A Hub for Collaboration, Knowledge, and Solutions
The Asia Forest Research Centre (AFRC) is a cross-faculty platform within the UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, advancing international collaboration across the Asia-Pacific region by connecting people, knowledge, and expertise.
Working with universities, governments, research organizations, industry, and communities, AFRC fosters student mobility, collaborative research, capacity building, and applied technical support to address shared environmental, educational, and sustainability challenges. Through strategic partnerships and knowledge exchange, AFRC serves as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and practical solutions that create lasting impact across the region.
Recent Highlights
LIVE 2026 Asia-Pacific Young Scientists Association Three Minute Thesis Competitions
Join UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and Northeast Forestry University live for the 2026 AYSA 3MT Competitions and hear graduate researchers transform complex ideas into clear, compelling stories about the future of forests and society in just three minutes!
🎤 Live Semi-Final:
Nov. 13th at 6 pm in Vancouver | Nov. 14th at 9 am in Beijing, Manila and Singapore
Reg link: https://lnkd.in/gd4sRP7G
🏆 Live Final:
Nov. 27th at 6 pm in Vancouver | Nov. 28th at 9 am in Beijing, Manila and Singapore
Reg link: https://lnkd.in/gDZ8N3TY Learn more
UBC Delegation Visits Xi’an Jiaotong University Hainan Campus
In November, a UBC delegation led by Professor Guangyu Wang received a warm welcome at Xi’an Jiaotong University Hainan campus, where they connected with faculty and the first cohort of students in the 2+2 transfer program. The delegation included Professor Scott Renneckar, Head of the Department of Wood Science, and Professor Shawn Mansfield, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Head of the Department of Botany. The visit offered encouragement and an early connection to UBC as students begin their academic journey.
Learn more
Northeast Forestry University Visits UBC
On October 14–15, 2026, UBC welcomed a delegation from Northeast Forestry University (NEFU), led by President Wenlong Song. The delegation met with Dr. Gage Averill, UBC’s Provost and Vice-President, Academic, and Dr. Rob Kozak, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, to discuss future collaboration. The delegation also visited the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, UBC BioProducts Institute, Integrated Remote Sensing Studio, Centre for Advanced Wood Processing, and Sustainable Functional Biomaterials Lab, exploring research and experiential learning environments that could support future cooperation. Learn more.
Chinese Academy of Forestry Delegation Visits UBC
From Sept 25–Oct. 3, the Asia Forest Research Centre (AFRC) welcomed a Chinese Academy of Forestry delegation led by Professor Shirong Liu, elected an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2023, and joined by Professor Hui Wang and Assistant Professor Baoliang Niu. The visit included research presentations by members of Professor Guangyu Wang’s lab, field-based discussions at Malcolm Knapp Research Forest and further academic exchange at UBC Okanagan. Learn more.
The Fourth International Young Scientist Forum for Climate Change
The forum taking place on December 8–9, 2026 in Fuzhou, China will bring together graduate students, postdocs, early-career researchers and practitioners across six research areas, including AI-enabled forest science, forest carbon, wildfire, biodiversity, governance and ecosystem services.
Learn more
UNCCD COP17 China Pavilion Side Event Highlights the Changting Model
On August 26, 2026, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), in collaboration with the University of British Columbia, Renmin University of China, and the Changting County Government, hosted a China Pavilion side event at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Learn more
What We Do
Student Mobility
We create international education and student-mobility opportunities through institutional pathways, summer programs, academic exchange, and partnership development.
Capacity Building
We strengthen professional and institutional capacity through online courses, training programs, seminars, competitions, and international knowledge exchange.
Research and Collaboration
We connect researchers and institutions to develop interdisciplinary projects, research networks, and practical solutions to shared forestry and environmental challenges.
Consulting and Tech Support
We connect partners with UBC expertise, research, technology, and professional networks to support applied projects and informed decision-making.
Work with AFRC
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with universities, research institutions, governments, communities, professional organizations, and industry partners.
Together, we can develop education programs, research initiatives, capacity-building activities, and practical solutions that respond to shared environmental challenges.
Explore A Collaboration Opportunity with AFRC
Enhance education and research connections with Asia
Promote professional Master’s programs in the Asia-Pacific region
Create efficient and high quality platforms for capacity building
Raise research funds for larger-scale research projects
Strengthen teaching and research on bamboo and plantation forest management