It is home to some of the world s remaining wild spaces, and it is a place where new and traditional residents interact with a rich diversity of ecosystems while they undertake to sustain local economies from the interior to the coast. It is an area of challenge and opportunity, an area where there is much to be learned about natural systems and appropriate resource use. The natural features that support such an outstanding learning classroom also provide attractive professional and lifestyle opportunities for the many leading resource specialists who now make their home in the Smithers area. The Northwest Field School provides a forum where the area s unique blend of human and natural resources is made available through credit and non-credit field courses appropriate for professional, academic and general interests. This is a hands-on course which covers the basics of how to identify native plants, especially wildflowers.
Special emphasis is placed on identifying flowering plants.
Traditional uses of plants for food, medicine and technology are also covered. Participants gain the skills to identify plants using keys and popular plant guides. Rosamund Pojar M.Sc. Particular emphasis will be placed on examining ecosystem recovery and plant succession following disturbance, and identifying those factors which result in long-term loss of ecological productivity, diversity and integrity. Naturally disturbed sites to be visited will include those altered by volcanism, landslides, avalanches, flooding, wildfire, insect outbreak, and wind throw.