E.M. Anderson, S. Jeffries, and J.K. Gaydos. 2020. Causes of mortality in a Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) population at equilibrium. Frontiers in Marine Science 7:Article 319. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00319
*Whyte, L. M., *J. Sibbald, *A. Kujawiak, *L. Schlectleitner, D., Bondar, M. Taitt, C. Terpsma, and E.M. Anderson. 2020. Effectives of hedgerows on landbird diversity and abundance in agricultural fields. In preparation.
*Law, A.A., *M.E. Threlfall, *B.A. Tijman, E.M. Anderson, S. McCann, G. Searing, and D. Bradbeer. 2017. Diet and prey selection of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) at Vancouver International Airport. Canadian Field-Naturalist 131:26–31.
Lewis, T.L., D. Esler, B.D. Uher-Koch, R.D. Dickson, E.M. Anderson, J.R. Evenson, J.W. Hupp, and P.L. Flint. 2017. Attaching transmitters to waterbirds using one versus two subcutaneous anchors: Retention and survival trade-offs. Wildlife Society Bulletin 41:691–700.
Anderson, E.M., R.D. Dickson, E.K. Lok, E.C. Palm, J.-P.L. Savard, D. Bordage, and A. Reed. 2015. Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Lovvorn, J.R., E.M. Anderson, *A.R. Rocha, W.W. Larned, J.M. Grebmeier, L.W. Cooper, J.M. Kolts, and C.A. North. 2014. Variable wind, pack ice, and prey dispersion affect the long-term adequacy of protected areas for an Arctic sea duck. Ecological Applications 24:396–412.
*Uher-Koch. B.D., D. Esler, *R.D. Dickson, J.W. Hupp, J.R. Evenson, E.M. Anderson, J. Barrett, J.A. Schmutz. 2014. Survival of Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters during remigial molt. Journal of Wildlife Management 78:1189–1196.
*Dickson, R.D., E.M. Anderson, and D. Esler. 2014. Status report on the Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis). Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
Wilson, S.D., E.M. Anderson, A. Wilson, P. Arcese, and D.F. Bertram. 2013. Citizen science reveals an extensive shift in the winter distribution of migratory Western Grebes. PLOS ONE 8:e65408.
Palm, E.C.,D. Esler, E.M. Anderson, M.T. Wilson, T.W. Williams, and O. Love. 2013. Baseline corticosterone in wintering marine birds: methodological considerations and ecological patterns. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 86:346–353.
Palm, E.C.,D. Esler, E.M. Anderson, T.D. Williams, and M.T. Wilson. 2013. Variation in physiology and energy management of wintering White-winged Scoters in relation to local habitat conditions. Condor 115:750–761.
Anderson, E.M., and J.R. Lovvorn. 2012. Seasonal size dynamics of prey mediate complementary functions of mussel and seagrass habitats for an avian predator. Marine Ecology Progress Series 467:219–232.
*Palm, E.C., D. Esler, E.M. Anderson, and M.T. Wilson. 2012. Geographic and temporal variation in diet of wintering White-winged Scoters. Waterbirds 35:577–589.
*Dickson, R.D., D. Esler, J. Hupp, E.M. Anderson, J.R. Evenson, and J. Barrett. 2012. Phenology and duration of remigial moult in Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) and White-winged Scoters (M. fusca) on the Pacific coast of North America. Canadian Journal of Zoology 90:932–944.
Anderson, E.M., D. Esler, W.S. Boyd, J.R. Evenson, D.R. Nysewander, D.H. Ward, *R.D. Dickson, *B.D. Uher-Koch, *C.S. VanStratt, and J.W. Hupp. 2012. A preliminary assessment of the predator seascape for scoters: predation rates, timing, and predator composition. Canadian Journal of Zoology 90:42–50.
Anderson, E.M., and J.R. Lovvorn. 2011. Contrasts in energy status and marine foraging strategies of White-winged Scoters (Melanitta fusca) and Surf Scoters (M. perspicillata). Auk 128:248−257.
Anderson, E.M., J.R. Lovvorn, D. Esler, W.S. Boyd, and K.C. Stick. 2009. Using predator distributions, diet, and condition to evaluate seasonal foraging sites: sea ducks and herring spawn. Marine Ecology Progress Series 386: 287–302.
Anderson, E.M., J.L. Bower, D.R. Nysewander, J.R. Evenson, and J.R. Lovvorn. 2009. Changes in avifaunal abundance in a heavily used wintering and migration site in Puget Sound, Washington, during 1966–2007. Marine Ornithology 37:19–27.
Anderson, E.M., and J.R. Lovvorn. 2008. Gray whales may increase feeding opportunities for avian benthivores. Marine Ecology Progress Series 360:291–296.
Anderson, E.M., J.R. Lovvorn, and M.T. Wilson. 2008. Reevaluating marine diets of Surf and White-winged scoters: interspecific differences and the importance of soft-bodied prey. Condor 110:285–295.
Anderson, E.M. 2007. Changes in bird communities and willow habitats associated with fed elk. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119:400–409.
Faculty
Anayansi Cohen-Fernández, PhD, RPBio

Contact Information
Faculty and Program Head, Ecological Restoration (MSc)
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
T: 604.432.8322 | acohenfernandez@bcit.ca
Education
- PhD in Land Reclamation and Remediation, University of Alberta
- MSc in Management and Conservation of Natural Tropical Renewable Resources, University of Yucatan, Mexico
- BSc in Biology, Autonomous Metropolitan University, Mexico
- University Teaching Program, University of Alberta
Work Experience
Dr. Anayansi Cohen-Fernández is Program Head of the Ecological Restoration MSc Program at the BCIT. Anayansi has over 20 years of experience in environmental consulting and resource management in Mexico and Canada. Her experience revolves around the effects of projects on landscape ecology and biodiversity. She also has experience in the implementation of restoration and reclamation projects following mining, oil and gas, urban and agricultural disturbances.
While doing her MSc in the tropical forests of Southern Mexico, Anayansi developed a model for sustainable use of natural populations of the multipurpose Mayan tree, Bursera simaruba. She later completed her PhD in Land Reclamation and Remediation at the University of Alberta, where she researched reclamation of limestone quarries, re-establishing ecosystem processes and native plant communities and building soils. In her postdoctoral research she evaluated the effects of fine-scale environmental heterogeneity of constructed microsites on native plant species in the Prairie and Parkland Ecoregions of Alberta. At BCIT, Anayansi helps students develop their Applied Research Projects, which have included the evaluation of prairie tallgrass restoration success, plant facilitation effects in a riparian ecosystem, enhancement of soil biocrust establishment to assist reclamation of mine tailings, and the potential of biochar to improve the functionality of rain gardens.
Professional Designation
- RPBio, British Columbia
Selected Publications
Naeth, M.A., A. Cohen-Fernández, F.P.O. Mollard, L. Yao, S.R. Wilkinson and Z. Jiao. 2018. Enriched topographic microsites for improved native grass and forb establishment in reclamation. Rangeland Ecology and Management 71:12-18.
Mollard, F.P.O., M.A. Naeth, and A. Cohen-Fernández. 2014. Impacts of mulch on prairie seedling establishment: Facilitative to inhibitory effects. Ecological Engineering 64:377-384.
Cohen-Fernández, A., M.A. Naeth and S.R. Wilkinson. 2013. Anthroposol development from limestone quarry substrates. Canadian Journal of Soil Science. 93:1-12.
Cohen-Fernández. A. and M.A. Naeth. 2013. Erosion control blankets, organic amendments and site variability influenced the initial plant community at a limestone quarry in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Biogeosciences 10: 5243-5253.
Cohen-Fernández. A. and M.A. Naeth. 2013. Increasing woody species diversity for sustainable limestone quarry reclamation in Canada. Sustainability 5:1340-1355.
Gálvez, D. and A. Cohen-Fernández. 2006. Partial compensation in Psychotria marginata (Rubiaceae) after simulated defoliation increases photon capture and photosynthesis. Photosynthetica 44: 46-52.
Daphnee Tuzlak, MSc, PGeo

Contact Information
Faculty, Ecological Restoration
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
dtuzlak@bcit.ca
Education
- MSc, Geology, Utah State University, 2017
- Research Topic: Evolution of the Snake River relative to the Yellowstone Hotspot supervolcano.
- BA, Geology, Middlebury College, 2014
Work Experience
Daphnee is a fluvial geomorphologist and is motivated by working to cultivate positive social and environmental impact. She has expertise and interests in the areas of geologic mapping, hazard assessment, soil science, and river restoration across Canada, the U.S., and Central and South America. She also has experience in data science, remote sensing, working with aerial imagery, and community engagement. She has worked across academia, industry, and non-profit sectors and is interested in approaching problems from a systemic perspective and in reframing our mindsets for holistic orientations to outcomes.
Professional Registration
- PGeo, British Columbia
Dave Harper

Contact Information
Faculty / Assistant Instructor, Ecological Restoration
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
dharper@bcit.ca
Education
Dave is a graduate of the Fish, Wildlife and Recreation advanced diploma program and the
Environmental Engineering degree program, both at BCIT.
Work Experience
In the consulting industry, Dave gained a variety of experience including environmental monitoring, park management, waterfowl capture, tagging and foraging research, and wildlife trapping and sampling. Dave spent more than 8 years working for the BC Conservation Foundation on the Greater Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery Program and later on the multi-species Fisheries Recovery Program. Main focuses included project management, stock assessment, stream nutrient enrichment and monitoring, and habitat restoration. He led the first in-stream application using a fertilizer recovered from wastewater to increase the productivity of a Fraser Valley stream, later expanding the program to 5 other local streams. Throughout streams in the Lower Mainland, he has been involved in more than 60 enhancement projects including a 44-log engineered log jam on the Cheakamus River and more recently with fish habitat restoration at the Seymour River and Lynn Creek estuaries.
As a faculty member in the Ecological Restoration programs (BSc and MSc) in Assistant Instructor and Instructor roles, Dave looks forward to mentoring and working alongside students as they become the next generation of environmental stewards responsible for providing valuable contributions to the restoration, enhancement and conservation of aquatic and terrestrial species and their habitat.
Douglas B. Ransome, PhD, RPBio
Contact Information
Faculty, Ecological Restoration
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
dransome@bcit.ca
Education
- PhD on resource limitation of northern flying squirrels and Douglas squirrels in managed forests
in 2001 from the University of British Columbia. - MSc in 1994 from the University of British Columbia.
- His undergraduate degrees include one from University of Guelph in Wildlife Management and
University of Windsor in General Biology.
Work Experience
Dr. Ransome has been an instructor at BCIT since 2003. He teaches courses in Research Design and Implementation and Restoring Wildlife Populations within the ER programs; and Wildlife Ecology and Management in BCIT’s Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation Program. His research interests include examining the effects of forest practices on various wildlife populations, particularly arboreal mammals and small mammals; restoring wildlife populations; and wildlife damage and techniques to reduce damage in forestry and agricultural operations. During this time at BCIT he has been the Program Head for the BSc (2012-2018) program in Ecological Restoration and the newly designed MSc (2015-2019) program in Ecological Restoration.
Professional Designation
Dr. Ransome was a past Director for the Society of Ecological Restoration (Western Canada Chapter) and is a current director of the British Columbia Waterfowl Society. He is also a research associate with Applied Mammal Research Institute.
Ken Ashley, BSc, MSc, MASc, PhD

Contact Information
Faculty, Ecological Restoration
School of Construction and the Environment
Director, BCIT Rivers Institute
Ken_Ashley@bcit.ca
Education
- PhD, Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2002
- MASc, Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 1989
- MSc, Zoology, University of British Columbia, 1981
- BSc, Zoology, University of British Columbia,1976
Work Experience
Ken worked for the Ministry of Environment in the Fisheries Research and Development Section on the UBC campus from 1979 to 2005, initially as a project biologist, and eventually as Section Head for Fisheries Restoration and Bioengineering. While in this position he conducted a set of large-scale adaptive management experiments, and is recognized for his research in the design, operation and effects of hypolimnetic aeration systems, lake/reservoir fertilization, and stream/river enrichment. Ken transferred to the Greater Vancouver Regional District from 2005 to 2007 as Senior Engineer and was the project lead for the Environmental Management team, with responsibility for raw drinking water quality, and monitoring the environmental effects of wastewater discharges from the regions five wastewater treatment plants and municipal water withdrawals from the Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam rivers. Ken was Secretary for the BC Living Rivers Program in 2008, Senior Scientist at Northwest Hydraulic Consultants from 2010 to 2012, and taught part time in the BCIT Ecological Restoration Degree Program from 2010 to 2012. Ken is currently Director of the Rivers Institute at BCIT, an Instructor in BCIT’s Ecological Restoration Program and Adjunct Professor at SFU.
Professional Designation
- RPBio, British Columbia
Kim Ives, MSc, RPBio

Contact Information
Faculty, Ecological Restoration
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
T: 604-412-7526 | kives@bcit.ca
Education
- MSc, Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Alberta
- BSc, Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Alberta
Work Experience
Kim Ives has been working in the natural resources field since 2007. She has worked in both the fisheries and wildlife fields with provincial governments, environmental consultants, and educational institutes. Kim has an MSc in Wildlife Management and Ecology and her research examined predicting extinction
risk in scavenging species and associated interspecies interactions in North America. She has participated in projects that include an assessment of fish habitat in several rivers in the Calgary area in the Bow River Watershed and subsequent compensation following the 2013 floods, a fish inventory and habitat assessment of the Berland River Watershed, and a Northern Alberta non-game fish status assessment, in addition to various baseline inventories/assessments of areas prior to
disturbance/development.
Kim has been involved in natural resource education programs for the past 12 years, including teaching fisheries ecology, inventory and management courses at institutes that include the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Vancouver Island University. She has also been an electrofishing certification instructor with VIU since 2012. Kim has previously taught Wildlife Ecology and Management in the FWR program at BCIT and currently teaches several courses in the MSc and BSc Programs in the Ecological Restoration program, in addition to supervising applied research projects in several programs in the Renewable Resources department at BCIT.
Professional Designations
- RPBio (British Columbia)
- PBiol (Alberta)
Lisa Henault, BEd, MSc

Contact Information
Faculty, Ecological Restoration
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
T: 604.456.8006 ext. 8006 | lhenault@bcit.ca
Education
- MSc, Fluvial Geomorphology, University of British Columbia
- BEd, High School Education, University of Winnipeg
- BSc, Geography / Biology, University of Winnipeg
- Diploma, Natural Disaster Management, University of South Iceland
- Emergency Management Exercise Design
- Incident Command Systems Levels 100, 200 and 300
Work Experience
Lisa Henault is both a teacher and geoscientist. After completing her B.Ed. at the University of Winnipeg she completed her MSc in fluvial geomorphology at the University of British Columbia. Following completion of her MSc, Lisa worked for BCIT as program manager of the Squamish First Nations Restoration Program which was followed by nearly 6 years in engineering as a consulting geoscientist. Much of her time in engineering focused on the quantitative evaluation of rivers as a risk to linear infrastructure. This work included many summers in the field and brought her to a wide array of landscapes to evaluate potentially hazardous rivers and slopes. Lisa also managed a detailed hydrotechnical analyses program, which included large scale data collection and evaluation, training engineers in data analysis and the completion of technical reports. In recent years, Lisa has turned her focus to channel restoration, which included project work the Central Westcoat Forest Society and habitat restoration of heavily logged watersheds north of Tofino.
Lisa currently teaches several courses in the MSc and BSc programs and supervises multiple applied research projects in the Ecological Restoration program at BCIT. Her research projects including those focused on natural methods of slope stabilization and bank erosion, achieving suitable spawning grounds through substrate augmentation, and determining best methods for achieving floodplain connectivity.
Midoli Bresch, BSc, MRM

Contact Information
Assistant Instructor, Ecological Restoration
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
mbresch@bcit.ca
Education
- BSc in natural resource management of fisheries and wildlife from the University of Northern British Columbia
- MSc in natural resource management, with a specialty in quantitative fisheries, from Simon Fraser University
Work Experience
Midoli began work during her undergrad in a fisheries genetics lab looking at hybridization rates for populations of coastal Dolly Varden and bull trout. She has also contributed to developing a resource selection function for the listed species, the coastal tailed frogs, where she spent her summers hiking the mountains between Terrace and Smithers in northern BC. Midoli later worked for the Hakai Institute on the central coast and Quadra Island, where she was exposed to a variety of researchers in several disciplines, including oceanography, humpback whale feeding ecology, and hydrology. Midoli was also the lead field tech for a nearshore ecology program where she managed a portfolio of research projects that included beach seining, soft sediment ecology, sea grass bed mapping and monitoring, and rocky intertidal work. These projects were all linked via a food web study using stomach contents and stable isotope analysis.
Midoli later competed her MSc in resource and environmental management at SFU, where she specialized in quantitative fisheries by evaluating the impacts of spatial population structure on stock assessment estimates of biomass and productivity for the outside population of yelloweye rockfish. Midoli also worked during her graduate studies as a project coordinator and researcher for salmon and aquaculture management at the First Nations Fisheries Council followed by later work in the stock assessment and research division in the groundfish section at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
Millie Kuyer, BSc, BIT

Contact Information
Assistant Instructor, Ecological Restoration
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
mkuyer@bcit.ca
Education
- BSc, Ecological Restoration, BCIT, 2017
- Dipl. Tech. Fish, Wildlife and Recreation, BCIT, 2015
- Professional Photo Imaging, Langara College, 2009
Work Experience
Millie Kuyer has been working in the natural resource management field since 2005 and has since worked with industry, non-profit, First Nations, federal government, and environmental consultants with a focus on terrestrial ecology. She has a tech. dipl. in Fish, Wildlife and Recreation and a BSc in Ecological Restoration from BCIT. She has worked as a biologist within Canada’s rocky mountain National Parks including restoration planning and monitoring for AltaLink’s 551L Transmission Line Rebuild, rare plant surveys for Lake Louise Ski Resort, environmental monitoring for the Sulphur Mountain Gondola, and riparian vegetation monitoring for the Cascade Creek restoration project. Millie also worked on Parks Canada’s whitebark pine restoration project by assisting in pine cone caging, seed collection, and tree planting in high elevation forests. Millie is currently an Assistant Instructor and provides support to all levels of programming and supervises applied research projects for the Ecological Restoration BSc program. Millie is also a Research Associate with the BCIT Rivers Institute where she is supporting a number of river conservation and restoration projects across southwestern BC.
Professional Designation
- Biologist in Training (BIT)
Staff
Giti Abouhamzeh
Advisory committee
- Andy Smith, Senior Terrestrial Ecologist/Wildlife Biologist, Ecofish Research
- Brian Titaro, Stewardship Coordinator, Metro Vancouver
- Bruce Blackwell, Principle, BA Blackwell
- Chloe Hartley, Referrals Analyst, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
- Dave Scott, Biologist, Raincoast Conservation Foundation
- David Polster, President, Polster Environmental Services
- Eric Balke, Coordinator-South Coast Conservation Land Management Program, Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Gillian Donald, Owner, Donald Functional And Applied Ecology
- Jennifer McGuire, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment
- Ken Hall, Professor Emeritus, UBC
- Kevin Shantz, Research Office, Metro Vancouver, Parks Planning & Environment – Chair
- Marlow Pellatt, Ecological Restoration Specialist, Parks Canada
- Natalie Tashe, Project Management Reclamation Planning, Stantec
- Pontus Lindgren, Environmental Manager, Westpark Electric
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Giti Abouhamzeh
Program Assistant
Tel: 778-331-1392
Email: Giti_Abouhamzeh@bcit.ca
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