“One-Stop” Shopping
for Forest Managers"SIFERP was a success right from the start, because our partners and
clients see the need for sharing technical, experiential and traditional knowledge,"
Chris Hollstedt
One-stop information shopping is now a reality for forest managers
through the Southern Interior Forest Extension and Research Partnership, commonly called
SIFERP.
The partnership, partly funded by Forest Renewal BC and the Science Council of BC,
brings together more than 38 government agencies, Crown corporations, First Nations
groups, research and educational institutions and non-government agencies in a unique,
co-operative partnership.
Chris Hollstedt spearheaded SIFERP’s development. Chris, a former extension
scientist with the Ministry of Forests and now SIFERP’s executive director, saw gaps
in the information flow between forest scientists, policy makers and operational people
and decided to do something about it.
SIFERP, incorporated in 1998, has field staff in five locations in the Southern
Interior and a head office in Kamloops. Specialists in ecosystem management and forest
practices extension work out of Nelson and Williams Lake. An aboriginal forestry
specialist has an office in Penticton, an early stand dynamics specialist is in Kelowna,
and a social forestry and information specialist works in Kamloops.
“SIFERP was a success right from the start because our partners and clients see
the need for sharing technical, experiential and traditional knowledge,” Chris said.
The people at Forest Renewal BC, too, were impressed and awarded Chris a Forests
Excellence Award this year for her vision and leadership in developing SIFERP.
For further information, contact the SIFERP office in
Kamloops at (250) 371-3746
 www.siferp.org
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