Saving the climate, one board at a time: the forest industry as an ally with Véronic Landry and Alexandre Morin-Bernard!

A look back at the CRMR’s participation in the 8th edition of « Tempête des sciences », held on April 17, 2024, at Cégep Garneau in Québec City.

Under the theme « Science at the heart of society », this conference brought together nearly 650 students in Natural Sciences for a series of lectures, exchanges with professionals, and activities highlighting the concrete applications of science.

The CRMR  highlights the participation of Professor Véronic Landry as well as Professor Alexandre Morin-Bernard from the Department of Wood and Forest Sciences at Université Laval. In their presentation titled « Saving the climate, one board at a time: the forest industry as an ally,» the speakers highlighted the essential role of wood as an ecological and renewable material. They first provided an overview of the current state of forests, drawing on the most recent scientific knowledge to better understand their dynamics and overall health.

Particular attention was given to natural and human disturbances, such as wildfires, insect outbreaks, and forestry activities, as well as their impacts on forest ecosystems. The speakers explained how forests have a remarkable capacity to regenerate after such disturbances, and how quickly they can recover and resume growth. Technological advances, particularly the use of LiDAR, were also discussed as tools to better measure forest structure and monitor its evolution over time with high precision.

Finally, the presentation highlighted the importance of circular economy principles in the forest sector. Demolition wood, for example, can be recovered, reused, or transformed, thereby helping reduce waste and optimize the use of this renewable resource. Innovation pathways were also discussed, including wood transformation and modification, which expand its range of applications and strengthen its role as a sustainable material.

Conference summary:
In response to the urgent need to combat climate change, wood is emerging as a strategic choice. Opportunities for innovation and technological progress are rapidly expanding across the forest industry, at every stage of the value chain. In this context, it is essential to adopt long-term sustainable practices and to optimize resource use throughout all phases of the process. Significant advances are also emerging through innovative forestry technologies that improve forest monitoring and enable more agile forest management. Further along the value chain, wood modification is becoming a way to transform it into a preferred material for a wide range of applications, enhancing both its versatility and its environmental value.

For more information:

• See the presentation content here here
• See the full event program: Science at the heart of society! 

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